At this time of year, when the weather’s closing in and the skies darken early, we can be more susceptible to colds and coughs. When the symptoms stay in the body longer, it’s not uncommon to find phlegm clogging our chest or throat for weeks afterward – not to mention those persistent coughs that we just can’t shift! This, of course, can lead to constant discomfort and secondary damage such as muscle pain.

In these cases, it is recommended to use the aromatic inhalation method – sniffing fragrances directly through the nose. Some constituents of essential oil will act directly on the lungs, promoting the excretion of sputum, loosening the airways and calming the cough spasms.

DIY aromatic inhaler for coughs 

Ingredients

• Eucalyptus Radata　(3 drops)
• Spike lavender　(3 drops)
• Rosemary 1,8 cineole 　(2 drops)
• Peppermint　(2 drops)
• Clarysage　(1 drops)
• Bergamot　(2 drops)

It is common to suffer from coughs associated with the sputum that builds up during colds and more serious viruses such as flu. To counter and calm this action, we should make a blend of essential oils that contains antiviral actions, expectorant actions and antispasmodic actions, in order to relax the muscles and suppress muscle cramps.

Combine the above essential oils and let them be sucked into the core rod of the inhaler to complete.

With the aromatic inhaler, we can draw the aromatic ingredients directly into the nasal passages, making breathing easier and draining the sputum away much faster. Recently I had a long-lasting cough problem myself, with a lingering cold that just wouldn’t depart! On the first day I inhaled as many times as I felt like, and by the end of that day the inhaling action had become much easier. After the second day I had lowered the number of inhalations to 2-3 times per day, and after the fourth day the cough had almost diminished to the point where I was hardly aware of it!

However, if you don’t have an aromatic inhaler to hand, you can saturate masks or handkerchiefs with the fragrance instead, or even inhale the scent directly from the essential oil bottle. The important point is that aromatherapy can work well to treat respiratory problems, such as coughs or nasal congestion, so inhaling these aromas directly into the airways is beneficial to clear and relieve the body system. However, a more direct aromatic inhaling method can cause headaches or feeling discomfort, so please be careful not to inhale to excess.

Another recommendation is to make an aromatic mist or to use an aroma diffuser, by adding essential oils to refined water and spraying the resultant blend into the room. This will also help to purify the air, leading to a healthier environment!