Hay Fever Site

Certain health disorders can be helped by the use of aromatic oils – known as essential oils. It is believed that stimulating our sense of smell with a particular aroma can help to treat a particular health problem. There’s no doubt at all that aromatherapy can aid relaxation and help to reduce the anxiety, tension and irritability often associated with hay fever.

Concentrated essential oils are extracted from plants and may ei­ther be inhaled, rubbed directly into the skin or used in bathing. Each odour relates to its plant of origin, being a concentrated version of the aroma of the original plant, such as lavender or geranium.

Plant essences have been used for healing throughout the ages, and smaller amounts are used for aromatherapy purposes than in herbal medicines. Aromatherapy oils are obtained either by steaming a par­ticular plant extract until the oil glands burst, or by soaking the plant extract in hot oil so that the cells collapse and release their essence.

Techniques used in aromatherapy

These are the main methods used in aromatherapy:

• Inhalation – Giving the fastest result, the inhalation of essential oils has a direct influence on the olfactory (nasal) organs, and is immediately received by the brain. Steam inhalation is the most popular technique. Mix a few drops of oil with a bowlful of boiling water and lean over it to breathe in the steam, or use an oil burner, whereby the flame from a tealight candle heats a small saucer of water containing a few drops of oil.

• Massage – Essential oils intended for massage are normally predi­cted. They should never be applied to the skin in an undilute (pure) form. When using undiluted essential oils, mix three or four drops with a neutral carrier oil such as olive or safflower oil. The oils pen­etrate the skin, and are absorbed by the body, and this is believed to exert a positive influence on a particular organ or set of tissues.

• Bathing – Tension and anxiety can be reduced by using aroma­therapy oils in the bath. A few drops of pure essential oil should be added directly to running tap water – it mixes more efficiently this way. No more than 20 drops of oil in total should be used.

Oils for treating hay fever

The following essential oils are believed to have beneficial effects:

• Tea tree (contains terpenes, alcoloids and cineol) – Reputed to purify the respiratory system, relieve sinus infections, stimulate elimina­tion through the throat and lungs and strengthen breathing. As an expectorant, it stimulates and liquefies mucus production to ease nasal and sinus congestion.

• Rosemary (contains cineol, alcoloids, esters and ketones) – Cleanses the lymphatic system, eases respiratory conditions and stimulates elimination through the lungs.

• Sandalwood (contains santolol) – Stimulates mucus secretions to ease nasal and lung congestion. It can also help to combat fatigue.

Terpenes work to drain and dry mucus; alcoloids work to energize and can help to combat infections; cineol works as an expectorant to loosen bronchial mucus; ketones work to dissolve thick mucus and aid respiratory problems; santolol works to clean the lymphatic system and aid respiratory problems.

Using a blend of oils

A blend of the above-mentioned oils can reduce the symptoms of hay fever, calm the respiratory system, reduce itchiness and irritation in the mucous membranes and dry much of the nasal discharge. Use them together in the following combinations:

• For massage – Place three drops of each of the three essential oils above in a bowl with 25 drops of a neutral carrier oil such as olive or safflower oil. Mix together and use for a gentle massage in the upper back and chest areas.

• For inhalation – Place one drop of one or more of the three above oils in a bowl of boiling water and inhale. Lean over the bowl and cover your head and the bowl with a towel to prevent the fumes escaping.

Oils for relaxation

Lavender is the most popular oil for relaxation. It is known to be a wonderful restorative and excellent for relieving tension headaches as well as stress. Other oils that can be used alone or blended to provide a relaxing atmosphere include Roman camomile and ylang ylang. Ylang ylang has relaxing properties, including a calming effect on the heart-rate, and can relieve palpitations and raised blood pressure. Camomile can be very soothing too, and aids both sleep and digestion.

Drop your relaxation oils into the vessel part of an oil burner and top up with water. Light a tealight candle beneath the burner and relax while the essential oils scent the whole room and you inhale their fra­grance. Such oils are safe around babies and children, as rather than being overpowering the aroma is soft and soothing.

Try one of the following combinations. In each case, blend the oils well and diffuse in a burner. The first two combinations can also be added to 2 fl oz of distilled water, shaken well and used in a spray bot­tle for a non-toxic room freshener with relaxing properties.

• 5 drops lavender, 2 drops Roman camomile and 1 drop ylang ylang.

• 8 drops mandarin, 3 drops neroli and 3 drops ylang ylang.

• 10 drops bergamot, 2 drops rose otto and 3 drops Roman camomile.

For relaxation, this is a great blend for use in the bath:

• 3 drops lavender, 2 drops marjoram, 2 drops basil, 1 drop vetiver, 1 drop fennel.