A wet cough is the manifestation of congestion in the respiratory tract. Allergies and smoking can be responsible, but the majority cause remains bacterial and viral infections such as bronchitis. Pathogens will irritate the respiratory tract. The body's response to this irritation is hypersecretion of mucus, intended to protect the walls of the bronchi and trachea. The so-called “productive” wet cough, because it is loaded with mucus, aims to unclog the respiratory tract. During this expulsion, the pathogenic particles are raised and spat out, because they are trapped in the mucus. A wet cough is therefore an essential defense mechanism put in place by the body. The medications generally used are therefore not there to stop this cough, but to facilitate it. Their action causes the mucus to thin and stimulates its expulsion from the respiratory tract. A synergy of essential oils with expectorant and mucolytic properties therefore provides a more natural way to get rid of this annoying cough as quickly as possible.
This article was updated on 19/03/2024The quick reflex: Eucalyptus Radiata
From 6 years old :
- In dry inhalation, 2 drops of Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil on a tissue or the cotton wick of an inhaler stick, inhale 4 to 6 times a day.
- Through the skin, 1 drop of Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil in 4 drops of vegetable oil (20% dilution). As a massage on the thorax and upper back, 3 times a day until improvement (without exceeding 5 days).
For ages 3+. Through the skin, limit yourself to a 10% dilution (1 drop of essential oil in 9 drops of vegetable oil), on the upper back and the soles of the feet.
For babies over 3 months old. Dermal, limit yourself to a 5% dilution (1 drop of essential oil in 19 drops of vegetable oil), on the upper back and the soles of the feet.
Complete synergy for adults and children
The mixture
To say goodbye to a wet cough, take your empty bottle and add:
- 20 drops of essential oil Green Myrtle
- 30 drops of essential oil Niaouli
- 20 drops of essential oilEucalyptus Radiata
- 70 drops (3.5mL) of vegetable oil Nigella
Cap (click!), homogenize then label your bottle. Your synergy is ready!
How to use
Apply 3 drops of the mixture to the chest and 3 drops to the upper back.
Apply 4 times a day for 5 days.
Authorized users
YES. Adults, adolescents and children over 3 years old.
NO. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under 3 years old.
More details : essential oils for children over 3 years old
Special precautions
- Medical advice is necessary for asthmatics and epileptics before use.
- This synergy is contraindicated in cases of hormone-dependent illness.
- It is also recommended to carry out the allergy test with the mixture in the crook of the elbow before use.
These precautions apply under the application and dosage conditions cited above. If in doubt, ask your question on our forum and consult your doctor.
Complete synergy for babies and pregnant women
The mixture for babies and pregnant women
To fight against wet coughs in pregnant women and babies, take your empty bottle and add:
- 20 drops of essential oilEucalyptus Radiata
- 10 drops of essential oilOdorous Inula
- 10 drops of essential oil Tea Tree
- 160 (8mL) drops of vegetable oilAlmond
Cap (click!), homogenize then label your bottle. Your synergy is ready to be used!
How to use
Apply 5 to 6 drops on the chest, 3 times a day for 3 to 4 days.
Authorized users
YES. Pregnant women over 3 months, breastfeeding women, children over 3 months.
NO. Pregnant women under 3 months, children under 3 months.
Generally, remember that essential oils are FORBIDDEN for babies under 3 months and in the first 3 months of pregnancy. More details : essential oils for babies and theessential oils for pregnant and breastfeeding women
Special precautions
- This synergy can cause a strong expectorant reaction (powerful decongestion of the respiratory tract).
- Medical advice is necessary for people with asthma or epilepsy.
- It is also recommended to carry out the allergy test with the mixture in the crook of the elbow before use.
These precautions apply under the application and dosage conditions cited above. If in doubt, ask your question on our forum and consult your doctor.
Why these essential oils?
Green myrtle to calm the throat
L'Green Myrtle essential oil is one of the essential oils best suited to treating wet coughs. It contains two molecules whose action is highly sought after in this synergy. These are alpha pinene and 1,8-cineole. The first is the most important here because it constitutes more than half of the composition of Green Myrtle essential oil (up to 68%). It provides the latter with a powerful expectorant action, that is to say it will stimulate the clearance and expulsion of mucus from the respiratory tract. Alpha pinene acts specifically by regulating bronchial hypersecretion by stimulating the mucin glands of the respiratory mucosa. These glands produce “mucin” which participates in the formation of mucus. Alpha pinene is particularly effective in cases of chronic or acute bronchitis, of which a wet cough is often one of the symptoms.
Furthermore, the joint presence of limonene and alpha pinene in Green Myrtle essential oil gives it a balsamic property. This qualifier comes from the term “balm”. Limonene and alpha pinene will in fact act like a balm and calm irritated respiratory mucous membranes.
Niaouli, a powerful anti-infective
L'Niaouli essential oil brings interesting properties to this synergy. It is in fact a recognized antibacterial and antiviral oil. The 1,8-cineole, alpha terpineol and limonene which mainly constitute it each have an action on different categories of microorganisms. 1,8-cineole is rather antibacterial with an action notably demonstrated on staphylococci, alpha terpineol acts on several viruses and bacteria, and the effect of terpenes, such as limonene, is mainly antiviral. This combination of molecules makes Niaouli essential oil strongly anti-infectious, making it possible to combat infectious bronchitis often responsible for the occurrence of fatty coughs.
Finally, containing 1,8-cineole, and a smaller quantity of alpha pinene, this essential oil also provides a complementary expectorant property to the mixture.
Eucalyptus Radiata has a mucolytic action
In case of wet cough, Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil has very interesting properties. Very rich in 1,8-cineole, it is mucolytic and expectorant, which means that it thins the mucus and allows its expulsion from the respiratory tract.
1,8-cineole will in fact stimulate the mucin glands (a constituent of mucus) but also promote the ciliomotor activity of the mucosa of the respiratory tree. For more details, the mucous membrane constituting the wall of the trachea and bronchi has hair cells whose function is to mobilize mucus to facilitate its expulsion. By stimulating these cells, Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil will therefore help clear the respiratory tract.
Inula Odorante: the expectorant reference
L'Fragrant Inula essential oil is extremely expectorant: its terpene content will promote effective decongestion of the respiratory tract by judiciously complementing the effects of Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil.
In addition, its use is perfectly suited to babies and pregnant women, making it entirely compatible with relieving fatty coughs. Furthermore, these coughs are often the result of an infection which has caused inflammation of the respiratory tract, the recognized anti-inflammatory properties of this essential oil can only be beneficial here.
Tea tree fights infection
L'Tea Tree Essential Oil is the anti-infectious and immunostimulating component of the mixture. It contains terpinen-4-ol, a very strongly antibacterial alcohol, but also antiviral, which will help the body fight against the pathogens responsible for coughing.
More broadly, the immune system will be strengthened because this alcohol also leads to the mobilization of white blood cells. By this procedure, this essential oil therefore ensures optimal defense against the numerous infections that can cause a wet cough.
Why these vegetable oils?
Nigella vegetable oil
L’nigella vegetable oil has multiple useful properties to fight against wet coughs. First of all, Black Seed Oil has antimicrobial properties that help reduce infection and contamination. It is also immunostimulating. It will in fact increase natural defenses to help your body eliminate the trigger for this wet cough. Finally, Nigella oil has bronchodilator properties thanks to the nigellone it contains, to allow you to breathe better and therefore avoid coughing.
Sweet Almond vegetable oil
Pregnant women and babies are very fragile users. This is why it is important to dilute essential oils in a sweet Almond vegetable oil to allow them to be used easily and safely. In addition, Sweet Almond has soothing and penetrating properties, very appreciated for taking care of yourself at the same time as you treat yourself!
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Bibliography
Work : de la Charie, T. (2019). Treat yourself with essential oils. Why and how does it work? Editions du Rocher.
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About these tips
This aromatherapy article was written by Théophane de la Charie, author of the book “Treat yourself with essential oils”, accompanied by a multidisciplinary team made up of pharmacists, biochemists and agronomists.
La Compagnie des Sens and its teams do not encourage self-medication. The information and advice provided comes from a reference bibliographic database (books, scientific publications, etc.). They are given for information purposes, or to suggest avenues for reflection: they should in no case replace a diagnosis, consultation or medical follow-up, and cannot engage the liability of the Compagnie des Sens.