Olbas Oil Inhalant Decongestant

A few years ago when my daughter got RSV (a nasty viral infection in the chest and upper airways) she spent a lot of time with a very nasty snotty nose and gunky chest, even after she came out of hospital. Then my sister-in-law recommended we tried Olbas Oil. While it didn't really help with the RSV, its proved invaluable at helping during times when I've personally been very blocked up.

~~~The Range~~~

Olbas oil is part of a small range of products. These are :

Olbas Oil inhalant decongestant
Olbas Inhaler
Olbas blackcurrant flavour sugar free pastilles
Olbas Vapour rub
Olbas Bath
Olbas for children

All of these contain essential oils and claim to offer relief from catarrh, colds and with a couple of the products muscle pain.

~~~The Packaging~~~

The oil comes in a small, dark brown bottle with a dropper top. This is then presented in a green and orange box, that also contains an information leaflet.

~~~The Oil~~~

The oil itself is highly pungent, and has a very distinctive smell. I find it smells much like Vicks, but much stronger. As it is made from a blend of essential oils, I guess it's pretty important to know what's actually in it, as many people can have reactions to some oils, so here goes :

Cajuput Oil - This oil is used as traditional remedy for rheumatism and cholera, and has antiseptic qualities.

Clove Oil - This oil is also antiseptic (its good for toothache), and is also warming and relaxing.

Eucalyptus Oil - Eucalyptus was originally used by the Aborigines to heal wounds, fight infection and relieve pain. The oil has a distinctive smell that clears the head and is used in countless cold remedies. It is also a powerful antiseptic and has a cooling effect on the skin.

Juniper Berry Oil - At one time used to ward off witches, and most commonly used to flavour gin, juniper is another antiseptic, and is also diuretic (helps you lose water), relaxing and excellent for aches and pains.

Dementholised Mint Oil - I couldn't find any info on the mint oil, sorry.

Wintergreen Oil - This is another oil that is effective in the treatment of arthritis.

~~~The Uses~~~

There are two main uses for Olbas Oil :

The first is as an inhalant decongestant. In this case you would put a few drops on a tissue and “sniff” it as needed. I find this works really well, but the first few sniffs are very strong, and then it gradually reduces strength over the space of a good few hours. At night I put two drops on the bottom pillow, about an hour before going to bed, to give it time to lose that initial pungency. I then find it lasts all night. Another way to inhale it, is to add a couple of drops to your bath, I find this really helps when I'm completely congested and can't manage to even breathe through my nose.

The other use is as a muscle rub. In this case you simply massage a few drops into the affected area. I've used this when I've had a “crick” in my neck. And it really does work, although you may find the area you've massaged feels very cold and numb, the pain is reduced.

~~~Who Can Use It~~~

Olbas Oil is suitable for adults and children over the age of 6 months. However, for children below 2 its advisable to put the oil on a tissue that is then put out of their reach. I find putting it under the mattress works extremely well.

~~~Who Can't Use It~~~

Obviously this shouldn't be used with children under 6 months. Also if you are pregnant you should consult your doctor or the pharmacist before using this.

Another group that should use this with caution are epileptics. Although there is no warning on the bottle, essential oils can worsen seizures as I found out to my dismay. I thought I was helping my son get over his colds quicker and therefore keeping him out of hospital, only to discover that the oil was making his seizures worse.

~~~Warnings~~~

Many of the oils contained in this are highly toxic, and therefore it is for external use only and it should only be used on unbroken skin.

~~~Price and Availability~~~

Olbas Oil is available in many places, from small chemists right upto supermarkets.
At the moment a 28ml bottle costs £3.46 in Tesco, and although it sounds a little pricey for such a small bottle it will last ages. One bottle lasts for a whole winter in this house where there are five of us using it.

~~~Further Info~~~

Further information on the entire Olbas range can be found at :

www.olbas.co.uk

This site also gives some other uses for the oil.

~~~Final Words~~~

This oil is a godsend for my family. Having young children, there always seems to be one of us with a cold, even in the middle of summer. The oil relieves our breathing so that we can sleep at night and get through the day. However, I've learnt to my cost, that on occasional it has loosened the gunk to the point where I've actually been sick.
I've also discovered that its not suitable for my epileptic son when used directly, but he doesn't seem to badly affected by the lingering smell when others use it.

I also find it extremely economical, as you're only using drops at a time, it lasts for absolutely ages. So if you're sitting there all bunged up as you read this, why haven't you sent someone to get you a bottle.