Inhalation is the most common way that people reap the benefits of essential oils. Essential oil diffusers are used to disperse the small molecules in the essential oil through the air so that they may enter the body. When you inhale the scent, the many receptors in your mucus membranes take the smell, identify it, and send sensory stimulation messages to your brain. Your brain then decides how to react based on the molecules in the essential oil. Below are six reasons why diffusing essential oil is beneficial to your health.
- Cleanses the air- Essential oil diffusers can clean and purify the air without chemical sprays or heavy duty cleaning. Using basil essential oil can help reduce allergens with its antimicrobial properties. Tea tree oil is great for disinfecting the air from bacteria and viruses, but it also boosts immunity to help prevent illness.
- Improves Sleep- One of the best and most well-known uses of essential oils is their ability to help you unwind at the end of a hard day. While there are several other methods for getting your soothing oils from the bottle into your blood stream where they start to work their magic, the diffuser is by far the easiest and longest-lasting of them all. Recommended oils: Lavender & Chamomile
- Helps to Relax-The brain is the seat of the limbic system responsible for controlling emotions, including the symptoms of stress. The aroma of essential oils affects this area and helps the system give positive emotional responses to stress. Recommended oils: Lavender, Chamomile, Rose, Vanilla, Ylang Ylang
- Relieves Pain- Physical illness can be disabling. There might be days when you can’t even make it out the door. By filling an essential oil diffuser with healing scents, you can lie on the couch and reap the benefits. Adding peppermint to an essential oils diffuser can sooth nausea, sooth migraine headache pain, improve digestion, and reduce allergic reactions. Oregano is great for respiratory disorders, heartburn, and relieving menstrual pain. Sandalwood oil can ease the symptoms of sore and strep throat.
- Bug Repellent- Essential oils are great bug repellents, so putting lemon or citronella oil into your diffuser can keep them away all day. If you’re someone who shrieks when you see spiders, you may want to try peppermint oil to get rid of them. Peppermint oil is considered to be a natural insecticide. Spiders, although not technically insects, seem to hate it.
- Increases Energy- Using essential oils in a diffuser is a highly-effective way to super-charge your brain cells. Again, this effect works on multiple levels. First, many essential oils have adaptogenic qualities – meaning that they are soothing when you’re stressed, but they can also give you a pick-me-up when you’re feeling down or sluggish. By leveling out your mood, the oils in the air will help you to focus. Recommended oils: Eucalyptus, Lemon, Pine, Orange
Essential oils work efficiently alone. However, the effectiveness is enhanced by blending two or more essential oils together. Below is my relaxing essential oil diffuser recipe.
- 3 drops of Lavender oil
- 3 drops of Orange oil
- 2 drop of Ylang-Ylang oil
If you have pets it’s important to know which essential oils could be harmful. Here is a list of essential oils to stay clear from if you have a cat or dog.
For dogs:
- Clove
- Garlic
- Juniper
- Rosemary
- Tea Tree
- Thyme
- Wintergreen
- Peppermint
For cats
- Cassia
- Cinnamon
- Citrus
- Clove
- Eucalyptus
- Lemon
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Spruce
- Tea Tree
- Thyme