Top 10 Essential Oils for Cough

Top 10 Essential Oils for Cough - A persistent cough can be quite troubling and can impact the productivity of a person. These conditions can disrupt your sleep, interfere with work and social interactions, and even signal an underlying health condition. So, they need to be treated as soon as possible. Even though there are many medical treatments available, essential oils have emerged as a great complementary alternative therapy to treat these medical conditions. So, let's discuss the Top 10 Essential Oils for Cough. 

Essential oils are a great form of alternative medicine that employs plant extracts to support health and well-being. These unique aromatic oils capture the plant’s scent and flavor and benefit the body in various ways. These oils contain various volatile compounds that give each oil its distinct therapeutic benefits. 

These alternative treatments have become quite in demand, especially in treating cough and related conditions. A cough might not seem like a serious condition, but a persistent cough can irritate the lungs and cause even more coughing. Cough conditions are characterized by sleeplessness, dizziness or fainting, headaches, urinary incontinence, vomiting, and even broken ribs. So, immediate therapy is required and that can be done through the use of essential oils.

Top 10 Essential Oils for Cough 

Now, let’s go through the Top 10 Essential Oils for Cough, to understand their benefits and ways of treating persistent cough conditions. 

Peppermint Oil - 

Peppermint Oil has been used for many centuries due to its therapeutic benefits. These oils are characterized to have a refreshing orangeness and menthol content material that aids in indigestion, nausea, and respiratory conditions. On inhaling these oils, you’ll feel a cooling sensation that can soothe or numb a scratchy throat and ultimately provide relief from cough conditions.

Potential benefits for cough -

• Sooth scratchy throat 
• Relaxes bronchial muscles 
• Offers a cooling sensation 

Eucalyptus Oil -

Eucalyptus Oil is a marvelous essential oil with great therapeutic benefits for treating cough. These oils are extracted from the fresh leaves of the tall, evergreen eucalyptus tree through the process of steam distillation. Some recent research studies revealed that the anti-microbial properties of these oils help to fight off bacteria that cause illnesses. These essential oils are also useful in reducing inflammation, relieving pain, and easing muscle tension, which are major cough symptoms.  Due to all these benefits, they are quite popularly used in many OTC inhalants and vapor rubs.

Potential benefits for cough -

• Help relieve chest congestion
• Loosen the phlegm 
• Relieve chest infections 
• Reduces inflammation 

Thyme Oil -

Thyme oil is another great essential oil to get relief from cough. These oils are derived from fresh flowers and leaves through the process of steam distillation. These oils contain a huge amount of carvacrol, which is very helpful in eliminating bacteria and viruses from the body.  The thymol present in this also offers great therapeutic benefits in treating cough. 

Potential benefits for cough -

• Fight against viruses and bacteria 
• Provide relief from bronchitis and pertussis
• Anti-spasmodic effect
• Provide comfort from breathing problems 

Cinnamon Oil -

Cinnamon Oil is another powerful oil with great anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Some studies revealed that this oil can help protect and fight against germs that lead to respiratory conditions.  Their usage in inhalation blends to treat bronchitis and pleurisy and is considered very crucial in fighting different types of flu. 

Potential benefits for cough -

• Fight against germs that lead to cough conditions 
• Fight throat infections 
• Stimulates immune system 
• Great anti-oxidant properties  

Tea Tree Oil -

Tea Tree Oil is extracted from the seed of the tea plant by the process of steam distillation. This offers great properties as antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral, balsamic, cicatrisant, and expectorant, which aids in relieving the effect of cough and cold conditions.   

Potential benefits for cough -

• Great expectorant to clear the blocked mucus
• Possess anti-viral properties to fight off the potent agent 
• Anti-inflammatory effect 

Nutmeg Oil - 

Nutmeg Oil is derived from Myristica fragrans and offers many health benefits in relieving cough and related conditions. Being an exceptional expectorant they help loosen mucus from the lining of lungs.

Potential benefits for cough -

• Aids in the dissolution of phlegm 
• Anti-inflammatory properties 
• Reduces airway swelling and facilitates easy breathing

Oregano Oil -

 Oregano Oil is derived from the leaves and flowers of Origanum vulgare. This oil offers many medicinal properties attributed to its antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-oxidant properties. These oils also contain a potent compound called carvacrol that helps fight off germs that lead to cough.

Potential benefits for cough -

• Fight off cough-causing agents 
• Help clear mucus
• Provide relief from throat discomfort 

Rosemary Oil -

Rosemary Oil is another great essential oil that offers great benefits in relieving cough. These oils are used in various respiratory and chest conditions and work by calming the muscles in your trachea, giving you respiratory relief. Due to the presence of cineole, they help break down the mucus and reduce inflammation. 

Potential benefits for cough -

• Calms the throat muscles 
• Reduce inflammation 
• Expectorant properties 

Frankincense Oil -

Frankincense Oil is known for its therapeutic and healing properties as an inhalant in various respiratory and cough conditions. These Oils are quite beneficial in stimulating our immune system, and protecting our respiratory tract during asthma, sinusitis, and bronchitis conditions.

Potential benefits for cough -

• Act as a calmative to enhance relaxation
• Provide relief from congestion 
• Encourage easy breathing 
• Clear nasal passage   

Lavender Oil -

Lavender Oil is also seen to show marvelous effects in treating cough and other respiratory conditions. Some studies have also revealed that inhaling lavender oil can inhibit airway resistance caused by bronchial asthma. Besides this, these oils are also quite beneficial in relieving Sore throat. 

Potential benefits for cough -

• Facilitate easy breathing 
• Anti-inflammatory properties 
• Boost immune system

Conclusion

Many essential Oils are being highly appreciated through their immense therapeutic benefits. The above-mentioned Top 10 Essential Oils for Cough may ease symptoms of a cough or cold by soothing the throat, fighting bacteria, and reducing inflammation making them an ideal alternative treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the  “Top 10 Essential Oils for Cough” 

Question 1. What are the various ways of using the Top 10 Essential Oils for Cough in treating coughs?

Answer 1. The following ways might help you to get relief from persistent cough conditions.

• Taking deep breaths directly from the bottle 
• Steam inhalation 
• Evaporation
• Diffuser  

Question 2. Which is the best essential oil to get relief from cough conditions?  

Answer 2. Eucalyptus oil is considered marvelous in treating cough or related conditions. These oils are great expectorant and help loosen phlegm leading to chest decongestion. 

Question 3. How can we use essential oil as a natural home remedy?

Answer 3.  Another great thing about essential oils is that you can use these oils in various home remedies as well as a mixture or separately to treat cough and related conditions. 

• Take an empty glass jar then add olive oil, coconut oil, ¼ cup grated bee wax, 20 drops peppermint oil, and 20 drops eucalyptus oil. 
• Mix them gently by placing the glass jar in the saucepan to melt the oils. 
• Your homemade vapor rub is ready.  

Question 4. Are essential safe to use or not?

Answer 4. Essentially oils are generally safe when used externally or topically. But make sure that is in low concentration and is not higher than higher than 5% to avoid irritation or any other side-effect. For inhalation use intermittent exposure for not more than 15 minutes. Please also keep in mind that essential oils are not meant to be ingested and should be given special consideration in terms of children and pregnant women.