The Best Way To Breathe Easier This Winter
It’s getting colder outside and winter is coming. One of the things that I don’t like about winter is that, no matter what, I always must deal with a stuffy nose and congestion. I don’t get colds often, but my sinuses are sensitive, especially when it’s cold outside. It’s just not fun having to breathe through your mouth and deal with sinus pressure.
There is hope though! I want to share a way to open your nasal passages and help with breathing. I can’t take complete credit for it though. My Mom was my inspiration. She used to make a pot of hot chamomile tea and would have me hold a towel over my head and inhale the vapors. The vapor helped with congestion and I remember it was so soothing. Now when I’m congested, as opposed to using tea, I use essential oils, specifically Eucalyptus.
I wanted to share this method with you because it is so effective at opening your nasal passages and it helps a lot with breathing. It’s simple, just place 2 cups of hot water in a bowl, add 5 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil, put a towel over your head and inhale the vapor for 3 to 5 minutes. You can do this a few times a day. Remember to keep your eyes closed to avoid any irritation. Please see below for a video.
So, why specifically Eucalyptus essential oil? It has antibacterial, antiviral, and decongestive properties. You may already know this, but Eucalyptus essential oil is an active ingredient in Vicks Vapor Rub.
The essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves of Eucalyptus trees. There are more than 450 different species of Eucalyptus, but the most common species used are Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus radiata. I find Eucalyptus radiata to be milder since it has a lower concentration of cineole, which is also called eucalyptol. That’s why I prefer to use it over globulus for my little guy.
If you are a mom or dad and wonder if you could use this with your kids, keep reading.
Using this type of steam inhalation with essential oils such as Eucalyptus is NOT recommended for small children under the age of 10. The main reason is that based on available safety information it is not recommended to apply a concentration of 1.8 cineole rich essential oils such as Eucalyptus to or near the face and nose of infants and small children. This does not mean you should avoid Eucalyptus essential oils with small children, you just need to make sure it doesn’t get on their face. A good option would be to do a steam shower. You can place a small towel on the bottom of the shower and add a few drops on it and let the hot water run over it.
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