Breathing in chemicals from household items is an important part of improving your health. These chemicals cause health problems like headaches, dizziness, nausea, an overall sense of feeling unwell, etc. Essential oils are a great alternative to chemical filled air fresheners. Essential oils are the extracted oils from parts of plants and flowers using distillation. They are very concentrated.
I discovered essential oils when my son was little. He was sick and refused to drink anything I tried to give him, so I went in search of non-invasive ways to help him feel better and came across aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy involves adding a few drops of an essential oil or a combination of different oils to a diffuser. A diffuser is filled with water and the essential oil drops added to it. The diffuser breaks down the essential oils into smaller molecules and disperses them into the air. I’ve also just added a drop or two of essential oil to a paper towel. Vaporizer’s will also work.
Each oil is said to have beneficial properties. Some oils are good for relaxation, others provide energy, some are anti-bacterial, anti-viral.
Make sure to choose 100% pure essential oils. I usually buy the Now brand, but there are other brands that may be better.
There are a lot of different essential oils and blends to choose from. My go to oils are usually:
– eucalyptus for respiratory illnesses with coughs, stuffy noses
– tea tree oil for cleaning
– lavender for relaxation and difficulties sleeping
– peppermint for headaches
– lemon or orange oil for cleaning
– vanilla/sandalwood/patchouli for air freshening
Clove oil is good for killing mold in the air and on the surface.
Essential oils are very concentrated. When in doubt on how much to use, it’s better to use a smaller amount than a larger amount. Less is more.
It’s better to use glass bottles for mixtures you’ve made yourself, so that chemicals don’t leech into it, especially for air freshener mixtures.
Chemical filled spray cleaners can also be replaced with an essential oil mixture and vinegar. The one I use contains:
1 cup white vinegar
6 tsp tea tree oil
6 drops peppermint oil
6 drops lemon or orange oil
squirt of dish soap
Fill the rest of the spray bottle with water. The size I use is the same size as a lysol spray cleaner bottle.
Challenge:
If you use chemical air freshener sprays in your home, try switching it out with an essential oil spray. There are a lot of different recipes online and in books.
This is the recipe I use:
Air Spray Recipe
I use this recipe to freshen the air in my home:
2 cups water
4 drops eucalyptus oil
4 drops tea tree oil
4 drops lavender oil
2 drops clove oil, optional
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More Essential Oil Resources
References
https://www.essentialoilhaven.com/what-are-essential-oils/
https://www.doterra.com/US/en/essential-oil-science-overview