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A diffuser is a device that disperses tiny bits of essential oils or blends into the air. There are several types of diffusers, and they range in cost. When deciding what to buy, consider the amount of space you want to be affected and how you want the diffuser to work.
I chose to use a nebulizer for a number of reasons. One of the reasons I started experimenting with aromatherapy is that I have asthma and chronic bronchitis. I wanted to get the full benefit and know that the oils were dispersed well and the quality was preserved. I bought an Amrita room-size diffuser and have been very pleased. It does well in a bedroom. If I wanted to cover a home or other large area, I would look for something bigger. The motor is much quieter than the breathing machines I use for my asthma, and it doesn't bother me at all.
More information about diffusers is available from Mountain Rose Herbs. You can also buy diffusers here. Auroma also sells several types of diffusers, including nebulizers suitable for larger areas such as homes or offices.
< should note that I created most of these blends several years ago and have not used them for quite some time as of May 1, 2008. I may decide I thoroughly dislike them now... An important thing about blends: They are very much about individual preference. Your nose matters. Some will smell like medication. If you are doing aromatherapy, that is not necessarily a bad thing.
I use this in the diffuser. It has a pine/floral/smoky smell that is actually kind of comforting to me, and it seems to relax breathing rather than producing more mucus. It is not for everyone. Ammi visnaga is extremely strong and may be offensive to some people. In fact, it may set some people's asthma off. It is important to note that research on essential oils and asthma reveals that what works for one person is a trigger for another.
1 ml ammi Visnaga 1 ml angelica Root 1 ml peppermint 1 ml ylangylang 2 ml lavender 1 ml frankincense Carrier oil for extending to one to four oz
I made this to put in the diffuser, and my headache was gone by the time I got in the other room to put the glass in the machine. I was pleasantly surprised--I hadn't expected results for a while. It is sedating.
1 ml frankincense 1 ml peppermint 2 ml lavender 1 ml sweet marjoram 1 ml ylangylang 1 ml lemon eucalyptus 1 ml chamomile Roman Carrier oil for extending to one to four oz
This blend is now my standard migraine prevention blend. I use it during the first phase of the migraine, and I have found that it keeps the migraine from progressing.
6 ml rose (5 percent in a carrier oil) 3 ml lavender 3 ml tea tree 1 ml peppermint 1 ml lemon eucalyptus 3 ml ravensara Carrier oil for extending
I blended this in 3.5 oz grape seed oil. When I need to use it, I put 3 ml in the diffuser and run it for a while.
This is another diffuser blend that I use in the evenings as I'm getting ready to go to sleep. It's both sedating and relaxing. This matters to me because relaxing without sleeping doesn't do me a lot of good at night but unrelaxed sleep is just as bad. The lemon scent is dominant. If you like florals better, increase the lavender or chamomile and cut back to one ml of litsea. If this is too sedating, cut back to 1 ml lemon eucalyptus.
2 ml chamomile 2 ml frankincense 2 ml sweet marjoram 2 ml ylangylang 3 ml lavender 2 ml lemon eucalyptus Carrier oil for extending