Team Oils Made Simple successfully hosted a 3 day Ditch the Candles Challenge over on facebook! It was a huge success, but several people wanted it in writing to refer back to. We got you all covered!
Have you ever wondered what exactly diffusing is and what benefits diffusing offers? Diffusing breaks down the essential oils and disperses them into a micro-fine vapor into the air.
Why is that important!?
“The breaking down of the essential oils into the micro-fine vapor allows you to inhale the molecules, which then travel up the nostrils to the center of the olfactory sensation and work directly with the limbic system to trigger a number of desired responses in the body and heighten the senses.” Taylor Quigg
Diffusing supports a multitude of goals but the two primary reasons to diffuse are: 1) to reduce air microbes (think wellness) 2) alter mood and emotion (relax, unwind, get outta that funky mood, and more)!
What do you/would you like to benefit from diffusing essential oils?
The Limbic system is in your brain, it is the emotional command center. It’s job is to handle emotions, behavior, hormonal function, motivation, memory, sexual function and libido.
Your Limbic System is directly connected to your sense of smell. Let me explain. It is made up of the Hippocampus which controls memory, the Amyglada with is where emotions are processed, and the thalmus. The Thalmus relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex (this is where it is determined if the sensation is delivered to the Hippocampus or Amyglada). By sensory information I mean what you see or feel, that’s where things get interesting-- scent is the only one of your senses that skips this step. As soon as you smell something it travels to either the Hippocampus or the Amyglada immediately. That is why doctors tell you your scent and memory are directly related, because they are!
GUYS THE SECOND YOU SMELL SOMETHING THE 1ST TIME YOU ARE FORMING A MEMORY ASSOCIATED WITH THE SCENT. This is why baby is comforted by the smell of mom before ever opening his or her eyes. And when baby isn't going to sleep experts say have the “stranger” wear something of mom’s to comfort him/her.
Is there really any danger in using candles? Yes!
But why? Because of chemicals....like fragrance. Fragrance has been linked to respiratory issues, difficulty breathing, inflammation, nausea, sinus problems, migraines, and more.
What is fragrance? Fragrance in candles means up to 3,000 unknown chemicals allowed by the FDA for the use of personal care products that can be labeled for “trade secret”. Did you catch that? "Unknown chemicals"!
And what is worse is that many of the "known" fragrance ingredients "are known to cause serious health problems such as cancer, respiratory difficulty, and hormone imbalances". (Eric Zielinski, DC)
“A study by scientists at Copenhagen University conducted on mice found exposure to particles from burning candles to cause greater damage than the same dose of diesel exhaust fumes. The harmful effects of candle smoke included lung inflammation and toxicity, arteriosclerosis, and aging effects on chromosomes in the lungs and spleen.” (M. Greer)
What does this mean?
Well, toxicity means poisonous. No thank you! Arteriosclerosis is the hardening of the walls of your arteries. Arteries are the passages in your body that transport oxygenated blood from your lungs and heart to the rest of your body. Aging effects mean that your 30 year old lungs are working like an 80 year old lungs, with age comes decay.
Candles are filled with dangerous, toxic chemicals that pollute the air. I’m going to share the top three concerning chemicals beyond fragrance;
Phthalates: Endocrine disrupting the results in: Birth defects ASTHMA Diabetes Cancer, specifically kidney and lung cancer
Formaldehyde: Linked to liver problems Hormone disrupting Allergen Carcinogen Used to embalm dead bodies
Toluene: this is toxic to your immune system
Beware of paraffin candles. Some forms of paraffin release fumes that are just as toxic to the body and the air as the fumes found in diesel fuel. According to the CDC, chemicals in paraffin candles are linked to irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory system and can also cause nausea. Chemicals in paraffin can also cause headaches.
If you insist on burning candles, look for paper, wood, or cotton wick and candles made from soy or beeswax. And limit your exposure to minimize smoke intake.
This is why diffusing is so much better for you. You experience the benefits of essential oils without experiencing all these unhealthy side effects!
Ready to ditch those candles yet?
Anything that releases smoke decreases air quality, whether it be burnt toast or a scented candle. The main culprits behind the health risk in scented candle smoke are particulate matter, VOC (volatile organic compounds) and lead. Lead should be a lesser concern now since it was banned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2000.
Air pollution can cause both short term and long term effects on health and many people are concerned about pollution in the air that they breathe.
Poor air quality is responsible for an estimated 60,000 premature deaths in the United States each year. Costs from air pollution-related illness are estimated at $150 billion per year. The goal of the U.S. air quality program is to provide ozone, particulate matter and other pollutant forecasts the public can use to limit the harmful effects of poor air quality.
Kerri's Candle Story is one of my all time favorites so I asked if she would share with you!
She says;
"If you look around my house, the only candles you'll see are for decorative purposes only. Candles were the first thing I ditched after I started using Young Living oils.
Now let me say, it was not a planned ditch and switch. This girl loved her candles! I used them every day! On weekends all day! Every time I went to some of my favorite stores I'd hit the candle section. So why did I give the candles the boot? Here's how it happened.
Once I got my starter kit (that included the diffuser), I started experimenting with different blends. After a week or so of using my oils, I decided to use some of my candles. I mean, I had tons of them to use! It wasn't until I used the candles again that I realized something had been different. During that week of using the diffuser only, I did not get my daily headaches and stuffiness and my daughter wasn't walking around constantly sneezing with stuffiness. When I used the candles again the headaches, sneezing, and stuffiness started again. It was an aha moment. It never occurred to me that all the fragrances and chemicals in candles were aggravating us so much! And to top it off, I was constantly taking something to get rid of the headaches caused by those fragrances!
So...the candles got kicked to the curb!" - Kerri Pickett
I also shared my story in the challenge and want to share it here with you too! "Here’s the deal, I never noticed the head tension from candles and I never had any obvious respiratory ailments- I’m one of the lucky few. Or maybe, unlucky.... because candles were causing issues I wasn’t even aware of!!! That’s the things about neurotoxins and endocrine disrupters, we don’t visibly see the effects on our bodies. Fragrance is KNOWN to be an umbrella term protecting these types of ingredients.
Things that are noticeable since making the switch per my husband, “well, we haven’t spent like $700 on candles this year.” I think he’s being dramatic, but I also know our budget is thanking us for making the switch! He also threw out there, “& our house smells just as good!” Y’all, all the oily wives say "PRAISE"
I'm sure you're asking yourself if you decide to ditch the candles how you will ever learn to love diffusing just as much. I am here to tell you, girlfriend not only will you love them, your health will benefit!
I can benefit from diffusing essential oils? YES!!
Here are some of the benefits:
Wellness. Eliminate odors by removing smells without resorting to synthetic fresheners. They aid with emotional support (calming, uplifting). Help improve concentration, mental clarity and focus. They help relax the mind & body, relieve tension, anxiety and stress. They help control fatigue - both mental and physical and help increase energy. Help improve sleep. Provide immune system support. Helps purify the air. Helps improve respiratory health. Provides respiratory support. A safe alternative to burning candles....no toxins!!
And more...
Plus, diffusing is super simple.
1. Add room temperature water up to the fill line in the diffuser.
2. Then, add 6 drops of your favorite Young Living Oils directly into the diffuser.
3. Turn on and enjoy for however long you wish (each diffuser has a timer with different options).
Savings of 16-26 dollars
There are so many options when it comes to diffusing. The Premium Starter Kit (PSK) alone comes with 12 oils so just think of all you can do! And just a side note, you can diffuse one oil alone or make blends. Whatever you want!
Here are some PSK blend examples:
Focus 3 drops Valor 3 drops Peppermint
Sniffles 2 drops Raven 2 drops Thieves
Unwind (we call it Mama Breathe) 3 drops Lavender 3 drops Stress Away
Goodnight 4 drops Lavender 3 drops Peace & Calming
Be Well 3 drops Lemon 3 drops Thieves
Wake Up 3 drops Citrus Fresh 3 drops Peppermint
Calming 3 drops Lavender 2 drops Frankincense 3 drops Stress Away
Fearless 3 drops Valor 3 drops Citrus Fresh
So many more!
Ready to get started? Join our Facebook group and don't miss any upcoming challenges or insider deals, tips, or tricks!
In Health,
Kenzie Byrd
Kenzie Byrd
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