Essential oils are fast becoming recognized as something more than just natural perfumes. Some of their proven major therapeutic actions include direct eradication of bacteria and viruses, boosting immune system function, and acting to reduce stress, uplift spirits and improve rest. The reason these effects are mentioned specifically is that they're very easy to produce in your own home using one simple device, an "essential oil diffuser." A diffuser disperses essential oils in the air in your home or office, allowing you and your family to easily inhale the oils (for immune boosting, stress relief, etc.) AND naturally, effectively disinfecting the air.
Scientifically Proven Health Benefits of Essential Oils
The body of research revealing the diverse therapeutic and medicinal actions of essential oils has grown exponentially in the last several years. Research abstracts (summaries of investigations) are freely available through the online database maintained by the National Institute of Health. Many essential oils have been shown to be antidepressants, stress-relieving, and sleep-improving. Other oils have been shown to be potent airborne antibacterial agents, while others have the ability to destroy live viruses. Some of these same oils actually improve the function of our immune system, and some can change our cells in such a way to make them more resistant to viral infection. ALL these benefits can be had by evaporating various concentrations of essential oils in your environment by using a diffuser. Essential oil diffusers do come in many styles, and some are better suited to certain applications than others. Here's a review of the diffuser styles available to help you make the best choice for your needs.
Diffusers For Antiviral/Antimicrobial Action & Immune Support
In order to best disinfect the air in your surroundings, you can imagine you'd need a little bit more essential oil than what evaporates from an aromatherapy candle. To get this amount of output requires a "nebulizing" diffuser. To "nebulize" an essential oil means to make a very fine mist, which quickly and easily evaporates. Some diffuser manufacturers claim their diffusers make smaller droplets of mist than others, but the truth is they all will work. The droplets all "disappear" completely upon leaving the diffuser, without any residue around the machine. To best conserve your oils while still creating these therapeutic effects, you'll want a timer system too -- some come with them built-in, though the most versatile will be external, fully-programmable timers you can find online or in a hardware store.
The nebulizers come in two styles: "cold air" and "ultrasonic". The cold air units use only air pressure to diffuse the oils, and output the highest concentration of any diffuser type. The ultrasonic is essentially a small water-humidification unit, where oils are mixed with water and then evaporated. Both styles typically have output controls, so you can turn up or down the amount of oil being diffused. They are also both exceptionally quiet.
Fan And Warming Diffusers for Stress Reduction and Improved Rest
Other styles of diffusers either gently warm the oils or use a fan to blow over the oils to evaporate them. Their intention is to get the oils in the air so you can enjoy their aromas -- and while this sounds simple, its actually therapeutically meaningful: The "smell sense" is the only one of the five senses directly wired to the control center of the brain (signals from the other senses travel through "switching stations" first). The result is that the body reacts to a smell without us thinking about it. Certain smells can lower blood pressure, slow heart rate, and help us sleep more deeply. Some users report feeling happier or calmer when inhaling particular scents, and other scents make the mind sharper -- improving test scores, reducing errors at work, and improving the efficiency of studying for school. A fan diffuser will blow air and evaporate oil from a cotton pad, and warming diffusers will safely (i.e. ok to use around children) and gently use heat to also evaporate oils from a pad. Both these styles are good choices for smaller areas, like a bedroom or living room.
Automatic On/Off Cycles For Best Results
The best way to use the least amount of essential oil for your needs is to use a timer -- either built-in to the diffuser or a readily-available appliance timer. For ANY application, whether simple aromatic use or medicinal needs, one need only be exposed to the diffused oils for a few minutes at a time. Aromatically, your "smell scent" will become quickly accustom to the aroma, and you'll start to think the diffuser isn't working anymore. Running the diffuser for only a few minutes every half an hour lets your nose "forget" the oils are in the air. The same principal works for disinfecting the air and immune-system support -- there's no need to over-saturate the air with essential oils. They are so potent that there's no need to continually diffuse a high concentration for these results.
Selecting The Best Oils For Your Needs
All essential oils have naturally different chemical make-ups. That's what gives them their individual aromas and their individual therapeutic actions. For an uplifting, pleasing atmosphere, the "evergreen" oils are very nice: Fir Needle, Spruce, and Juniper Berry. These are excellent antidepressant aromatics too, along with the citrus oils: Bergamot, Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit and the like, plus Rose and other uplifting flower-scents. For calming and better rest, Lavender is the first choice; when folks aren't a fan of this popular floral oil, Sandalwood and Ylang Ylang are great choices. For all the purposes, its important to use oils you or your family actually like the smell of! There are MANY oils to choose from, and by sampling a few, you're sure to find something everyone enjoys.
For disinfecting your surroundings and boosting your immune system, there are many highly regarded oils to choose from. Lauris Nobilis (Laurel Leaf) was recently noted to have direct effects against the virus causing SARS, and due to its very complex chemical nature, will likely have this effect against many other viruses. Narrow-leaf Eucalyptus is very popular, and is called the "aromatherapist's designer oil" for its broad range of actions. These include antiviral and immune-supportive effects, as well as a nice "pick me up" aroma. A little online research will help you find more oils in this category, and even diffuser blends formulated for this purpose. As the antimicrobial oils are often very potent, it is important to research whether your oils of choice can be safely used with children -- it is likely that they are ok, but its best to be sure. A few oils that are too strong for diffusing are Cinnamon Bark and Oregano (these are excellent antimicrobial oils, but inhaling them can irritate the mucus membranes). Eucalyptus, Laurel Leaf, Rosalina and Lavender are great immune supportive oils for the whole family.
Conclusion: Diffuse Your Oils for Best Results!
Diffusing essential oils is easy to do, and gives the best results for certain aroma-therapeutic applications -- specifically those to do with preventing colds and flu, supporting emotions and bringing calm to a family environment. There are many diffusers to choose from -- generally the more expensive units will offer the greatest potential for therapeutic uses, but they're certainly not necessary to get started. The lowest-cost warming diffusers are only about $12, simply to use, and are very durable. This, and several essential oil samples is a great way to get started using the therapeutic aspects of essential oils and aromatherapy.
Scientifically Proven Health Benefits of Essential Oils
The body of research revealing the diverse therapeutic and medicinal actions of essential oils has grown exponentially in the last several years. Research abstracts (summaries of investigations) are freely available through the online database maintained by the National Institute of Health. Many essential oils have been shown to be antidepressants, stress-relieving, and sleep-improving. Other oils have been shown to be potent airborne antibacterial agents, while others have the ability to destroy live viruses. Some of these same oils actually improve the function of our immune system, and some can change our cells in such a way to make them more resistant to viral infection. ALL these benefits can be had by evaporating various concentrations of essential oils in your environment by using a diffuser. Essential oil diffusers do come in many styles, and some are better suited to certain applications than others. Here's a review of the diffuser styles available to help you make the best choice for your needs.
Diffusers For Antiviral/Antimicrobial Action & Immune Support
In order to best disinfect the air in your surroundings, you can imagine you'd need a little bit more essential oil than what evaporates from an aromatherapy candle. To get this amount of output requires a "nebulizing" diffuser. To "nebulize" an essential oil means to make a very fine mist, which quickly and easily evaporates. Some diffuser manufacturers claim their diffusers make smaller droplets of mist than others, but the truth is they all will work. The droplets all "disappear" completely upon leaving the diffuser, without any residue around the machine. To best conserve your oils while still creating these therapeutic effects, you'll want a timer system too -- some come with them built-in, though the most versatile will be external, fully-programmable timers you can find online or in a hardware store.
The nebulizers come in two styles: "cold air" and "ultrasonic". The cold air units use only air pressure to diffuse the oils, and output the highest concentration of any diffuser type. The ultrasonic is essentially a small water-humidification unit, where oils are mixed with water and then evaporated. Both styles typically have output controls, so you can turn up or down the amount of oil being diffused. They are also both exceptionally quiet.
Fan And Warming Diffusers for Stress Reduction and Improved Rest
Other styles of diffusers either gently warm the oils or use a fan to blow over the oils to evaporate them. Their intention is to get the oils in the air so you can enjoy their aromas -- and while this sounds simple, its actually therapeutically meaningful: The "smell sense" is the only one of the five senses directly wired to the control center of the brain (signals from the other senses travel through "switching stations" first). The result is that the body reacts to a smell without us thinking about it. Certain smells can lower blood pressure, slow heart rate, and help us sleep more deeply. Some users report feeling happier or calmer when inhaling particular scents, and other scents make the mind sharper -- improving test scores, reducing errors at work, and improving the efficiency of studying for school. A fan diffuser will blow air and evaporate oil from a cotton pad, and warming diffusers will safely (i.e. ok to use around children) and gently use heat to also evaporate oils from a pad. Both these styles are good choices for smaller areas, like a bedroom or living room.
Automatic On/Off Cycles For Best Results
The best way to use the least amount of essential oil for your needs is to use a timer -- either built-in to the diffuser or a readily-available appliance timer. For ANY application, whether simple aromatic use or medicinal needs, one need only be exposed to the diffused oils for a few minutes at a time. Aromatically, your "smell scent" will become quickly accustom to the aroma, and you'll start to think the diffuser isn't working anymore. Running the diffuser for only a few minutes every half an hour lets your nose "forget" the oils are in the air. The same principal works for disinfecting the air and immune-system support -- there's no need to over-saturate the air with essential oils. They are so potent that there's no need to continually diffuse a high concentration for these results.
Selecting The Best Oils For Your Needs
All essential oils have naturally different chemical make-ups. That's what gives them their individual aromas and their individual therapeutic actions. For an uplifting, pleasing atmosphere, the "evergreen" oils are very nice: Fir Needle, Spruce, and Juniper Berry. These are excellent antidepressant aromatics too, along with the citrus oils: Bergamot, Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit and the like, plus Rose and other uplifting flower-scents. For calming and better rest, Lavender is the first choice; when folks aren't a fan of this popular floral oil, Sandalwood and Ylang Ylang are great choices. For all the purposes, its important to use oils you or your family actually like the smell of! There are MANY oils to choose from, and by sampling a few, you're sure to find something everyone enjoys.
For disinfecting your surroundings and boosting your immune system, there are many highly regarded oils to choose from. Lauris Nobilis (Laurel Leaf) was recently noted to have direct effects against the virus causing SARS, and due to its very complex chemical nature, will likely have this effect against many other viruses. Narrow-leaf Eucalyptus is very popular, and is called the "aromatherapist's designer oil" for its broad range of actions. These include antiviral and immune-supportive effects, as well as a nice "pick me up" aroma. A little online research will help you find more oils in this category, and even diffuser blends formulated for this purpose. As the antimicrobial oils are often very potent, it is important to research whether your oils of choice can be safely used with children -- it is likely that they are ok, but its best to be sure. A few oils that are too strong for diffusing are Cinnamon Bark and Oregano (these are excellent antimicrobial oils, but inhaling them can irritate the mucus membranes). Eucalyptus, Laurel Leaf, Rosalina and Lavender are great immune supportive oils for the whole family.
Conclusion: Diffuse Your Oils for Best Results!
Diffusing essential oils is easy to do, and gives the best results for certain aroma-therapeutic applications -- specifically those to do with preventing colds and flu, supporting emotions and bringing calm to a family environment. There are many diffusers to choose from -- generally the more expensive units will offer the greatest potential for therapeutic uses, but they're certainly not necessary to get started. The lowest-cost warming diffusers are only about $12, simply to use, and are very durable. This, and several essential oil samples is a great way to get started using the therapeutic aspects of essential oils and aromatherapy.
About the Author:
The author is a natural health practitioner in Boulder, Colorado. She is a regular user of Synergy Essential Oils and consultant to aromatherapy creations at The Ananda Apothecary.
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