Home » Wellness » Cough Relief » How To Use Essential Oils to Suppress Cough

It’s that time of the year again where that sniffle sniffle turns into a cough cough.

All you really want is for the coughing to go away so the pain subsides so you can get some much needed rest. I completely understand and what if I told you, there was a way to subdue the cough? Naturally!

I don’t know about you, but when I’m under the weather, any relief I can get is good, but natural relief is the best. And essential oils can be the key to the relief you need from coughing.

Some essential oils have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce swelling, while others contain anti-septic properties that can help clear up the underlying cause of the cough. And still some have properties that can help us relax and put us in a better mood.

Find out which essential oils you can use to help relieve that annoying and painful cough!

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Why Do We Cough?

When our body is full of harmful microbes, irritants or dust, coughing is a common reaction of the respiratory system to try and expel them. This natural reflex can be extremely irritating, and even painful, but it is essential to help protect your lungs The worse part, is that coughing sometimes can even keep us up at night, which can impact our sleep quality until the duration of the cough.  

Top Essential Oils For Cough

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Eucalyptus oil contains a compound called cineole, which has antiseptic properties. It works as an expectorant to help loosen mucus in our bodies. This allows us to get it out of our system easier and faster. Applying eucalyptus oil can help dilate our blood vessels, in return, allowing more oxygen to get to our lungs. This can be especially useful if we are coughing so much that it is hard to catch a breath.

Peppermint Essential Oil

If we need to unclog our nasal passages, peppermint essential oil is our go to oil. The menthol in peppermint provides cooling effects that can help unclog our nasal passages. This allows us to be able to breath better. Menthol also acts as a natural expectorant that loosens phlegm and clears the sinuses. Peppermint oil is an anti-bacterial agent that can help fight against flu and cold germs that cause infections that causes our cough. It can also be used to relieve a scratchy throat that can be common with dry cough.

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Lemon Essential Oil

If your cough is caused by toxins, then lemon oil is the best choice to help your body get rid of the toxins that are causing you to cough. It supports the drainage of lymph nodes and allows our immune system to fight any underlying illnesses that is actually causing the cough. It supports our lymphatic system which protects our bodies from outside threats. It does this by improving blood flow and reducing swelling in our lymph nodes. Not only that, lemon oil also has anti-inflammatory and anti-septic properties that can not only fight infections but naturally cleanse your home as well.

Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary essential oil contains a compound called cineole which has been shown to slow or even stop coughing spells.  Rosemary oil also contains anti-microbial and anti-oxidant properties which can help boost the immune system.

Oregano Essential Oil

Oregano essential oil is a powerful oil that contains carvacrol and thymol which makes it a powerful anti-fungal and anti-bacterial oil. These two agents found in oregano oil help fight the potential cause of the illness that is causing the cough. Oregano oil is also considered an anti-viral oil. This means it helps fight, not only colds, but more serious infections as well caused by a virus and not bacteria. This is useful because many respiratory conditions are actually caused by viruses, not bacteria.

Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tea tree oil has been used for centuries to fight of harmful bacteria that can lead to respiratory problems. This oil has strong anti-microbial and anti-viral properties that fight off bacteria and viruses. These viruses can be responsible for many upper respiratory issues that can cause cough. If we are experiencing nasal congestion, the invigorating fragrance of tea tree oil can help clear congestion and ease cough.

Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense essential oil is known to have anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties are beneficial to help our bodies combat coughs and shorten cold or flu symptoms. Frankincense can be used to reduce stubborn coughs and other respiratory issues that can lead to coughing. It can also help us relax and heal.

Precaution When Using Essential Oils for Cough

When using essential oils for cough, be sure to use oils that are 100 percent therapeutic grade oils. This is especially important if you are taking them internally. Of these oils, eucalyptus, rosemary and tea tree should not be used on pregnant women. If you are pregnant and planning on using oregano essential oil, use caution and speak with your healthcare provider or a professional before use.

When using essential oils for cough on a child, it is best to diffuse eucalyptus, peppermint, lemon, oregano and tea tree oil from a distance. When using on a child’s skin, be sure to dilute the essential oils in carrier oils, use a small amount of oils and perform a patch test first before application.

Summing It Up

There are many different uses for essential oils. As you can see, using them to help relieve cough is one of them. Most of the essential oils work well when diffusing them in an essential oil diffuser, while others can be inhaled and offer immediate relief. Most of the oils on this list have anti-microbial, ant-bacterial and anti-viral properties. These properties will help get rid of the bacteria and viruses in our system.

What essential oils will you use to relieve your cough? Let us know in the comments section below!

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. Neither Self Verve nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. Be sure to contact your physician before trying any of the items stated in the above article.