My most recent check on Amazon for “cough medicine” indicated 1242 options. Expectorants, suppressants, decongestants, non-drowsy, you get the picture. The back of the label will most likely be filled with side effect and cautionary information. Our family deals with coughs from colds and allergies naturally without all the man-made chemicals found in these over the counter drugs. Essential oils have been our best form of defense with taming coughs. Our first line of defense when a cough occurs is to have a spoonful of agave nectar with a drop of lemon essential oil added to it. The lemon soothes a dry, scratchy throat and can boost your immune system as well. For adults, add a drop of Thieves to this spoonful for a super charged boost in immunity.
There are specific essential oils that are helpful for coughs: Eucalyptus Radiata, Eucalyptus Globulus, Ravansara, and wintergreen are especially effective. Young Living has made a couple of essential oil blends that we use for coughs and colds in the winter. R.C. is one of the most used oil blends in our home – it has four different kinds of eucalyptus in it plus peppermint, lavender, cypress and pine essential oils. At the first sign of a cold or cough, we apply a drop or two to each foot. Eucalyptus on it’s own can be too potent for children, but when it is combined with more gentle oils of lavender and cypress it is a great choice for kid’s colds & coughs. For children under 3 dilute a drop with a 1/2 teaspoon of a carrier oil and massage onto the feet.
Raven is another Young Living blend of ravansara, wintergreen, Eucalyptus radiata, lemon and peppermint essential oils. The ravansara encourages expectoration and the wintergreen, eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils open up airways. We find just one application of the oils onto the feet at bedtime is enough to settle a cough for sleep. For children and those with asthma apply the oils to the soles of the feet. For adults, massage the oils into the chest, add to bath water or place a drop in a bowl of warm water and breathe deeply.
Alternating application of R.C with Raven may be a powerful remedy with coughs. Layering the oils increases the synergy between the oils. For adults, apply 2 drops of R.C. mixed with V-6 oil to the chest area, then 2 drops of Raven on top. This can also be done on the bottoms of the feet concentrating on the lung area points of reflexology. I did this just the other week after trying R.C. for a few days, adding the Raven brought me relief within minutes. I repeated this application, once an hour for 4 hours and finally my chest congestion completely went away. For children, mix 1 drop of essential oil with a tsp of V-6 carrier oil or olive oil, massage onto the bottoms of feet, cover with cotton socks and rest.
Drinking plenty of fluids and foods rich in vitamin C are essential to feeling better. For those with asthma, always apply essential oils to the soles of the feet. For any persistant cough or difficulty breathing make sure to seek medical care right away.
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