Essential oils for sinus infection Essential oils for sinus infection

6 Essential Oils for Sinus Infection

A minor inconvenience to health gives physical tension along with mental illness. For instance, sinus infection1, which affects the respiratory system, has the power to ruin your day with intense headaches, nausea2, and irritation.

This infection can be treated through various methods, while the most convenient one is to use essential oils for sinus infection.

Six Essential Oils for Sinus Infection

The name sinusitis is known as a sinus infection. A sinus infection occurs when nasal cavities become infected, swollen, and inflamed. Essential oils for sinus infections are herbal treatments. Europe uses herbal treatment mostly. 

You can treat a sinusitis infection in numerous ways depending on the severity of the infection. Complementary to the prescription of medicine, certain home remedies are of great help. Home remedies like humidifiers and steam baths are of great help.

This type of home remedy helps open the sinus cavities and is a great relief from sinus pressure. Essential oils for sinus infections are an effective remedy for sinus infections.  

1. Tea Tree Oil

essential oils for sinus infection
Photo by Indiana Jones on Flickr

Tea tree oil3 is one of the essential oils for sinus infections, this oil is used in reducing inflammation, which may bring down swelling.

Tea tree oil helps improve sinus infection as it can fight bacteria and viruses that are considered the root cause of sinus infection.

This oil is also one of the most important essential oils for sinus infections. It has been reviewed that a component known as alpha-sabine4 is present in tea tree oil which provides antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects

2. Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Eucalyptus
Photo by Sydney Oats on Flickr

Eucalyptus has been proven to be an effective remedy for sinus infections, among other essential oils. Eucalyptus oil is used in chest rubs as it is believed that this oil helps treat coughs and colds.

This oil is even used in treating sinus infections; it helps clear the stuffiness and congestion5 in the nose. Thus, it is an important oil to treat sinus infections. 

3. Peppermint Essential oil

Peppermint essential oil contains methanol6. This compound helps clear mucus and open the airways. Certain lab studies show that peppermint oil helps fight bacteria, one of the causes of sinus infection.

Peppermint is an important essential oil among other essential oils for sinus infection as it also helps reduce inflammation.

You can apply this peppermint oil through a steam bath, and a couple of drops of oil are added to the bathwater to enjoy its healing properties.

4. Rosemary Essential Oil

This oil is famous for the vapours present in it. Rosemary oil7 helps in opening the sinus pathways, which helps in better breathing.

Rosemary essential oil is important among other essential oils for sinus infection as it has anti-inflammatory properties that help heal inflammation8.

rosemary oil
Photo by Caldix on Unlimphotos

5. Lavender Oil

People are quite skeptical about this oil as it has been tested on animals and not on humans, though it is said that this oil helps to reduce pain and swelling.

This improves the symptoms of sinus congestion. Lavender oil also has anti-inflammatory properties; this oil can be compared online with various options

6. Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon oils are known for providing vitamin C as they have a high concentration, thus boosting the immunity system. Lemon oil is best known for its cleansing properties, which extends to the immune system.

Lemon oil greatly supports the lymphatic9 and respiratory systems because this essential oil breaks down mucus to relieve congestion. It is the most versatile oil among other essential oils for sinus infections.

When mixed with honey, lemon oil is an effective remedy for sore throat. When lemon oil is mixed with peppermint and eucalyptus, it smells amazing. 

You can add lemon oil to tropical rubs. Lemon oil can be consumed when it is diluted with water or hot tea. You can also use lemon oil to clean the air and as a detoxifier in a spray bottle or a diffuser.

These were examples of oil working to provide relief from the problems of sinus infection. 

Olive oil
Photo by yellowj on Unlimphotos

How to Apply Essential Oil?

Inhalation of these essential oils for sinus infection is the best way to relieve a stuffy nose and congestion. 

1. Steam Inhalation

The essential oil is combined with hot water to process steam therapy in this process. Add three to seven drops of essential oil to boiling water in a large heatproof bowl. 

2. Direct Inhalation

In this process, you may directly inhale the oil from the bottle. Another way is to add a few drops of essential oil to the handkerchief and breathe it in. 

3. Take Aromatherapy Bath

Add a couple of bits of diluted essential oil to your bathwater.

4. Go for Aromatherapy Massage

Add a few drops of essential diluted oil to your massage or lotion. 

Practice for Positive Application of Essential Oils

Some practices to be followed for sinus infection application are:

  • Use these essential oils for sinus infection by diluting them with a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba oil before applying it.
  • Always do a patch test. In this test, you need to apply these essential oils for sinus infection to a small area of your skin and then wait for 24 hours to see if any irritation occurs. 
  • You should keep these essential oils away from children and pets as many of these essential oils for sinus infection might be toxic for them.
  • Purchase these essential oils for sinus infection from well-reviewed brands. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long do sinus infections last?

The duration of acute sinusitis is under four weeks, but chronic sinusitis can exceed 12 weeks. After around 10 days, normal sinus infection patients will start to feel better.

2. What is a sinus infection caused by?

Allergies and colds may result in the buildup of excessive amounts of mucus or restrict the sinus opening. The entry of the sinuses may be blocked by a septum that is deviated or nasal polyps.

3. How do you treat a sinus infection?

A few times a day, you should spray saline nasal spray in the nostrils to clean up your nasal passages.

EndNote

Sinus infection makes life uncomfortable as the patient cannot sleep properly, and there are difficulties in breathing.  It causes painful pressure behind the eyes and nose to run constantly accompanied by annoying coughs.

Essential oils for sinus infection may clear up the nasal passages and provide relief from sinus pressure or other symptoms of sinusitis. 

So, try out these amazing essential oils for relief from the sinus!

  1. Staudacher, Anna G., and Whitney W. Stevens. “Sinus infections, inflammation, and asthma.” Immunology and Allergy Clinics 39.3 (2019): 403-415. ↩︎
  2. Balaban, Carey D., and Bill J. Yates. “What is nausea? A historical analysis of changing views.” Autonomic Neuroscience 202 (2017): 5-17. ↩︎
  3. Carson, Christine F., Katherine A. Hammer, and Thomas V. Riley. “Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil: a review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties.” Clinical microbiology reviews 19.1 (2006): 50-62. ↩︎
  4. Ali, Babar, et al. “Essential oils used in aromatherapy: A systemic review.” Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 5.8 (2015): 601-611. ↩︎
  5. McCoul, Edward D., et al. “Differences in the intended meaning of congestion between patients and clinicians.” JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery 145.7 (2019): 634-640. ↩︎
  6. Jaff, Zardasht, et al. “Impact of methanol intoxication on the human electrocardiogram.” Cardiology Journal 21.2 (2014): 170-175. ↩︎
  7. Eilyad, Issabeagloo, et al. “Antimicrobial effects of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) essential oils against Staphylococcus spp.” African Journal of Microbiology Research 6.23 (2012): 5039-5042. ↩︎
  8. Inflammation, Short-Term Vs Long-Term. “What Is Inflammation?.” (1972). ↩︎
  9. Drinker, Cecil Kent. “The lymphatic system.” Annual Review of Physiology 7.1 (1945): 389-404. ↩︎

Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology

Author

Shreyanshi Jha

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