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Top 7 Essential Oils for Cough
Along with the common cold, the flu and other respiratory conditions typically comes a cough that keeps you up at night and limits your ability to breathe with ease. Although so many people suffer from a cough every year, many aren’t aware of the natural remedies that are truly effective. There are several essential oils for cough that have antispasmodic, expectorant, antiviral and antibacterial properties. Like my recommended essential oils for colds, these oils serve as a safe and effective way to get rid of your cough and other symptoms of a respiratory condition for good.
According to research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, over-the-counter (OTC) cough suppressants are of no benefit for children and shouldn’t be used by children who are under the age of 6 years old. On top of that, the benefits for adults are likely minimal. Many people turn to codeine to relieve their coughs, but did you know that codeine is a narcotic that can cause withdrawal symptoms like other opiates when it’s overused? Plus, studies show that in adults codeine and antihistamines have no effect on cough.
So many people are desperate to find a more effective remedy for their coughs. Try these essential oils for coughs that work to address the cause of your cough while simultaneously loosening mucus, relaxing your muscles and reducing cough intensity.
The 7 Best Essential Oils for Cough
These essential oils for cough are effective in two ways — they help to address the cause of your cough by killing toxins, viruses or bacteria that are causing the problem, and they work to relieve your cough by loosening your mucus, relaxing the muscles of your respiratory system and allowing more oxygen to get into your lungs. You can use one of these essential oils for cough or a combination of these oils.
1. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is an excellent essential oil for cough because it works as an expectorant, helping to cleanse your body of the microorganisms and toxins that are making you sick. It also dilates your blood vessels and allows more oxygen to get into your lungs, which can be helpful when you are constantly coughing and having trouble catching your breath. In addition to this, the major component in eucalyptus oil, cineole, has antimicrobial effects against many bacteria, viruses and fungi.
The best way to use eucalyptus oil as an essential oil for cough is to diffuse 5 drops at home, especially right before bed. Eucalyptus can also be applied topically to your chest and neck to reduce cough severity, but only use a very small amount — starting with 1–2 drops. Another great way to use eucalyptus and other essential oils for cough is to prepare a homemade vapor rub that’s made with olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, peppermint and eucalyptus. Keep in mind, eucalyptus should not be used topically on children under the age of 2 and when it’s being used on children, do a patch test first to make sure they don’t experience adverse skin reactions.
2. Peppermint
Peppermint oil is a top essential oil for sinus congestion and coughs because it contains menthol and it has both antibacterial and antiviral properties. Menthol has a cooling effect on the body, plus it’s able to improve nasal airflow when you’re congested by unclogging your sinuses. Peppermint is also able to relieve a scratchy throat that makes you dry cough. It’s also known to have antitussive (anti-cough) and antispasmodic effects.
Research conducted on healthy adults shows that peppermint oil relaxes the bronchial smooth muscles and increases ventilation, which is why it’s often used by athletes to enhance their exercise performance. It is these properties that allow peppermint to reduce coughing severity and improve your respiratory rate and ability to breath.
The best ways to take advantage of the many peppermint oil benefits for coughs and respiratory conditions is to diffuse 5 drops at home or work, inhale it directly from the bottle or apply 2–3 drops topically to your chest, back of neck and temples. When using peppermint topically, you can apply it alone, or combine it with coconut oil and eucalyptus oil to create a vapor rub. Remember that a little bit goes a long way, so start with just a few drops when using peppermint on your skin. Plus, don’t get it too close to your eyes or it can cause irritation. Do not use peppermint oil on the skin of children under the age of 2.