Having a seasonal allergy is a royal pain. Itching, sneezing, coughing, congestion, headaches, and exhaustion it causes greatly affect your quality of life. When your body senses antagonistic invaders (allergens), it releases a kind of chemical called histamine that attaches to cells to make them swell and retain fluid in an effort to purge the allergen. Antihistamines block histamines from attaching to cells. (Updated May 8, 2024)
There are loads of over-the-counter and prescription pills and injectable antihistamine medications for treating allergies. However, these often leave you feeling tired, dizzy, and dry. Moreover, many have been linked to increased risk of neurological damage.
Also, it’s never a good idea to take medications of any kind for too long but if you suffer from seasonal allergies, but it’s hard to avoid seeking regular relief so you can get on with the business of living. Instead, why not try these essential oils for allergies?
5 Essential Oils for Allergies
Essential oils are the distilled essence of plants, distilled from leaves, fruit, flowers, and stems. They contain phytochemicals that can relieve symptoms of allergy, relieve congestion and headache, and promote solid sleep. Essential oils are sold in most health foods stores around the world.
Here are five essential oils for allergies that can counteract seasonal allergies, leaving you feeling relieved without all the side effects.
1. Basil Oil
Basil is rich in antioxidants (including vitamin C) and is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. The herb not only relieves symptoms of allergy but is, in fact, a potent anti-anaphylactic and antihistamine. (1)
“Different parts of [the basil] plant like stem, flower, seed, leaves, root etc are known to possess therapeutic potential and have been used, by traditional medicinal practitioners, as expectorant, analgesic, anticancer, antiasthamatic, antiemetic, diaphoretic, antidiabetic, antifertility, hepatoprotective, hypotensive and antistress agent. Tulsi has also been used in treatment of fever, bronchitis, arthritis and convulsion…results indicated the potent benefits of O. sanctum [holy basil] in the treatment of asthma and related conditions,” wrote a study in The Internet Journal of Pharmacology. (2)
You can inhale basil oil for instant relief and take food-grade basil essential oil orally under the direction of a naturopath. You can also increase your intake of the fresh herb for more relief.