Essential Oils, chest rubs and balms to support your respiratory system

I love to use essential oils to support my breath work / Pranayam. Of course this is not necessary, but adds enjoyment for me, opens my airways pleasantly and improves my wellbeing. Doing your breathing exercises regularly will help keep your respiratory system healthy. Check out my blog HERE for some breath work instructions.

I also use the oils for myself and my family when our respiratory system needs support. You can make your own chest rub and will know exactly what is in it without nasty chemicals. I also like to rub the chest rub under the feet and put warm socks over it. And of course using your diffuser or an inhaler stick with essential oils on it will also support your respiratory system. You can buy inhaler sticks online. They have a felt tip inside it and you can drop any oils on it you enjoy

Firstly the whole Easy Air or Breathe range from doTERRA is my go to. There is a roller blend, the undiluted 15 ml oil, there are Easy Air drops to suck when things are blocked and there is also a chest rub stick.

Other oils to support your respiratory system are: Eucalyptus, Douglas Fir, Cardamom, Peppermint, Rosemary, Black & Pink Pepper, Lemon Eucalyptus.

Here is a basic Balm recipe for 100 g balm:
3 tbsp Shea Butter
2 tbsp Almond Oil
1 tsp Bees wax

You melt the Shea Butter and Bees Wax in a double boiler and then add your liquid oil, wait until its cooled, but not set and add your essential oils. For adults experiment with 20 drops – 30 drops of essential oil per balm, for children half that and always try on a patch of skin first. The above oils are several suggestions, you can choose one or a few to make your own balm. Remember less is more and if you use a blend its already been formulated for a specific purpose. Use like a chest rub front and back and also rub under the feet. Remember to store your balms away from heat and sunlight. Enjoy your balm making.

I also used to find steam inhalations with essential oils helpful when I had Sinus infections. I put boiling water in a bowl, drop Easy Air and On Guard Oil in it and put a towel over my head and the bowl and take deep breaths for as long as felt good. I did this twice per day usually.

Here is another snippet of wisdom from Dr. Scott A Johnson:

Blood oxygen is a measurement of how much oxygen your red blood cells are carrying. Blood oxygenation levels are closely regulated to maintain a precise balance of oxygen-saturated blood so you stay healthy.

A clinical study evaluated the effects of a blend of essential oils on blood oxygenation levels. Women and men aged 21 to 60 years old inhaled essential oils from an essential oil inhaler (like pictured) containing peppermint, rosemary, and grapefruit (50:30:20 ratio) essential oils. The essential oil inhaler increased blood oxygenation from an average of about 95.6 to 97.2, showing that essential oils positively effect blood oxygenation. You can access the study HERE.