Vary the oils you use every few weeks – don’t stick to the same blends all summer. We recommend that you use these remedies for a maximum of 2 weeks, then give yourself a week off. If your hay fever symptoms are relatively mild you might want to try just one of our suggestions. For acute hay fever sufferers we recommend a multi-action approach, at least to start with. You might need to experiment with different combinations of essential oils and/or application methods, to find which work best for you. We have some suggestions for coping with pollen allergies. A good reminder to check the botanical details on your bottles! AROMATICA HAY FEVER HELPERS Take care not to confuse Bay Laurel leaf essential oil with the one distilled from its berries, or with West Indian Bay which is a different plant entirely. Its high cineol content means it should not be directly inhaled by young children. It can irritate the mucous membrane and is a sensitisor, so it should only be used in low dilutions and not on damaged skin. Tisserand and Young list it as a potential carcinogen due to its methyleugenol content. There are some safety cautions to be aware of with Bay Laurel. In her book ‘Essential Oils’ Jennifer Peace-Rhind cites a 2003 study which demonstrated laurel’s impressive anti-inflammatory actions - another reason to include it in your hay fever toolkit. It’s rich in the oxide 1.8 cineol making it useful for treating respiratory complaints, hence its recommendation as hay fever fighting weapon. Aromatherapists also use the oil to ease flu symptoms, treat swollen lymph nodes and to support the immune system. These reflect some of its modern day aromatherapy uses where Laurel essential oil is often added to blends for painful joints and aching muscles.
Health-wise the whole leaf has traditionally been used to aid digestion, fight infections and relieve rheumatic pain.
Of particular interest to aromatherapists is that in Ancient Greece Bay Laurel was sacred to Apollo, a god of healing and medicine. Other uses through the ages have included popping a leaf in your mouth to guard against misfortune and adorning your head with a bay garland as protection from lighting strikes. According to Ancient Greek legend priestesses at Delphi chewed bay leaves to prepare themselves for reading oracles. It can grow as tall as 20 metres and has historically been associated with success - think of statues and paintings depicting ancient Roman leaders, their heads garlanded with bay wreaths. This noble plant, named Laurel by our ancient ancestors, sports hardy, oval leaves commonly used to flavour soups, stews and even desserts. However there are several commonly experienced symptoms that you might relate to, including blocked sinuses, runny noses and itchy eyes.Īn essential oil that can be useful in alleviating hayfever symptoms is Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis). Additionally people’s reactions to pollen and to the various hay fever remedies available vary widely. There are so many pollen producing plants, trees and fungi that, without allergy testing, it’s often difficult to know which pollens cause you problems. Unfortunately though the pollen released by the season’s blooms and grasses spells misery for many of us. Here at Materia Aromatica we love watching the trees sprout new growth and humble garden plants transform into flowering beauties, providing nectar for happy bees and insects. The joys of spring and summer are manifold.
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