Living Healthy Highlight - Allergy Season Is Almost Here

March 07, 2018

It’s around that time of year, again - if you’re a seasonal allergy person, you know what I mean. As a resident of Minnesota for my whole life, I’ve grown accustomed to the melting snow and subsequent burst of allergy symptoms that occur every spring - the snow melts and leaves all of us sneezing and itching for several weeks, sometimes months. It’s never fun to experience allergies, but with a few simple tricks, you may be able to supplement your current allergy-remedy regimen enough to make those symptoms seem smaller than ever!

Often, those with seasonal allergies use traditional antihistamines that come in pill-form as their daily allergy remedy - they can usually curb some of your allergy symptoms, but there’s the leftover sneezing, sniffling, and itching that always seems to stick around. Believe it or not, essential oils could be the perfect addition to your daily regimen, as many of the more popular oils are antihistamines and can help to curb your sneezing and itchiness!

Before we get into the list of essential oils and blends that you can turn to in order to boost your antihistamine regimen, we do want to point out that these are in no particular order. Although one may be further down the list than another, personal preference, as well as individual characteristics and medical history, play a far more important role in choosing which route to go than anything else. Make sure when you’re making the choice that you’re doing what you know to be right for you - don’t let our opinions be the only opinion you take into account! Without further ado - Corked’s list of the 5 Best Essential Oils for Allergy Season:

1. Lavender

Known to reduce inflammation, Lavender essential oil can help to reduce your coughing and sneezing, as well as calm your nerves.
Mix with a carrier oil to add a few drops to a bath or to the shower drain to fill the space with the scent, or add a few drops to your home diffuser with water!

2. Peppermint

Peppermint essential oil is commonly used to reduce inflammation in the mucous membranes, but it’s also a powerful decongestant and expectorant.
Take the cap off your Peppermint bottle and lightly sniff over the opening to induce the draining of your sinuses, or add to a diffuser to accomplish the same thing! You can also add a drop or two to a tablespoon of carrier oil and apply to the skin as a lotion. Leave sit for a few minutes and wash off completely to help rid the skin of allergens and reduce inflammation.

3. Eucalyptus

Often used in massage oils for combating inflammation and muscle pain, Eucalyptus can also be great for reducing congestion due to allergies!
Diffuse a few drops into the air with a tabletop diffuser or sniff the bottle to open up your sinuses and reduce inflammation in your air passageways.

4. Refresh Blend

Refresh is a combination of many herbal and citrus oils, all helpful in decongesting and opening your sinuses!
Use your Refresh diffuser or drip a few drops into your diffuser at home and see the difference it makes in your congestion!

5. Tea Tree

Tea Tree has a minty-fresh scent that’s known to relieve pain and inflammation in the sinuses and mucous membranes, as well as reduce inflammation in the muscles and joints.
Apply to the sinus pressure-points on the face below the nose and behind the ears to decrease congestion or put a few drops in the bath to reduce inflammation and open the airways.

All of the above can be wonderful ways to help you relieve your allergy symptoms, as well as great remedies for when you’ve got a cough or a cold! Keep these handy for those days you really need them, and you’ll see the difference in no time! Stock up on essential oils at www.corked.com - we look forward to seeing you soon!

Disclaimer: We want to make sure to point out that essential oils can trigger allergic reactions, too. It doesn’t happen very often at all, and in most instances, it’s a minor skin irritation, but it’s important to point out. If you’re suffering from the symptoms of allergies, it is always your best bet to pay a visit to your primary care physician for advice or medication - they’ll have the ability to test you for all allergies you may have and will know your body best as well as the best way to treat any symptoms you’re experiencing. In addition, if you have pets like cats or dogs, it’s important to know that some essential oils can have a higher chance of causing a reaction in smaller animals than in humans. When using oils around or near pets, be sure to keep them stored in a safe place they cannot access, and make sure to call a veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center right away if your pet happens to consume the oils. Just be cautious when using essential oils, as you would with anything else, and you and your pets should be “A”-okay!