Best Essential Oils for Sinusitis

This is an article that’s close to my heart. I have suffered with sinusitis for many years now. So if anyone is in a good position to recommend the best essential oils for sinusitis – I have to say I am one of them.

Sinusitis is a condition that suffers have to live with day-to-day. The symptoms worsen some days, and depending how badly you are affected you may have some days it’s hardly noticeable.

Viruses like colds and the flu make the symptoms so much worse. The cavities around your nose become inflamed and blocked. This makes it difficult to breathe and is incredibly uncomfortable.

Traditional medicines that are either prescribed from a doctor or available over the counter are not incredibly effective. After trying just about every product on the market I only found real relief when turning to essential oils.

In this article I will take you through my own personal experiences with aromatherapy and sinus infections. The essential oils that have been most effective in soothing the sinus problems. What you can do to help cure your sinus infection and relieve yourself of those annoying symptoms..

Sinus Infection Symptoms

Here are some of the symptoms that go hand-in-hand with a sinus infection, or sinusitis;

• Congestion and blockage
• Discharge from your nose, ranging from clear to yellow or green when bacteria is present
• Painful areas on your face where the sinus cavities are
• Fatigue and tiredness
• High fever
• Sore throat and tickly cough
• Bad breath

Using Aromatherapy to Help with Sinusitis

If you have been to your doctor you will have been offered antibiotics or some routine cold remedies. These are not effective in the long-term, and often do not even sooth all the symptoms in the short-term.

If you are anything like me you are probably a little hesitant to load up on prescription medications too. Antibiotics in particular should only be taken when really necessary. Your body will build up a resistance the more you take. Making it harder to treat serious conditions with antibiotics in the future.

Using aromatherapy and essential oils however is a good natural solution. It always surprised me when I hear people say they didn’t consider using oils, or didn’t know their healing benefits.

Prescription medications is the quick and easy way out. It’s what we know as a society and are told works. But after you use the oils and recipes in this article, you are going to change your opinion.

You can use essential oils without the worry of side effects or adverse reactions. They can be used over and over, and there is no disturbance to the body’s balance.

Best Essential Oils for Sinusitis

There are a lot of different oils that are effective in treating sinusitis. I suggest you look through the list below and try an oil that you like the aroma of. All of the oils below are anti-inflammatory, are known to reduce swelling and relieve the symptoms of sinus infections;

• Menthol
  
• Lavender
  
• Sweet Basil
  
• Lemon
  
• Eucalyptus
  
• Tea Tree
  
• Pine
  
• Rosemary
  
• Thyme
  
• Chamomile
  

You can browse all of these oil over at Amazon by clicking the button below.

Aromatherapy Techniques to Help with Sinusitis

Neti Pot or Bowl

A Neti pot is a container specially designed to flush mucus from the nose. I recommend purchasing one of these as they are very useful and effective at clearing out blockages.

Next you need to make a solution using essential oils and saline water as follows;

• Add 3-4 drops of oil to a container. You can mix oils if you wish, that’s up to your preference.
• Warm up two cups of distilled water.
• Add 1 teaspoon of Himalayan or sea salt to the warm water and give it a stir.
• Add the essential oils you prepared in step one and mix the solution.
• Pour the solution into your Neti pot.
• Tilt your head gently to one side and pour the solution into your nostril.
• The fluid will drain through your nose through both nostrils.
• Repeat from both sides a couple of times.

Try and repeat this a couple of times a day if your symptoms are really bad. You will feel an immediate relief. But the mucus will start to build back up and cause a blockage throughout the day.

Steam Inhalation

Steam inhalation is also an effective way to relieve the symptoms of sinusitis. It has the benefit of both the essential oil properties, and steam to open up and help clear the blockages.

Just follow these instructions;

• Boil some water and pour it into a bowl, a few cm deep will suffice.
• Add 3-4 drops of your chosen essential oils. Eucalyptus is my favorite choice for this technique.
• Lean your head over the bowl and cover your head with a towel to keep the steam in.
• Slowly inhale the steam, breathing in through your nose, and out through your mouth.
• Ss the water cools and the steam slows down just add more boiling water.

Use a Diffuser

There are several types of diffuser on the market, but all have a similar end effect. They diffuse the essential oil into the air and make it easy for you to breathe them in.

Add a few drop of oil to the diffuser with water as directed. Try and sit somewhere quiet and just concentrate on breathing. This is a hands-free approach, but that doesn’t mean you can go off multi-tasking. Concentrate on the diffused oil and your breathing to make the most of it.

Take an Essential Oil Bath

A popular method that combines the steam and oil as the inhalation technique but also serves as some pampering and relaxing is a bath. Put a few drops of oil in a hot bath, dip in and relax for a long soak.

The steam helps deliver the aroma of the oil into your nasal passages. Thinning the mucus and relieving you of the inflammation and pain in the sinus cavities.

Massage

I have to mention massage as a therapy. Although it’s not always an accessible option to have someone else do it, you can massage yourself. Use a mix of oils and you will experience all the sinus relief benefits, and it’s great for the skin.

Be careful not to get any oil in your eyes. Gently massage the oil mix into the pressure points on your face and on either side of your nose. Work your forehead too and your temples, you will find this incredibly relaxing.

Ingestion

Ingesting oil is not necessary with sinus infections in my experience. If it is a preferred method however, you can do this.

You should always be very cautious and follow instructions carefully. Essential oils are potentially very dangerous if you take on too much, or the wrong type.

You should only ingest the food grade essential oils that are clearly marked that they can be used for this purpose.

Airing on the side of caution I never recommend giving children any oil in this way. Just a few drops of oil can be fatal to a child. So unless directed by a medical professional, it’s better to avoid giving it to a child to ingest.

Essential Oil Recipes for Sinusitis Infection

I thought I would provide a few recipes that I have used myself before. As well as some that have been recommended to me. They are intended to be very effective at clearing out the sinus cavities, relieving swelling, and helping with headaches.

For all recipes follow the guidelines above. Prepare a bowl then add the ingredients as directed. Cover your head with a towel and focus on breathing in the steam.

Recipe #1

• 1 Quart of hot water
• 2 Drops of eucalyptus oil
• 2 Drop of tea tree oil
• 1 Drop of ginger oil
• 1 Drop of thyme

Recipe #2

• 1 Quart of hot water
• 2 Drops of eucalyptus oil
• 2 Drops of rosemary oil
• 2 Drops of peppermint

Recipe #3

• 1 Quart of hot water
• 2 Drops of eucalyptus oil
• 2 Drops of peppermint oil
• 3 Drops of pine

If you have any recipes or feedback to the above I would love to hear from you. While the oils in this article cover the best essential oils for sinusitis, there are many recipes and techniques that people use.

I will give your advice a try and include your information here. You may end up helping others with their sinus infections too. Thanks.