Allergies du printemps & huiles essentielles

With milder temperatures and more sunshine, spring is also the season when pollen is most dispersed in the air. Allergic reactions, or "hay fever", often begin to appear. They generally manifest as rhinitis and conjunctivitis, and can be accompanied by headaches, skin irritation and eczema.

Essential oils and hydrolats can be beneficial in relieving the discomfort caused by seasonal allergies, provided, of course, that you are not allergic to the essential oils themselves.

Anti-allergy essential oils:

The following essential oils are generally recommended for spring allergies, thanks to their soothing, anti-inflammatory and decongestant properties. They can be incorporated into a variety of application methods to relieve allergic symptoms. Always check specific recommendations and possible contraindications before use.

• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) essential oilSoothing, anti-histaminic
  
  
• Lemon (Citrus limonum) essential oilHelps boost the immune system and reduce allergy symptoms such as coughing and sneezing
  
  
• Chamomile nobilis essential oil (Chamaemelum nobile)Anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory
  
  
• Chamomile essential oil (Matricaria recutita)Soothing
  
  
• Tarragon essential oil (Artemisia dracunculus)Anti-histamine
  
  
• Eucalyptus radiata essential oilRespiratory comfort, helps relieve nasal congestion and coughs
  
  
• Katafray essential oil (Cedrelopsis graveolens)Anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory
  
  
• Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)Soothing, helps calm inflammation and reduce symptoms such as sneezing, coughing and nasal congestion
  
  
• Lavender aspic essential oil (Lavandula latifolia)Decongestant
  
  
• Manuka essential oil (Leptospermum scoparium)Anti-histamine
  
  
• Peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita)Helps decongest the nose and relieve difficult breathing
  
  
• Green myrtle essential oil (Myrtus communis cinéoliferum): respiratory comfort
  
  
• Niaouli essential oil (Melaleuca quinquenervia)Anti-inflammatory, respiratory comfort
  
  
• Ravensare essential oil (Ravensara aromatica)Soothing
  
  
• Rosemary cineole essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis cinéoliferum)Anti-inflammatory, respiratory comfort
  
  
• Tansy essential oil (Tanacetum annuum)Soothing, anti-histaminic

Spring's anti-allergy hydrolats

Hydrolats, or floral waters, are products derived from the distillation of essential oils and can offer gentle benefits to relieve seasonal allergies.They can be incorporated into your daily routine to help relieve spring allergy symptoms in a gentle, natural way.

Here are a few particularly effective hydrosols to help soothe symptoms linked to spring allergies:

• Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) hydrolate :Soothing and anti-inflammatory, it can relieve skin irritation and itching, as well as conjunctivitis. Use as a compress or spray.
  
  
• Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) hydrolate :Excellent for soothing irritated eyes and reducing redness. Soak compresses in cornflower hydrosol and apply to closed eyes for 5 to 10 minutes.
  
  
• Hydrolate of fine lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) :Known for its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties, it helps calm allergy symptoms such as skin irritation and itching. Can be used as a spray or compress.
  
  
• Eucalyptus radiata (Eucalyptus radiata) hydrolate :Relieves nasal congestion and improves breathing. Ideal for spraying into the air or gentle inhalation.
  
  
• Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) hydrolate :Antiseptic and balancing, it can help soothe irritation and strengthen the skin, while offering general support against allergic symptoms.
  
  
• Peppermint (Mentha piperita) hydrolate :Refreshing and decongestant, it can be used to clear respiratory tracts and relieve allergy headaches. Use as a spray or inhalation.
  
  

Examples of use:

• Soothing eye compresses: Soak compresses in Roman chamomile or cornflower hydrosol and apply to closed eyes for 5 to 10 minutes to relieve conjunctivitis and irritation.
  
  
• Air vapourization :Use a spray bottle to diffuse eucalyptus radiata hydrosol in your room to improve respiratory comfort.
  
  
• Mild inhalation :Add a few drops of peppermint hydrosol to a bowl of hot water and inhale the vapors to clear the respiratory tract.
  
  
• Soothing spray :Mix fine lavender hydrosol with water in a spray bottle and use as a soothing spray for face and body, particularly useful for skin irritations.
  
  
• Hay fever :Mix 10 ml of the vegetable oil of your choice with 5 drops of Ravensara aromatique essential oil, 3 drops of Myrte vert essential oil and 2 drops of Rosemary cineole essential oil. Massage your forearms, tops and bottoms, and feet as often as possible with this mixture. You can also perform a little acupressure by pressing your fingertips soaked in the mixture on either side of the nose, on the outer edge of the nostrils, for around 30 seconds, several times a day.
  
  
• Conjunctivitis, eye irritation :Soak compresses in chamomile or cornflower hydrosol and leave them on the eyes for 5 to 10 minutes.
  
  
• Stuffy nose, congested sinuses :Mix 5 drops of Tarragon essential oil, 5 drops of Niaouli essential oil, 2 drops of Chamomile essential oil and 1 tablespoon of Tamanu oil. Apply this mixture to the sinuses (avoiding contact with the eyes), chest and upper back, 2 to 3 times a day for 3 to 6 days, until improvement.
  
  
• Blocked nose, congested sinuses - synergy for inhalation :Pour 2 drops of Eucalyptus radiata, Niaouli and Peppermint essential oils into a bowl of hot water or an inhaler stick.
  
  
• Rhinitis :In a pipette bottle, mix 0.5 ml tarragon essential oil, 1 ml geranium essential oil, 1 ml Eucalyptus radiata essential oil, 1 ml chamomile essential oil and 26.5 ml Calendula macerate. After rinsing the nose with seawater or saline solution, instill a drop of the mixture into each nostril, 3 to 4 times a day until improvement (about 3 to 4 days).
  
  
• Respiratory synergy - diffusion 1 :Pour equal parts (e.g. 5 drops of each) of Lemon, Eucalyptus radiata and Niaouli essential oils into your diffuser. Diffuse for 10 to 20 minutes, two or three times a day, to purify your home.
  
  
• Respiratory synergy - diffusion 2 :In a bottle, mix 2 ml Tarragon essential oil, 2 ml Niaouli essential oil and 1 ml Chamomile essential oil. Use this mixture in your diffuser or inhale directly from the bottle, in an inhaler stick or on a handkerchief several times a day for about 3 to 6 days.
  
  

Anti-pollen allergy gestures

• Interior ventilation :Avoid opening windows during pollination periods. Ideally, ventilate after rain, early in the morning when there's still morning mist, or in the evening when the wind is lighter.

• Caring for your home :Vacuum regularly with a HEPA filter and clean to remove pollen from your home.

• Linen :Wash your bedding once a week to reduce allergens.

• Avoid periods of high pollination:Limit your outings when pollen levels are very high, especially on sunny mid-days or when it's windy.

• Prevention : Take your treatment before the first allergy symptoms appear.

• Pollen level monitoring :Consult the pollen map on the RNSA (Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique) website: RNSA - Bulletin Allergo-Pollinique.

• By car :Keep windows closed and install a pollen filter on the ventilation system.

• After an outing :Rinse your nose with saline solution, change your clothes and wash your hair as soon as you get home.

• Outdoor space maintenance :Mow your garden before grasses flower to minimize pollen dispersal.

• Laundry drying :Dry your laundry indoors to prevent it from picking up pollen outdoors.

• Avoid areas of high pollination: Reduce the number of walks in forests and parks when trees are in bloom.

• Personal protection :Wear a mask during outdoor activities to limit exposure to allergens.

• Air purification :Use an air purifier or ultrasonic diffuser (with water) with essential oils such as lemon, tarragon, eucalyptus radiata, rosemary cineole and green myrtle to purify indoor air.

• Hydrotherapy :A little colon hydrotherapy can help eliminate some irritating toxins. Find out more about colon hydrotherapy,click here.

• Additional resources :You can also follow the advice of Cécile Ellert, Holistic Aromatherapist, on immunity in the PDF book available at here.