Essential Oil Diffusers and Babies

Essential Oil Diffusers and Babies

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The use of essential oil diffusers for aromatherapy is something that a growing number of people are embracing, as evidenced by the ever-growing number of different choices available when shopping for these devices, as well as the number of different essential oils blends available to use in them. But while diffusing oil in the right quantities is considered harmless for adults, what about kids? Specifically are essential oil diffusers and babies a safe, or effective combination? That’s what we are going to take a closer look at now.

What Are Essential Oils Used For Anyway?

In adults, their fans utilize essential oils for a variety of purposes besides stress relief, the most common usage. Essential oils are also used to boost mood and energy levels, reduce anxiety, relieve some forms of pain, strengthen immunity and fight infections, promote better digestion, and encourage faster and sounder sleep.

None of these benefits are considered scientifically proven – although there is a growing body of research on adults that backs some of it up – but many of those who make use of oil diffusion for aromatherapy on a  regular basis will attest to their effectiveness.

How Might Essential Oils Help Babies?

When parents consider ‘combining’ essential oil diffusers and babies it’s often as a way to help them sleep. Getting a baby to sleep is, as most parents will attest, often one of the biggest daily challenges parents face, and, tired and frustrated themselves, anything that might help often sounds like a good idea.

Young couple with baby

However, when it comes to essential oils and babies, experts, even experts who are usually all in favor of trying essential oil aromatherapy to help with a variety of things, urge caution.

For starters, they agree that making use of essential oil diffusers at all around infants under the age of six months old is a big no. Using essential oils in close proximity to infants, especially newborns, can put them at risk for negative health repercussions, especially when it comes to their still developing respiratory systems and sensitive skin.

Can an essential oil like lavender – which has been used as a relaxing soporific for centuries – help a baby sleep? Maybe. Once they are older than six months, some aromatherapy experts feel that the occasional use of an essential oil diffuser in the nursery for a short time at bedtime – around 30 minutes – may be beneficial.  

They often advise making use of an ultrasonic version of an oil diffuser over other options, as these do not dispense potentially irritating vapors directly into the air. It’s also crucial that parents refrain from adding essential oils directly to a baby’s skin, as doing so may cause painful skin irritation, even if a carrier oil is used.

Using Your Essential Oils Around Your Baby

Some people have been making use of essential oils for various reasons for years before becoming parents, so should they stop once a baby arrives? Ideally, for the most part, until a child is at least two, experts advise erring on the side of caution. They run the risk of absorbing essential oils into their bodies, which can be detrimental if they come into contact with them due to their young, thin skin.

If you must use essential oils topically, wait until your infant is at least three months old and allow the oils at least 15 minutes to thoroughly sink into your skin before touching them. Consult with the physician or other healthcare professional caring for your child if you have any additional questions about essential oils and your baby.

How Much Essential Oil Do You Put in a Diffuser?

How Much Essential Oil Do You Put in a Diffuser?

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An oil diffuser is one of the easiest and most efficient ways to harness the many potential benefits of essential oils. It’s often safer and far less messy than applying it to the skin. Some people’s skin is irritated by this direct contact – and it allows you to fill an entire room with potentially healing aromas. But most diffusers come with extensive instructions about how to set them up and what batteries or power sources you should use to power them. What is often not so clear is the answer to this question: how much essential oil do you put in a diffuser?

How Much Essential Oil Do You Put in a Diffuser Anyway?

If you’re using a diffuser for the first time and are unsure of how much essential oil to add, keep in mind that the general rule is to add sparingly at first. More drops can be added gradually rather than all at once, which is easier than trying desperately to remove oil if you have added too much! Since these oils are frequently extremely concentrated, only a small amount can produce a noticeable amount of fragrance.

Essential oil bottleYou don’t want to use too much fragrance in a single area. If inhaled, any fragrant product, including essential oils, can irritate the respiratory system. Instead of a dousing of fragrance, you want to go for a faint hint. When it comes to making use of essential oils released into the air for aromatherapy purposes, moderation really is the key to success.

Typically, 3-5 drops of essential oil should be added to 100 cc of water. Naturally, the quantity you apply will depend on your preferences and the size of the room. Larger rooms will benefit from a little more oil.

Although diffusers exist in various sizes, these are usually measured in 100ml increments, making it reasonably simple to determine how many drops of essential oil to add. On average, 3-5 drops are needed for the smallest 100ml diffusers. While 15-20 drops are needed for the largest 500ml diffusers.

After using your diffuser several times and experimenting with various essential oil varieties, you will have a good understanding of how many drops are required to make your space smell precisely the way you want it to.

Tell Tale Signs You’ve Added Too Much Oil to Your Diffuser

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s possible that you’re using too much essential oil in your diffuser Essential oils may help relieve a headache

  • Sudden headache
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea

Unless you live alone, you should also remember to check to see how your experiments with essential oil diffusing are affecting others. And if your roommates include cats and/or dogs remember that their sense of smell is far better than yours – 1,000 to 10,000 times better in the case of dogs, only a little less for cats. So you may want to limit the use of the diffuser around them if it seems to bother them.

How Many Drops are in a 10ml Bottle of Essential Oil?

In a 10ml bottle of essential oil, there are 200 drops. This means that if you’re using a 100ml diffuser, you can get between 40 to 65 uses out of a 10ml bottle of oil.

How Many Drops of Essential Oil to Add to Lotions?Essential oil dropping from a bottle

Essential oils can be a wonderful complement to lotions without fragrance and can give your spa ritual a special, luxurious touch.

The recommended ratio for blending essential oils with lotion is 3 drops of oil to 10 ml of lotion, though this can be changed based on choice. When combining essential oils with carrier oils like grapeseed and jojoba for massage, this is an excellent ratio to work with as well.

Is an Essential Oils Diffuser Safe for Baby?

Is an Essential Oils Diffuser Safe for Baby?

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We aim to ensure that the well-being of the youngest members of our family is taken care of as soon as they enter this world. A baby’s immune, respiratory, and central nervous systems require some time to fully develop, and even their sense of smell is different. They also absorb substances more readily through their skin. Here we will discuss are Essential Oils Diffuser Safe for Baby.

Generally speaking, a baby will be more fragile and sensitive the younger they are. How can you be sure you’re choosing the right essential oil for your family? There are so many conflicting views on whether or not essential oils are safe to use around babies and children. Is an essential oils diffuser safe for babies? That, and other issues about babies and essential oils are what we are going to take a closer look at here.

Essential Oils Diffuser Safe for Baby Basics

Essential Oils in an oil diffuserThe first thing you should know is that most experts agree that essential oils should not be used in any way around babies who are younger than 3-6 months old. You should discuss the issue with their doctor before doing so even after that.

In terms of the type of essential oils diffuser safe for babies older than that, an ultrasonic version – there are several different types of essential oil diffusers on the market – is preferred by most experts.

Even without the use of essential oils, an ultrasonic essential oil diffuser’s soft mist can improve the wellness of a room. Simply add water, turn it on, and inhale the comforting water vapor that is released into the air you and your household inhale. The fact that the oils are diluted makes them safer for developing respiratory systems, and you will only need to use three to five drops at most per session.  

As most parents use aromatherapy and essential oil diffusers to promote relaxation and better sleep in babies, the fact that ultrasonic oil diffusers are whisper-quiet is another plus!

The Type of Essential Oil Used Matters Too

Some essential oils are better for use around babies and children than others, and some, experts say, should be reserved for adult use only. This could mean that even if you have chosen a ‘baby friendly’ essential oils diffuser the oil you add to it could change that.

Essential oils produced from citrus or floral sources are typically thought to be more tolerant by developing or compromised respiratory or immune systems. When it comes to helping older babies this might include lavender, which has been used to promote sleep for centuries, chamomile, which is also considered very relaxing, or a slightly energizing scent like lemon, which may help improve the mood of a grumpy baby (and/or its grumpy parent!)

In terms of essential oils that should be reserved for adult use only these include all the following:

Essential OIls to use in an oil diffuserEucalyptus: This common essential oil, often used to relieve congestion in adults, has a potent effect and might be too much for growing, sensitive bodies. It contains a substance called 1,8 cineole, which in children under the age of 10 may make breathing difficult rather than improving it.

Wintergreen: Also known as birch oil, this oil contains methyl salicylate, which is only advised for adults with special therapeutic needs, in significant concentrations.

Peppermint: Another essential oil commonly used by adults to relieve cold and flu symptoms. Peppermint is highly mentholated and has a noticeable cooling effect that may not be as enjoyable for children as it is for adults.

Rosemary: Some research has suggested that rosemary might increase blood pressure in children, so it’s an essential oil best reserved for adult-only use.

Which of the Top Rated Essential Oil Diffusers Should You Buy?

Which of the Top Rated Essential Oil Diffusers Should You Buy?

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The advantages of using essential oils can be utilized quickly, easily, and without too much mess if you make use of an essential oil diffuser to deliver them into the air in your home, or office. An essential oil diffuser is also considered by many experts to be the only way that essential oils can be safely used around kids and pets, who are usually far more sensitive to them than adults. But which of the many ‘top rated essential oil diffusers’ – a term you’ll see used a LOT when shopping for one – is really the best choice?

Before dialing down into specific products, of which there are quite literally hundreds to choose from – it’s best to determine just which of the most common general types of essential oil diffuser is best suited to your needs: evaporative, heat, ultrasonic or nebulizing?

To help you make the best decision for you when shopping for those ‘top-rated essential oil diffusers’ here we are going to take a closer look at the differences between these diffuser types, including the pros and cons of each.

Top Rated Essential Oil Diffusers

What is a Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser?

A nebulizing diffuser uses a high-velocity, pressured air stream and jet nozzle to break down the essential oil into minute particles. A light mist of oil is released from the diffuser and enters the atmosphere. The nebulizing diffuser produces a fine mist that diffuses the complete oil at once rather than in stages, without changing its chemical makeup or fragrance.

On the pro side this means that you will be using your chosen oil at its ‘full strength’ and you won’t need to worry about dilution ratios or other calculations. This however can produce a mist that is too potent for sensitive noses – including those of pets and kids – and it will mean you will use a lot more oil than other essential oil diffusers do.

What is an Evaporative Essential Oil Diffuser?

Essential Oils in a white glass oil diffuserAir movement is used in evaporative dispersion to disperse the aroma of the essential oils throughout the space. A tissue or a pad with essential oils placed on it serves as a filter through which air is forced by a fan. The oil evaporates thanks to the flowing air, and the oil-laden air is then blown throughout the room.

You will receive the oil in segments while using an evaporative essential oil diffuser; the lighter essential oil components will evaporate first, followed by the heavier components.

This does often lead to a quieter aromatherapy session – some top-rate essential oil diffusers are quite loud – which might be ideal for an office when you don’t want to disturb the other people working around you. On the downside, due to the fact that not all of the parts of the complete oil are dispersed at once, it might not be as effective as other methods.

What is Heat Essential Oil Diffuser?

Heat diffusers, as the name implies, use heated components to aid in the essential oil’s slow evaporation into the air. The best heat diffusers will utilize a very low heat to prevent significantly altering the chemical components of the oils being diffused, unlike some heat diffusers that use extremely high heat to achieve a stronger aroma.

This means that it will do its work silently, but a heat essential oil diffuser may not deliver a powerful enough scent to meet your personal preferences.

What is an Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser?

This increasingly common diffuser type utilizes water and electronic frequencies to combine essential oils and water to produce a fine mist. A tiny disk submerged beneath the water’s surface generates ultrasonic vibrations that force the essential oil to dissolve into minute microparticles.

Essential Oils in a black oil diffuser in a homeOnly a minimal amount of essential oil is used in ultrasonic versions, and no heat is utilized to create the mist in an ultrasonic essential oil diffuser. If you live in a dry climate, this approach also doubles as a humidifier, which is beneficial. Ultrasonic diffusers produce little to no noise, which makes them ideal for usage at night. They are also the only type of essential oil diffuser that many experts consider safe for use around toddlers and pets.

They do have their potential downsides though. The essential oil makes up a very minor portion of the mist, and it is dispersed by the ambient air current in the space. You might not want to use your diffuser to add extra water to the air if you already reside in a more humid area, or at the height of hot, sticky summer either!

The aromas of essential oils have a great deal of potential to positively affect your mood and general well-being, regardless of the essential oil diffuser you select. In the end, you can use any of these diffusing techniques to benefit from aromatherapy in your home and office. It will simply depend on which method, based on the information we’ve shared here on the top-rated Essential Oil Diffusers and your personal preferences, works best for you. 

Best Essential Oil Diffuser for Large Space

Best Essential Oil Diffuser for Large Space

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Diffusing essential oils around your office, bedroom, or even car is a fantastic idea. In this article we will discuss the Best Essential Oil Diffuser for Large Spaces in your home or office.

So, what should you do if you want to distribute the beneficial aromas of essential oils across a wide space, such as a living room or an office? Some folks have problems getting complete coverage with their current essential oil diffuser to all areas of a large open floor plan at home or at work.

We’ll explore how to get the most out of your essential oil diffuser and enjoy the advantages of diffusing regardless of the size of the room you’re in, as well as the best essential oil diffuser for large space areas.

bamboo-and-glass-Essential-oils-air-diffuserDispelling a Myth about Essential Oil Diffusers

One of the most popular misconceptions regarding essential oil diffusers is that a diffuser with a bigger capacity will cover a larger area.

The quantity of space a diffuser’s mist can cover has very little to do with its capacity. When determining how long the diffuser can run, the capacity is more significant. However, the strength and general quality of the essential oil diffuser determine the coverage area to a large extent.

Perhaps the misperception stems from the fact that higher capacity essential oil diffusers often produce a heavier mist. Actually the point is that capacity has little to do with how much area a certain essential oil diffuser can cover.

Making Use of Multiple Diffusers in Large Spaces

If you’re aiming to cover an area of 800 to 1,000 square feet, buying and making use of two diffusers is your best bet. Despite what some firms claim, there isn’t an essential oil diffuser that can cover that much ground on its own.

It’s better to use two of the same oil diffusers for consistency. This ensures you’ll have the same strength, capacity, and appearance for both.

They should not be placed in corners or against walls, since the center of the room will not be covered. Instead, set each one approximately a third of the way into the room, if feasible in the middle. You’ll receive the most coverage from both units this way, without creating cloying pockets of scent in odd parts of the room.

Try Increasing the Amount of Essential Oil Diffused

While everyone has their own preferences, most oil diffusers function best with 3-6 drops of your chosen essential oil or oil blend per 100 ML of water. More oil means a more potent scent and hence increased coverage when diffusing in a big area. But don’t go crazy—if you generally use 3 drops per 100 ML, try increasing it to 5 or 6 and evaluate how it works in the furthest corners of the room.

You can play with the amount of oil you use (as long as you don’t go overboard). Because all essential oils are slightly different, some trial and error may be required until you find the ideal amount for your essential oil diffuser.

One word of caution here, however, for pet parents. You do need to be very careful when diffusing essential oils around them, as we’ve explained here and here, and increasing the volume of oil in the air in this way may not be safe for them.

Use Higher Quality Essential Oils

Remember that the quality of the essential oil you choose can make a big difference in how much pleasure you have diffusing, whether you’re diffusing in a big room or a small one.

Higher-quality oils are more potent, so you’ll get a lot more bang for your buck even if they cost a little more than “budget” oils. It could be because of the oil you’re using that you’re having problems achieving coverage up to the maximum area of your diffuser.

Best Essential Oil Diffuser For Large Space

There are a lot of essential oil diffusers out there for you to choose from, so many in fact that it can be hard to make a choice! To help you find the best essential oil diffuser for large spaces in your home or office, here’s a look at some of our favorites:

Volo Marble DiffuserdoTERRA Volo Ultrasonic Diffuser

Not only is this a very efficient essential oil diffuser, but it is also a very attractive one. Capable of running for up to 14 hours on a low setting, the doTERRA Volo Ultrasonic Diffuser is programmable and easily adjustable. Meaning that if you wanted to be greeted by the calming scent of lavender as you come home from work, but don’t want to scent an empty home, that’s easy to achieve.

As it’s available in either a marble or onyx look finish adding a couple of these diffusers to a large space will not only scent it efficiently but will enhance your home decor scheme as well.

Young Living Rainstone DiffuserRainstone Diffuser Young Living

We love the elegant look of this sleek, classic diffuser, but that’s not all it has to offer. Not only is a great choice for large space essential oil diffusing, it also offers soothing lights and sounds that add to the diffusing experience. Just one of these handcrafted units would provide great coverage for a large bedroom. Two could help cover a whole office floor and provide all the benefits of aromatherapy and sound therapy to all your staff!

Minddiva Aromatherapy DiffuserAromatherapy Diffuser - Professional Grade Diffusers for Essential Oils, Nebulizing Technology, Full Spectrum Oil Adaptability, No Water, No Heat, Super Quiet, Portable, Battery Power

This small but powerful essential oil diffuser is a nebulizing diffuser that does not use heat or water. This is so essential oils retain more of their natural properties, resulting in faster and more effective coverage of even large spaces without the need to add more oil. Its ultra-sleek and modern-looking design will compliment almost any home decor scheme, and it can cover up to 700 square feet of space, making it ideal for open concept houses or lofts.

 

CkeyiN Essential Oil Diffuser, 550ml Bluetooth Speaker Aroma Diffuser for Home, Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier with Music Player Function, Waterless Auto-Off and Remote Control, Timer and Lights

CkeyiN Essential Oil Diffuser

This ultrasonic oil diffuser and humidifier combo takes care of everything. It also serves as a speaker (it’s Bluetooth-enabled) and a night light in addition to disseminating your favorite scents (it lights up in seven different colors).

The diffuser has two mist settings, a timer and will automatically shut off when the tank is empty, and it has a 550-milliliter capacity which will offer great large space coverage. The diffuser is very simple to operate with the provided remote, which is another big plus!

Are Essential Oil Diffusers Bad for Dogs?

Are Essential Oil Diffusers Bad for Dogs?

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You’ve brought an essential oil diffuser home with you, and you’re excited to get it set up! Your home will smell wonderful, and you will reap the benefits of aromatherapy essential oils. However, you might be wondering if oil diffusers and dogs can coexist in the same house. Basically, are essential oil diffusers bad for dogs?

Essential oils can be harmful to dogs if used incorrectly, so use caution when using them. Continue reading to find out how to get the most out of your new essential oil diffuser while also keeping your dog safe and healthy.

Essential oil use with PetsEssential Oils Explained

Let’s start with a definition of essential oils before we get into whether or not they’re safe for dogs. The term “essential” alludes to these oils being the distilled essence of whatever they’re extracted from. It does not mean that they are necessary for your or your dog’s wellness.

Essential oils can be extracted from plants in a variety of ways, including distillation and pressing. The resultant oil is strong, fragrant, and extremely concentrated. Essential oils must be diluted in some way once they have been concentrated in this way before they may be used on humans or animals safely.

Potential Benefits of Essential Oils

Essential oils are thought to have a variety of advantages, which vary depending on the oil. Aromatherapy is one of the most important benefits essential oils may bring. In the middle of the day, peppermint oil can give you a surge of energy, while lavender oil can help you relax when you’re stressed.

Tea tree oil, according to some, can help improve your immune response and fight infections. Lemon and peppermint oil may help with digestion, and jasmine oil is claimed to help with anxiety and poor libido. Some people believe that bergamot oil can help with skin diseases such as eczema.

Dogs, Humans and Undiluted Essential Oils

You must not use undiluted essential oils on yourself or your dog, regardless of what type of essential oil you plan to use. On their own, essential oils are extremely strong and can cause chemical burns. Essential oils that have not been diluted can be extremely harmful or even toxic to your dog.

You should never put essential oils directly on your dog, even if they are diluted in a carrier oil. Although diluting these oils helps, they are still far too powerful to be used safely. Furthermore, low-quality essential oils may contain additional substances that are harmful to your dog.

Dogs and Essential Oil Scents

As you have purchased – or will be purchasing an essential oil diffuser and don’t intend to use oils topically but make use of aromatherapy instead, everything should be fine, right? Not quite, if you are a dog parent.

The powerful aroma of essential oils is one of the major drawbacks of using them around dogs. Dogs’ noses contain fifty times the number of olfactory receptors as ours, and their brains devote forty times the amount of space to their sense of smell as ours. Whereas most of us process information largely through sight, dogs process information mostly through smell.

When you put essential oils near a dog, it can completely change their perception of the world. When your dog is navigating without their primary sense, they may become agitated. It’d be like someone placing a large piece of fabric over your face and telling you to go about your business as usual while trying to see through it.

This isn’t to say you can’t use your new essential oil diffuser in the same house or room as your pup, just that you need to keep their enhanced sense of smell in mind when placing your oil diffuser and choosing the essential oils you make use of.

Essential Oils That Pose a Particular Threat to Dogs

Not all essential oils are dangerous to dogs in the same way. Certain oils are more harmful to dogs than others. These oils should be avoided if you plan to utilize an essential oil diffuser in your house.

Tea tree oil, cinnamon oil, and citrus oil are all known to cause vomiting, skin irritation, and other unpleasant effects in dogs. Pennyroyal and wintergreen are both known to cause liver failure in dogs, while ylang-ylang oil can make it difficult for them to breathe. Pine and sweet birch are likewise highly toxic, causing anything from nervous system damage to seizure and death.

Fortunately, certain essential oils are relatively safe to use around dogs. Again, never apply these or any other essential oils directly to their coats, paws, or noses. If you have a dog in the house, however, some oils are fine to use in an oil diffuser.

Copaiba oil can assist boost their immune and nervous systems, while lavender oil can help soothe dogs as well as humans. Frankincense has been shown to enhance your dog’s immune system and digestion. Petitgrain oil may help to soothe agitated dogs, while peppermint oil can make it easier for them to breathe.

essential oilsMaking Use of an Essential Oil Diffuser Around Your Dog Safely

If your dog has any breathing problems, such as asthma, you should avoid using an oil diffuser near them. Some brachiocephalic dog breeds, such as pugs, bulldogs, and Boston terriers, may be more susceptible to breathing problems. Even minor scent changes can make getting enough oxygen difficult for a dog who already has breathing problems.

Make sure your diffuser is out of reach of your pets, regardless of the type of diffuser you’re using. If you plan to use tea tree oil or any of the more toxic oils, keep it in a closed room where your dog won’t be able to get to it. Always measure the amount of oil you apply to avoid overpowering your dog’s sense of smell.

Cleaning your diffuser on a regular basis is also an important component of using it safely. Mold, mildew, and germs can thrive in diffusers that aren’t cleaned regularly. If you then blast this into the room, it could be harmful to both you and your pet’s health.

When you’re done with your diffuser, empty it and wipe it down with a clean rag. Take the bowl out of your diffuser every week or so and give it a gentle clean with dish soap and water. Before reassembling your diffuser, make sure it’s absolutely dry and well rinsed.

What Essential Oils are Safe For Cats?

What Essential Oils are Safe For Cats?

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Essential oils are having a moment, with applications ranging from cleaning and personal care to medical treatment and beyond. You may already be using them in your home. But what about your cat? Do essential oils exist for felines? Is it safe to use oils on, or around, cats? If so, what essential oils are safe for cats? Here’s a look at what you, as a cat parent, should know.

What are Essential Oils Anyway?

Essential oils, such as rose and frankincense, are extracts of plants noted for their fragrant and/or therapeutic characteristics. Aromatherapy is the process of breathing dispersed oil or applying it directly to the skin, such as during a massage.

The aroma particles in essential oils move directly from the olfactory nerves to the brain when inhaled, affecting the amygdala, the brain’s emotional center. Olfactory stimuli cause the amygdala to react. Is a whiff of peppermint energizing to you? That’s aromatherapy in action, and essential oils can help you harness its power.

Using Essential Oils in the Home

Essential oils are more readily available than ever before, thanks to an increase in online retailers and a revived interest in natural health care. Cleaning spray, hand sanitizer, scent, laundry, and skin moisturizers are just a few examples of how people are adopting them into their daily lives.

What do cats have to do with any of this? When you have feline roommates, you want to provide a safe environment for them, which means keeping dangerous things out of reach, such as some essential oils.

Essential Oils That are Toxic For Cats

Essential oils, like common houseplants that are toxic to cats, are dangerous in small doses and even more so when concentrated. The following are some of the common essential oils that can be poisonous to cats:

  • Tea treeessential oils
  • Geranium
  • Cinnamon
  • Clove
  • Eucalyptus
  • Bergamot
  • Lavender
  • Lemon
  • Lime
  • Orange
  • Lemongrass
  • Rose
  • Rosemary
  • Sandalwood
  • Wintergreen
  • Peppermint
  • Spearmint
  • Mint
  • Ylang-ylang

Tea Tree Oil: A Special Note of Caution

In particular, Tea Tree Oil is extremely dangerous to cats, although it is safe for dogs. Never use Tea tree oil on cats. Because the poison in tea tree oil is processed by the liver, and a cat’s liver just can’t handle it. If you have dogs and cats, consult your veterinarian before using tea tree oil on them. Be aware that your cat may consume the tea tree oil while grooming themselves or their dog friends.

Are Any Essential Oils Safe for Cats?

In terms of topical applications, no essential oils are considered safe for cats. There are a few essential oils that can be use topically on dogs. But as the feline and canine bodily systems are very different, they should not be used on cats at all.

Does that mean you can’t have essential oils in your home if cats live there? No, but you do have to be careful and keep certain precautions in mind, as we are going to discuss next.

essential oilsFeline Safe Aromatherapy

The danger of essential oils to cats exists when they ingest them. But, inhaling them from a safe distance can be OK. In fact, some aromatherapy can be as effective for cats as it is for humans.

Aromatherapy is generally helpful to cats if it focuses on calming and relaxing them. It probably won’t put a complete stop to those 3am zoomies – that’s just a cat thing. Some calming scents may help an anxious kitty feel better about their surroundings, or a very hyperactive cat calm down a little.

To this end, Cats, like humans, are comforted by the aroma of lavender, and a blend of lavender, rose, and neroli essential oils creates a fresh, comforting scent that will benefit both you and your cat.

While some essential oils in the citrus family may have calming benefits in humans, this is not the case for cats. In fact, lemon and other citrus fruits are frequently recommended for keeping cats away from certain areas, such as that houseplant you don’t want him to eat. Yes, lemon balm can help you relax, but it won’t help your cat.

Using Essential Oil Diffusers Around Your Cat

As it is imperative that your cat does not have any chance to ingest essential oils. An essential oil diffuser is a safer way to make use of the power of aromatherapy in your home. To avoid any chance of accidental ingestion, choose a diffuser that vaporizes the oils before they are released into the room, rather than one that sprays them.

The good news is that there are lots of such essential oil diffusers available. As long as you make sure they are kept well out of reach of your curious cat. Every cat parent knows how fond cats are of knocking things over – they can be used around your kitty. Adding an oil diffuser to a higher spot they can’t reach can also help the scent spread out throughout the room more efficiently if you are making use of a vaporizing diffuser, as steam rises.

You’ll also need, however, to consider the scent level when you use essential oils around your cat. Because cats are more sensitive to fragrances than their human friends, try using a hydrosol instead of a concentrated essential oil. essential oils

Hydrosols are the distilled water left behind after steaming plants, herbs, fruits, and flowers, and are also known as “flower waters.” If you can’t find a hydrosol you like, try adding a few drops of oil to distilled water to reduce the olfactory impact to your feline friend when the scent is released into the air.

You can spritz a little hydrosol in your cats favorite lounging location or use it as a room fragrance to help her relax. A few drops of essential oil can also be added to a water diffuser for that lighter scent your cat will prefer.

Which Essential Oils are Safe for Dogs?

Which Essential Oils are Safe for Dogs?

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Essential oils can be used to help you do all kinds of things. For waking yourself up in the morning – peppermint oil is great for that. To help you relax and unwind in the evening and even do things like help relieve aches and pains faster. But which Essential Oils are Safe for Dogs?

Lots of pet parents wonder why not extend the benefits to their dogs. As todays society, continues to say no to potentially harmful medicines and investigate holistic healing options? What if a little lavender, instead of an anti-anxiety medicine, might go a long way? Natural essential oils have grown extremely popular in recent years, but can they be used for dogs?

The answer is yes, essential oils can be used to help dogs, but you need to begin doing so with care. Before you start, you will need to make sure you know which essential oils are safe for dogs and other pets like cats. Because their sense of smell is so much stronger than ours, scents (even natural ones) can be harmful to them.

Which Essential Oils are Safe for Dogs in your homeWhat Essential Oils are Safe for Dogs?

There are a number of essential oils considered safe for dogs. Here’s a look at some of the most commonly used of those oils and the benefits they can offer to your pet.

Chamomile Oil

A good seat on the sofa, a comfortable blanket, and a cup of chamomile tea are hard to top. Chamomile has relaxing properties that our pets can benefit from as well.

A popular stress reliever, chamomile has been documented in medicinal books dating back to ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. It has been utilized in humans for a variety of purposes over the centuries, including all the following:

  • Anxiety relief
  • Easing skin conditions like eczema or rashes
  • Pain relief for conditions like back pain, neuralgia, or arthritis
  • Promoting better sleep
  • Easing digestive upset, such as indigestion, nausea, or gas
  • Wound healing, including ulcers and sores

But how can it help your pup? Let’s say you are house-sitting your bestie’s obnoxious chihuahua, and it is causing your own laid-back canine pal some distress. Consider giving him or her a few drops of chamomile oil. It may help them relax and quieten down an unsettled stomach.

Also, if you have adopted a shy or fearful dog, a few drops of chamomile oil may help them learn to mingle better at the dog park and accept their new surroundings with a little more confidence and calm.

Which Essential Oils are Safe for Dogs and catsGinger Essential Oil

The same way that a cup of hot ginger tea, or some ginger essential oil added to a diffuser, can clear our sinuses, or calm our tummies, dogs can benefit from it as well.

It can aid them if they are having stomach issues, and it can also make it easier for them to breathe. Ginger may also be able to aid them with some of their joint problems, especially in older dogs. Your favorite essential oils have many uses, which is true of ginger oil, which can be beneficial to both your dog and you!

Lavender Essential Oil

Of all the essential oils humans make use of and find very beneficial, lavender is probably the most popular and versatile. Like chamomile, it has been used for centuries for a number of holistic medical purposes.

Lavender is a very versatile oil. Anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial qualities have all been attributed to it. As well as antispasmodic, analgesic, detoxifying, hypotensive, and sedative characteristics.

It is often used for its calming and relation properties that it is most helpful for dogs. Lots of dogs suffer from separation anxiety when their owners leave. In some this manifests itself in crying, barking and what seems like anxiety. In others in results in destructive behavior that can be very frustrating for pet owners.

Diffusing lavender oil is a tried and tested way to help ease separation anxiety and keep your pup calmer and happier when you are not there. If you make use of a carrier oil – mixing lavender essential oil with olive oil, for example, you could even apply a few drops behind your dog’s ears. Put it where they cannot lick it off, this may help to provide continuous stress relief until you get home!

What Essential Oils are Safe for Dogs and cats in homesPetitgrain Essential Oil

Petitgrain is a lesser-known essential oil – although it is becoming more popular. It can also be extremely helpful in relieving separation anxiety in dogs and general restlessness. Petitgrain may also do the same for humans, so is an excellent choice for use in an essential oil diffuser.

Citrus aurantium, the bitter orange tree, produces petitgrain oil. The bitter orange tree was brought to Paraguay in the 19th century from Southern China, and it today thrives in this part of the world. Three essential oils are produced by the bitter orange tree. Petitgrain oil is steam distilled from the tree’s twigs and leaves, yielding a pleasant, flowery, and herbaceous essential oil.

Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary is a culinary herb that comes from the mint family and has been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. This essential oil has a woodsy scent and is a popular aromatherapy ingredient. Rosemary oil has a wide range of applications, from treating ailments and pains like headaches and joint pain to encouraging hair growth, making it a useful household item to have on hand to help both you and your dog!

Myrrh Essential Oil

This oil has often been shown to aid dogs with skin irritations. Myrrh is a fantastic cleanser since it possesses antibacterial as well as astringent characteristics. Mixed it in equal parts with a carrier oil like olive oil. It may help clear up inflamed skin areas from skin allergies or even after a nasty nettle sting at the dog park.

Essential Oils for Dogs cats and animals