Diffusing Essential Oils Around Pets
Pet owners need to understand the toxic effects diffusing essential oils around pets can have. Dogs and cats are much more sensitive to smells than humans. What you think is a pleasant scent may be overwhelming for your pet.
Cats do not have the enzymes that can process compounds called phenols found in essential oils. Phenolic compounds can lead to liver failure in cats. Cat owners should be aware that Cinnamon oil, Citrus oils, Clove oil, Eucalyptus oil, Oil of Sweet Birch, Pennyroyal oil, Peppermint oil, Pine oils, Tea Tree oil, Wintergreen, and Ylang Ylang oil are poisonous to cats.
Incorrect usage of essential oils can also lead to respiratory problems, nervous system effects, and behavior changes in dogs.
When diffusing essential oils around your pets, always leave a door or window open so that your pet can leave the room when they find the scent overwhelming.
If you worry about how your pet is reacting to essential oils you can call the Pet poison helpline.
Should You Sleep With A Diffuser On
HERES WHAT YOU CAN DO: if you want the support of essential oils for sleep, consider diffusing them 30 minutes before you go to sleep. Put the diffuser on in your bedroom and close the door behind you ideally watch TV or read in another room and allow the bedroom to fill with the scent of the essential oil.
But Wait: If You Have An Existing Lung Condition Like Asthma Read This
However, if you have a lung condition, hold up. Lung health experts are more cautious about the use of essential oils by people who have lung conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease .
According to Melanie Carver, vice president of community health services for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the evidence that essential oils could help asthma just isnt there.
In fact, breathing in the particles released by the oils may actually trigger airway inflammation and asthma symptoms, she says. The strong odors emitted by essential oils may contain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. VOCs are chemical gases that worsen air quality and can irritate the lungs.
Adds Dr. Neha Solanki, MD, a pulmonologist with the Cleveland Clinic Asthma Center in Ohio, Specifically, diffused eucalyptus and lavender release terpene, toluene and benzene. We know that these compounds have respiratory side effects. For example, terpene can cause shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing.
Fragrance is indeed on the list of common asthma triggers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , along with tobacco smoke, smoke from burning wood or plants, mold, pets, dust mites and air pollution.
So, if you have asthma, you could unintentionally trigger an asthma attack by breathing one of those oils thats been warmed up and diffused through the air.
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Understanding The Effects Of Essential Oils On Asthma
Essential oils are substances derived from various types of plants, most often from steaming or pressing them. These oils tend to have strong aromas. Plants and their byproducts have been used throughout time for various purposes. Originally billed as folk medicine, supplements and essential oils derived from plants are now referred to as holistic or complementary or alternative medicine.1
These oils have been used to flavor food and beverages and in cosmetics. More recently, they’ve been touted for use through inhalation and in massage oil. Some companies even produce oils labeled as “therapeutic” or “food grade,” which means they are supposedly safe to ingest orally too.1
Essential oils can be found in local stores, such as Natural Grocers. They are also sold online and through network marketing company representatives.
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Is There Evidence That Essential Oils Help Asthma
While individuals and companies claim essential oils may help a variety of conditions, there is no evidence that essential oils can help asthma. In reality, breathing in the particles released by the oils, or any strong fragrance , may trigger bronchoconstriction .
Essential oils are highly concentrated and emit strong odors due to volatile organic compounds , including terpenes, toluene, and benzene, when diffused in the air. Terpenes are associated with increased shortness of breath, especially in the evenings bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and peak expiratory flow variability in patients with or without asthma. There have been anecdotal claims of respiratory issues for people with or without asthma due to airborne irritants from a variety of diffused essential oils.
VOCs within the diffused oils can affect indoor air quality causing a similar pollutant effect as air fresheners, scented candles, and incense. Poor indoor air quality can worsen existing respiratory symptoms from allergies, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses. In addition, some essential oils are harmful to inhale or can irritate the skin. Use on young children may cause severe irritation or could be poisonous if ingested.
Essential Oils And Cats
Essential oils are volatile, organic constituents of plants that contribute to fragrance and taste. They are extracted from plants via distillation or cold pressing. Essential oils are utilized in a variety of ways: as insecticides, in aromatherapies, personal care products , flavorings, herbal remedies and liquid potpourri.
Essential oils can pose a toxic risk to household pets, especially to cats. They are rapidly absorbed both orally and across the skin, and are then metabolized in the liver. Cats lack an essential enzyme in their liver and as such have difficulty metabolizing and eliminating certain toxins like essential oils. Cats are also very sensitive to phenols and phenolic compounds, which can be found in some essential oils. The higher the concentration of the essential oil , the greater the risk to the cat.
Essential oils that are known to cause poisoning in cats include oil of wintergreen, oil of sweet birch, citrus oil , pine oils, Ylang Ylang oil, peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, pennyroyal oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil. Symptoms that develop depend on the type of oil involved in the exposure and can include drooling, vomiting, tremors, ataxia , respiratory distress, low heart rate, low body temperature, and liver failure.
Diffuser Types and Health Hazards
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LEARN
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What About Other Types Of Fragrance
“Any artificial fragrance can be dangerous to pets,” says Dr Hoolahan.
“As the chemical ingredients could be toxic if inhaled, ingested, or lands on the skin.”
She says that includes fragrant candles, stick diffusers or plug-ins.
Passive diffusers are generally considered a safer option around the house with pets, but Dr Hoolahan still recommends you chat with your vet prior to use.
Essential Oil Diffuser Mistakes To Avoid
Many people ask, are essential oil diffusers good for you? Essential oils can be highly beneficial if used correctly. Essential oils are highly concentrated liquids, and you must use them properly in the diffusers. Here are some of the common mistakes that people make while diffusing essential oils and ways to correct them
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Roman Chamomile And Bergamot
These essential oils for asthma are antispasmodics. They relieve asthma symptoms by relieving muscle contractions that narrow bronchial passages. Roman chamomile and bergamot essential oils have sedative properties that relax the body. This relaxation is necessary because tension accompanies asthma attacks.
How to apply: Mix a few drops of bergamot and roman chamomile oils and use the mixture to rub your chest and back. The mixture relieves mild and severe asthma attacks.
How To Use Essential Oils For Symptoms Of Asthma
The best time to use an essential oil treatment for asthma is between attacks, not while youre having one or experiencing an increase in symptoms.
It all depends on the person, on the ailment, on how you use it, says Birgitta Lauren, a Los Angeles-based aromatherapist. However, a reduction in symptoms can take from 10 minutes to weeks try each separately.
Here are some instructions to help you get started:
If youre using lavender essential oil, consider inhaling steam.
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Innogear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser
The InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser humidifies your home to help relieve dry or stuffy air and cleanses the air of germs that can lead to the flu or a cold.
It also eliminates dust and other causes of allergies. If your skin gets dry and chapped in the winter, this diffuser will prevent that.
This diffuser can relieve stress and help you get a good nights sleep, and it works well to mask odors such as those from pets or smoking.
It has LED night lights in seven different colors to help you set the perfect mood. It also has a whisper quiet feature and turns itself off automatically.
Pros
- Since no heat is used, it is safe for children and pets.
- There are no additives or fillers.
- It comes in popular scents.
Cons
- The oil diffuses faster than the water evaporates.
- Users report that the unit does not have a long life.
Verdict
The InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser is a good unit that will get the job done however, it may not last as long as some other diffusers.
Essential Oils: A Poor Choice For Asthma
Alrightwe need to talk. Those of you who know me personally or follow my blog are aware that I dont shy away from controversial topics, and that I dont have a problem speaking my mind. I try to do it in a respectful, informative, and somewhat humorous way. But I saw something this morning that needs to be addressed, and its not funny at all.
As I was eating breakfast this morning, I saw a link about essential oils posted on a fellow pediatrician/bloggers , where he made some important observations about the authors claims regarding medical uses of essential oils. I agree with him completely, but I think the point needs to be driven home a little harder. The article he linked to is called Essential Oils Alternative for Pediatricians Top 10 Prescribed Drugs. Its a bit unclear, but the article appears to have been written by one of two people:
- Xavier Lannes, the CEO of The Essential Tools, LLC . Based on his , Mr. Lannes has a strong interest in skateboarding, some business experience, and no medical training whatsoever. But Im sure hes just as knowledgeable about childrens health as your pediatrician.
- Or , a Gold Member at Young Living Essential Oils, with a BS in Biological Sciences and a couple MA degrees in unrelated fields. She also blogs at essentialsurvival.org, where her profile states that she is also a reflexologist/holistic healer. Again, no medical training. Did I mention that she sells essential oils?
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Are Essential Oils Safe For An Asthma Patient
Asthma is the inflammation of bronchial passages. The Mayo Clinic confirms that while the cause of asthma is unclear, there are many documented triggers which can provoke an asthma attack, including:
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Allergic reaction
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Irritants such as smoke and pollution
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Stress
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Fragrances
While essential oils have not been shown to be a cause of bronchial asthma, there are instances in which essential oils may have been an asthma trigger.
At the same time, essential oils and their naturally occurring constituents have demonstrated the ability to support a variety of factors related to asthmafrom mitigating airway inflammation to aiding allergy symptoms.
So how can you safely use essential oils for asthma?
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Those with bronchial asthma are advised to use oils rich in 1,8-cineole oils with caution, despite its breathing benefits. These include, but are not limited to, Eucalyptus, Saro, Rosemary, Ravintsara and Cajeput.
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Avoid inhaling essential oil vapors directly. Instead, diffuse them in an ultrasonic diffuser according to the manufacturers instructions .
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Use a 1% dilution when using essential oils topically.
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Seek medical counsel from a doctor and aromatherapist prior to aromatherapy use.
The bottom line is that if you have asthma, you should use essential oils with caution.
Start with low dilutions and inhale essential oils in small quantities and short intervals. If you find something doesnt work for you or triggers your asthma, discontinue use immediately and move onto the next thing .
Lack Of Research And Approval
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America say that there is no evidence to prove that essential oils can help people with asthma.
In fact, some may be dangerous and trigger symptoms in the same way that air fresheners and other chemicals do.
The AAFA do not recommend using essential oils to treat asthma.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration do not regulate the use of essential oils for any conditions, including asthma, but they have issued warnings about some products.
Since the FDA do not approve their use, there are no regulations to control what an essential oil contains. As a result, users cannot be sure that the ingredients are pure.
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What Is An Aroma Diffuser
Put simply, its a device that diffuses or disperses aromatic scents within a space.
Essentially, the diffuser breaks the essential oils down into smaller molecules and spreads them evenly in the air in what looks like smoke. Unlike smoke, the diffuser doesnt overwhelm your senses by aggressively filling the room with the oils. The aroma diffuser disperses your chosen oil in pleasant doses that make it easy to breathe.
The Use Of Too Much Oil In The Diffuser
The most common mistake is to use too much oil when spreading essential oils. It will have a stronger impact on the use of more essential oil. Depending on your age, heredity and room size the concentration in which the human nose can detect an odor.
The unique classic diffuser has a wood grain design. To begin the Aroma diffuser, pour a few drops of desired essential oil for a wonderful fragrance in your room. It also acts as a decorative showpiece for any kind of interior like the room, yoga room, office, hotel room, etc. Therefore change your lifestyle
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Floral Emissions Before And After A Storm
The supplementary information shows emissions from GrevilleaRobyn Gordon captured before and after a storm. Included GCMS chromatograms demonstrate substantially increased linalool, hexenal, and hexanoic acid emissions before the storm, compared to after the storm, and relative quantities are listed.
Essential Oils For Asthma Relief
March 23, 2017
Modern medicine has helped extend our lifespans, changed the way that we treat disease, and much more. However, there is still something to be said for natural healing, and essential oils do have very real benefits that can be harnessed with the right steps.
Asthma is one example of this. While theres no outright cure for this breathing condition, there are numerous steps that can be taken to help reduce the symptoms things like tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, wheezing, and more. These problems occur because asthma causes an inflammation of the airways which restricts breathing.
Essential oils can help to open up those airways, reduce the inflammation that causes asthma attacks, and more. And best of all, there are multiple essential oils that are effective. Here are some of the best choices out there.
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Research And Safety Issues Surrounding Aromatherapy Treatment Options
Aromatherapy involves the aerosolization of naturally occurring extracts from plants. Aromatherapy is is a method of using natural aromas and essential oils to provide a physical or psychological therapeutic effect and is a growing trend in complementary and alternative medicine. Use of essential oils is controversial, as little research to validate effectiveness or potential harm has been done. Despite the lack of research, many people believe they receive symptomatic relief including aromatherapy into their care regimen.
Radha Beauty Essential Oil Diffuser
The Radha Beauty Essential Oil Diffuser unit diffuses ultrasonic waves to vaporize the oil and water, which produces a cool, fragrant mist.
It automatically shuts off when the water level gets too low and has an LED lamp that can rotate seven different colors.
Pros
- The moisture outlet is easy to adjust.
- The unit has a 100ml capacity.
- Can switch between intermittent and steady flow.
Cons
- Only runs for a few hours before shutting off
- No way to adjust the bright on indicator
- Beeps loudly when turned off, interrupting sleep
Verdict
The Radha Beauty Essential Oil Diffuser is an attractive unit that can disperse oils using ultrasonic waves. Some people complain about the bright lights and loud beeping that can interrupt sleep.
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