Essential Oils for Hay Fever and Other Allergies
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Comparing
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Useful Amrita Products for Hay Fever and Other Allergies:
Which essential oils are effective in treating allergies and hay fever?
Essential oils contained in the following allergy products have traditionally been used for allergies, allergic rhinitis, and hay fever:
- Allergy Easer Roll-On Relief – When you are experiencing allergies, take a moment to sit, close your eyes and focus your attention on where they are affecting your body. The discomfort could be in your head, your chest, your throat, your eyes, or anywhere. After you have brought awareness to where the symptoms are located, roll it directly on those areas.* For itchy eyes, apply around the eyes; for skin irritations, apply to the affected area.* In addition, apply under the nose and on pulse points.* Note: Avoid direct eye contact.* Do not ingest.* Avoid use if you have epilepsy, hypertension or are pregnant.*
- Allergy Ease Synergy – The application of choice for this synergy, is to use it undiluted in a diffuser. Due to the Blue Moroccan Chamomile, it can clog nebulizers. Additionally, you can dilute it in any carrier oil to use it for respiratory allergies (6 drops per tablespoon); then, apply it under the nose or inside the nostrils or do a steam inhalation with it.* For itchy eyes, dilute it and apply it under the eyes.* For skin irritations, dilute it and apply it on the affected area.* Note: Avoid use if you have epilepsy, hypertension, or are pregnant, as it contains Hyssop. However, you may use the other essential oils by themselves that are contained within Allergy Ease Synergy, especially Moroccan Chamomile, Ammi Visnaga, Lavender Maillette, and Palmarosa.
- Allergy Relief Tri-Essence Power Blend – This Tri-Essence Power Blend helps strengthen and balance your immune system to handle allergens and environmental pollutants.* This blend, along with a balanced treatment plan, can help manage allergy attacks and histamine release.* Add 20-40 drops to a small amount of water and take when symptoms are present or as recommended by your healthcare advisor.
*These statements made on this page have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not intended to diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. If a condition persists, please contact your physician or healthcare provider. The information provided is not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a healthcare provider, and should not be construed as medical advice.
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Useful Single Note Essential Oils for Hay Fever and Allergies:
The following essential oils have traditionally been used for allergies:
- Helichrysum – Diffuse it.
- Lavender – Diffuse it.
- Moroccan Blue Chamomile – Diffuse it. Note: Use only in small quantities, and never with children or during pregnancy.
- German Chamomile – Diffuse it. Note: Do not use German Chamomile if you have a ragweed allergy as it is said to make it worse. German Chamomile does not work in a nebulizing diffuser so you will have to use another kind of diffuser.
There is some evidence(1) that a nasal spray made from citrus lemon extracts and Ravintsara and Niaouli essential oils was effective in "the treatment of perennial and seasonal allergic and vasomotor rhinopathy".
See the listings for these aromatherapy essential oil products below.
Sources: (1) http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn/2012/404606/
Learn more about aromatherapy or see our how to use essential oil videos.
Disclaimer: The statements made on this page have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. If a condition persists, please contact your physician or healthcare provider. The information provided is not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a healthcare provider, and should not be construed as medical advice.
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About the Condition:
What is allergic rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis is when the nasal passages become inflamed due to the effect of allergens. Allergens such as pollen, dust and dander (particles of hair and skin that animals have shed) trigger a response in people with sensitive immune systems. The response is an increase in the production of antibodies.
When these antibodies bind to certain cells, it causes the release of histamines and other chemicals. Generally, this causes sneezing, increased mucus and for the nasal passages to become inflamed and swollen and the eyes to become watery and itchy. Some people can also develop a rash.
Air pollution can aggravate allergies. So can chemicals like chlorine. Allergic responses of one kind or another are very common, although for some it only occurs on a seasonal basis in response to certain plants like ragweed.
What is hay fever?
Hay fever is a particular kind of allergic rhinitis in which the allergens are the pollens of grass or trees.
What causes allergies?
It isn't the allergen that really causes allergies. Otherwise everyone would suffer from them. Allergies are an over-reaction by the body to the allergens. Instead of disregarding them, it treats them as a threat and launches a full scale response similar to how it responds to when you catch a cold. So it is, in a sense, an immune system problem.
There does seem to be some inherited genetic disposition toward developing allergies in that you are more likely to develop them if one parent also suffered from them. You are even more likely if both parents had it. Some have allergies as children but grow out of them. Some don't even get allergies till a little later in life.
If you are allergic to the pollen of one plant, you are more likely to develop an allergy to another type of pollen.
Disclaimer: The statements made on this page have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. If a condition persists, please contact your physician or healthcare provider. The information provided is not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a healthcare provider, and should not be construed as medical advice.
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Other Treatments
What are conventional medical treatments for allergies?
Generally avoiding whatever triggers the allergy is the best response. When this isn't possible, Western medical approaches are to quell the symptoms. For example, you can take antihistamines. However, they do have drowsiness as a side effect. Generally cortico-steroids such as nasal sprays are a preferred treatment; however, they have to be taken continuously and take a few days to take effect.
Some people find allergy immunotherapy (desensitization) effective. This is basically where the allergens are increased gradually with the aim of building up a long-term tolerance to them. It often involves injections and needs the supervision of a physician. It can take 3 to 12 months to be effective.
What are alternative treatments for allergies?
The evidence as to whether acupuncture is effective for rhinitis has given mixed results.
Some people find saline nasal irrigation (neti pots) useful in relieving some of the sinus pain associated with the allergy.
Of course, essential oils traditionally have also been used for allergies. For more information, see the Useful Essential Oils tab.
Disclaimer: The statements made on this page have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. If a condition persists, please contact your physician or healthcare provider. The information provided is not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a healthcare provider, and should not be construed as medical advice.