Everyone knows that fall and winter are the toughest times of year on our immune systems. We pull out all the stops with Emergen-C and who knows what other sort of concoctions to put up our best fight against cold and flu season.
Somehow, the sickness always seems to prevail.
This year, when you get hit with the sniffles, there’s a nifty hack to call upon that you probably haven’t tried before: hanging fresh eucalyptus from your shower head. Prevention reports that eucalyptus has been proven to help relieve upper respiratory issues, hence why its minty sweet aroma is a common ingredient in cold relief products like Vicks.
“The steam of the shower releases the essential oils of the eucalyptus plant, which can clear nasal congestion and inflammation related to sinus and bronchial infections,” Prevention explains. Sure, medicine can help you out with these issues too, but if you’re looking for a subtle or natural treatment for what ails you, some shower eucalyptus could surely do the trick.
And yes, this is a trend you might have seen on Instagram, but it’s one that has practical use. And plus, who wouldn’t want a shower situation like one of these?:
You can score fresh eucalyptus at places like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and your local florist.