Diffusing 101

Hi friends,

So many of you may or may not know this, but I am a huge advocate of using essential oils. So much so, that I do actually teach classes on how to begin integrating them into your everyday life. I have found such amazing results with switching to a more natural lifestyle by using essential oils.

With essential oils, or rather I should say PURE essential oils (that’s a whole other discussion), you can use them three different ways to gain the benefits of each.

• Topically
  
• Aromatically
  
• Internally

 

Today I wanted to share with you more about one of my favorite ways to use them, and that is of course, aromatically or by diffusing!

When you think of aromatic, just think of an aroma through the air. You are getting the benefits of each essential oil you diffuse through your sense of smell. And fun fact: did you know that our body contains over 1,000 receptors for smell? Good grief, Charlie Brown! That’s more than any other sense. Which basically means that the simple act of smelling an oil can affect countless other facets of your body and your mind.

But before we dive into more about diffusing, you should understand a little more about essential oils. So what are essential oils exactly? Well, they are the plants aromatic compound that actually protects the plant from viruses, bacteria and diseases. The easiest way I have been taught this is thinking of a Orange peel. Have you ever peeled an Orange? Most of you should be answering YES to that question and if you haven’t, we need to talk. Anyway, after you’re done peeling the Orange, you might continue to smell the fragrance of the Orange on your fingers over the next few hours. What you are smelling is actually the oil which is found in the rind. That oil is like the immune system of the plant.

So our bodies and plants are very similar – when we use essential oils, they naturally boost our immune system so that we can fight off viruses, bacteria and disease. It doesn’t CURE anything, so please don’t get it twisted, ya’ll. It helps your body help ITSELF by giving you a major immune boost. When our immune systems are working at their best, our bodies can fight off sickness and disease without us even knowing it was there.

Pretty freaking sweet, huh?

There is no right or wrong way to diffuse essential oils either. Of course, I do have my favorite diffusers, both from dōTERRA and Amazon, but you find one that works best for your needs. Personally, I prefer diffusers with longer misting times, so that I can keep it on through the night while I sleep or during a Saturday afternoon when I am home to enjoy it. I prefer not to have to refill and start and stop my diffuser once it’s going, because #LAZY.

With any diffuser, I recommend putting at least 4 drops in to really get the benefits from the essential oil. Of course, depending on how many mL your diffuser holds, you can always add more. And if you are going to diffuse, always make sure you are using either cold air or water diffusion. DO NOT try to stick your essential oils in your humidifier at home. Heating oils when diffusing them actually alters the chemistry of the oils and makes them less effective, which we do not want. Most diffusers you find on the market today are going to be ultrasonic, or water diffusion. They also usually include an auto shut-off feature, which makes them great to run at night without having to worry about turning them off yourself.

Using a diffuser can have so many positive effects on your body including promoting better sleep, boosting our resilience to the cold and flu virus, supporting respiratory health, helping with overall focus and my favorite, uplifting your mood. You can always find a reason to use your diffuser on the regular, I promise.

One helpful tip I’ve also learned along the way, is that if you are suffering from any emotional issues, such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, etc., diffusing is going to be your #1 defense. Whereas, when you have an ailment or pain, you are going to want to use oils internally first, and diffusion last. But don’t worry, I’ll have another blog post about this coming in the near future!

Even if you don’t have access to a diffuser, or just simply don’t want to mess with buying one, you can still get the benefits of essential oils aromatically. Just take a few drops (trust me, you only need 1-2) in your hand, cup them together and take several big deep breaths in. Simple as that!

Just remember – you don’t have to be an expert to be able to use a diffuser and you don’t have to know a ton about essential oils either. The practice of diffusing is amazing for both adults and little ones alike and I promise it will make you want to throw out all of those toxic, headache-causing, vanilla bean scented candles you bought from Bath and Body Works last year (called ya out, sis!). Your body, mind and NOSE, are going to thank you!

Bonus! Here are a few of my favorite diffuser blend recipes:

Fruity Pebbles:
2 Drops Lemongrass
2 Drops Grapefruit
1 Drop Bergamot

Focus Blend:
2 Drops Lime
2 Drops Frankincense
2 Drops Peppermint
2 Drops Wild Orange

Fresh & Bright Blend:
2 Drops Breathe
2 Drops Lime

Anthropologie Blend:
3 Drops White Fir
2 Drops Citrus Bliss
3 Drops Grapefruit

XOXO – Brittany