Essential Oils For Snoring

Snoring happens more often than people would want to believe. Over the years, people have been looking for medical treatments and home remedies to cure the condition. Fortunately, you can deal with this problem effectively with the use of essential oils.

Just How Effective are Essential Oils for Snoring?

Studies back the entire regimen of treating snoring using essential oils. These oils were experimented on and are documented to have been effective in providing relief to people who snore.

Researchers interviewed both the patients and their partners before using the oils. The results were astounding: 82% of the partners or patients who applied essential oils before bedtime reported significant snoring reduction. This was done because the partners were more suitable interviewees, since they are the ones aware of the severity and frequency of the patients’ snoring.

Which Essential Oils Reduce Snoring?

There are so many essential oils to pick from, but only a handful are really effective. Among these are thyme, lemon, fennel, sage, mint, clove, citronella, pine, marjoram, pine, eucalyptus, lavender, and valor. Below, we’ll talk more about the three best essential oils for treating snoring.

Essential Oils To Stop Snoring #1: Thyme

Thyme gets the majority vote for being the best candidate for providing snoring relief. There have been numerous studies done on this particular essential oil to help reduce snoring, results of which reveal its positive effects to the respiratory, immune, and musculoskeletal systems of the body. Plus, it carries with it many purifying and cleansing properties.

In order to use this oil for relieving snoring, follow these steps:

1 – Mix thyme with a “carrier oil” – this is a MUST, because thyme on its own can irritate your skin. Examples of carrier oils include jojoba oil and almond oil.

2 – Apply the essential oil mixture at the bottom of your big toes before bedtime.

In reflexology, the bottom of the big toes are known as the “reflex spot” for the neck, which is appropriate since this is the part of your body that needs to benefit from the essential oil during sleep and snoring.

Another option is to diffuse the oil into the air if you have an essential oil diffuser kit. If you do so, be sure to prestart the unit about 30 minutes ahead of time (before bedtime) so that your bedroom is already well-filled with the aroma of thyme. This ensures easy and comfortable breathing the moment you enter the room. Some people may find the pure scent to be overpowering – if this is the case, you can also mix it with other oils. There are vendors who offer premixed essential oil blends for this very purpose, too.

The most important thing is to test the particular brand of essential oil beforehand. This lets you adjust the strength of the oil before fully using it as intended.

CAUTION : NEVER use thyme essential oil if you are pregnant. Be cautious in using it and avoid contact with eyes, nose, and ears. If you are hypertensive, seek medical approval before using it.

Essential Oils To Reduce Snoring #2: Marjoram

If you smell the marjoram essential oil’s scent before and during sleep, your airway passages can benefit immensely. The oil opens up these passages, which means that the snoring stops.

The good thing about this particular substance is that as soon as it takes effect and the body reacts to it, you’re all set. There isn’t any need to refill or apply any more. If you’re using a diffuser unit, you can set it on an automatic shut-off (two hours is more than enough for this particular essential oil to take effect). You don’t need to keep it running throughout the night.

Its effects, however, may vary per person. Each individual is unique, and the body can react differently to particular substances. For example, one patient may reap the benefits of the oil immediately after just one use, while others may require a few more nights – or even weeks – to experience relief from snoring. What this means is that if at first it doesn’t quite seem to work, don’t give up too easily. Give it time.

CAUTION : Do NOT use this oil if you are pregnant.

Snoring Essential Oils #3: Eucalyptus

This essential oil works as a natural decongestant. It helps your air passages to open up more, thus stopping the snoring. Eucalyptus is a common home remedy for colds for the same reason. All in all, eucalyptus is great in improving your respiration. It also aids in clearing your nasal passages of mucus and secretions.

There are many options available, but the most effective way to use eucalyptus is through steam inhalation. It doesn’t just help you breathe better – it also smells wonderful!

In a bowl, pour steaming hot water. Add 3 to 5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Cover your head with a clean and dry towel. Lean over the bowl closely and take deep breaths. Stay in this position and inhale the steam treatment for about 5 minutes.

This method is preferred since it is suitable and safe for both kids and adults.

Conclusion

If you need a natural, non-invasive way to treat your (or your partner’s) snoring problem, then you can consider using essential oils. There are many options out there, and the three highlighted above get the best marks for efficacy. However, always keep in mind that there is no “one size fits all” guarantee with this kind of remedy for snoring. What may work impeccably well for someone may not be as effective for you, or vice versa.

If you aren’t successful at first, keep researching and trying different essential oils (or mixtures of these). You can ask an essential oils expert for advice. Stores that carry these oils are often knowledgeable about which ones work the best, which ones mix well with other oils, and what ways to best take them.

The bottom line is that essential oils are a great and effective way to deal with snoring problems, which can provide relief not only to the patient, but also to their partners and loved ones.