An Aromatic Whiff of Good Health

“Diffusing” simply means dispersing volatile compounds into the air. It is one of the most popular and easiest applications for receiving the aromatic and therapeutic benefits of essential oils.

There are various things to keep in mind when diffusing essential oils to optimize their mind-body effects.

In this video blog, we’ll review:

  • The many benefits of diffusing
  • How to diffuse essential oils
  • What to consider when diffusing in your environment, such as:
    • diffusing around pets and infants
    • avoiding scent acclimation and counter olfactory effects
  • Caveats with diffusing in moldy environments
  • What are atomizers?

As always, all the research links, references, and previous video blogs will be available within this accompanying article and in the resource section.

Let’s get started!

 

The Benefits of Diffusing Essential Oils

Inhalation is one of the oldest, simplest, and safest way to use essential oils. With one breath, these aromatic constituents quickly reach our brain and disperse throughout our whole body. This creates an instant shift in our mood and helps to balance our system.

Even if you’re not an oils’ user, you’ve probably experienced the positive emotional effects of essential oils. This likely occurred through getting a whiff of your aromatic-emitting friend or from the relaxing scents exuding from a shop’s diffuser.

Regardless of if you are a passive sniffer or an intentional connoisseur, the benefits of this method of aromatherapy are impressive. These comprise of:

  • air purifying without toxic chemicals
  • providing holistic mind-body support including:
    • Modulating the immune system and inflammation.
    • Assisting our bodies with detoxifying by supporting several enzyme pathways.
    • Protecting cellular and mitochondrial health through acting as antioxidants.
    • Being neuroprotective, helping to preserve cognitive function.
    • Mitigating stealth infections through their antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal effects.
    • Impacting neurotransmitters.
    • Aiding digestion, assimilation, elimination, and a healthy microbiome.
    • Balancing stress, cortisol, hormones, and blood sugar issues.
    • Supporting vagal tone, enhancing parasympathetic activity of the nervous system (e.g., breathing, digestion, rejuvenation, etc.).
    • Enhancing our brain by influencing neuroplasticity and shifting brain electrical activity.

 

How to Diffuse Essential Oils

Now that we know the benefits of diffusing, what is the best way to experience it?

Essential oil diffusers are a great place to start and have a high level of dispersion. Direct inhalation from steam, bottles, or placing a few drops on a cloth can also be used to provide more immediate, concentrated effects.

In an article by Natural Living Family, Dr. Eric Z offers the following suggestions:

When inhaling essential oils, you only need a small amount to create a significant impact. Diffusers will use a bit more, but direct inhalation is up close and personal, and it only requires a couple of drops.

Diffusion – Good for blends intended to affect the entire room. Place anywhere from 3-10 total drops in your diffuser and let it disperse throughout the room. If you have a smaller space, use 3-4 drops, a large room calls for 8-10 drops. If you don’t own a diffuser, you can also place the EOs in a pot of simmering water. (I suggest placing oils on cotton balls instead of in hot water, as temperature can impact constituent integrity.)

The benefits will last after the diffusion has ended; there is no need to run it continuously. This method works best for oils that are energizing, antimicrobial, promoting memory and focus, (or) relaxing. Ex: citrus, lavender, rosemary

Personal inhalation – Good for portable, direct inhalation for specific benefits to an individual. You only need a few drops due to the close proximity of use. Place 1-2 drops of a single oil or a pre-prepared blend of oils on the inhaler, then hold it close to the nose and breathe in periodically.

Inhalers can be a piece of porous jewelry, a bit of cloth or handkerchief, or inhalers made of a “wick” placed in a glass tube. This method works best for personal benefits such as clear breathing, focus, anxiety, headaches, and stress relief. Ex: eucalyptus, bergamot, peppermint

Steam inhalation – Technically also personal inhalation, “tenting” is more intensive and not very portable. When the oils need to be inhaled in greater concentration and affect the respiratory system more directly, you can place 2-3 drops of a single oil or pre-prepared blend in a bowl of boiling water – usually warmed in and poured from a tea kettle.

Place a towel over your head and drape it over the bowl (forming a “tent”), close your eyes, and breathe deeply. This method works best for clearing the nasal passages and respiratory system. Ex: eucalyptus, citrus, tea tree

Sprays – Aromatic sprays have benefits of both inhalation and, in the case of antimicrobial oils, surface cleaning benefits. Combine 10-20 drops of a combination of oils to ½ ounce 70% isopropyl alcohol or unscented witch hazel, then add ½ ounce purified or distilled water and shake to combine. Spritz in the air, on linens, or clothes as desired.

This method works best for air freshening cleaning, antimicrobial purposes, body sprays, and even topical anti-inflammatory benefits and healing. Ex: tea tree, lemon, thyme

 

Considerations When Diffusing Essential Oils

Being Mindful of Little Noses and Furry Friends

Many individuals have shared with me that they enjoy the convenience of aromatic evaporation as a way to benefit the health of their whole home. This is true even with delicate family members, such as the elderly, infants and pets. However, the specific needs of these populations require additional considerations. These include:

  • Using a smaller dose of essential oils.
  • Keeping the room open so animals can leave if the scent is too strong.
  • Diffusing oils in an open space for infants for a specific time, while monitoring for behavior changes.
  • Avoiding stronger oils around these groups.

Below are additional resources with more detailed information on the use of essential oils for pets and children:

  • An article discussing the safe diffusion of essential oils around infants, which is typically exclusive to my membership community that has access to my essential oils database.
  • An article summarizing my interview with holistic pediatrician, Dr. Song, regarding the safe use of essential oils with children.
  • An article summarizing my interview with the Natural Pet Doctor, Dr. Kate Woodley, DVM, concerning the safe application of essential oils with pets.

 

Diffusing Timing and Aromatic Sensitization

I had the honor of interviewing Jade Shutes, one of the most esteemed pioneers in clinical aromatherapy, twice on the Essential Oils Revolution podcast. During our discussion on Psychoaromatherapy, she provided guidelines for diffusing essential oils to support emotional well-being:

  • It is recommended to diffuse oils intermittently for 30 minutes to an hour per session, depending on the diffuser’s strength.
  • Running the diffuser for too long can have a contrary effect (aggravating mood) and be costly.
  • Some evidence suggests diffusing essential oils overnight may improve memory. One clinical research study with older adults found 2 hours of nightly diffusion resulted in a 226% enhancement in memory.
  • You can acclimate to the scent of a diffused oil if you continuously run your diffuser, decreasing its effect on the mood.

I’ve found that running my diffuser intermittently extends its use time without any issues. However, consider your diffuser type, stream strength, and wellness needs.

 

Essential Oils Diffusers in Mold

I have long recommend diffusing to clients living in contaminated environments. In fact, diffusing can even help to reduce the detectable levels of mold.

Still, there is one major consideration with diffusing around mold. It is humidity. Mold loves damp and humid conditions and starts to populate at around 60% humidity. Therefore, it is recommended to keep levels below 50% to prevent any issues.

Most diffusers are humidifiers and diffuser combos. This is not a problem if your humidity levels are kept in check. Still, be aware that mold is common in air-tight apartments, residences with an HVAC (notorious for mold), and homes with poor circulation.

Therefore, my short-term remedy for those in mold-inviting spaces is to purchase diffusers that aren’t humidifiers. Rather choose those that are waterless. You can also place oils on cotton balls and spread them around the house. Of course there are many other things to do if one is in mold, which you can find here.

 

What about Atomizers?

Many in the diffuser world feel atomizers are the best type of diffuser to access the most therapeutic properties of essential oils. They seem to offer more concentrated benefits and keep the delicate aromatic compouds intact.

I haven’t found much information on this besides manufacturers’ websites. A Pubmed search for atomizers yields mostly results for medication delivery. I did; however, find this one study.

 

Summary on Essential Oil Diffusing

Inhaling essential oils is a safe and effective way to enjoy their holistic mind-body benefits.There are several simple methods to disperse essential oils into the air. Diffusing is one of the easiest. Considerations with diffusing include adjusting dispersion rates and intensity around sensitive populations and avoiding humidifying diffusers in a moldy environment.

I’d love to hear from you on how you inhale essential oils and what your favorite oils are to mist into your atmosphere! Share below in the comments.

Thank you so much for taking the time to learn how to nurture your mind, body, heart, and soul.

Sending you many blessings.

 

Interested in Learning More About Essential Oils?

 

Resources

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Disclaimer: This material is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any illness. You should check with your doctor regarding implementing any new strategies into your wellness regime. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. (Affiliation link.)

This information is applicable ONLY for therapeutic quality essential oils. This information DOES NOT apply to essential oils that have not been tested for purity and standardized constituents. There is no quality control in the United States, and oils labeled as “100% pure” need only to contain 5% of the actual oil. The rest of the bottle can be filled with fillers and sometimes toxic ingredients that can irritate the skin. The studies are not based solely on a specific brand of an essential oil, unless stated. Please read the full study for more information.

Thanks Pixabay and Canva.