The cure for the common cold may be a long way off, but thankfully through modern medicine and through the many alternative therapies that are available the cold virus can be fought off quite easily.

If you are one of the many people that prefer natural remedies, why not try aromatherapy? Aromatherapy can be a very effective alternative to modern medicines and the drugs that will be prescribed by many doctors and by following some simple aromatherapy techniques, you can fight back against the cold virus and make the symptoms of a cold more bearable.

The first steps to feeling better is to choose the right aromatherapy oils for the job. This is where many people struggle, as there are hundreds if not thousands of essential oils to choose from. Listed below are a few of the most popular and effective aromatherapy oils that can be used to treat the cold virus.

Eucalyptus oil is a one of the most popular oils in cough and cold remedies; it has excellent decongestant properties, making it ideal for the treatment of flu, coughs and colds.

Peppermint is also a wonderful oil to use as it is nearly one third menthol which makes it a great oil for clearing head colds. Many people will recognize the healing properties of menthol as this ingredient is used in many modern medicines such as Vicks Vaporub.

Lavender essential oil is the oil to choose if your cold is preventing a good night’s sleep. Used just before bedtime in a warm bath, the Lavender will relax you ready for bed, as well as healing with its powerful antiseptic properties.

There are many other oils that can be used to treat the common cold, but these are some of the most popular and are an ideal starting point if you are new to aromatherapy.

Now you have selected your oils, you need to know how to use them. There are many ways of using these essential oils, but the most effective way of treating coughs and colds, is through steam inhalation. Inhalation is also one of the simplest ways of using essential oils.

To prepare a steam inhalation simply add a few drops of aromatherapy oil to a bowl of boiling water, cover your head with a towel, bend over the bowl and deeply inhale for several minutes. This method will give the best results in the shortest time. Both Peppermint and Eucalyptus are very effective when used in this way.

Another great way of using the oils is in a warm bath. Simply add up to ten drops of oil to your bath, the water will relax you and the healing properties of the oils will get to work on your cold. An excellent recipe for your therapeutic bath is 3 drops of Eucalyptus, 3 drops of Lavender and 3 drops of Peppermint.

By following these simple methods, the symptoms of your cold should soon start to fade and you should start to feel your old self again.