If you suffer from anxiety, stress, insomnia, or allergies, you need all the tools in your possession to help improve your mood, sleep, and breathing. For centuries, people have been using aromatherapy as a holistic medicine to promote relaxation and fend off these conditions.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about aromatherapy, the types of diffusers, and the benefits of different oils for allergy sufferers. Keep reading to learn how you can add aromatherapy to your self-care kit.
What Is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy, also known as essential oil therapy, uses oils extracted from plants for a holistic approach to healing the mind, body, and spirit.
Odors take a direct route to the limbic system, which is the part of the brain related to emotion and memory, meaning that the use of aromas to moderate emotion can be quite effective. The impact of odors on the brain is why aromatherapy is recommended for anxiety sufferers to promote relaxation via olfactory therapy.
People have been receiving the benefits of aromatherapy for centuries, with aromatics being used for medicinal and spiritual purposes since as early as 3500 BC.
The term aromatherapy was coined by a French chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, in 1935 when he accidentally burned himself and placed his hand in lavender water. He was shocked and surprised at the benefits of the lavender water, which sped up his healing and helped him recover from the incident quickly.
There are several ways you can use essential oils in aromatherapy, including diluting them with a carrier oil and applying them to the skin. Diffusing essential oils is one of the more common practices and involves using an essential oil diffuser. Japanese companies are currently implementing the use of diffusers in the workplace to help promote concentration and improve the mood of their employees.
How Does An Oil Diffuser Work?
An oil diffuser works by diffusing essential oils into the air with water vapor. The diffuser creates a pleasant aroma in the surrounding area by diffusing a fine mist of this water and essential oil mixture into the air. You can then breathe in the mix and absorb it to receive the benefits of your essential oil.
For example, if suffering from a cold, you may wish to use essential oil diffusers to diffuse eucalyptus essential oil and promote decongestion with a cooling menthol aroma. Or, if you have insomnia, you may want to use lavender essential oils’ soothing properties to help promote a restful night of sleep.
Different types of diffusers use different methods to create this fine mist and promote health and wellbeing, and this section of the blog will provide information on the different kinds of diffusers you can buy. Check out BluZen's range of essential oil diffusers now if you want to start your aromatherapy journey and promote holistic healing in your home.
Different Types Of Diffusers
There are several ways you can diffuse aromatherapy mist into the air, and these types of essential oil diffusers all use differing methods. From electric diffusers to ultrasonic diffusers and heat diffusers, there are many different ways to receive the benefits of essential oils by dispersing them into the air.
Electric Diffusers
Electric essential oil diffusers are heat diffusers that use different temperatures to cause essential oils to evaporate into the air. Since these diffusers change the property of the oil, they can sometimes be less effective than other diffuser types. Candle diffusers use a similar method to electric diffusers, using heat to evaporate the oils.
Ultrasonic Diffusers
Ultrasonic essential oil diffusers contain an ultrasonic plate that vibrates and dispenses the essential oils into the air. The ultrasonic waves in ultrasonic diffusers break down the essential oils into smaller particles that are then easily diffused into the air. These diffusers are great for use in your office space or to help you get to sleep, as the ultrasonic diffuser method is very quiet and will not cause a disturbance.
Evaporative Diffusers
Evaporative essential oil diffusers evaporate oils very effectively by combining heat and wind. They work similarly to a heat diffuser but effectively use a fan to disperse the oils. The oil in an evaporative diffuser is held in an absorbent wick, allowing for more controlled evaporation.
Nebulizing Diffusers
Nebulizing essential oil diffusers are widely considered to offer the purest diffusion of essential oils. They work by breaking down the essential oils into atoms and spraying them out like a perfume bottle. Nebulizers are a less portable version of an inhaler and work medicinally to open airways and clear infections to help patients breathe in emergencies.
Essential Oils For Allergies: Diffuse In Your Home!
One of the many ways you can use essential oils includes treating and fighting off allergic reactions. Some of the best essential oils for providing relief from allergies include:
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus essential oil is widely known for its cooling menthol aroma, making it popular in decongestive ointments. Eucalyptus is anti-inflammatory and provides a cooling sensation as it travels into your respiratory system, relieving symptoms of allergies. You can diffuse eucalyptus oil during allergy season to give some much-needed relief and make breathing easier.
Chamomile
Chamomile essential oil is widely recognized as a natural antihistamine and can provide some much-needed relief for allergy sufferers and those with hay fever in the summer and spring. Chamomile also has a relaxing floral odor that makes it an excellent oil for use at night time. If you use chamomile essential oil in your diffuser, be sure to look out for any reactions, as chamomile has similar properties to ragweed and could cause a reaction.
Lavender
The lavender essential oil has a pleasant and calming aroma that helps people sleep at night. However, did you know that lavender is also a potent anti-inflammatory? The oil will provide your inflamed eyes, respiratory system, and skin caused by allergens with some much-needed relief with this essential oil. Simply put a few drops into your diffuser and allow the calming effects to soothe your symptoms.
Lemon
Lemon and citrus essential oils are great for boosting your alertness and increasing energy, flushing out congestion, and clearing the sinuses. The lemon essential oil can create a refreshing aroma that will help you to shake off that groggy feeling associated with allergies.
Peppermint
Peppermint essential oil is a potent essential oil that can help to ease pain, stop itching, and kill germs. These properties make it a great essential oil to choose when you are suffering from allergies, as it can reduce the discomfort caused by itching of the skin and irritation of the eyes. Peppermint essential oil has a pleasant minty aroma with a softer and more calming scent than the more rich eucalyptus oil.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree essential oil is known for reducing inflammation and redness in the skin. This is why tea tree essential oils are used so frequently in skin care products to reduce the redness in blemishes and irritated skin. The same goes for red eyes and red noses caused by allergies. By diffusing tea tree oil into the air, you will calm the skin and reduce redness and irritation caused by allergic reactions.
Summary
Essential oils can provide all the benefits of aromatherapy, and you can diffuse them into the air in your home to receive the benefits. Suppose you suffer from allergies, insomnia, or anxiety. In that case, adding essential oils to your self-care kit and taking a holistic approach to your health will provide you with much-needed relief.
BluZen is a family-run business dedicated to promoting aromatherapy to provide relaxation, health benefits and improve the lives of their customers. Each essential oil has a distinct and unique smell, and each person needs their signature blend to cater to their preferences and aromatherapy needs.