Essential oils are highly concentrated natural oils extracted from flowers, leaves, roots, and other plant parts. They contain virtually all of the plant’s beneficial nutrients, vitamins, minerals, oxygenating molecules, amino acid precursors, enzymes, and hormones. The oils are obtained by distillation and have the characteristic fragrance of the plant or source from which they are extracted. For centuries, essential oils have been used in a number of therapeutic and medicinal applications, including for congested chest relief and Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS).
AFS is a result of excessive stress on the body and correlates with imbalances in our NeuroEndocrine Metabolic (NEM) stress response, which is how our bodily systems and organs work together in unison to protect us from stress and ultimately restore the body to normal function.
In AFS, it is often common to contract a cold, flu, sore throat, or sinus infection multiple times a year. As the body loses energy, the immune system becomes less responsive. This opens up your body to attacks from various viruses and bacteria and frequent infections.
Essential oils can not only quickly penetrate the surface of the skin and cell membranes, they are also anti-inflammatory and create a hostile environment for threatening pathogens like bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. It is imperative that those with AFS take special care to nurture their body, taking precautions to prevent and mitigate chronic conditions and infection. Essential oils are an excellent natural remedy for respiratory issues and all kinds of conditions.
Listed below are the characteristics and uses of certain essentials oils that can help to alleviate a congested chest, asthma, and a number of other respiratory conditions.
This essential oil has anti-inflammatory and immune system boosting abilities. The antioxidants in clove oil help to rid the body of dangerous free radicals that can cause heart disease and cancer.
Clove oil is antispasmodic, helping to reduce muscle tension when experiencing an asthma attack. It is also antiviral, as it helps to purify the blood and fight a plethora of conditions, acting as a natural remedy for chest congestion, coughs, colds, respiratory viruses, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, and tuberculosis. Clove oil is a natural expectorant, which helps to clear mucus from the lungs and airways, signalling the body to increase secretions that lubricate the irritated respiratory tract– it is also used to clear the nasal passage and soothe sore throats.
There are a few ways to use clove oil: diffuse it in a vaporizer; diffuse it in an oil diffuser; or apply it topically to your chest by mixing it with a carrier oil like coconut oil– this will certainly aid in alleviating a congested chest.
Acting as an expectorant, antihistamine, decongestant, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory, this super essential oil has been used in alternative medicine for many generations. The menthol present, in peppermint oil, helps to clear the respiratory tract, providing relief for respiratory conditions like asthma, nasal congestion, sinusitis, bronchitis, cough, and cold.
Peppermint oil is often used in cooling chest rubs and balms. Make your own highly effective natural remedy for a congested chest by combining two drops of peppermint oil, one drop of lemon, eight drops of lavender, and twenty drops of carrier oil.
Lavender oil with its anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, is effective at naturally loosening up phlegm and relieving congestion, helping to speed the process of recovery and remove unwanted material from the body. Thus, it is used to help with respiratory disorders such as asthma, whooping cough, laryngitis, tonsillitis, throat infections, flu, cold, cough, chest congestion, and sinus congestion.
One of the best ways to use lavender oil is by inhaling the vapors– an excellent natural method for relieving an asthma attack or respiratory tract infection. Add several drops of the oil to a bowl of hot water and inhale the steam, or apply it topically to the skin on the chest, neck, and back.
This essential oil has antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and expectorant properties. Oil of oregano is highly beneficial in preventing and relieving a multitude of respiratory issues; when inhaled, it can immediately relieve breathing difficulties caused by asthma.
To use it as a vapor, combine 25 drops of oregano oil with five ounces of water in a spray bottle and inhale the mist. It can also be applied topically to the skin to help alleviate a congested chest, either directly or with a carrier oil.
Frankincense oil is characterized by its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antidepressant, and expectorant properties. It is effective in soothing coughs, congestion, asthma, and bronchitis, working to eliminate phlegm and mucus from the nasal tract, respiratory tract, bronchi, larynx, pharynx, and lungs. Massage frankincense oil directly into the chest to relieve congestion.
Frankincense oil is also anti-inflammatory and antidepressant qualities aid in relaxing the breathing passages. It also helps to build a strong immune system and eases pain, aches, stress, and anxiety.
This essential oil has wide-ranging health benefits, including decongestant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiseptic, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. Eucalyptus oil contains eucalyptol, which helps the body to easily break down mucus and phlegm, making it an excellent remedy for a variety of respiratory problems. These include asthma, cough, cold, nasal and chest congestion, runny nose, sore throat, bronchitis, and sinusitis. In fact, a study from 2004 showed that patients who had non-bacterial sinusitis recovered faster when they took eucalyptus oil with their medication.
By massaging one to three drops of oil onto the chest, the vapors and aroma can help to soothe the throat and dilate the blood vessels, allowing more oxygen into the lungs for easier breathing.
The oil itself is colorless with a strong, distinctive scent and taste. To immediately relieve congestion of the chest, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to hot water and breath in the steam– this will help to relax any lung spasms and open up the airways. To combat a sore throat, gargle a mixture of eucalyptus oil and warm water.
Tea tree oil is extremely capable as an expectorant, helping to expel mucus and alleviate symptoms of asthma, cough and cold, bronchitis, nasal and chest congestion.
Tea tree oil has antiviral properties, helping to relieve maladies like colds, influenza, measles, mumps, and pox. Viruses are resilient in that they develop a protective ‘cyst’ around themselves, tricking the immune system and withstanding all kinds of harsh conditions. For some viruses, tea tree oil can help to rupture the protective cysts and provide protection.
For relieving a congested chest, apply directly to the chest or few drops on your pillow to inhale whilst sleeping, ensuring you wake up feeling refreshed. Another method, is to place a clean face towel in warm water, wring it, and then add some drops of tea tree oil onto the now damp towel. Breathe through the towel until you feel better and repeat if needed.
Chamomile oil is an effective antispasmodic, relaxant, and nervine, helping to calm a variety of nervous disturbances or hyper-reactions that result in spasms, convulsions, or nervousness. This also means that chamomile is a great natural remedy for symptoms of asthma, as it produces a relaxation effect on the bronchial muscles that tend to narrow airways in an asthma attack.
When purchasing essential oils, it is important to research the exact ingredients and exactly where it came from, as ‘purity’ is a term that is loosely tossed around in the United States. Beware of synthetic fragrances and extenders, as the aromatherapy industry is generally littered with false or misleading advertising. “Strong” oil is not necessarily better, especially in the case of AFS.
As a general rule of thumb, all essential oils should be diluted prior to skin application due to their high concentration. Dilute in water or mix with a carrier oil such as coconut oil to avoid any problems.
Every person is different, and while one essential oil may work for you, it may not work for another. Some trial and error may be needed to find the right balance of oils for your needs. Do be careful in advanced stages of adrenal fatigue, where the body is very sensitive to chemicals and supplements. In these cases, essential oils may cause adverse reactions. If the liver is congested and extracellular matrix polluted, for example, essential oil can cause further metabolite buildup and trigger crashes. The more advanced the AFS, the higher the risk. In extreme cases, especially in those with multiple chemical sensitivities, the smell of such oil can be overwhelming. The proper use and timing is key in such cases. Oil that are promoted as “strongest” and “purest” may in fact be too intense for the body to tolerate. Many people have crashed in such context. Proceed under the care of your AFS literate doctor’s supervision is best.
The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and anti spasmodic properties of essential oils make them excellent natural remedies for adrenal fatigue, chest congestion, and a multitude of other maladies. Always use with care in the setting of AFS to avoid negative side effects.
