Tag: #aromatherapy

Organic Aromas Diffuser: The New Aromatherapy Tool in my Fibromyalgia Treatment Toolbox

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I have been given this product as part of a product review through the Chronic Illness Bloggers network. Although the product was a gift, all opinions in this review remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company.

The Organic Aromas nebulizing diffuser mists microdroplets of essential oil throughout a space of up to 800 ft.² The diffuser works without using heat or water, by applying Bernoulli’s principle to pressurize the essential oil into a fine mist. This means the essential oil is unaltered, thereby retaining its rich scent and therapeutic effect. The product itself is comprised of a handcrafted wooden base with the blown glass diffuser set on top. Gentle LED mood lights flicker within. The design of the product is aesthetically pleasing. You can leave it on a tabletop or windowsill and it looks decorative even while it is not in use.

The diffuser is very easy to use. You simply put 10-15 drops of essential oil into the opening at the top of the glass reservoir, and switch it on. The scent it produces is noticeable but not overwhelming, unless you sit or lie down within 1-2 ft. The full richness of the scent was more noticeable to me than produced by other aromatherapy products that I tried. It works quietly, although there is a slight hissing sound as it produces the mist. I found the lights unobtrusive especially in daylight.

Another feature that appealed to me is that it uses very little energy. The diffuser alternates between misting and rest every two minutes. The base contains a dial so you can choose the strength of diffusion you want. It automatically turns off after two hours.

You can find more information on Organic Aromas Nebulizing Diffusers here: https://organicaromas.com.

How can aromatherapy help with chronic illness? 

Many of us struggle with the side effects of medical interventions. Aromatherapy offers an enjoyable and side-effect free alternative. One critical caveat here,  if you have multiple chemical sensitivities or light/scent induced migraines, this may not be appropriate for you.

There are many essential oil that you can try for a range of purposes. I began with lavender oil in the evening for relaxation/sleep and rosemary oil during the day for mental fatigue, memory issues related to brain fog, and circulatory stimulation. You may be surprised to know that studies support the use of essential oils for medicinal purposes. For example, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, “Scientific evidence suggests that aromatherapy with lavender may slow the activity of the nervous system, improve sleep quality, promote relaxation, and lift mood in people suffering from sleep disorders”[i].  Since sleep is a primary complaint for those living with fibromyalgia, aromatherapy with lavender oil could be a valuable tool in your treatment toolbox. According to another recent study, rosemary oil diffused throughout a room helped participants perform significantly better on a memory test than participants in a control room[ii]. This appealed to me because brain fog affects my word recall and short term memory. Essential oils are believed to work when compounds that are inhaled enter the blood stream. In the case of rosemary, some of those compounds are able to cross the blood-brain barrier, affecting brain activity[iii].

If you are interested in learning about other essential oils that may be helpful for fibromyalgia, check out the links below:

References:

[i] http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/lavender

[ii] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33519453

[iii] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33519453