I Just Wanted to Breathe Through My Nose Again: Essential Oil Roller

A few weeks back, I had a cold and woke up in the middle of the night unable to breathe through my nose. The next day I decided that I wanted to breathe through the night, so I turned to my friends and fellow admins over at the Facebook Group, “Safe Essential Oil Recipes Only!” to come up with a blend. Since my whole family was sick, I would be staying in my son’s bed with him. (I stay with him when he’s sick and I really didn’t want to be next to my snoring and moaning husband who is miserable to sleep next to when he’s sick). So, it had to be a kid-safe blend. Robin and Alecia suggested using fir needle or cedarwood, but I was afraid these may have the opposite effect for me. I simply can’t wear anything that’s been stored in a cedar chest and have difficulty with certain pine trees when we bring them home for Christmas.

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Robin Kessler and Alecia Buono are both graduates of Aromahead Institute, the same place that I’m going for aromatherapy certification, so I knew they would be good people to ask. We brainstormed for quite awhile, and finally came up with a blend that would help me to breathe through the night and not be harmful to my 4-year-old that I prop up on  my chest when he coughs at night.

I originally considered an inhaler, but decided it would be better to make up a roller bottle so that my skin and sheets could be a diffuser and deliver the scent to me while I slept. Many oils were suggested, but what I decided to use was Rosalina (Melaleuca ericifolia), Fragonia™ (Agonis fragrans), and Basil (Ocimum basilicum ct linalool). This is one of those times that the latin name of an oil is so important. Robert Tisserand’s book, Essential Oils Safety, Second Edition, lists seven different types of basil, all with different safety guidelines. You do not want the wrong type of basil in the blend, especially if using on or near a child. Ocimum basilicum ct linalool essential oil has a maximum dermal limit of 3.3% while other types are much lower. Even the absolute of the same chemotype has different safety recommendations than the essential oil. Always know the latin name of the essential oil you are using to be sure that you are using it safely and getting the intended benefit.

Because this was for use directly on me, I made up a 2% solution, however, if had been for my son then I would have made it at 1% which is the recommended dilution for children 2-6 years old.

Here’s a reference chart for dilution rates:

Here’s what I did:

• 1 drop Rosalina (Melaleuca ericifolia)
• 2 drops Fragonia™ (Agonis fragrans)
• 1 drop Basil (Ocimum basilicum ct linalool)

Mixed with 10 ml carrier oil (such as fractionated coconut oil or jojoba oil) in a roller bottle.

In this case, I made up one roller bottle. An alternative would be to mix up a master blend and then make up roller bottles or inhalers as needed. I’m hoping not to need this blend very often and I needed it quick, so one roller bottle did the trick.

Here’s an example of a master blend:

• 10 drops Rosalina (Melaleuca ericifolia)
• 20 drops Fragonia™ (Agonis fragrans)
• 10 drops Basil (Ocimum basilicum ct linalool)

With this I would use 4 drops of the master blend in a 10 ml roller bottle (plus carrier oil) for a 2% dilution. To make a 1% dilution for my son, I would add only 2 drops of the master blend into a 10 ml roller bottle.

Whatever you do, remember to label your bottle so that you know what’s in it for the next time you need it. I was in a hurry, and it was late, and so I reused an Elderberry Syrup label for this blend.

This “I Just Wanted to Breathe Through My Nose Again” blend worked perfectly for me. Since then, I use it any night that I have any sort of stuffy nose and I wake up without a stuffy nose.

DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Only you and your qualified healthcare provider can decide the best treatment for your individual circumstances and condition(s). Please contact them for guidance. Read Marvy Moms full disclaimer for more information.