In America alone, about 35 million people suffer from a sinus infection or sinusitis at least once a year.
Sinuses are empty air-filled spaces inside the skull, and it could be life-threatening, if not treated quickly.
Acute sinusitis may last for 2 to 4 weeks. The conventional treatment of sinus infection includes antibiotics, decongestants, and painkillers by such medicines can bring about various side effects.
Using essential oils for sinus infections and allergies are a popular form of home remedies that you may try safely.
In this article, you’ll learn the efficacy and uses of essential oils for sinus infection; plus causes, and symptoms of the condition.
Best 10 Essential Oils for Sinus Infection, Stuffy Nose, and Headache Relief.
Essential oils are volatile compounds from leaves, flowers, and fruits of certain plants. People also call them aromatic or ethereal oil, because they are the essence of individual plants.
Essential oils are rich with antimicrobial, fungicidal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
No wonder people have been using them as antidotes to all kinds of ailments for centuries.
Essential oils are a great alternative to over-the-counter medications in treating a sinus infection.
Let’s learn about some top essential oils and how to use them to heal sinusitis.
1. Tea Tree Oil.
Tea tree essential oil is popular for curing fungal and bacterial infections. This herbal oil is distilled from the tea tree plant. It has a pale yellow color and a mothball-like odor.
The antiseptic and antibacterial components of tea tree oil are ideal for the cure of sinusitis, coughs, chest congestion, congested nose, and cold and flu.
You can inhale its steam by adding a few drops of hot water or use it like a warm bath.
How to use tea tree essential oil for a sinus infection?
- Dilute some tea tree oil with a little bit of carrier oil in the ratio 2:4. You can use either almond or coconut oil.
- Dab your finger in the oil solution and apply it beneath your nose. You can massage it into the sinuses too.
- Rub a few drops of the solution on your forehead to relieve a sinus headache.
- Repeat the process twice a day to loosen the congestion and avoid infection.
2. Lavender Oil.
Lavender oil is well known for a host of therapeutic properties. This favorite herbal oil comes from the evergreen foliage- Lavender, grown in Northern Africa.
This sweet-scented herbal oil is rich in anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antidepressant, antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.
These can efficiently clear the congested sinuses, relieve pain and fight off the infection.
You can inhale lavender oil to get rid of a sinus headache and clean the phlegm formed in your lungs.
You can have a message with this oil, add it to your hot bath or use it as a hot compress. It will relieve you from coughs, nasal congestion, throat infection and other forms of respiratory disorders.
Below you have a steam therapy with lavender essential oil to treat a sinus infection.
How to use lavender essential oil for stuffy nose and congestion?
- Pour two cups of boiling water into a bowl.
- Mix 7-8 drops of lavender oil with the water.
- Cover your head with a towel as your face stands directly above the hot steam from the bowl.
- Repeat the process twice a day to thin out the congestion and clear the airways.
- Alternatively, mix 10-15 drops of lavender oil with your bathing water and dip in for 15 minutes. It will relax your muscles and senses and help you breathe comfortably.
3. Pine Oil.
Pine essential oil comes from the steam distillation of the foliage of the pine tree. It provides a wide range of health wellness.
The antibacterial and antiseptic properties inherent in this refreshing herbal oil help to relieve sinusitis.
Its potent decongestant effect resolves respiratory difficulties that come with a sinus infection. It’s a tonic for aches and pains as well.
How to use pine essential oil for sinus pressure?
You can apply a few drops directly to your nasal passages and rub on both sides of your nose. It will help to unclog the mucus and phlegm of a sinus infection
4. Eucalyptus Oil.
Eucalyptus essential oil has an extensive history of healing some respiratory and skin disorders in English history. Eucalyptus essential oil comes from the therapeutic eucalyptus plant or Tasmanian blue gum.
The leaves of the tree are steam distilled to extract the highly potent medicinal oil.
The high expectorant value of eucalyptus oil is especially beneficial for relieving cold, flu, sinus infection, and other respiratory problems.
The herbal oil has antimicrobial effects on the microorganisms that may cause flu and other infection in the body. Let’s get to know how to use eucalyptus oil to treat sinus infection and congestion.
How to use eucalyptus essential oil for sinus congestion?
Pour ten drops of the oil in a diffuser and diffuse the oil into your room environment all night to soothe sinus pressure.
Alternatively, mix the oil with steamy hot water, cover your head with a towel and inhale the aroma deeply to ease sinus infections and cold.
5. Peppermint Oil.
Peppermint oil comes from peppermint plants and is well known for its cooling menthol fragrance.
The organic compound-menthol makes it the ideal decongestant for treating clogged up airways, body pains, and coughs.
If you inhale it through a vaporizer, it helps to clear up the phlegm in your respiratory tract. The rosmarinic acid found in this herbal oil can also curb asthma and tuberculosis
Peppermint steam therapy is the best way to deal with a sinus infection.
You should follow the directions given below.
How to use peppermint oil for sinus headache and infection?
Put in a few droplets of peppermint oil to some steaming hot water.
Covering your head with a towel, breathe in the steam.
Do this twice a day to remove congestion and promote draining.
6. Rosemary Oil.
The sacred rosemary plant has a set of health benefits and culinary uses. The citrus fragrant rosemary essential oil comes from this celebrated lavender-like plant.
The study shows, rosemary oil has all the essential therapeutic properties to treat sinusitis.
The antiseptic and antimicrobial properties of rosemary oil can ward off sinus infections.
How to use rosemary essential oil for sinus pressure?
Blend four drops of rosemary oil with four drops of peppermint oil and make a solution.
Massage your temple and sinuses to relieve headaches and nasal congestion.
7. Clove Oil.
Clove is a fragrant spice mostly used in Indian and Chinese cuisine. Over the centuries clove has been a natural anesthetic to relieve toothaches and fight bad breath.
The evergreen clove tree gives us this heavenly clove oil.
This oil is a vital ingredient in aromatherapy because of its all-around health benefits. It has versatile use in the pharmaceutical and skincare industry.
Clove bud oil has antiseptic, antifungal, antimicrobial and aphrodisiac properties. This spicy and warming herbal oil is effective to relieve the congested sinuses and heal sinusitis.
How to use clove essential oil to clear sinuses?
You can use clove essential oil without diluting it.
Take a few drops and rub directly on the sides of your nose and sinuses.
Alternatively, you can add clove oil to a diffuser for treating a chronic sinus infection.
8. Oregano Oil.
Oregano essential oil comes from the dried wild oregano flowers and leaves. This therapeutic oil has a spicy aroma and golden color.
Carvacrol and thymol in oregano oil are two powerful anti-microbial properties to relieve sinusitis.
Massage and hot steam therapy are some popular methods to get the best out of this therapeutic oil for a sinus infection.
How to use oregano oil for sinusitis?
- Add a little bit of oregano oil to some hot steamy water in a bowl.
- Cover your head with a towel and make sure to keep the steam inside.
- Make sure your eyes are closed shut as you breathe-in this aromatic steam for a few minutes.
- Do this twice daily and clear your nasal passages and treat the infection.
9. Sweet Basil Oil.
Basil is one of the common herbs in our kitchen garden. People use this herb for all sorts of home remedies. This foliage is responsible for producing our well-known herb, Basil leaves.
This spicy and sweet-scented oil is enriched with antibiotic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
It can clear congestion in your sinuses and ease your acute sinus headaches.
It also combats throat infection, fatigue, and body aches.
How to use sweet basil oil for a sinus infection?
You can add ten drops of basil essential oil to a vaporizer. You’ll feel relief from sinus congestion or headaches in less than 10 minutes.
For quick relief from sinus pressure in your face, inhale this oil deeply from the bottle itself.
10. Lemon Oil.
Lemon is the storehouse of vitamin C, and people hail it as a cure-all fruit. Even the peel of lemon is remarkable. Lemon essential oil originates from the evaporative oil glands of lemon peels.
The potent anti-inflammatory components of lemon oil ease coughs and sore throat. This citrus-scented herbal oil is full of antioxidants to cure swollen glands, pains, sinus infection, and respiratory difficulties.
Home remedy for sinus infection using lemon oil?
Rub a few drops of lemon essential oil on your nose and around sinuses.
Inhale the oil deeply from the bottle to clear the clogged up nasal passages.
Mix 7-8 drops of lemon essential oil with steaming hot water to do a steam therapy.
Bottom Line.
Sinuses are empty air-filled spaces inside the skull. They have a channel to the nasal cavities with soft tissues and thin-lined mucous membranes.
People with a weak immune system have higher chances of developing a bacterial or fungal sinus infection. A common cold or allergy can infect you with bacteria or viruses and clog your nasal passage with fluids. This, in turn, can lead to swelling of the mucous membranes and tissues in the sinuses. Thus, you can have a sinus infection.
Peppermint, lemon, rosemary, and lavender essential oils are some highly recommended essential oils for treating sinus infection and related symptoms.
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