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The Easiest DIY Remedy For Stuffy Noses And Sinus Congestion

Jill Nystul  ·  Updated on: February 3, 2026
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With just a few simple materials, you can make a portable form of congestion relief that’s quick and easy to use.

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breath jar

Have you ever used an over-the-counter nasal spray to help with sinus congestion? I tried one a few years ago, and it ended up being one of the most miserable experiences of my life!

After using nasal spray several days in a row to help with congestion from a bad head cold, I started feeling better and stopped using it. But within a day or two, the congestion came back twice as severe as it had been when I started using the spray!

The Dark Side Of Nasal Sprays: The “Rebound Effect”

As I later learned, this “rebound effect” is a fairly common side effect of nasal sprays. The spray helps initially, only for your symptoms to worsen when you stop using the spray, trapping you in a cycle of nasal spray dependence. (I only wish I’d known about that particular side effect before I picked up the nasal spray in the first place!)

Once I figured out what was happening, I quit the spray “cold turkey,” but it still took a couple of weeks before the “rebound effect” wore off. I felt so miserable during those weeks that I vowed never to reach for a medicated nasal spray again! But if I hadn’t gone through that ordeal, I wouldn’t have come up with the natural alternative I’ll be sharing with you in today’s post, so I guess it turned out alright in the end! :-)

Related: The Best Essential Oils for Congestion

Here, I’ll show you how to make a handy “Breathe Jar” with natural essential oils that help to soothe inflamed sinuses, open airways, and relieve congestion! Give it a try when you’re feeling a bit stuffed up, and you’ll understand why it’s one of my go-to remedies for congestion relief!

How To Make A “Breathe Jar” For Congestion Relief

breath jar

You’ll need:

*If you don’t have Defend on hand, feel free to substitute any or all of the following single oils: eucalyptus, peppermint, and lemon (all of which contribute to Defend’s respiratory benefits!)

**All Clear is an allergy-focused blend of oils with properties that can help with congestion, irritation, and inflammation. Defend and All Clear are both great choices for this project, so use whichever you prefer!

breath jar

Directions:

Place a few cotton balls into a small jar, then add 15 drops of Defend or All Clear (or 15 drops of the substitutes mentioned above) directly onto the cotton balls. Cover the jar with an airtight lid for storage.

breath jar

How To Use Your Breathe Jar

When sinus congestion is bothering you, open the jar, hold it up to your face, and breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose. (If your jar is big enough to fit over your nose and mouth, the heat from your breath can help activate the compounds in the oils and boost the congestion-relieving effects.

breath jar

After using your jar, replace lid securely. Repeat as often as needed to help keep airways open and congestion under control. (Some people have even said it helps with a cough too!)

breath jar

When you’re not using it, store your Breathe Jar in a cool, dry place. If the scent starts to fade, add more essential oil to the cotton balls to refresh its effects.

I’m sure you will be as amazed as I was at how well this natural remedy works. And best of all—no pesky “rebound effect” here! :-)

Do you have any tips or tricks for congestion relief?

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Jill Nystul Photo

Jill Nystul (aka Jillee)

Jill Nystul is an accomplished writer and author who founded the blog One Good Thing by Jillee in 2011. With over 30 years of experience in homemaking, she has become a trusted resource for contemporary homemakers by offering practical solutions to everyday household challenges.I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

About Jillee

Jill Nystul

Jill’s 30 years of homemaking experience, make her the trusted source for practical household solutions.

About Jillee

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72 Comments

  1. This Is for Donna or whoever. I’ve actually with my allergies have been using the Flonase year round. It’s also great for the raspiness with allergies and helps keep my ears from getting clogged. I’ve had use an antihistamines with this. I don’t have a Neti pot. I couldn’t use without my ears getting backed up. I’ve also used Jillee’s diy saline for nasal issues.

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  2. Unfortunately this didn’t provide the desired relief for my hubby. Year around allergies, constant clogged/clear combinations of his nostrils, etc., etc. He can barely smell it. He takes a whiff, and one nostril will unclog for about 15 minutes, then clog again. Tried this while waiting to be seen by an allergist for shots, hoping this would work instead. Has even tried the expensive netti pot-style appliances on tv and that doesn’t last long, either. I plan on using it when I have congestion because as soon as I opened it, my lungs started to feel the benefits (have asthma that’s under control). Interestingly, my aide sits next to the same place where the jar is, and she loves it.

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  3. This sounds like a wonderful and useful treatment – I knew that peppermint oil was good to use for congestion, headaches and lots of other things, and most lozenges contain eucalyptus, so those two are pretty common. I wasn’t aware that lemon would be good for this too. I also use the adhesive nasal strips at night to keep my nasal passages open and they really help me to not get stuffed up during the night so I can sleep better.

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  4. If really congested, could you add this to a carrier oil and put it in a diffuser?

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  5. I love this idea. I did try the Sinex spray and didn’t really work. I actually use the homemade saline jar for my nasal stuff. The Netti pot whenever I’ve used it helps , but then my ears wind up getting plugged. The timing of this post is great. I did the breath jar and the effects of the oils lasted me a few years. I mixed up another batch of the oil blend. I have bad seasonal allergies. Every year having a live tree in the house just messes with my eyes and nasal stuff big time. Unfortunately getting, a pre -lit one isn’t an option. No storage space. As much as I love Christmas the live tree isn’t a good combination with my allergies.

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  6. Wow! I just made this? I’m a chronic nosedrop user and have asthmatic symptoms occasionally. I won’t throw my inhaler out just yet but the difference this made was amazing! I wheeze at night a little bit and this eliminated that wheezy rattle with two inhales! YEA!!!

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  7. Hello Jillee, I have been following your blog for many years now without fail, and just love all your ideas. When my husband was having a bout of sinus attack recently, I quickly wrote down your recipe for sinus congestion and went to our pharmacy to buy all the essential oils necessary. However the pharmacist was not in agreement with your recipe and that the combinations and amounts were not recommende. They did not sell the essential oils to me in the end. After a visit to the ENT, we eventually solved my husband’s sinus problem with other medication. I live in the south of France and the pharmacies will always check with the customers re the usage of the essential oils before selling to them. Just thought I would pass on this information. In fact I was very excited about trying out your “recipe”.

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  8. Do you have a substitute for oregano oil? I don’t have that one.

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  9. Whenever my sinuses bother me, I boil water and place 2 drops of Oil of Oregano in the water and inhale that by covering my head and pot with a towel. If I use this treatment with a very first sign of getting sick, I need only one treatment.

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  10. What a great idea,
    I am going to try this immediately. I have been trying to ween my self from the spray inhaler since I have been hearing “bad” things about it, but have literally been unable to, it’s much more convenient to be able to breathe.
    Talk about a “rebound” effect nothing could be more true! I’ll send a note on this in a month, for the results.:-)

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  11. Love this idea! I’m having an oily day and just made this breathe jar. It will be on my desk at work come Monday morning!

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  12. Thanks for sharing this. Me and my family will definitely try this.

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  13. Can I use Jasmine rice instead of the cotton balls? Will the rice work the same way?

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  14. I made a similar thing using eucalytpus, peppermint and cinnamon bark oils.

    It works quickly and effectively.

    BUT the skin around my nose and just inside it gets so sore that I have had to stop.

    Is anyone else having this problem?

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    • I could leave out the cinnamon oil, it might be a little too strong. Also make sure that you’re just breathing the vapor, and not rubbing any oil on your nose :-)

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  15. I love the sinus jar!! My husband and kids ask for it!! Thank you for always sharing your remedies!!

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  16. I used to have tremendous amounts of sinus congestion, a still do on occasion, but the bulk of all my issues disappeared when I shifted my diet to a more paleo/intermittent fasting type structure.

    I lost (more than I really cared to) about 65 lbs, and on bad days feel better than I used to on great days!

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  17. Jillie, what a timely post for me! I have been battling blocked, stuffy sinuses for about 4 days. I made your “Breathe Jar” and feel better already. However, I couldn’t find my bottle of Oregano EO (maybe I only thought I had one, lol) so I substituted it with Rosemary EO. Can’t wait to try my “Breathe Jar” using your exact recipe. In the meanwhile, no complaints!

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  18. thanks jillee!
    for me and my family Eucalyptus oil is a tried and tested and sworn by nasal decongestant. we use it in hot water for steam inhalation, on handkerchiefs to inhale and also a couple of drops in the corners of the pillow covers, which is beneficial through the night. do give it a try :)

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  19. Thank you so much for sharing! I tried it & it is truly aweome!!! Bless you Jillee. :)

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  20. I think this is absolutely fantastic! I have been suffering with a plugged nose–especially my l. one ever since I was four and I am over 60, now. With my plugged up nose, I am constantly tired. :( Years ago, I would suffer from migraines and, now, I very carefully make sure I do not get another. Now, those is “so “miserable, needless to say! Only ones who get migraines, fully understand.

    I will most certainly try this. Again, thank you!

    Shannah

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  21. I have been having horrible experiences with nasal sprays over the years. I will definitely give your method a try this season, Jillee! Pinned!

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  22. I am going to try this, I’ve been suffering with sinus congestion which then leads to migraines. I found applying a few drops of peppermint oil to a wet cotton ball as recommended was amazing.
    Dabbing the cottonball on the forehead, the bridge of my nose and upper lip, staying away from eyes and muceus membranes of the nostrils, was INSTANT relief. I couldn’t believe how powerful and refreshing it felt. Within minutes and not needing a decongestant or migraine meds, my head never felt such overwhelming relief !! Within a short time I was off to sleep relieved at last. Exhausted by all that pressure I slept the whole night. My only caution is to realize in the morning that remnants of the peppermint oil remain on your skin and needs to wiped off carefully, so not to rub your eyes. I used a baby wipe. FINALLY found the answer , amazing. Similar to breathing jar but more direct.
    Hope it helps others with Migraines and Sinus issues. Gone with the old, ice,heat &medications

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  24. Is there a substitute for the peppermint? Not a fan of the mint smell

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    • Absolutely! Eucalyptus is the most commonly used and most effective decongestant. It’s not a very expensive essential oil and works like a charm. It goes well with the lemon oil which is also inexpensive. The lemon is basically just to add a nice scent and doesn’t really have any decongestive properties. The oregano oil is VERY expensive, and as far as I know is only useful if placed under the tongue. However, it is extremely effective that way. Tastes HORRIBLE, but by all accounts is worth the terrible taste and the money. Melaleuca is a fantastic ingredient in high end skincare. Have no idea why it would be used in a decongestant mix. ???

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      • Melaleuca is great for your immune system! Also great for sinus infections and respiratory ailments. :-)

      • CAUTION: Oregano is a HOT oil and should only be used with a carrier never straight. (according to camwander.com)

  25. Thanks for this! I have nasal congestion and it almost always ventures into my chest. Hoping this will ward it off. I had all the oils available !

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  26. I use essential oils and love them. I did find a nasal spray called SinuOrega. It is essential oils and sea salt and spring water. If I start feelingsick I take their Orgabiotic too and it helps a lot. Olive leaf and grapefruit seed extract pills too.

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  27. I did this with a small film canister when we traveled overseas last year…perfect for combatting ‘airplane air’, too!

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    • Perfect, thanks for the suggestion Val! I’ll definitely be taking this on my next flight :-)

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  28. I’ve done this for years and really does work very well. Thanks for posting for others that do not know the medical uses of essential oils.

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  29. I love the Breathe jar. This works very well. I keep mine in the bathroom closet and dig it out when needed. The essential oils last a long time on this. Glad I discovered this. I also use the homemade saline .

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  30. Thanks for the idea. I woke up with sinus congestion this morning, and I hate taking any OTC sinus meds because they do make it worse the next day. I am going to make this right now, and even substitute da little clove and cinnamon to the peppermint to make it more holiday scented. I also bought a pendant necklace that opens and has holes in the pattern. I cut a felt disc to go inside, and it works perfectly. I found it on eBay, searching under “openwork pendant”.

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  32. Brilliant! My mother used to give me “Vix”, which would relieve sinus congestion. Either that, or she would put half an onion on a plate in my room which would open my sinus as well. If that didn’t work, she would put boiling water in a bowl, add Vix to it and I’d have to hold my head over it with a towel over my head for about 10 minutes, while breathing in the Vix smell reinforced by the steam coming off of the hot water.

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  33. I made a “Breathe Bottle” by re purposing a used plastic prescription bottle. It even came with a cotton ball. I used Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Wintergreen and Peppermint. Worked extremely well. I probably used 20 drops total.

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  35. I would not use that much Oregano. It is a hot oil and you can burn your mucus membrane with that much! I’d cut the oregano back to 3 drops and the rest, keep at 15 drops.

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  36. Tried it and it works! It also relieved my sore throat. Going to pin it. Thanks Jillee

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  37. This has worked great for me! Ordered my oils from Spark Naturals, made up a jar, and was able to stop an earache right in its tracks! So much easier and effective than applying heat to the ear. My sinuses thank you!

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  38. Thanks for the awesome tip. Being a mom of two toddlers I have no time to slow down. So when my sinuses act up I am still on the go and miserable. I have considered using an over-the-counter spray and I am so happy I read your post before I made that decision. Thank you so much for the warning! I am also wondering if I can use the same amount of drops for my children when they are feeling icky& stuffy?

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  39. I love using essential oils this way! A hot shower is my first go-to and then the oils seems to be able to get in there better ;) because clear breathing is something to be thankful for!!

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  40. I’ve felt forced to use the nasal sprays just to survive the sinus congestion but hate them for the reasons you mentioned. I will definitely give your breathe jar a try – sounds like a winner!

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  41. Now where has THIS been for the last few weeks that I’ve been suffering this sinus crud?! I’ve never heard of a breathe jar so I had no idea! Will be making this ASAP even though I have no Oregano oil. Will use Eucalyptus with the peppermint and others. Thank you Jillee!!! Another great idea!

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  42. Try the eucalyptus oil in it. It’s in some cough drops. Just breathing from my bottle of eucalyptus can make me feel btter when I have a cold.

    Just a reminder that citrus and teatree/Melaleuca EOs are toxic to cats. Those of us with cats can easily substitute other EOs which will be just as effective and keep our cats safe.

    Thanks for another good idea, Jillee.

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  43. I’ve been using breathe jars for about a year now. They’re honestly fabulous! I get a lot of sinus infections (usually 2-3 a year) and sinus related headaches. I’ve not had a full blown infection since using breathe jars when I feel them coming on. And when I just have a stuffy nose this really opens things up! I keep one on my desk at work and one by my bed at home. The oils last a really really long time when sealed in the jars (I use a 1oz jar).

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  44. I have this very thing sitting right next to my computer. I use it all the time!

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  45. i do this, but bought essential oil inhalers on Amazon. They have inexpensive plastic tubes, with a cotton wick in the center for the oils, and a cap. About the size of a lip balm tube. Oils can breakdown the plastic, so I wouldn’t reuse, or keep them forever. They also sell more expensive glass lined aluminum, so you don’t have to worry about plastic chemicals.

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  46. Tea tree oil and melaleuca are the same thing. Just read the back of the bottle of tea tree. I’m definitely going to do this,now that I finally have all the oils. I’m thinking it might also help with my spring and summer allergies. The mold and pollen counts get very high here in the Midwest and cause all sorts of trouble for me.

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  47. Tea tree oil is poisonous to cats so I don’t buy it (it’s oil and so transfers to things and sticks around, and my cats like to lick things including me, lol) so would this be just as effective without it? Or should I replace that oil with another oil?

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    • Go ahead and try it without, it will still help, but the melaleuca is particularly great with breathing issues. You could replace it with eucalyptus instead :-)

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      • Thank you Jillee!

  48. I gave these along with jars of chest rub & shower discs & buckwheat hull & lavender heat pads as Christmas gifts & everyone LOVES it!! After making all my Christmas gifts & delivering them to Brighton & American Fork from SoCal, I’m now using them on myself!! ;-)

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  49. Years ago my sinus dr gave me the following recipe for a saline spray and I found it to be very beneficial:
    Clean and rinse 2 wt glass jar. Fill with tap or bottled water. Add 2 to 4 heaping teaspoons of “pickling/canning” salt. Do NOT use table salt. Add 1 rounded teaspoon of baking soda. Stir or shake before each use. Store at room temperature. After a week, pour out any mixture that is left over and make a nrw batch.

    Plan to rinse the nose. With this mixture 2 – 4 times a day. You will need a bulb/ear syringe or a waterpik. Pour some salt eater into a clean bowl. Warm to body temperature if you wish. Fill the syringe with the salt water and squirt into each nosttil aiming toward the back of your head. This will let you spit some of thr salt water out of your mouth. It will not hurt if uou swallow a little. You can also put the dalt water in a commercial dpray container, like a nasal steroid dpray bottle. Spray mant times into each side of the nose. If using thr spray, I cut the recipe in half.
    .

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    • Janet,
      I had the same experience with the baking salt water as you had. it really works but sometimes it again chokesup. So repeatedly one has to do the clearing work.
      Jayant

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  51. Linda,
    I’m pretty sure melaleuca and tea tree are one and the same. I bet you could try it with just peppermint, lemon and tea tree and see if that helps until you can order oregano. I hope you feel better soon!

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    • Thanks, Angela! Tea tree is melaleuca, so the three that you do have will work just fine, Linda :-)

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  52. I am going to try this for Sure and will let you all know the Results thanks for Sharing I want to get rid of medicines and get to the old time remedies. Thanks again so much!!

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Leave a Comment

72 Comments

  1. This Is for Donna or whoever. I’ve actually with my allergies have been using the Flonase year round. It’s also great for the raspiness with allergies and helps keep my ears from getting clogged. I’ve had use an antihistamines with this. I don’t have a Neti pot. I couldn’t use without my ears getting backed up. I’ve also used Jillee’s diy saline for nasal issues.

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  2. Unfortunately this didn’t provide the desired relief for my hubby. Year around allergies, constant clogged/clear combinations of his nostrils, etc., etc. He can barely smell it. He takes a whiff, and one nostril will unclog for about 15 minutes, then clog again. Tried this while waiting to be seen by an allergist for shots, hoping this would work instead. Has even tried the expensive netti pot-style appliances on tv and that doesn’t last long, either. I plan on using it when I have congestion because as soon as I opened it, my lungs started to feel the benefits (have asthma that’s under control). Interestingly, my aide sits next to the same place where the jar is, and she loves it.

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  3. This sounds like a wonderful and useful treatment – I knew that peppermint oil was good to use for congestion, headaches and lots of other things, and most lozenges contain eucalyptus, so those two are pretty common. I wasn’t aware that lemon would be good for this too. I also use the adhesive nasal strips at night to keep my nasal passages open and they really help me to not get stuffed up during the night so I can sleep better.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.

  4. If really congested, could you add this to a carrier oil and put it in a diffuser?

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  5. I love this idea. I did try the Sinex spray and didn’t really work. I actually use the homemade saline jar for my nasal stuff. The Netti pot whenever I’ve used it helps , but then my ears wind up getting plugged. The timing of this post is great. I did the breath jar and the effects of the oils lasted me a few years. I mixed up another batch of the oil blend. I have bad seasonal allergies. Every year having a live tree in the house just messes with my eyes and nasal stuff big time. Unfortunately getting, a pre -lit one isn’t an option. No storage space. As much as I love Christmas the live tree isn’t a good combination with my allergies.

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  6. Wow! I just made this? I’m a chronic nosedrop user and have asthmatic symptoms occasionally. I won’t throw my inhaler out just yet but the difference this made was amazing! I wheeze at night a little bit and this eliminated that wheezy rattle with two inhales! YEA!!!

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  7. Hello Jillee, I have been following your blog for many years now without fail, and just love all your ideas. When my husband was having a bout of sinus attack recently, I quickly wrote down your recipe for sinus congestion and went to our pharmacy to buy all the essential oils necessary. However the pharmacist was not in agreement with your recipe and that the combinations and amounts were not recommende. They did not sell the essential oils to me in the end. After a visit to the ENT, we eventually solved my husband’s sinus problem with other medication. I live in the south of France and the pharmacies will always check with the customers re the usage of the essential oils before selling to them. Just thought I would pass on this information. In fact I was very excited about trying out your “recipe”.

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  8. Do you have a substitute for oregano oil? I don’t have that one.

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  9. Whenever my sinuses bother me, I boil water and place 2 drops of Oil of Oregano in the water and inhale that by covering my head and pot with a towel. If I use this treatment with a very first sign of getting sick, I need only one treatment.

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  10. What a great idea,
    I am going to try this immediately. I have been trying to ween my self from the spray inhaler since I have been hearing “bad” things about it, but have literally been unable to, it’s much more convenient to be able to breathe.
    Talk about a “rebound” effect nothing could be more true! I’ll send a note on this in a month, for the results.:-)

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  11. Love this idea! I’m having an oily day and just made this breathe jar. It will be on my desk at work come Monday morning!

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  12. Thanks for sharing this. Me and my family will definitely try this.

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  13. Can I use Jasmine rice instead of the cotton balls? Will the rice work the same way?

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  14. I made a similar thing using eucalytpus, peppermint and cinnamon bark oils.

    It works quickly and effectively.

    BUT the skin around my nose and just inside it gets so sore that I have had to stop.

    Is anyone else having this problem?

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    • I could leave out the cinnamon oil, it might be a little too strong. Also make sure that you’re just breathing the vapor, and not rubbing any oil on your nose :-)

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  15. I love the sinus jar!! My husband and kids ask for it!! Thank you for always sharing your remedies!!

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  16. I used to have tremendous amounts of sinus congestion, a still do on occasion, but the bulk of all my issues disappeared when I shifted my diet to a more paleo/intermittent fasting type structure.

    I lost (more than I really cared to) about 65 lbs, and on bad days feel better than I used to on great days!

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  17. Jillie, what a timely post for me! I have been battling blocked, stuffy sinuses for about 4 days. I made your “Breathe Jar” and feel better already. However, I couldn’t find my bottle of Oregano EO (maybe I only thought I had one, lol) so I substituted it with Rosemary EO. Can’t wait to try my “Breathe Jar” using your exact recipe. In the meanwhile, no complaints!

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  18. thanks jillee!
    for me and my family Eucalyptus oil is a tried and tested and sworn by nasal decongestant. we use it in hot water for steam inhalation, on handkerchiefs to inhale and also a couple of drops in the corners of the pillow covers, which is beneficial through the night. do give it a try :)

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  19. Thank you so much for sharing! I tried it & it is truly aweome!!! Bless you Jillee. :)

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  20. I think this is absolutely fantastic! I have been suffering with a plugged nose–especially my l. one ever since I was four and I am over 60, now. With my plugged up nose, I am constantly tired. :( Years ago, I would suffer from migraines and, now, I very carefully make sure I do not get another. Now, those is “so “miserable, needless to say! Only ones who get migraines, fully understand.

    I will most certainly try this. Again, thank you!

    Shannah

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  21. I have been having horrible experiences with nasal sprays over the years. I will definitely give your method a try this season, Jillee! Pinned!

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  22. I am going to try this, I’ve been suffering with sinus congestion which then leads to migraines. I found applying a few drops of peppermint oil to a wet cotton ball as recommended was amazing.
    Dabbing the cottonball on the forehead, the bridge of my nose and upper lip, staying away from eyes and muceus membranes of the nostrils, was INSTANT relief. I couldn’t believe how powerful and refreshing it felt. Within minutes and not needing a decongestant or migraine meds, my head never felt such overwhelming relief !! Within a short time I was off to sleep relieved at last. Exhausted by all that pressure I slept the whole night. My only caution is to realize in the morning that remnants of the peppermint oil remain on your skin and needs to wiped off carefully, so not to rub your eyes. I used a baby wipe. FINALLY found the answer , amazing. Similar to breathing jar but more direct.
    Hope it helps others with Migraines and Sinus issues. Gone with the old, ice,heat &medications

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  24. Is there a substitute for the peppermint? Not a fan of the mint smell

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    • Absolutely! Eucalyptus is the most commonly used and most effective decongestant. It’s not a very expensive essential oil and works like a charm. It goes well with the lemon oil which is also inexpensive. The lemon is basically just to add a nice scent and doesn’t really have any decongestive properties. The oregano oil is VERY expensive, and as far as I know is only useful if placed under the tongue. However, it is extremely effective that way. Tastes HORRIBLE, but by all accounts is worth the terrible taste and the money. Melaleuca is a fantastic ingredient in high end skincare. Have no idea why it would be used in a decongestant mix. ???

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      • Melaleuca is great for your immune system! Also great for sinus infections and respiratory ailments. :-)

      • CAUTION: Oregano is a HOT oil and should only be used with a carrier never straight. (according to camwander.com)

  25. Thanks for this! I have nasal congestion and it almost always ventures into my chest. Hoping this will ward it off. I had all the oils available !

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  26. I use essential oils and love them. I did find a nasal spray called SinuOrega. It is essential oils and sea salt and spring water. If I start feelingsick I take their Orgabiotic too and it helps a lot. Olive leaf and grapefruit seed extract pills too.

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  27. I did this with a small film canister when we traveled overseas last year…perfect for combatting ‘airplane air’, too!

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    • Perfect, thanks for the suggestion Val! I’ll definitely be taking this on my next flight :-)

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  28. I’ve done this for years and really does work very well. Thanks for posting for others that do not know the medical uses of essential oils.

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  29. I love the Breathe jar. This works very well. I keep mine in the bathroom closet and dig it out when needed. The essential oils last a long time on this. Glad I discovered this. I also use the homemade saline .

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  30. Thanks for the idea. I woke up with sinus congestion this morning, and I hate taking any OTC sinus meds because they do make it worse the next day. I am going to make this right now, and even substitute da little clove and cinnamon to the peppermint to make it more holiday scented. I also bought a pendant necklace that opens and has holes in the pattern. I cut a felt disc to go inside, and it works perfectly. I found it on eBay, searching under “openwork pendant”.

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  32. Brilliant! My mother used to give me “Vix”, which would relieve sinus congestion. Either that, or she would put half an onion on a plate in my room which would open my sinus as well. If that didn’t work, she would put boiling water in a bowl, add Vix to it and I’d have to hold my head over it with a towel over my head for about 10 minutes, while breathing in the Vix smell reinforced by the steam coming off of the hot water.

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  33. I made a “Breathe Bottle” by re purposing a used plastic prescription bottle. It even came with a cotton ball. I used Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Wintergreen and Peppermint. Worked extremely well. I probably used 20 drops total.

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  35. I would not use that much Oregano. It is a hot oil and you can burn your mucus membrane with that much! I’d cut the oregano back to 3 drops and the rest, keep at 15 drops.

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  36. Tried it and it works! It also relieved my sore throat. Going to pin it. Thanks Jillee

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  37. This has worked great for me! Ordered my oils from Spark Naturals, made up a jar, and was able to stop an earache right in its tracks! So much easier and effective than applying heat to the ear. My sinuses thank you!

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  38. Thanks for the awesome tip. Being a mom of two toddlers I have no time to slow down. So when my sinuses act up I am still on the go and miserable. I have considered using an over-the-counter spray and I am so happy I read your post before I made that decision. Thank you so much for the warning! I am also wondering if I can use the same amount of drops for my children when they are feeling icky& stuffy?

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  39. I love using essential oils this way! A hot shower is my first go-to and then the oils seems to be able to get in there better ;) because clear breathing is something to be thankful for!!

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  40. I’ve felt forced to use the nasal sprays just to survive the sinus congestion but hate them for the reasons you mentioned. I will definitely give your breathe jar a try – sounds like a winner!

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  41. Now where has THIS been for the last few weeks that I’ve been suffering this sinus crud?! I’ve never heard of a breathe jar so I had no idea! Will be making this ASAP even though I have no Oregano oil. Will use Eucalyptus with the peppermint and others. Thank you Jillee!!! Another great idea!

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  42. Try the eucalyptus oil in it. It’s in some cough drops. Just breathing from my bottle of eucalyptus can make me feel btter when I have a cold.

    Just a reminder that citrus and teatree/Melaleuca EOs are toxic to cats. Those of us with cats can easily substitute other EOs which will be just as effective and keep our cats safe.

    Thanks for another good idea, Jillee.

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  43. I’ve been using breathe jars for about a year now. They’re honestly fabulous! I get a lot of sinus infections (usually 2-3 a year) and sinus related headaches. I’ve not had a full blown infection since using breathe jars when I feel them coming on. And when I just have a stuffy nose this really opens things up! I keep one on my desk at work and one by my bed at home. The oils last a really really long time when sealed in the jars (I use a 1oz jar).

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  44. I have this very thing sitting right next to my computer. I use it all the time!

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  45. i do this, but bought essential oil inhalers on Amazon. They have inexpensive plastic tubes, with a cotton wick in the center for the oils, and a cap. About the size of a lip balm tube. Oils can breakdown the plastic, so I wouldn’t reuse, or keep them forever. They also sell more expensive glass lined aluminum, so you don’t have to worry about plastic chemicals.

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  46. Tea tree oil and melaleuca are the same thing. Just read the back of the bottle of tea tree. I’m definitely going to do this,now that I finally have all the oils. I’m thinking it might also help with my spring and summer allergies. The mold and pollen counts get very high here in the Midwest and cause all sorts of trouble for me.

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  47. Tea tree oil is poisonous to cats so I don’t buy it (it’s oil and so transfers to things and sticks around, and my cats like to lick things including me, lol) so would this be just as effective without it? Or should I replace that oil with another oil?

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    • Go ahead and try it without, it will still help, but the melaleuca is particularly great with breathing issues. You could replace it with eucalyptus instead :-)

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      • Thank you Jillee!

  48. I gave these along with jars of chest rub & shower discs & buckwheat hull & lavender heat pads as Christmas gifts & everyone LOVES it!! After making all my Christmas gifts & delivering them to Brighton & American Fork from SoCal, I’m now using them on myself!! ;-)

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  49. Years ago my sinus dr gave me the following recipe for a saline spray and I found it to be very beneficial:
    Clean and rinse 2 wt glass jar. Fill with tap or bottled water. Add 2 to 4 heaping teaspoons of “pickling/canning” salt. Do NOT use table salt. Add 1 rounded teaspoon of baking soda. Stir or shake before each use. Store at room temperature. After a week, pour out any mixture that is left over and make a nrw batch.

    Plan to rinse the nose. With this mixture 2 – 4 times a day. You will need a bulb/ear syringe or a waterpik. Pour some salt eater into a clean bowl. Warm to body temperature if you wish. Fill the syringe with the salt water and squirt into each nosttil aiming toward the back of your head. This will let you spit some of thr salt water out of your mouth. It will not hurt if uou swallow a little. You can also put the dalt water in a commercial dpray container, like a nasal steroid dpray bottle. Spray mant times into each side of the nose. If using thr spray, I cut the recipe in half.
    .

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    • Janet,
      I had the same experience with the baking salt water as you had. it really works but sometimes it again chokesup. So repeatedly one has to do the clearing work.
      Jayant

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  51. Linda,
    I’m pretty sure melaleuca and tea tree are one and the same. I bet you could try it with just peppermint, lemon and tea tree and see if that helps until you can order oregano. I hope you feel better soon!

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    • Thanks, Angela! Tea tree is melaleuca, so the three that you do have will work just fine, Linda :-)

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  52. I am going to try this for Sure and will let you all know the Results thanks for Sharing I want to get rid of medicines and get to the old time remedies. Thanks again so much!!

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