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DIY Herbal Face Steam for Congestion

April 8, 2020 by Katie Wells
facial steam bath for colds
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Benefits of an Herbal Face Steam
  • Steam Inhalation for a Cold
  • Herbal Face Steam Recipe
  • Frequently Asked Questions+−
    • Can I add essential oils?
    • Is this safe for kids?
    • Can I add garlic for more benefits?
    • Is there a way to reuse the herbs/water?
    • Are there other natural remedies to try for cough or cold?

Ever had a cold or congestion and instinctively inhaled the steam from a mug of warm tea or taken a steamy shower for the benefits? Depending on what you were drinking, this could have had benefits other than just the temporary relief the steam provided. The steam technique is a great one to keep in mind if cough or congestion strikes this year.

Benefits of an Herbal Face Steam

Besides the soothing feeling of warm steam on the face during illness, there are two additional benefits worth noting, especially when you add herbs to the mix:

Improve Skin

Steam is often used in spas as part of a facial treatment. Facial steams are touted for their ability to open pores, soften skin, and improve circulation.

Ease Congestion

I’ve used herbal steams for years for their ability to soothe coughing and congestion during illness. If I catch a cold, I often do an herbal face steam before bed to help me sleep.

I found mentions of this type of facial steam in some of my old natural remedy and homesteading handbooks. It turns out that this remedy may have been used as far back as Ancient Egypt in public bath houses and private residences.

Steam Inhalation for a Cold

The best part about herbal face steams is that they take literally three minutes to prepare (unlike the longer process of making elderberry syrup). They are also very simple to make with herbs you probably already have in your kitchen (unlike the ingredients for a more obscure remedy like dit da jow).

facial steam bath for colds
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4.5 from 4 votes

Herbal Face Steam Recipe

This simple facial steam bath with the added benefits of herbs can ease discomfort from a cold or cough
Prep Time10 mins
Author: Katie Wells

Materials

  • 1 TBSP thyme
  • 1 TBSP rosemary
  • 1 TBSP basil
  • 1 TBSP oregano
  • 1 TBSP peppermint leaf
  • 1 TBSP eucalyptus
  • 1 TBSP lavender flowers

Instructions

How to Prepare

  • Put about an inch of water in the bottom of a large pot and bring to a boil. Alternately, if using a bowl, boil water in a tea kettle or pot and pour into the bowl.
  • Fold a towel in half and place it on a sturdy, heat-proof, flat surface like a counter or table.
  • Place the pot or bowl on top of this towel.
  • Add any combination of dried herbs you desire, stir well, and cover with a lid for 1-2 minutes.

Herbal Face Steam Instructions

  • Remove the lid and check the temperature of the steam to make sure it isn’t too hot for your face.
  • Lean over the pot and cover head with a towel to create a tent, letting as little air escape as possible.
  • Slowly breathe in the steam for up to 10 minutes. I find it helpful to try to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth at first and then eventually try to breathe in and out through the nose to loosen congestion. If needed, let any mucus fall into the pot (yes, I know it is gross, but the pot can be washed!).
  • When finished, pour out the liquid and herbs in the pot (never reuse!) and thoroughly wash the pot. For skin benefits, I also like to wipe my face with a 50/50 mix of apple cider vinegar and water after a face steam to tone skin and remove anything that has loosened from the pores.

Notes

  • Use as many or as few of the above herbs as you’d like. Using them all will obviously result in a more potent herbal steam.
  • Not recommended for children or pregnant women.
  • Use caution when handling and breathing hot water and steam.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve asked a number of great questions since I originally wrote this post. Sharing the answers here to hopefully be helpful to all!

Can I add essential oils?

Yes, some people use essential oils for face steams. I personally don’t (for these reasons) as essential oils are highly concentrated and the steam can intensify their effects. I prefer to stick to using essential oils properly in a diffuser and stick with using dried herbs in a face steam.

Is this safe for kids?

Face steams are not recommended for young children (due to the potential heat of the steam and their sensitive skin) or pregnant women (due to the potential effects of the herbs) without checking with a medical professional. A humidifier in the bedroom or the steam from a warm shower may be a better approach in these cases.

Can I add garlic for more benefits?

Personally, I stick to getting the benefits of garlic by eating it or taking it in capsule form. I don’t enjoy the smell when used in combination with this facial steam method.

Is there a way to reuse the herbs/water?

I don’t reuse the herbs, since who knows what is in the water once I am done! I drain and throw the herbs away or pour the hot water over any weeds I’m trying to get rid of outside. (Make sure first those weeds aren’t beneficial natural remedies!)

Are there other natural remedies to try for cough or cold?

Definitely! We use this homemade herbal cough syrup or cough drops as well as a short list of immune-supporting foods and supplements when under the weather.

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Walker, an internal medicine physician. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor or work with a doctor at SteadyMD.

How to do an herbal face steam for cough and congestion with things in your kitchen

Ever tried a facial steam to help alleviate congestion? 

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Category: Natural Remedies

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder and CEO of Wellness Mama and Co-Founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

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Reader Interactions

Discussion (17 Comments)

  1. Serenia

    April 16, 2020 at 4:00 PM

    is it okay to use store brought Rose & Glycerin which is Lanolin free. For facial steam.…?

    Reply
  2. Riri

    July 21, 2018 at 6:54 PM

    I have used steam a great deal,once a week. It works.
    The herbs that I use is sandalwood? witch hazel ?neem? Rosemary ?with either lavender or rose petals…divine?

    Reply
  3. Vicki

    January 8, 2016 at 4:37 AM

    I tried this recipe a couple times last year and discovered that it may take two times a few hours a part but then it lasted for weeks! Amazing! And to think I used to drug myself numb to cut congestion. I also shared a sample mix with my adult daughter who also enjoyed quick permanent relief. We’re sold! I really appreciate all the wonderful research and careful planning that goes into your work and I refer everyone to it!

    Reply
  4. Michelle

    November 23, 2015 at 7:01 AM

    Thank you!!! It worked like a charm. I was a little worried all the spices would smell terrible once my head unclogged, but they didn’t! I appreciate the time and research you put into all your posts. Thanks!

    Reply
  5. Dominique

    November 17, 2015 at 7:05 AM

    Can you use fresh herbs? Thanks for your reply. I am grateful for all of your post and the research/first hand experience that go into them.

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      November 17, 2015 at 11:16 AM

      You absolutely can, dried herbs are just more readily available for most people. 🙂

      Reply
      • Dj

        April 29, 2016 at 8:21 PM

        I have a question about dried lavender buds. I make soap with Shea butter soap base. After a couple days My buds start turning brown and around them turns yellow and brownish making my soap look bad. Am I doing something wrong? Can I prevent this ?

        Reply
  6. Stephanie Robbins

    November 9, 2015 at 5:05 PM

    Thank you for this! I have horrible congestion that is impacting my sleep. Love that I can make this with existing herbs in my kitchen. Can I also use my oils or would there be an benefit to that?

    Reply
  7. Bonnie

    November 3, 2015 at 11:18 AM

    Thanks for a great post — I’ve been learning about Mayan Abdominal Massage, and a similar technique is recommended for vaginal/uterus-type issues (cramping, heavy clotting, etc.). It is called a vaginal steam. Have you heard of it, or have any experience you could share?

    Reply
  8. Mariana

    November 3, 2015 at 8:45 AM

    My family has done this since I don’t know how many generations, but I do remember it as a child. As a teenager, my mother taught me how to do a face steam for clearing pores and cleaning the skin. Although we used just water without the dried herbs and it was great. I can imagine the herbs improving my beloved face steam!

    Reply
  9. Dade Dyana

    November 2, 2015 at 12:14 AM

    Hi Katie,
    Now that fall is in full swing and winter is coming, this post is perfect! I’ve already started to notice a little bit of a sniffle and I can’t wait to try this. Do you suggest using all of those herbs or can I pick and choose which ones to use?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      November 2, 2015 at 12:21 AM

      I just use what I have on hand…

      Reply
      • Candace

        November 2, 2015 at 7:29 AM

        So just to clarify, 1 T total of whatever herb? Thank you.

        Reply
        • Wellness Mama

          November 2, 2015 at 9:23 AM

          It’s not an exact science. I’ve used up to a Tablespoon of each one. I recommend experimenting to see what works best for you…

          Reply
          • Candace

            November 3, 2015 at 11:02 AM

            I’d like to give a jar of mixed herbs as a gift to a friend who is experiencing cold symptoms. I’d like to include instructions on how to do this – even if they’re somewhat ballpark. Would you say 1-2 T would be sufficient? Thanks so much for the help!

  10. Candace

    November 1, 2015 at 3:25 PM

    Good timing on this one! Question – the instructions say 1 T each of desired herbs: thyme, rosemary, etc. Does that mean 1 T EACH of the herbs (amounting to several tablespoons), or 1 T of any combination? Thanks so much!

    Reply
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