Welcome to the world of essential oils and diffusing. Here are some simple benefits, tips, and tricks for diffusing them. First of all, congratulations on taking steps to eliminate toxins in your daily environment!
There are three ways to use essential oils: aromatically, topically, internally.
This post focuses on using them aromatically. As this is the best way to maximize the benefits of essential oil properties. Why? Because inhaling is the fastest route to the brain, where the nurturing benefits can start do their work.
Here are some benefits of diffusing:
- Purify the air, increase indoor air quality
- Eliminate odors
- Supportive affect on moods and hormonal balance
- Nurturing to our health and immune system
Here are some tips when it comes to diffusing:
- Always, always use distilled or purified water. Tap water contains unwanted minerals and bacteria that will clog/dirty your diffuser, and add unwanted toxins to the air. The goal is to purify the air around you.
- Carefully select essential oils to diffuse. Chose essential oils based on what remedy or aroma you are wanting to achieve. Different essential oils release different properties and aid for different benefits.
- Make sure the essential oils you have selected to diffuse are safe for those around you. Everyone reacts to essential oils differently so just be mindful of that.
- Follow diffusing time limits and suggestions. Depending on the essential oils you use; might impact the amount of time needed to diffuse.
- Start low and slow. Once you are ready to diffuse just monitor how aromatic the room gets. Add more (purified) water or more essential oils depending on what you need.
- Switch out using candles and use a diffuser instead! A simple way to continue detoxing your home. Yes, candles are toxic too and the scents that smell nice can actually be harmful.
We might not realize what we aromatically ingest. As a result, we might not even be aware of their affect on us. So now that we understand the benefits of diffusing; start to tune into the daily scents in your environment. You will start to understand the air quality around you and what it should be. You will even begin to be able to detect toxins in the air!
Some other things to be mindful of when it comes to aromatic scents that you are potentially “diffusing” in your home:
- Dryer sheets: stop using these immediately. That nice, fresh, warm smell & feeling when you pull clothes from the dryer is a bundle of toxins. I know, but listen, it only lasts for 5 seconds and it’s gone. Please, give that up for your health. Make your own “dryer sheets” here.
- Laundry detergent: do your research. The toxins/detergent you wash your clothes in then proceeds to stay on your clothes, which touches your skin (your largest organ) for hours, and days afterwards. Let this go too, make your own detergent.
- Perfume: it’s hard, I know. But if you can’t eliminate altogether, at least start to cut back. As soon as you do, you will be able to detect the chemicals in these products. I will do a post on this soon and link it here.
- Household cleaning products: choose natural over toxic products. What was ever wrong with a little baking soda or vinegar and water. I’ll do a post on this soon too.
- Beauty / personal hygiene products: please, just be careful. I have not mastered this area yet but I have tried to be more aware. I always look for paraben free products and have cut down on wearing too much make up. My skin has thanked me.
- Candles: diffuse instead or make your own! Another post in the making.
Here are some other ways to diffuse:
- Inhale directly: take your favorite essential oil and inhale it directly from the bottle. It’s amazing what a good ol’ whiff can do.
- Inhale indirectly: mix your favorite blend of essential oils and put it on a cotton ball, cup in your hands, and inhale away.
- Wear your essential oils: mix and make your favorite recipes or scents and put them on your wrists, neck, feet, in a diffuser necklace, or as directed and smell them all day long. Reapplying as necessary!
So, in addition to diffusing, I challenge you to make changes to these areas of your life as well. The affect of your emotional well-being will thank you, trust me.
I’ll get together some of my favorite diffuser blends and share them with you!
