Best essential oil recipes for colds, coughs, and congestion
Should you find yourself battling with congestion, coughs, and sore throats and want to turn to the 100% pure oils you have on hand to combat them, we’re here to serve up all of the ways you can DIY yourself back to a healthier you with a few essential oil blends!
These pesky little coughs aren’t as tough to get rid of as you would think. Research has shown, for quite a while, that your essential oils are effective at treating challenges with your upper respiratory tract.
The 10 best essential oils for colds, coughs and chest congestion:
- Eucalyptus (contains 1,8-cineole good for congestion: study)
- Cardamom
- Rosemary
- Bergamot
- Wintergreen
- Peppermint
- Melaleuca alternifolia / Tea Tree oil
- Frankincense
- Cinnamon
- Lavender essential oil
There is plenty of medically reviewed information out there confirming the fact that these oils are fantastic choices when dealing with a common cold or cough without any unwanted side effects.
Simply having these safely diluted essential oils for your cough is the first step. Knowing how to use and apply them for natural relief from your coughs and colds with a home remedy is a totally different beast.
This is where we come in to help you with this guide. So get ready to oil and apply.
9 best recipes for colds & cough
DIY Bath Salts with essential oils
Doing an epsom salt bath soak with this recipe can help with the aches and pains during your ailment and also aid decongestion via steam inhalation.
Ingredients
- 1 C of epsom salt
- 1/4 C of baking soda
- 2 tbsp of fractionated coconut oil
- 9 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
- 9 drops of cardamom essential oil
- 5 drops of tea tree essential oil
- 5 drops of peppermint essential oil
Instructions
- Add epsom salt and baking soda to a mixing bowl.
- Gently mix together.
- Add essential oil and fractionated coconut oil into a different small mixing bowl.
- Mix the fco and essential oils together.
- Add half of the oils to the epsom salt and baking soda.
- Stir the mixture to incorporate the oils.
- Add the remaining oils to your salt and baking soda mixture.
- Transfer the contents to a storage container and close the lid.
DIY Shower Melts with essential oils
Using these shower mets are a great way to get some respiratory relief when time just won't allow for a full bath soak. Toss these on the floor while you shower and enjoy the slow release of the respiratory relief blend contained in them.
Ingredients
- 1 C baking soda
- 1/4 C distilled water
- 9 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 9 drops peppermint essential oil
- 4 drops tea tree essential oil
- 4 drops cardamom essential oil
Instructions
- Add baking soda to a mixing bowl.
- Add distilled water to the baking soda.
- Mix together well. You’ll want the consistency to be similar to wet sand.
- Add a little additional water if the mixture is too dry.
- Add your essential oils to the mixture.
- Mix together well to incorporate the essential oils.
- Scoop the mixture into a silicone mold.
- Ensure you pack the mixture into the mold as snugly as you can.
- Let the mixture sit for 6-8 hours in the mold to dry.
- Once they are completely dry, remove from the mold and transfer to a container with a lid to store.
DIY Cough Drops with essential oils
Making your own cough drops with essential oils is easy peasy with this recipe. These are great to have on hand when you’re on the go and need a little relief and a boost to your immune system.
This makes around 28 0.2 oz lozenges
Ingredients
- 3/4 C raw, organic honey
- 1 tbsp unrefined, organic coconut oil
- 12 drops peppermint essential oil (could also try cinnamon/clove or giner/lemon)
Instructions
- Pre mix the coconut oil and essential oils together and set aside.
- Pour the honey into a saucepan on medium-high heat.
- Stir until it reaches 300 degrees. Measure with candy thermometer - better to be higher than lower on the temperature.
- Mix in the coconut and essential oil mixture.
- Pour into silicone mold (or large baking sheet greased with coconut oil or a silicon baking mat).
- If not using a mold, wait until it cools a little bit and then form into lozenges with your hands
- Refrigerate overnight to fully harden.
- Wrap individually in wax paper.
- Transfer to container for storage.
DIY Throat Spray with essential oils
When the times call for a throat soothing spray, this recipe will see you through the scratchy cough that makes you wince when you swallow.
This recipe makes about 2.5 ounces of throat spray. Since this is water based, and there are no preservatives in it, we recommend very small batches that are kept refrigerated and used within 2-days.
Ingredients
- 1/4 C purified water
- 2 tsp raw, organic apple cider vinegar
- 3/4 tsp raw, organic honey
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 4 drops protective blend essential oil
- 4 drops lemon essential oil
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients together in a jar.
- Shake well to mix them together.
- Pour into sprayer container and feel relief.
DIY Chest Rub (Vapor Rub) with essential oils
Admit it, there isn’t a better feeling than slathering a nice balm on your chest that soothes your cough and congestion and the scent just opens your airways is there? This is a great recipe to make your own chest rub to get the relief you need.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
- 2 tbsp shea butter, unscented
- 6 drops eucalyptus
- 6 drops peppermint
- 2 drops rosemary
Instructions
- Fill a pot 1/4 full with water and turn to medium heat with double boiler.
- Place coconut oil and shea butter into double boiler.
- Gently stir every few minutes.
- Once completely melted, remove from heat and let sit.
- Measure temperature and once below oils flashpoint, add oils.
- Transfer to container and let cool.
DIY Sore Skin Salve with essential oils
When you have a cold your nose is running constantly causing hundreds of swipes of your nose with a tissue. Over a few days, or hours, your nose and upper lip start getting pretty raw. Use this salve before bedtime to help repair that aggravated skin.
Ingredients
- 1/2 C coconut oil
- 1 tbsp beeswax
- 20 drops lavender
- 12 drops frankincense
- 10 drops lemon
- 8 drops tea tree
Instructions
- Fill a pot 1/4 full with water and turn to medium heat with double boiler.
- Place coconut oil and beeswax into double boiler.
- Gently stir every few minutes.
- Once completely melted, remove from heat and let sit.
- Measure temperature and once below oils flashpoint, add oils.
- Transfer to container and let cool.
Diffuser blends for colds and coughs
Blend 1
- 4 drops Lavender
- 3 drops Eucalyptus
- 3 drops Tea Tree
- 1 drop Peppermint
Blend 2
- 4 drops Eucalyptus
- 3 drops Wintergreen
- 3 drop Frankincense
- 2 drop Rosemary
Blend 3
- 5 drops Frankincense
- 4 drops Eucalyptus
- 2 drops Peppermint
Blend 4
- 5 drops Eucalyptus
- 2 drops Cardamom
- 2 drops Rosemary
- 2 drops Bergamot
Blend 5
- 4 drops Eucalyptus
- 4 drops Wintergreen
- 3 drops Peppermint
Roller bottle essential oil blends for cold, coughs & congestion
Breathe Easy : This revitalizing blend promotes a sense of tranquility while easing congestion and uplifting the spirit.
- 15 drops Frankincense
- 10 drops Marjoram
- 10 drops Lime
Soothe & Breathe : This invigorating blend alleviates cold and cough symptoms while promoting clear breathing and respiratory health.
- 12 drops Lavender
- 12 drops Lemon
- 12 drops Peppermint
- 8 drops Eucalyptus
- 8 drops Thyme
Winter Wellness Symphony : This invigorating and immune-boosting blend helps to combat colds, coughs, and congestion.
- 10 drops Eucalyptus
- 10 drops Frankincense
- 5 drops Lemon
- 5 drops Protective Blend
Winter Wellness Warrior Trio : This revitalizing blend promotes respiratory wellness by easing congestion, soothing a sore throat, and supporting clear breathing.
- 7 drops Eucalyptus
- 5 drops Frankincense
- 2 drops Lemon
Inhaler blends for colds and coughs
Blend 1
- 1 drop Lemon
- 2 drops Eucalyptus
- 3 drops Rosemary
- 2 drops Peppermint
Blend 2
- 4 drops Peppermint
- 4 drops Eucalyptus
- 2 drops Lavender
Blend 3
- 8 drops Rosemary
- 5 drops Thyme
- 2 drops Peppermintn
Blend 4
- 10 drops Marjoram
- 10 drops Lime
- 5 drops Frankincense