Essential oils have been used for centuries to promote physical and mental wellbeing. Numerous studies have revealed the beneficial effects of essential oils and their contribution to overall health and wellbeing. They can be used in a variety of ways to reap maximum benefits and improve one’s overall quality of life.
One of the most popular methods of using essential oils is through diffusion. Diffusing essential oils can help us relax, reduce anxiety, improve sleep quality, and more. In this blog post, we will explore how to use essential oils for diffusion and the many benefits they can provide for our health and wellbeing.
How To Use Essential Oils For Diffusion Aromatherapy.
There are many ways to use aromatherapy essential oils for health and well-being. However most methods can be categorized into three main modes of application:
- Aerial diffusion aromatherapy: for wellness, wellbeing, aerial disinfection and environmental fragrancing.
- Direct inhalation: for respiratory disinfection, decongestant, expectoration as well as wellbeing.
- Topical applications: for general massage, baths, compresses, therapeutic skin care.
Aerial Diffusion Of Essential Oils.
In this post we are focusing specifically on the first mode, Aerial Diffusion.
Aerial Diffusion can be achieved using a variety of methods, including:
- Heat diffusers,
- Nebulizer diffusers,
- Ultrasonic diffusers,
- Evaporative oil diffusers
1. Heat Diffusion
The two main methods that utilise heat to diffuse essential oils. These you will likely know. They are evaporation diffusion and naked flame diffusion.
Evaporation diffusion simply means that essential oils suspended in a liquid are diffused via evaporation. As the environment heats the liquid evaporates and diffuse the aromas into the air. This method includes reed diffusers and open dish diffusion.
Possibly one of the most known of all methods is the naked flame diffuser. This method uses a candle (usually a tealight) to gently heat the essential oil for diffusion of the aroma into a room.
A naked flame diffuser requires the addition of water. The water is used as a protective barrier for the oil. Because a naked flame applies direct and harsh heat, without water the essential oils would burn rather than diffuse. By adding water we can convert the harsh heat of the flame into a gentle heat via the layer of water.
Candle diffusers are usually the cheapest option for your budget, plus they don’t need electricity or batteries.
The main concern using naked flame diffusion is the issue of safety. When used you basically are lighting a small fire inside your home. Naked flame diffusion requires that you remain vigilant of the burner and mindful of the flame.
Evaporation Diffusion Products.
Naked Flame Diffusion Products.
2. Nebulizer Diffusion.
A Nebulizer, also known as an atomizer, breaks the aromatherapy essential oils into separate molecules and then disperses them into the environment.
Using a nebulizer is regarded as one of the best methods for therapeutic purposes as the molecules can be easily absorbed nasally and then orally via the lungs.
A nebulizer has two main parts: the base that contains a motor and pump and the oil nebulizing chamber, usually a clear glass container.
It is the size of the pump, and not the glass container, that determines the speed that the essential oil are nebulized and the area of coverage in the environment.
Nebulizers are better used with thin essential oils such as lemon, lime, orange. If used the thicker oils, like sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver will require regular cleaning of the device to prevent oil build up which can clog and block the nebulizer.
Nebulizer Diffusion products:
3. Ultrasonic Diffusion:
Ultrasonic diffusers use ultrasonic waves to diffuse essential oils into the room.
There are many types of ultrasonic aromatherapy diffusers available and they tend to be affordable.
Another benefit of ultrasonic diffusion is as they are releasing the essential oil aroma into the room they are also releasing particles of water. This helps to humidify the space.
Ultrasonic Diffusion Products.
Oils and Carriers – How To Use Essential Oils
Common Aromatherapy terms you need to know are:
Essential oils:
These are the most commonly used oils associated with Aromatherapy. Essential Oils are the fragrant oils extracted from plants through either steam distillation or expression.
These oils can be used in all our diffusion methods, including reed diffusers, steam diffusion and warm baths and burners.
Absolutes:
The Absolutes are also fragrant oils but are extracted from the flowers or delicate plant tissue. The absolutes are extracted using solvent or super-critical fluid extraction.
Herbal distillates or hydrosols:
These are the watery by products which remain after the essential oils are removed through the distillation process (e.g., rosewater).
A lot of herbal distillates are used in culinary settings and also have medicinal and skin care uses.
How Does Diffusion Help Health?
Aromatherapy is often used for holistic wellness and wellbeing as well as alongside allopathic medical treatment.
Common uses for diffusion Aromatherapy include:
- Relief of pain
- Stress, anxiety and depressive illness
- Enhancement of energy
- Short-term memory gain,
- Relaxation,
- Hair loss prevention,
- Reduction of skin irritation and eczema-induced itching.
- Treatment of fungal infection
- Anti inflammatory and anti bacterial applications
The reason we use an Aromatherapy diffuser is to enable the essential oils to enter the environment in a controlled way and over a set period of time. The oils become a sensory experience when inhaled and as they enter our body.
Diffusion of essential oils benefits us, and offers remedy against illness, in two main ways.
The first being the influence of the aroma on the brain, particularly the limbic system through the olfactory system.
The other is the direct pharmacological effects of the essential oils.
Recommended Essential Oil Aromatherapy Sets.
