Did you know that you can soothe throat discomfort and runny noses with essential oils?

The weather is cooling down and winter is right around the corner. Essential oils become, well, essential if you’re at all interested in making your own recipes. In our favorite essential oil recipes for Winter post, we discuss some really great ones to know, like how to soothe minor frostbite or reduce the pain from an uncomfortable throat.

Today, we’ll be discussing how to use essential oils safely to soothe a runny nose or throat discomfort. If you’ve been dreading that annoying little tickle in the back of your throat, we’ll also discuss a few ways to boost your immune system to hopefully prevent it from coming at all.

Before we begin, here’s a tip: keeping all of your winter remedy supplies in one place can make a world of difference. Grab one of our 7-piece aromatherapy sets and make it your own “essential oil first aid kit.” As always, our advice is that organization is the key to using your essential oils more often instead of the store-bought stuff.

On to the remedies!

Essential Oils for Throat & Chest Massage

A throat and chest massage when you have feelings of discomfort in those areas can easily be one of the most soothing things you can do. With the right oils, your runny nose will clear up and—sorry if this is a bit gross—phlegm in the chest will be loosened, which can soothe chest and throat discomfort.

Dilute essential oils with your carrier oil of choice (jojoba or almond are good). Gently rub the mixture into your chest and neck for at least 5-10 minutes.

A good combination is cedarwood and frankincense essential oils. If your nose is particularly stuffy, cypress and peppermint are also great. If your nose is really stuffed up (isn’t that the worst?) try our next DIY essential oil recipe:

Sinus Soother Essential Oil Massage Blend

Stuffed up, irritated sinuses are the worst part of any unwanted pathogen. Aches and pains? Throat discomfort? Most of us can deal with that—but trying to work, concentrate, read, sleep, or do just about anything with a stuffed up nose is pure agony.

Similar to the throat and chest massage recipe we just discussed, you’ll need a carrier oil. Jojoba is again a good choice since it has less of a natural scent than something like coconut oil. Dilute several drops of peppermint and lavender into the carrier oil and, instead of rubbing it on your chest and throat, massage it near your sinuses.

Your sinuses are located above your eyebrows, between your temple and your eye, and near your cheekbones. Here’s where to look:

 

 

Gently massage these areas and breathe deeply. Keep a box of tissues handy, because, after a few minutes, you should begin to feel the mucous start to loosen and need to be blown out. Be very careful not to get the recipe into your eyes. If you do, it’ll burn—flush your eyes and face with water until it goes away.

Soothing Essential Oil Diffuser Blend for Throat Discomfort & Runny Noses

The next time you or your loved ones have throat discomfort or a runny nose, move the diffuser into the bedroom with them. With the right blend, you can alleviate congestion, soothe the sinuses, and humidify the air. Plus, it’s just comfy!

Here’s a great blend to try the next time you’re feeling under the weather:

• 2 drops citrus
• 2 drops tea tree
• 3 drops peppermint
• 3 drops eucalyptus

You’ll notice that all of these essential oils have something in common: each is good for clearing the sinuses, loosening mucus, and making it easier to breathe… because when you have an unwanted pathogen, that’s half the battle.

Essential Oil Warm Compresses

If you’re having trouble sleeping with throat discomfort, or you have a really bad headache and just need to lie down, a warm compress infused with essential oil is incredibly soothing. Fill a 16 ounce bottle with warm water and add two drops of cedarwood, frankincense, peppermint, or lemon essential oil to the mix.

Shake the bottle, then pour it out over a clean washcloth (a soft and absorbent fabric is best). Squeeze out the washcloth over the sink and then place it over your forehead as you rest. Additionally, if you have ear discomfort, heat can be a big help—rest on your side with the warm compress over your ear.

Thank Goodness for Essential Oils!

Once you start to build up your repertoire of DIY essential oil remedies, projects, and recipes, you really just feel like saying “Thank goodness for essential oils!”. They’re so versatile and useful that I can’t imagine my life without them.

Remember, the better organized you are, the more likely you are to use your essential oils. Take a look at our storage cases here.

Until next time, happy oiling!