There are moments when you simply need the feeling of free breathing: a blocked nose, dry air, the cold season, closed rooms. The collection of essential oils for the respiratory tract has grown and now brings together the whole cool, airy palette of breathing.
Eucalyptus and Peppermint remain the classics — the camphor-like coolness of eucalyptus, a staple of chest balms for over a hundred years, and the lively menthol of peppermint, which opens things up instantly. They are now joined by mountain air: Pine and Fir, the green needles of the forest, with their clean scent reminiscent of high-altitude air, and Thyme, the warm herb of Mediterranean tradition, used for generations during the hard months of winter.
How to use them: by steam inhalation — 1–2 drops in a bowl of hot water, with a towel over your head and slow breathing; in a diffuser in the evening, in small doses; or as a homemade balm, generously diluted in a carrier oil and applied to the chest and back. Never ingest essential oils, do not use them on or near young children without guidance, and test carefully if you have asthma or sensitivities.
For freshness throughout the house: the oils for diffusers; for massage after exertion: eucalyptus oil for muscles.