We live in a world that has been mainly polluted by humanity. Even though the exact causes of asthma are unknown, it is generally regarded to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
While the genetic element is not easily controllable, the worsening state of the atmosphere, especially in populated urban areas with high air pollution, asthma is becoming more common by the day.
The degree to which a person is affected by asthma is also something that needs consideration. While some attacks may be more dangerous than others, regular treatment with essential oils is bound to reduce the threat.
Therefore, you should opt for essential oils for asthma to better your chances of defeating an imminent attack.
Why Essential Oils Are Good for Asthma?
While the degree to which asthma affects you might differ, there is no actual cure for the condition. Furthermore, our exposure to polluted air in the cities and sustained inhalation of suspended particulate matter in the dirty air increases our chances of contracting the diseases and worsens an individual affected with a mild case.
Asthma takes time to cure and any natural cure along with medicines help in faster recovery. Essential oils help to calm you down by providing required immune support, menthol properties and regulate breathing rate.
Essential oils have a variety of natural sources which help cure the disease faster. Extracted from these natural plants, they are volatile hydrophobic compounds with a distinctive aroma.
They have a host of health benefits and can be of extreme use to patients wishing to reduce their asthma cough. Every essential has its own properties which help to reduce a cough and asthma treatment.
[Also Read: Natural Remedies to Treat Asthma]
How To Use Essential Oils For Asthma?
If you are thinking how to get rid of Asthma, there are different kinds of essential oils that are suitable for allergy and asthma. In the absence of any real asthma medication, essential oils can go a long way in preventing an attack.
Following are the top essential oils that can assist patients with diagnosed asthma:
1. Eucalyptus Oil for Asthma
Steam distillation of leaves from the eucalyptus plant produces the eucalyptus essential oil, which is known to have pharmaceutical and antiseptic uses(1).
Why Does It Work?
The distinctive aroma of eucalyptus oil can go a long way in clearing the respiratory tract through long and deep inhalation of the rich fragrance.
Mild asthma can be treated this way, which can also help an individual avoid the side effects of allergy shots or mainstream medication. The anti-inflammatory properties of eucalyptus oil also make it an excellent choice for asthma treatment.
How To Use?
Boil some water with a few drops of eucalyptus oil to generate a distinctive and effective fragrance. Once the steam emerges, deeply breathe in so that it can clear your respiratory tract eventually. Adding several drops into a damp and warm towel and breathing in the aroma will also achieve the same thing.
2. CBD Oil for Asthma
CBD oil, better known as Cannabidiol is a derivative of the cannabis plant that can help keep your asthma under control.
Why Does It Work?
Over the last few years, the excellent effects of cannabis on asthma have become highly popular. As a derivative of the cannabis plant, CBD oil retains the anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator effects associated with the plant. It this reduces inflammation by helping the dilation of the bronchioles. It also reduces any chances of spasm and acts as an analgesic for any chest pain related to the attacks.
How To Use?
While cannabis is regarded as a nerve stimulant and associated with intoxication, the essential oil derivative allows you to cut out the negatives and focus only on what is medically beneficial. You can use 5-10 drops of the oil in combination with THC oil in a tincture for best results.
[Also Read: Other Ways to Use CBD Oil for Asthma]
3. Black Seed Oil for Asthma
It is an oil which comes from the south Asian plant known as black cumin. It is a spice used in cooking in Asia, and the seeds are utilized to obtain essential oils.
Why Does It Work?
Black cumin seeds are believed to have antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effects which may help a person with asthma. The reduction of inflammation and spasms can reduce the severity of your asthma attack. The essential oil is as good as synthetic anti-allergic medicine in modern medical science and has the added advantage of no side effects.
How To Use?
For optimal results, black seed oil must be mixed with olive oil. The two oils can be blended and heated with water, and the person who is having an asthma attack can inhale the vapor. Five parts olive oil mixed with one-part black seed oil can also be rubbed onto your back and chest to avoid symptoms of asthma.
4. Oregano Oil
Oregano oil is an essential oil that comes from a perennial flowering plant in the mint family.
Why Does It Work?
Oregano is famous for its lung cleansing benefits. The essential oil derivative from the plant can help clear the excess mucus in the respiratory tract. They act as decongestants and antihistamines to reduce a severe attack.
How To Use?
The water-soluble kind of oregano oil can be mixed with water and boiled to a temperature to produce enough steam. This steam with the oregano oil aroma can be inhaled to provide relief to asthma patients.
[Also Read: Proven Herbal Remedies for Asthma]
5. Peppermint Oil For Asthma
Peppermint oil comes from a hybrid plant of watering and spearmint which is native to Europe and the Middle East, and effective in treating asthma(2).
Why Does It Work?
Shortness of breath is one of the most common symptoms of an asthma attack. Menthol in peppermint acts as an antihistamine and helps relieve blocked noses and a stuffy respiratory tract which results in a more natural way to breathe for patients under attack.
How To Use?
You can apply peppermint oil topically, on your chest, to reduce the threat of asthma. Inhaling the steam can also be beneficial to an asthma patient. For added benefit, add a few drops to a warm bath and soak in the aroma.
6. Clove Oil
It is also a spice commonly used in Indian cuisine. Clove essential oil is derived from the same source.
Why Does It Work?
Clove oil has antifungal and antiseptic properties that were not unknown to the ancient civilization. It is also anti-inflammatory, which helps soothe the irritated respiratory tracts of an individual affected by asthma.
How To Use?
You can inhale, consume or apply clove oil to experience how it improves your asthma attack. Using it in a diffuser or nebulizer is as effective as drinking it like tea, in warm water, thrice a day.
7. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is one of the most well-known remedies that help soothe an attack if asthma.
Why Does It Work?
Lavender oil is known for its sedative and relaxing properties, which can work wonders to a person under asthma attack. In a person with asthma, lavender oil can help clear the air passage and thus reduce inflammation and breathing issues.
How To Use?
You can add a few drops of lavender oil to a humidifier or a diffuser to feel the benefits that it brings to your inhalation and exhalation during an asthma attack. Adding drops to a warm bath can also be helpful.
8. Rosemary Oil For Asthma
Rosemary oil is one of the traditional remedies for asthma which is extracted from the rosemary bush.
Why Does It Work?
Recent studies have revealed that rosemary oils can soothe and relax the inner walls of the trachea. In short, it makes breathing more comfortable for someone who is having an asthma attack.
How To Use?
You could use rosemary essential oil in combination with a lighter, carrier oil to maximize the effects it has on your health. Heating the mixture and inhaling the steam can be extremely helpful for an asthma patient.
9. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is typically extracted from tea trees grown in mountainous regions that promote terrace farming.
Why Does It Work?
Tea tree oil, with all the benefits of a nerve stimulant, can be beneficial to anyone who has asthma.
How To Use?
Add tea tree oil to warm water and inhale the aromatic steam to help clear your swollen interior passages to rid yourself of your recent asthma attack.
Precautions
Essential oils for asthma have massive health benefits, but they are also concentrated derivatives from different plants which may not always be compatible with the normal function of the human body. Make sure that it is diluted and tempered with water or other carrier oils for maximum effect and use.
FAQs
1. Is Asthma Curable?
Asthma is a condition that cannot be cured entirely. The attacks can be kept at bay, however, in a variety of ways. Using essential oils for asthma is a crucial method in which you can prevent asthma attacks.
2. Can Adults Develop Asthma?
Yes, intrinsic asthma is a type of the condition that develops in adults only, after the age of 30.
Asthma could be caused due to several factors, it could be hereditary, environmental or even induced due to smoking. Hence, it is important that we take care of ourselves to prevent us from the disease attacking.
However, if it does, essential oils do provide quick and instant relief from the irritant reflex that you are feeling in your lungs.
