Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the nose which is caused by an overreaction of the immune system to allergens. Although not a dangerous disease, it can cause stuffy nose, sneezing, swelling, and other allergy-like symptoms that can be very unpleasant. Around 60 million Americans of all ages suffer from the condition regardless of age or gender. If left untreated, the allergy symptoms can cause shortness of breath and more serious symptoms, which is why you need to stop the disease from progressing as soon as possible.
How to Avoid Allergic Rhinitis
Allergies can be avoided only by avoiding triggers. Every person that suffers from allergies knows what their triggers are. Stayin away from these triggers is wise unless you want to sneeze and run out of air all the time. Allergies are quite dangerous if not put under control and can decimate our immune system. The problems with allergies is that treatment is often hard, as environmental toxins and certain compounds in the food we eat play a significant role in triggering allergies.
However, you shouldn’t lose hope. There are many natural ways to treat allergies and allergic rhinitis, and you don’t need anything more than a few easily accessible essential oils.
How Do Essential Oils Stop Allergies?
In cases of an allergic reaction, the immune system recognizes certain allergens in the body as invaders, causing an overreaction. In order to subdue the symptoms, the immune system produces immunoglobulin E, which doesn’t exactly work. The antibodies the immune system produces attack histamine-releasing cells, triggering an allergic reaction.
The most common triggers for allergic reactions are mold, dust, food, medications, animal dander, pollen, latex, and insect stings.
All these allergies can cause skin rashes, difficulty breathing, throat irritation, and other symptoms. Inflammation is a major factor behind allergies as well. It’s the root cause of many conditions and diseases and can especially harm the immune system. Whenever inflammation runs amok in the body, the immune system overreacts, possibly leading to an allergic reaction.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are not really effective against inflammation, but essential oils work great. Different essential oils can reduce inflammation, detoxify the body, treat infections, and destroy viruses and bacteria. They can also help the immune system in cases of allergies and are probably the best natural way to subduing all allergic symptoms.
Here are the best essential oils against allergies:
1. Peppermint Oil
Diffusing or inhaling peppermint oil works great for stuffy nose and clogged sinuses that came as a result of allergic rhinitis. The oil works great in cases of bronchitis, sinusitis, coughs, and several other respiratory diseases as it can reduce the amount of phlegm and help a patient breathe normally.
The oil has anti-inflammatory properties as well, which means it’s a perfect remedy for allergic rhinitis. To use it, put 5 drops of peppermint oil in a diffuser and turn it on. It will relax your nasal muscles and help you breathe normally again, while also reducing your stress levels. Alternatively, you can add a few drops of the oil in your smoothie or a glass of water and drink the mixture twice a day to treat the symptoms of allergies.
2. Tea Tree Oil
For years, medicine has been studying the incredible properties of tea tree oil. It’s a powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial remedy which works great in cases of allergic rhinitis. You can also apply it on your skin to treat irritation and accelerate the healing of small cuts and wounds.
When using it topically, just dip a cotton ball in the oil and apply it on the affected area. However, if your skin is sensitive, make sure to dilute it with a bit of jojoba or coconut oil first.
3. Basil Oil
Another powerful anti-inflammatory oil, basil will support your adrenals and prevent the immune system from overreacting to allergens. It will also reduce the inflammatory response in your body and help the immune system deal with allergens better. Basil oil can also help you defeat fatigue and eliminate bacteria and viruses.
To use it, add a drop of high-quality basil oil in salad dressings, soups or stews. To soothe respiratory problems, mix a few drops with the same amount of coconut oil, then rub the mixture in your chest or back of the neck.
4. Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil is an effective remedy for inflammatory diseases and allergic reaction. It will open up your airways and help reduce the phlegm in your lungs. Additionally, it can also eliminate allergens and any harmful microorganisms.
A recent study done on patients with respiratory tract infections showed that eucalyptus oil can reduce the symptoms significantly when inhaled. The study used eucalyptus oil spray which has shown the best potential.
To use it at home, you can diffuse the oil in your living room and bedroom. You can also put 2-3 drops of eucalyptus oil in a bowl of boiling water and inhale the steam to open up your airways.
5. Lemon Oil
Lemon oil is a powerful antibacterial remedy that can help treat a variety of diseases and conditions, including allergy symptoms. For years, the oil was used to treat problems such as clogged lymphatic system and bacterial infections. Lemon oil will support your immune system and clean the air in your home of allergens.
The biggest benefit of lemon oil is that it has the ability to detoxicate your body and boost the function of your liver. It can also reduce inflammation and prevent a variety of diseases and conditions. You can simply put a few drops of the oil in a glass of water and drink it every morning or diffuse the oil in your home for even better results.
What to Use Essential Oils For
You can use all these essential oils for any allergic symptoms. This includes skin irritation, rashes, hives, and inflammation. All the oils work great for seasonal allergies and food allergies as well.
There are no side-effects when using them unless your skin is sensitive. In that case, you should dilute the oil with a carrier oil (olive, coconut, jojoba oil) as we mentioned earlier. If you plan on consuming the oil, don’t take more than a drop or two. Anything more than that can cause complications you don’t want to experience.
