Today, let’s create a gel to ease the swelling and itching in the eyes from hayfever using a selection of essential oils with excellent anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. The anti-itching effects of this gel can also be used on skin problems caused by insect bites or allergies.

In my article about essential oils recommended for hay fever, I mentioned geranium as an oil effective for suppressing itching, redness and swelling in allergic skin. There has also been research carried out suggesting that geraniol and citronellol, the main constituents of geranium essential oil, show a potent anti-inflammatory effect.  Since geraniol and citronellol are the main constituents of rose otto, and palmarosa contains more than 70% geraniol, these essential oils will also have excellent anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. In fact, geranium has shown the best anti-inflammatory effects in comparative experiments with other essential oils.

Lavender also has an anti-inflammatory action, and there have been experiments comparing the dilution ratio of lavender essential oil necessary to suppress skin swelling from allergic reactions. According to the results of this experiment, lavender began to be effective with a dilution ratio of 0.2%. At a dilution ratio of 1% more than twice the effect is observed than with 0.2%, but at a dilution ratio of 1% or even more – 10%, 50% or even 100% – it turned out that there was no significant difference between these amounts. In other words, even lavender with a dilution ratio of 1% suppresses skin swelling adequately, so it can be said to be an important material to demonstrate efficacy even with a small amount of essential oil.

This gel can also be used for the eyes! Aromatherapy to calm itching and swelling.

Materials (dilution ratio about 0.7%):

• Aloe Vera gel (10ml)
• Essential oils:
  • Geranium (1 drop)
  • Lavender (1 drop)

We use Aloe vera gel for its high permeability of essential oil. Mix the essential oils with the Aloe vera gel very thoroughly. Apply it to the affected part when you feel itching or suffer redness on the skin. You can use it on the eyelids and around the eyes, but please be careful not to get any of it in your eyes.