Wheezing, sneezing, coughing, oh my! All the ailments associated with allergies cause as much irritation as the allergens do.
It’s even worse when we have to watch our kiddos walk around with stuffy noses, just absolutely miserable from all the sinus pressure. There are plenty of over-the-counter medicines that we can take, but so many times, our kids spit them out. Plus, some OTC medications like Benadryl aren’t safe for babies.
As parents, we are always looking for alternatives to wrestling matches with our kids just to do what’s in their best interest. Saving a little bit of our sanity for another fight would be a great bonus as well.
For hundreds of years, indigenous communities have used essential oils in a variety of ways. Before there was Western medicine, there were essential oils. Ancient and time-honored practices essential oil treatments alleviated pain and repelled insects like mosquitoes. As far back as society goes, we were bothered by insects buzzing around our heads!
Thankfully, essential oils still exist, and a bunch of oils can be used to relieve symptoms of allergies.
Filling the Gaps
Maybe you’ve tried every OTC medicine on the market, but you and your kids are only getting partial relief, or perhaps none. Or maybe you’re on prescription medication for allergies, but there are days when symptoms and certain allergens in the air are just too strong. You need something that can back those medicines up.
This is where essential oils come into play. These guys are meant to work — naturally and effectively. Considering how long indigenous people have been using oils, we know they have the longevity of being the real deal.
At The Natural Patch Co., we support every parent’s desire to provide happy and full lives for our families. But we also believe that we can do this as naturally and chemical-free as possible.
Oils for Allergies
There are plenty of essential oils on the market, and sometimes it can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out what to use and when.
Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you. We are going to break down allergies and their symptoms, allergens, and their triggers. Then, we’ll give you the full scoop on what essential oils will combat all of the above.
As parents, it takes a village to raise kids. We are so grateful to be a small part of yours.
What Are Allergies?
As a general explanation, allergies are the symptoms triggered by your body due to an outside or foreign substance.
When your body comes into contact with items you are allergic to, your body tries to react with an immune response. But sometimes, your body can’t react fast enough or isn’t triggered until after symptoms of allergies begin.
For food, this generally means hives or rashes, in extreme cases, anaphylaxis. These can be the same symptoms when you or your kids are allergic to medicines or insect bites and stings.
For stings and bites, you can also expect intense itching, pain, and swelling at the bite site. It also means that these symptoms could last longer than what is considered typical.
The Magic (and Scientific) Solution for Allergies
If you haven’t already done so, check out our MagicPatches to subdue the symptoms of insect bites and stings. The patch technology pulls the venom or saliva to the top of the skin, helping to alleviate symptoms fast and keep those pesky symptoms away for good.
For environmental allergens, this reaction generally means runny noses, stuffiness, pressure in your sinuses, and a lot of sneezing and wheezing. These environmental allergen ailments could include a condition called hay fever, which is an intense reaction to the dander and allergens and can cause these symptoms as well as watery and red eyes.
Word of Caution
If you or your kiddos have severe food allergies, you need to take serious precautions to always avoid these.
In cases of anaphylaxis, you will need a device known as an EpiPen. An EpiPen is a shot of epinephrine, which your body needs after coming into contact with these allergens to counteract your body’s immune response.
If you have an allergy that requires an EpiPen, keep it with you at all times. Nothing can replace an EpiPen; it’s essential to have it as well as know exactly how to use it.
For kiddos who are in school during the day, it’s also important to let their school know about their allergens and keep a spare EpiPen with the school nurse. It may also be a good idea to get medical ID bracelets for little ones who aren’t yet old enough to articulate their specific needs and allergies.
For Less Severe Cases
If you don’t have severe allergies, you may be advised to take over-the-counter medicines. If you find that OTC medicines aren’t doing enough, it is time to try essential oils.
The Best Essential Oils for Allergies
There are a large variety of essential oils that can reduce the symptoms of allergies.
This may seem overwhelming; with so many choices, it might be easy to get confused and give up. But in reality, it’s a great thing. With so many options, you can find the right oils that work for you.
Let’s break down each oil so you can understand the unique options and uses for all of them:
Lemon Oil
Lemon oil is the first essential oil on our list. Why? It works the same way the main active ingredient in OTC allergy medications works, so it’s a priority.
Antihistamine is the main active ingredient in allergy medications, and lemon oil is a natural antihistamine. If you were worried that going natural meant the relief wouldn’t be as effective or as direct, think again.
Lemon oil will naturally relieve mucus buildup and cool down the inflammation associated with allergy symptoms. It also works as a natural anti-bacterial, so it may clean out your respiratory system.
Peppermint Oil
You will feel the relief from peppermint oil almost as soon as it is inhaled. Peppermint oil is strong, fresh, and minty and will help clear out sinuses quickly.
It will work to clear out the sinuses and then reduce the inflammation associated with allergies by calming down the irritants in your sinuses that cause the swelling.
Peppermint oil also has pain-relieving qualities, so the irritation you’ve been feeling from a stuffy nose will subside fast. This quality of the oil will also help eliminate the scratchiness in your throat from all the buildup in your sinuses, so you’ll also notice the need to clear your throat or cough will fade away.
Black Spruce Oil
When in the thick of allergies, you may notice during the fog of sinus pressure and buildup that you need to lay down or rest more frequently.
Black spruce oil works to combat these feelings. This oil could clear out passageways so that breathing becomes easier. It will also fight the fatigue felt with allergy exhaustion.
If you’ve also been feeling tightness or soreness in your chest from sneezing, wheezing, and coughing, black spruce oil will relieve the pain associated with these ailments.
Just like lemon oil, black spruce oil is not only beneficial but vital to the overall relief we need from allergy symptoms.
Grapefruit Oil
Grapefruit oil works a little more of the behind-the-scenes magic. What do we mean?
Well, you know that feeling of fatigue you feel when allergy symptoms weigh you down? Grapefruit oil works as a mood booster. It might not seem important, but you will miss the effects of grapefruit oil if you leave it out.
Those feelings of fatigue and fog can quickly turn into lethargy and moodiness. If we don’t feel good, we won’t be able to complete a task or find a lot of joy in our day-to-day activities.
With the addition of grapefruit oil to your allergy blend, you’ll feel better physically and mentally, which is critical for a good and fun-filled day with the kids.
Put It All Together: The AllergyPatch
What do all four of these essential oils have in common? Not only do they all do wonders for relieving us of allergy symptoms, but they also happen to be included in our blend of AllergyPatch!
We’ve done the hard work for you and created a perfect blend of allergy-relieving oils to work fast and naturally for you and the kids. These patches are filled with enough essential oils to provide relief for up to eight hours, and they’re safe for kids and adults. This means no more fighting for you and plenty of relief for the kids.
Now, you can spend more time playing in the park and less time trying to dilute essential oils and rub them all over your squirmy children.
Nature to the Rescue
We all need natural relief from allergies. With this information and our line of carefully-engineered patches, you will feel relief from your allergies fast and with protection that lasts.
Imagine all the extra time and sanity you’ll have now that allergy relief is so easy.
Sources:
Allergies - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic
Essential Oils for Seasonal Allergies | MeridianHealth
Is Benadryl safe for infants? Risks and dosages | Medical News Today
