How to Use Aromatherapy to Ease a Cold

Treating a cold is a matter of waiting it out, as there is no medication to cure it. Many people turn to more natural ways of easing the symptoms, such as chicken noodle soup and aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils distilled from plants to heal mental and physical ailments. Follow the steps to learn to ease the symptoms of a cold using essential oils.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Choose and buy an essential oil best suited for your ailment. In this case the best oils for easing a cold include: bergamot, cedar wood, chamomile, cinnamon, cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense, ginger, juniper, lavender, lime, myrrh, orange, peppermint, pine, rosemary and tea tree. Use one or mix two together to create your favorite scent combination.

2. Diffuse essential oils into the air using a candle diffuser or lamp found at an aromatherapy retailer, or by adding a few drops of oil to a heated pot of water. Diffuse oils with a humidifier using a special pullout filter or by placing a small bowl filled with hot water and oil in front of the air filter.

3. Steam your face and nasal passages by pouring boiling water into a metal or glass bowl, and adding drops of essential oil. Place a towel over your head and position your face 12 inches above the bowl, breathing deeply.

4. Add a few drops to a bath to relax your muscles, clear your chest and nasal passages and ease other symptoms. Place a drop of oil to your pulse points for an extra boost of fragrance and therapeutic benefits.

5. Buy ready-made room or pillow fragrance sprays or mix essential oils with hot water in a spray bottle.

Tips & Warnings

• Read about aromatherapy to find out about other benefits of essential oils and learn more information about the practice.
• Store oils in dark glass containers in a cool, dark place to keep oils potent.
• Avoid using perfume oils like essential oils. Perfume oils have similar scents but lack the therapeutic benefits of true oils.
• Avoid use before reading safety information on all oils if you are pregnant or have a medical condition. Most retailers sell bottles with safety information.

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