10 Best Essential Oils for Seasonal Allergies and Why They Work: Recipes Included
Inside: Find out the 10 best essential oils for helping you through seasonal allergy times. From congestion to inflamed sinuses; from runny, itchy noses to watery eyes, essential oils can help!
Seasonal allergies are no fun, and this is the time of year for many of us to be dealing with them! Pollen and other irritants can cause inflammation in the sinus areas and sensitive tissues of the nasal passages. Sneezing, congestion, and runny eyes and noses are unpleasant allergic reactions to the change of the seasons!
Luckily, essential oils and a bit of aromatherapy can have a huge impact on how our bodies process the irritants in the environment, boosting our immune systems, opening up sinus passages and helping us breathe, cleaning the air, and calming and soothing the automatic stress response caused by the discomfort of allergy symptoms.
Here are the top essential oils I suggest in my practice for springtime allergy relief to clients, friends, and family, along with why I’ve chosen the specific essential oil. Some are safer for children, so I’ve given substitutes you can consider if you’re diffusing around young children.
I’ve included some recipes for blends you can make, too! These can be diffused into the air. Alternatively, they can be used in personal inhalers, so if you’re in a closed office space or are around very young children or infants, these are a great option.
**Also, for an easy herbal remedy for a decongestant that really works, take a look at this article, too.
FTC Disclosure: There are affiliate links scattered here and there in this article. If you click through and make any kind of purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Pollen is pretty, but it sure can wreak havoc on your sinuses in the springtime! Essential oils can help!
Here are my top essential oil picks to help you deal with seasonal allergy issues:
The essential oils below all have certain characteristics that make them a favorite of mine for reducing springtime allergy symptoms. I like to make my blends with essential oils that have both similar and synergistic properties.
You’ll find by blending essential oils, the chemicals will enhance each other for a more powerful combination than just one essential oil by itself.
Lemon Essential Oil (Citrus Limon):
Due to the limonene in lemon essential oil, our immune system is greatly benefitted because it helps increase the activity of white blood cells. Lemon is incredibly cleansing as well. Find out more about lemon essential oil here.
Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender is very helpful because of its strong anti-inflammatory capabilities, and it’s also a calming, soothing essential oil. Find out more about lavender essential oil here.
And…for an incredible cleaning spray using lavender buds and the essential oil, click here.
Peppermint Essential Oil (Mentha x piperita)
**For children, I like to use Spearmint (Mentha spicata) instead
Peppermint essential oil contains high levels of menthol, and this chemical is wonderful at opening sinus passages and helping us breathe!
Find out more about peppermint essential oil here.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Eucalyptus globulus)
**For children under 10, I prefer to use Fragonia, an Australian herb.
The chemical, 1,8-cineole, is responsible for making eucalyptus a favorite of aromatherapists for supporting the respiratory system.
Copaiba Essential Oil (Copaifera balsamum)
Copaiba is an exceptional anti-inflammatory and also soothing for anxiety. When we’re dealing with any kind of stress or pain, including the discomfort from seasonal springtime allergies, it’s a good idea to also manage the stress response as well. The beneficial chemical constituent (among others) is b-caryophyllene.
German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria recutita)
German Chamomile is another wonderful essential oil for calming anxiety and soothing inflammation. This is due to the high level of chamazulene it contains.
Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
Oh, sweet marjoram is beautifully scented, and it’s a mild sedative essential oil, making it useful for not only helping calm inflamed passages, but also for soothing stress and anxiety.
Find out more about Sweet Marjoram here.
Pine (Pinus spp.) Essential Oil
Pines of all kinds help support the respiratory system.
Frankincense (Boswellia spp) Essential Oil
Frankincense is a favorite because it is helpful for the mind, calming the spirit, and is mildly supportive to the respiratory system as well. It also grounds other scents and is a wonderful enhancer for other essential oils.
Find out more about Frankincense essential oil here.
Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Essential Oil
Tea tree essential oil is one of the BEST air cleansers around, and is an excellent essential oil to use in blends for seasonal allergies, as well as many other uses.
Find out more about tea tree essential oil here.
Hey! If you prefer to watch a video instead, you can see me discuss these essential oils. :-) For the recipes, though, please see the rest of this article below!
Diffusing essential oils is a great way to get a fine mist of the oils into the air in your home or office.
Diffusing versus Inhaling Essential Oils
The blends I’m about to share with you can be either diffused in a diffuser or nebulizer, OR they can be placed in a personal inhaler. Let’s talk about the differences and safety.
Diffusing Essential Oils:
When you’re diffusing your essential oils into a room, every person as well as animals can be affected. Some essential oils have safety indications for certain populations and pets, and you should be well aware of these before diffusing into a room.
Assuming your blend is great for everyone in the room, I suggest using the number of drops recommended on the directions for your diffuser. This is usually between 5 and 15 drops, depending on the size of the diffuser.
Diffuse for about 30 minutes at a time, up to several times a day.
The great thing about diffusing essential oils is that it’s a lovely way to scent your room, clean the air at the same time, and manage those allergy issues!
Here’s one of my favorite diffusers, and here’s a nebulizer (these are more therapeutic) that I love too.
Inhaling Essential Oils:
Inhalation is a more personal experience, to be honest, and there are several ways you can get the benefits of an essential oil blend without a diffuser.
One way is to use an actual essential oil inhaler. These are inexpensive and can be purchased on Amazon. They’re often refillable and reusable, and this is the kind I like.
You can also place a couple of drops of your blend in the palm of your hands, rub them together, then “cup” them over your nose. Breathe deeply a few times, and enjoy the relieving benefits!
Inhalers are wonderful for older children who are responsible enough not to share with friends, and who understand how to use them, too. They can be packed into pockets and are very useful this way.
Lavender is a wonderful essential oil made from the flowers and leaves. It’s calming, soothing, and antimicrobial. It’s one of those all-purpose essential oils that is safe and practical to keep in your home.
Ideas for Where to Buy Quality, Reasonably Priced Essential Oils
As an aromatherapist and herbalist, I have done a great deal of research on sourcing essential oils that are of high quality and are also reasonably priced. I’ve listed several companies below. I’m an affiliate for a couple of these, and others, I’m not. Here’s where I usually purchase my oils:
Starwest has fast shipping and quality oils. They also give you a range of choices for quantities, so if you’re buying oils for soap making, for example, where you need more essential oil than just 5 ml, this is the place to go. They also have small quantities, and if you have a business, they offer a wonderful wholesale discount.
I love their essential oils, and their blends are fantastic. One caveat: You need to be sure to look at the ingredients, as some of their blends (as in all companies) may be in a base of fractionated coconut oil or other carrier. You can’t use these in your diffuser! Just do a quick check.
I recently found this company, and I’ve really been enjoying their products! They also have a great skincare line that combines herbs and essential oils.
I like the fact that this company has their GC/MS (chemistry) reports right on their website, and it’s easy to find. Their shipping is incredibly fast.
IMPORTANT: More and more, quality of essential oils is vital to your aromatic success when it comes to therapeutic uses. Click here to see my Shopping Guide, which has a LONG list of my personally vetted companies for purchasing high quality essential oils. I’m not an affiliate for most of these companies, and I trust all of them. Scroll about halfway down the page for the list.
Pine trees give off pollen in the spring that many are allergic to….and yet the essential oil is exceptional for helping us deal with respiratory issues from seasonal allergies.
This Herbal Remedy Guide is perfect for your kitchen or home apothecary! Click here to get yours now!
Essential Oil Recipes for Springtime Allergies:
**For young children, use the substitutions suggested above, and as always, be sure to research your own situation in terms of safety and use. You might enjoy my Ultimate Essential Oil Reference Guide, which contains safety information for all populations, as well as proper dilutions.
You might also enjoy joining my Oily Crew, where we deeply study an essential oil every month, dive into the chemistry, look at many different ways to use the oil, and of course, review safety for the specific essential oil.
Now, on to the recipes!
Tree Folk Relief
4 drops pine
4 drops frankincense
1 to 2 drops cedarwood
*****
Blessed Relief
3 drops lavender
3 drops lemon
2 drops frankincense
2 drops peppermint (or spearmint for children)
*****
Citrus Clean Pollen Relief
3 drops orange
3 drops lemon
3 drops tea tree
*****
Good Lungs
2 drops peppermint
1 drop eucalyptus (or fragonia)
2 drops tea tree
2 drops lavender
*****
A Sigh of Peace
3 drops lavender
2 drops eucalyptus (or fragonia)
2 drops peppermint (or spearmint)
2 drops lemon
*****
Herbal Love Spring Relief
4 drops lavender
3 drops sweet marjoram
3 drops orange
2 drops copaiba
*****
Sneeze No More
3 drops lemon
3 drops pine
3 drops German chamomile
2 drops copaiba
Ready to learn herbalism and aromatherapy and create your home apothecary? Enroll FREE in my 5-Day Herbal Foundations course!
Final Thoughts on Essential Oils for Allergy Relief
Botanicals have literally saved my health! Between herbs and essential oils, I haven’t had to use (or buy) and over-the-counter drugs or even take a prescription in over ten years now. It’s a blessing, I can tell you, to have natural health and to know how to take care of my family’s needs with plant medicine.
I hope you’ll give essential oils a try!
They’re wonderfully effective, especially for issues like inflammation, mood management, and skincare. For allergies, they’re a wonderful way to support feeling good again. If you’re interested in using herbs as well as essential oils for allergy relief, take a look at my favorite allergy tincture on YouTube.
Also, consider joining our Healing Harvest Homestead Natural Living Community! It’s off social media, truly private, no ads, and you control what topics you see in your feed! It’s also free for everyone!
Here are some related articles and videos you may like too:
Tea for Soothing Inflamed Sinuses During Colds, Flu, or Allergies
10 Best Essential Oils for Cold and Flu
Sinus Congestion Roller Bottle Recipes: For Children and Adults
7 Home Remedies for Sinus Congestion that Really Work!
Mullein and Marshmallow for Allergy Relief: A Tincture Recipe
Videos for Seasonal Allergy Relief:
Watch Me Make Mullein and Marshmallow Tincture for Allergy Relief
Safe Sinus Essential Oil Recipes for Kids & Adults
An Effective and Safe Remedy for Getting and Staying Asleep!
And there are more articles on my website, Healing Harvest Homestead, as well as my YouTube channel! I hope you’ll subscribe!
Hey! If you’re interested in learning more about using essential oils, including understanding the chemistry, consider joining us in the Confident Oily Crew! This is a monthly membership community with a growing bank of masterclasses on essential oils, safety, remedies and recipes and more!
You can find out more here: The Confident Oily Crew
Hugs, Health, and Self-Reliance,
Heidi
P.S. Be sure to get your FREE Herbal Remedy Guide to 10 Common Herbs plus a handy cheat sheet! Just click on the banner below!
This handy home remedy guide is perfect for your kitchen or home apothecary! Click to get yours now! It’s free!;
Disclaimer: I’m an herbalist and aromatherapist….not a medical doctor. The information I share is for education only and not meant to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any disease or illness. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.