Some of the very same essential oils used to help relieve cough and chest congestion, like eucalyptus or tea tree oil, can also be irritating to your skin, sinuses, and airways.
Inhalation exposure to VOCs, O3, PM2.5, etc., can induce pulmonary oxidative stress, inflammation, and autonomic dysfunction in human subjects.
Eucalyptus oil helps loosen phlegm, so many people breathe in eucalyptus steam to help treat bronchitis, coughs, and the flu.
There have been anecdotal claims of respiratory issues for people with or without asthma due to airborne irritants from a variety of diffused essential oils. VOCs within the diffused oils can affect indoor air quality causing a similar pollutant effect as air fresheners, scented candles, and incense.
The answer is yes it is safe, but even more than that, breathing in essential oils can be good for you. Inhaling essential oils isn't just pleasant because of their gorgeous scents and aromas they release, but it can actually positively affect your mental and physical wellbeing too.
Essential oils may help to soothe the throat, reduce inflammation, and clear away mucus. The medical community tends to view essential oils as a complementary alternative therapy rather than a medical treatment.
As little as 2mL (less than half a teaspoon) of eucalyptus oil can cause significant poisoning in an infant. Symptoms of toxicity include: drowsiness, slow/shallow breathing, coma (after large ingestion) seizures.
Using Eucalyptus Oil For Congestion
To create a mixture of this essential oil, boil water and add 10-15 drops of eucalyptus oil to it. Then, gently breathe in the vapors from the mixture for about 5-10 minutes in order to allow these vapors to remove the congestion in your nasal passage.
Inhaling eucalyptus oil can also be harmful as it may cause abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness, vomitting and diarrhea. These symptoms are altogether called eucalyptus oil poisoning as it can be fatal too.
Aspirating an essential oil can cause pneumonia; this can happen if someone tries to swallow it, but chokes so that a little goes into the lungs. Individuals can have varying reactions to essential oils, as they might to other medicines and products.
Essential oils can cause allergic reactions, especially in people prone to skin rashes and those who have pollen allergies. Reactions to essential oils may include skin rashes, itchy and runny nose, and difficulty breathing.
For direct inhalation, apply between one to six drops (0.05ml – 0.3ml) of undiluted essential oil to a handkerchief/tissue and inhale occasionally. You can do so up to three times per day.
Eucalyptus essential oil may have advantages as a supportive therapy for people with COPD. For example, research published in Advances in Therapy notes that a compound found in eucalyptus oil — 1,8-cineole — has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may be helpful for respiratory disorders such as COPD.
Mix 2-3 drops of eucalyptus oil with one teaspoon of a carrier oil (like jojoba or sweet almond oil), apply to a cotton ball and lightly dab onto the affected area two to three times daily. Soothe sore throats and earaches: To soothe a sore throat, rub 2-3 drops of eucalyptus oil onto your chest and throat.
Frequently steaming with Eucalyptus Oil is a highly recommended practice. This preventative remedy boosts the immune system, strengthening the body against various colds, flus, and viruses.
Eucalyptus inhalation is recommended for colds, flu and sniffles. Add 1 to 2 drops of eucalyptus oil to a bowl and pour over 1 litre of boiling water. Cover your head with a hand towel and inhale the steam for approx. 5 minutes.
One of the most popular ways to use eucalyptus oil is via inhalation. You can inhale eucalyptus oil by taking a whiff directly from the bottle or by adding one to three drops to a cotton ball or towel and then breathing them in.
Conclusions: The outcome of this study reported that the essential oil of Eucalyptus and Corymbia species, mainly eucalyptol can be utilized as a potential inhibitor against COVID-19 and also it can be used in its treatment. Hence, further analysis was required to explore its potential application in medicine.
It is not advisable to directly and intensively inhale essential oils for longer than 15-20 minutes, such as with steam inhalation. However, this does not apply to ambient inhalation from essential oils vaporized into the air.
Add 5 drops eucalyptus essential oil. 3. Closing your eyes, place your face above the bowl, and inhale the steam through your nose. For optimal support, drape a towel over your head for full inhalation.
When essential oils are applied to the skin they are absorbed and travel around the body via the bloodstream. In this way they are able to deliver a range of benefits to the body's systems and organs. Absorption is increased by massage, as this increases the circulation in that area of the body.
Dr. Block advises against diffusing lavender and tea tree oils because of the potential complications, particularly in children and teens. Pregnant women and people who have hormone-related medical conditions such as diabetes should talk to their doctors before using essential oils topically or with a diffuser.