| SAFETY FIRST | | | | French mentor writes that in his experience this |
| Be aware that there is NO WAY to predict what oils | | | | particular Hyssop (and no others!) is the safest |
| can or will trigger an attack in an individual. Quite | | | | essential oil to use with Asthma sufferers. It appears |
| obviously, if you know you are allergic to, let's say pine | | | | that the pino-camphone content in this hyssop |
| and spruce trees, then avoid the use of the various | | | | chemotype is very low so I believe there is no toxicity, |
| conifer (needle) oils. If most flowers bring on an attack, | | | | compared with the other hyssop types. I have years |
| avoid the floral oils, and so on. | | | | of experience with it, mainly with diffusers and really |
| Any oil you intend to try should first be "tested." Put a | | | | love the oil! Best results with asthma patients, little |
| drop of the essential oil on a tissue or cotton ball and | | | | children and allergic people. He says it is the first oil he |
| hold it at arms length from the sufferer. If it seems well | | | | will reach for in cases of Asthma. This hyssop ssp |
| tolerated, gradually bring it closer until the tissue or | | | | montana/canescens (ex decumbens) is only found in |
| cotton ball is right under the nose. If it can be inhaled | | | | the Haute Provence, France. Blue Tansy and this |
| with no negative effects it is safe to try. | | | | Hyssop are the first two essential oils I would test. |
| Do not try testing more than two essential oils per day, | | | | * Myrtle Myrtys communis. A soft, gentle respiratory oil, |
| separated by several hours. | | | | very good for use with children, normally well tolerated. |
| WARNING: | | | | A very gentle expectorant that can ease coughing |
| Please don't use any of the essential oils in a steam | | | | while loosening tight mucous. |
| inhalation during an asthma attack. The use of steam | | | | * Litsea Cubeba. Litsea, sometimes called May Chang, |
| almost always worsens the attack. | | | | has a clear lemony scent that also has bronchio-dilator |
| PREVENTION | | | | and antispasmodic effects. It is normally well tolerated, |
| There are two oils that are said to have 'antihistamine | | | | but should be tested. It also blends aromatically well |
| like' properties and are said to prevent asthma attacks. | | | | with amni visnaga (see above) and makes inhalation of |
| BLUE TANSY OIL (tanecetum anuum) There are | | | | the Khella Oil a lot more palatable. |
| authorities who state that Blue Tansy oil can halt an | | | | * Cypress Oil Cupressus sempervirens All of the |
| asthma attack in its tracks (Jeanne Rose is one of | | | | conifers may help with respiratory problems. Cypress, |
| them)...and I have clients who say that diffusing a bit of | | | | in addition, is an antispasmodic which can help relieve |
| this oil in an aromalamp each morning has allowed | | | | bronchial spasms. However, any of the "Evergreen" |
| them to cut way down on allergy medications. Blue | | | | oils can cause an allergic reaction to many people, so |
| Tansy may prove useful both as an antihistamine to | | | | please be very sure to test this with your asthma |
| help prevent attacks, and as a treatment during an | | | | patient. (See test method above.) |
| attack. | | | | My mentor suggests, if the above oils are all |
| AMNI VISNAGA (khella) oil is supposed to have a | | | | well-tolerated, a blend of one drop each of Hyssop, |
| similar effect, however it's only fair to say that most | | | | Litsea, and Cypress inhaled from a cotton ball when |
| people enjoy the scent of blue tansy (sweet and apple | | | | breathing first begins to feel constricted. If this blend, or |
| scented) and find the scent of ammi reminiscent of | | | | any single oil proves effective you might want to look |
| last years coffee grounds. The drug Intal (cromolyn | | | | at making a personal inhaler for the patient to carry |
| sodium) has its origins from ammi visnaga. Khella Oil | | | | with him. |
| must be used (by inhalation) on a daily basis, not just | | | | Essential Oils: Try them in this order: Hyssop, Myrtle, |
| when an attack threatens. | | | | Cypress, Lavender, Litsea cubeba, Petitgrain (or |
| TREATING THE SYMPTOMS: | | | | Mandarin) for stress and anxiety relief. |
| One of my French mentors wrote, years ago: | | | | ASTHMA BLENDS: |
| "Asthma is a tricky thing, different circumstances can | | | | For inhalation: |
| trigger attacks in different people, so caution is | | | | * Hyssop Essential Oil |
| important here. A large number of Essential Oils | | | | * Cypress Essential Oil |
| have(or are reputed to have) effects on the | | | | * Litsea cubeba Essential Oil: |
| respiratory system, which isn't very surprising | | | | One drop of each on a cotton ball to smell at will |
| considering that they are breathed in and that scents | | | | whenever breathing feels constricted. |
| are often very pleasant things. A large number (many | | | | Try the combination and if the effect is positive, mix as |
| of the same ones as above) will also carry warnings | | | | follows. In a small colored glass bottle (amber or |
| that they may trigger an asthmatic attack. Also, not a | | | | cobalt) mix equal parts of the three oils. (1 15 ml (1/2 |
| surprise when you consider things." | | | | ounce) bottle will hold one measuring teaspoon of each |
| It is because of the oils powerful effects on the | | | | oil.) |
| respiratory tract that well tolerated essential oils can | | | | For Massage: |
| bring swift relief to Asthma sufferers. | | | | * Myrtle Essential Oil |
| ESSENTIAL OILS THAT HAVE PROVEN HELPFUL | | | | * Lavender Essential Oil |
| FOR SOME ASTHMA VICTIMS: | | | | * Petitgrain Essential Oil (or Mandarin Essential Oil): |
| The following oils are listed in order by both their ability | | | | This is a more complicated mixture. You will also need |
| to be tolerated without causing a reaction, and their | | | | some carrier oil - Jojoba or Fractionated Coconut are |
| effectiveness. | | | | our favorites, but use what you have available. For |
| * Blue Tansy (tanecetuum anuum) Jeanne Rose | | | | your trial of this mixture, take one tablespoonful Oil, add |
| states that Blue Tansy is a natural source of | | | | 7 drops Myrtle Essential Oil, 3 drops Lavender |
| theophylline, a bronchiodilator,which would explain its | | | | Essential Oil, and 3 drops Petitgrain Essential Oil (or |
| being recommended for asthma crisis's. And many | | | | Mandarin Essential Oil). Use this as a massage oil on |
| sources write of the links between childhood asthma | | | | the patients BACK, not chest. If the reaction is a good |
| and adult eczema and other dermatitis conditions. | | | | one, mix up some more as follows: 7 TBS Carrier Oil |
| Although we do not recommend internal usage, she | | | | (this should be what is left in your 4 oz bottle if that is |
| says she personally uses one drop of this oil on a | | | | what you bought). |
| sugar cube for bring her asthma attack to a halt. Kurt | | | | Add 1/2 tsp Myrtle Essential Oil, 1/4 tsp Lavender |
| Schaubelt extolls this magnificent deep indigo oil for its | | | | Essential Oil and 1/4 tsp Petitgrain Essential Oil (or |
| antihistamine/anti-allergen properties. He suggests using | | | | Mandarin Essential Oil). This is a massage oil for his |
| it (applied to the solar plexus) in blends for asthma, or | | | | back. It can also be used on his wrists or ankles. It |
| diffusing it in blends for emphasema...blending Pine, | | | | should be used every 15 minutes or oftener during an |
| Cypress and just a touch of this lovely Tansy. | | | | attack. It will not hurt him to use it once or twice a day |
| (Obviously it is first necessary to test all the oils before | | | | as a regular thing if he thinks it makes his condition |
| blending!) | | | | better. |
| * Hyssop montana/canescens (ex decumbens) My | | | | |