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What Is Aromatheraphy for Allergies?

While your immune system may revolt against some plants by plaguing you with allergy and hay fever symptoms, it may benefit from the use of essential oils made from other medicinal plants, judiciously applied through the art of aromatherapy. Used with care, aromatherapy may not only relieve the symptoms of allergies and hay fever; it may also help strengthen your immune system to help you fight off allergies for the long term.

  1. Allergies

    • When you have an allergic reaction, your immune system is treating some everyday substance as a major threat. Immune cells that are supposed to fight off invaders rush to the area of exposure--like your nose, eyes, throat and skin--and bring with them a rush of fluid and inflammation that sets you sneezing, wheezing, coughing, swelling and scratching. Respiratory allergies can also be accompanied by eczema (a dry, itchy rash) and asthma (inflammation and swelling of the airways). Common allergens include airborne plant pollen, dust and dust mites, mold spores, animal hair and dander, insect bites, chemical compounds and certain foods.

    Aromatherapy

    • Aromatherapy uses essential oils extracted from medicinal plants. The oil, inhaled or absorbed through your skin, carries with it the healing properties of the plant. Essential oils are much more powerful than other herbal applications such as teas or tinctures. You can inhale them--just a drop or two on a handkerchief, in a bowl of hot water or in your bathwater. You can make a cool compress with a couple of drops diluted in water. You can mix essential oils with a carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil or grapeseed oil, and massage it into your chest, back or even your sinus area.

    Aromatherapy for Allergies

    • There is a wide variety of herbs that aromatherapists recommend for allergy symptoms and for long-term immune building. A few common ones constitute a gold standard in the treatment of allergies and hay fever through aromatherapy. These include basil, blue tansy, Roman or German chamomile, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint and many more. The exact blend of essential oils varies depending on the desired effect. Essential oils are expensive, but a little bit goes a long way: many aromatherapy recipes call for 10 drops of each oil into 1 oz. of carrier oil. Look on the label to make sure you are buying a natural essential oil and not a synthetic copy, as the synthetics may irritate a sensitive immune system.

    Precautions

    • Before using any essential oil, perform a two-stage skin patch test. On clean, dry skin, place one drop of the carrier oil you plan to use on the inside of your elbow. Leave it uncovered and do not wash it off for 24 hours. If your skin does not react, the carrier oil is safe to use. Next, perform the same procedure with each essential oil you plan to use. If your skin becomes irritated, you are sensitive to that oil. Wash it off with soap and water and do not use it for aromatherapy; it will just irritate your symptoms. If your skin remains clear, you can use the essential oil. Do not skip this step.

    Finding a Professional

    • Essential oils are very powerful, costly and easy to misuse. If you do not want to experiment with essential oils on your own, you can find a trained professional aromatherapist who can mix a balanced blend just for you, based on your specific symptoms and sensitivities. An aromatherapist may also be willing to educate you about dosages and interactions with conventional medications or supplements you are using. Use the registry below to help you find an aromatherapist near you. Always tell your regular doctor about any new health regimen you are practicing.

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