My dear husband is suffering from a cold with a dry hacking cough. It's been keeping us both up at night and so I headed to my herb and essential oil books to find some help. I mixed this up and it seemed to ease his symptoms.

Mix 2 drops of eucalyptus essential oil and 2 drops lemon essential oil with 2 tablespoons of organic honey. (Aura Cacia actually makes a combo essential oil with eucalyptus and lemon..find it here.) Take 1 teaspoon of this and dilute in a glass of warm water. Sip it slowly. You can add a slice of lemon too.

Then massage the back and chest with 3 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil and 2 drops ginger essential oil diluted in 1 teaspoon of jojoba oil (any vegetable oil would do).

To do a steam inhalation, you could boil some distilled water, add 3 drops of lavender essential oil and inhale the steam deeply with you head and shoulders covered with a towel. Be careful not to burn yourself.  The lavender has a soothing, anti-inflammatory effect.

Got these remedy from one of my favorite books: The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy. It's a great practical guide.

Hope you are in good health.

xo,

Ivy

Image: lindseyalyce