The Importance and Why We Diffuse Essential Oils
Aromatherapy has boomed in popularity in recent years. As many turn to alternative medicine as a way to treat ailments naturally, you may have noticed your friends are all suddenly diffusing essential oils! So, if you're confused as to what an essential oil diffuser is and how diffusing an essential oil can help you out, we've got you covered.
In this blog post, we're going to be looking at what essential oil is, why diffusing essential oils can be good for your health, and which essential oils you should start to diffuse oils today. To find out more, keep reading.
What is essential oil?
Essential oil is a plant extract. Taken from plants, herbs, flowers, and trees, this extract captures the 'essence' of the plant and contains its scent and flavour. Essential oils are known to have healing properties with people choosing to diffuse and inhale essential oils to boost mental wellbeing and treat common ailments.
Essential oils can be diffused through the use of an essential oil diffuser, used in massage oils when diluted with a carrier, used in other topical instances, and are commonly found in body care and face care products.
There are hundreds of essential oils to choose from and even products that mix essential oils for interesting and innovative scents. Each essential oil has slightly different properties and so, researching the best for your specific ailment will benefit you the most!
What are essential oil diffusers?
Essential oil diffusers (sometimes referred to as an aromatherapy diffuser), are electronic devices that turn essential oils into aromatic mists. It works by vibrating the oils and breaking them down into tiny molecules that are then diffused into the air via mist.
An essential oil diffuser must be filled with water before you add a few drops of your chosen essential oil and allow the aroma to fill your room.
Why diffuse essential oils?
Inhalation of essential oils is a quick and easy way to benefit from their multitudinous healing properties and so diffusing them is in your best interests! When you diffuse, the molecules can move through the air and up your nose. As you inhale, you breathe in the healing molecules and they travel from the olfactory nerves and straight to the emotional centre of the brain, the amygdala.
Diffusers are effective in creating lots of tiny essential oil scent molecules that move through the air. Both ultrasonic diffusers and atomising diffusers create strong scents that fill the room.
Though many essential oils are perfectly safe for inhalation, there are some essential oils that should be diffused with caution. These include bay oil, cinnamon leaf or bark oil, lemongrass oil, peppermint oil, and thyme oil. These essential oils are mucous membrane irritants and so diffusion isn't recommended.
To safely diffuse oils, you should do so in a well-ventilated room and only for 30 - 60 minutes at a time.
Diffusing essential oils: a quick how-to
Diffusing essential oils is pretty simple. All electronic diffusers, whether ultrasonic diffusers or other kinds, need to be filled with water before use. Then you should add a few drops of your chosen essential oil, replace the lid, and turn it on. Then sit back and relax as you enjoy the health benefits of the cool mist pervading your room.
Let the essential oil molecules move through the room, either as a natural air freshener or as a healing scent. A few drops will be enough to do the trick and there are tonnes of popular essential oils to diffuse!
Benefits of diffusing essential oils
Now we know why we diffuse certain essential oils and how to diffuse them, it's time to understand how this process can benefit your body and mind. Below, we've listed a few of the fantastic benefits of inhaling essential oils. Check them out now.
Helps you to relax and instils feelings of calmness
The soothing scents of essential oils are great to help you wind down after a long day. Diffusing essential oils is the perfect way to relax and calm your body.
Try using lavender oil for stress, or ylang-ylang oil to relax. There are lots of relaxation and de-stressing essential oil blends that can be added to diffusers too!
Improves focus and clarity
Finding it hard to concentrate? Diffusing lemon oil, sweet orange oil, and other citrus oils can help boost energy, improve focus and have a positive impact on mental clarity.
Like with oils for relaxation, there are also many blends that can help to improve concentration.
Boosts your mood
Aromatherapy has been known to boost mood for centuries. Taking some time to breathe deeply and inhale uplifting essential oils like eucalyptus oil, ginger oil, and lime oil can help you to feel good.
Essential oils have a positive impact on your limbic system, helping you to feel more uplifted and balancing emotions.
Helps with inflammation
Many essential oils have anti-inflammatory properties and so the diffusion of essential oils can help to reduce inflammation, ease joint pain, and reduce redness.
Helps to clear airways
It can help to clear airways and can help to soothe the symptoms of the common cold. Essential oils that help to clear airways include eucalyptus oil, rosemary oil, and peppermint oil.
Essential oil diffuser options
Now we know all about how diffusing essential oils can help you to feel good, let's take a look at some options for essential oil diffusion.
There are many kinds of diffusion and we've covered ultrasonic diffusion through an electronic device already, but there are also other options. We've gathered a few of our favourite diffusion options below, check them out now.
- We love this ultrasonic diffuser from Aromamtic. With a ceramic finish and different light options, this diffuser helps to spread essential oil molecules throughout your space and offers a soothing light option to add to the ambience.
- This jasmine and vanilla reed diffuser from Distillery Fragrance House is the perfect addition to any room. A great ornament, this reed diffuser allows the powerful scents to pervade your space without being overpowering.
- This Oil Garden 3-in-1 Ultrasonic Diffuser offers oil diffusion, a humidifying option, and works as a night light! With a contemporary wooden finish, we think this diffuser is a fantastic addition to your space.
Final thoughts
Essential oil diffusion allows you to inhale the essential oil scent molecules, letting them pass through your olfactory nerves and into the emotional centre of the brain, promoting feelings of wellbeing. Diffusion is an easy way to benefit from the healing properties of these oils.
You can diffuse through the use of electronic diffusers, as well as reed diffusers and direct inhalation. Diffusion is the most effective way to benefit from aromatherapy oils.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to diffuse essential oils?
The best way to diffuse essential oils is by adding a few drops of your favourite essentials oils to an electronic diffusing product. This allows the essential oil scent particles to be pushed into the air and inhaled. Once inhaled, you will begin to benefit from the oils healing properties.
Is breathing essential oils safe?
Breathing essential oils is generally considered say. Once you add essential oils to your diffuser, it is important you only allow diffusion for between 30 - 60 minutes at a time and ensure you do so in a well-ventilated space. Some essential oils are mucous membrane irritants and should not be diffused. These include bay, cinnamon, and peppermint.
What happens when you diffuse essential oils?
Diffusing essential oils allows the molecules to pass through your respiratory system and into the part of the brain that controls emotions, improving emotional health and treating a range of health concerns. Aromatherapy oils can be used as air fresheners and offer natural healing benefits when inhaled.
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