Inhalation and Diffusion It is not advisable to directly and intensively inhale essential oils for longer than 15-20 minutes, such as with steam inhalation. However, this does not apply to ambient inhalation from essential oils vaporized into the air.
Inhalation is arguably the safest means of administering essential oils, and it's the fastest way to get essential oils into your bloodstream. However, it's still critical to use oils with caution… even when diffusing. When diffusing essential oils, always: Diffuse in a well-ventilated area.
What is the most effective way to inhale essential oils?
Inhaling essential oils in a confined space is one of the most effective ways of using essential oils. The best way to achieve this, is by filling a bowl of hot water in a sink, adding some drops of essential oil to the hot water, then placing a towel over your head and bend over the sink to create a vapour bowl.
What happens if you get essential oils in your lungs?
Aspirating an essential oil can cause pneumonia; this can happen if someone tries to swallow it, but chokes so that a little goes into the lungs. Individuals can have varying reactions to essential oils, as they might to other medicines and products.
Safety guidelines for diffusion: “Intermittent diffusion is much more effective, as well as being safer, than continuous diffusion. Intermittent means 30-60 minutes on, then 30-60 minutes off. This is because our body, especially our nervous system, habituates after this length of time.
1 Drop...Cleanses Lungs, Reduces Mucus & Improves Airflow! Dr. Mandell
Is it OK to sleep next to essential oil diffuser?
As long as you're using a high quality diffuser and high quality,all natural essential or aroma oils, there's likely no risk to diffusing your oils overnight. However, if you'd like to take extra precautions, the easiest safety solution is to get a diffuser with an automatic shut off feature.
Some very basic oils like Lemon and Peppermint may be able to be diffused for longer amounts of time at low levels of output, but the general recommendations are to limit diffusing sessions to 30-60 minutes, depending on the oil. More intense oils such as Eucalyptus may need to be limited to 20-30 minutes per session.
Studies like these have been conducted repeatedly and always reveal the same outcome: essential oils can make their way into your bloodstream and even further. After an oil's chemical molecule enters your body, the essential oil travels to various high blood flow areas, like the liver, kidneys, and skeletal muscle.
What happens if you inhale too much peppermint oil?
Peppermint oil can also lead to a number of other hazardous conditions such as difficulty while breathing, convulsions, and slowed heartbeat to name a few. If you are have been suffering from any of these conditions, it is advisable to take the appropriate medical help.
Adding too many drops to your diffuser can lead to headaches and dizziness in the short term and there is also evidence to suggest that overuse can cause throat, lung and blood pressure problems in the long term. Don't worry, though. Getting the quantity right is easy!
You should also be careful with some essential oils as they can be irritating to the respiratory tract, especially eucalyptus and peppermint, as these contain a chemical compound called phenol.
Steam inhalations – Add up to three drops of essential oil to a bowl of warm water, carefully inhale the steam of the water, ensuring the steam is not so hot that it is uncomfortable on the skin. For deeper inhalations, cover the head with a towel and lean over the bowl.
Menthol, which is in peppermint oil, should not be inhaled by or applied to the face of an infant or small child because it may negatively affect their breathing.
Lavender oil is generally not poisonous in adults when breathed in during aromatherapy or swallowed in smaller amounts. It may cause a reaction in children who swallow small amounts. The major effects are due to allergic reactions of the skin.
The menthol in peppermint works as a decongestant, shrinking swollen membranes in the nose and making it easier to breathe, and also helps loosen mucus that has collected in the lungs. Peppermint may also help prevent sickness from coming on in the first place.
What are the symptoms of essential oil poisoning in humans?
drowsiness, slow/shallow breathing, coma (after large ingestion) seizures. persistent cough, gagging/choking, shortness of breath, wheezing. nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.
What happens if you sniff too much essential oils?
The inhalation of essential oil vapors is not generally dangerous, but very intensive inhalation for more than about 20 minutes may lead to respiratory distress and/or neurological symptoms, such as headache, nausea, burning of eyes and throat, cough, shortness of breath, or slowed breathing in young children.
Aromatherapy has been used for centuries. When inhaled, the scent molecules in essential oils travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the brain and especially impact the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain. Essential oils can also be absorbed by the skin.
What part of the body absorbs essential oils best?
The palms of the hands and feet, armpits and scalp will more readily absorb oil molecules than the arms, legs, belly, back etc. Oils are also easily absorbed through cuts, scraps and abrasions, burns, excema etc. Clean skin pores that is free of dirt improves absorption.
As you can see, you can use tap water in your essential oil diffuser but it may not be your best option. We feel that you should use the purest water possible that fits within your budget and still allows the diffuser to function properly. For most people, filtered water is probably the best option.
The distance you keep your diffuser from yourself is the most important thing to think about. As incredible the benefits of essential oils are, there is such thing as too much. It is generally best to keep your diffuser a few feet away, especially if you keep it in your bedroom.
The constant diffusion of essential oils with an aroma diffuser is harmful to your health and it can also damage your essential oil diffuser. Our limbic system adapts quickly to an essential oil, so it's not recommended to set your essential oil diffuser to work continually.
Do not put essential oil diffuser near fans and sunlight. Similar to placing a diffuser near heat, exposing an oil diffuser to direct sunshine will likewise cause the oil to evaporate. You'll have to replace your reed diffuser sooner, even though sitting on your windowsill in the sunshine may seem great.