Aromatherapy for Allergies and Difficult Pregnancies

April 6, 2010 by admin
Filed under Aromatherapy, Natural Skin Care

The term allergy refers to hypersensitivity to a substance which is called an allergen. For those among us who suffer from allergies, it is no secret that they can be a pain in the neck. Allergies, despite how many you have and what you are allergic to, are extremely uncomfortable. Some persons have seasonal allergies that prevent them from enjoying the outdoors at certain times of the year while others have day to day allergies that plagued them constantly. The three main categories of allergies are food allergies, chemical allergies and inhaled allergies. Some may even have food allergies that restrict their diet. Whatever your allergy, the result is discomfort. Many times, when dealing with allergies, the main means of reducing your allergies is through medication. However, there are more natural ways to deal with some of the allergies that you may have. One of these methods is through aromatherapy which employs the use of essential oils to alleviate some of the problems caused by allergies.

One type of allergy that affects persons who have sensitive skin is eczema. Contact eczema is easy to detect and it can be aggravated easily as well. Wearing clothing made from certain materials as well as using chemicals which are found in soaps and make-up may result in your eczema acting up. Another form of eczema is atopic eczema which tends to affect those who have a history of asthma, hives or hay fever. Atopic eczema is also triggered by eating certain foods. However, for relief from allergies such as eczema, it would be helpful to use chamomile oil or lavender oil in your bathwater. Approximately three drops should be enough to offer some form of relief.

Asthma is another allergy that can be triggered by dust, mold spores, feathers, pollen, cold drafts as well as certain foods. However, if a humidifier is placed in the room with someone who has asthma, the symptoms can be reduced. You can use essential oils such as rose oil, sage oil, chamomile or frankincense into the humidifier and this would offer increased relief from the symptoms of asthma.

One of the more complicated allergies to deal with is hay fever. It is a respiratory allergy and its sufferers tend to have other allergies and react to allergens such as dust, mold, pollen, feathers and cleaners. Some of the symptoms of hay fever include irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and nasal passages which results in runny nose, swelling of nasal mucosa, nasal congestion, sneezing, and headaches and so on. Typically, the treatment of hay fever would include the use of antihistamines and other drugs which provide temporary relief from the symptoms. However, there are grave side effects to these treatments such as skin problems, drowsiness, vomiting, and diarrhea.

When using aromatherapy in the treatment of hay fever, essential oils that have expectorant, anti-inflammatory, immune stimulating, and restorative properties should be used. Essential oil such as German and Roman chamomile, Blue Tansy, Peppermint and rosemary should be placed in a cup of boiling water and inhaled.

Aromatherapy can relieve pregnant women of many of the physical as well as emotional discomforts that are associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Aromatherapy can be used by women who are having difficult pregnancies. Jasmine is said to have properties that allows it to induce and speed up labor. For women who are also suffering from post partum depression, inhaling jasmine oil has proven to be effective as a method of treatment.