Lavender oil in cpap?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
healthychioces
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 1:14 pm

Lavender oil in cpap?

Post by healthychioces » Sat Apr 18, 2015 5:44 pm

Has anyone ever used lavender oil in their cpap humidifier?

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63941
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: Lavender oil in cpap?

Post by Pugsy » Sat Apr 18, 2015 5:51 pm

I have used lots of various essential oils but never in the humidifier water.
I put the oil on something (like a cotton ball) on a little dish or something right behind the air intake on the machine and I can then adjust the level of intensity of the aroma...sometimes I put too much on the cotton ball or if I am using the Pur Sleep discs..too much on the disc.

I have never put oil in the water...doing that has always been a big no no but even if it wasn't a no no and wouldn't/couldn't hurt you or the machine...the oil would make cleaning the inside of the water chamber more work and I never do more work than I just have to.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

User avatar
Drowsy Dancer
Posts: 1271
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:35 am
Location: here

Re: Lavender oil in cpap?

Post by Drowsy Dancer » Sat Apr 18, 2015 5:54 pm

Not a healthy choice.

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: Swift™ FX Bella Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgears
Additional Comments: Software: SleepyHead. Pressure: APAP 9.5 min/11 max, A-Flex x2
How we squander our hours of pain. -- Rilke

healthychioces
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 1:14 pm

Re: Lavender oil in cpap?

Post by healthychioces » Sat Apr 18, 2015 5:56 pm

I read that someone does this so I thought I would ask your opinions. Thank you for your responses.

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63941
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: Lavender oil in cpap?

Post by Pugsy » Sat Apr 18, 2015 6:08 pm

From what I understand scientifically about the ability of the water vapors that constitute the moisture in the air that goes from the humidifier....I don't see how the oil could hitch a ride on those water vapor molecules or whatever but this is one thing that I wouldn't want to risk...inhaling any sort of oil into my nose/lungs or whatever.
We have always been told....don't add oil to the water in the humidifier chamber.
I take a lot of risks but this is one I would never take...it's potentially very harmful to the body and there's simply no need to take the risk...putting the oil near the air intake accomplishes the same goal and can't hurt a person.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

User avatar
msla
Posts: 520
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 2:10 pm

Re: Lavender oil in cpap?

Post by msla » Sat Apr 18, 2015 6:28 pm

They have an odor. That means that they are volatile organic molecules. They are not "attached" to the water molecule. I do not know that I would want to inhale various organics into my lungs.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ N20 Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: ResScan 3.11; The pink air is the same as the gray air.

User avatar
chunkyfrog
Posts: 34377
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: Lavender oil in cpap?

Post by chunkyfrog » Sat Apr 18, 2015 6:50 pm

When the scent is movable, the intensity can be adjusted simply by moving the cotton ball.
If oil is in the tank, and it is too strong, you will be up in the middle of the night, scrubbing and cussing.
Good luck with that.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her

User avatar
Goofproof
Posts: 16087
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2005 3:16 pm
Location: Central Indiana, USA

Re: Lavender oil in cpap?

Post by Goofproof » Sat Apr 18, 2015 8:32 pm

Despite the problems stated here, oil is lighter than water and makes a film that floats on water, making the humidifier less able to do it's job. With added Pure O2, it would be a fire Hazard too. Only use water in a HH period. Jim
Use data to optimize your xPAP treatment!

"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." Voltaire

User avatar
Gasper62
Posts: 982
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2015 1:22 pm
Location: Central Maryland

Re: Lavender oil in cpap?

Post by Gasper62 » Sat Apr 18, 2015 8:42 pm

Learned about the dangers of oil in air back in the 1970s during SCUBA courses. (worn compressors filling air tanks with oil vapors is very bad !) Lipoid pneumonia info- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipid_pneumonia - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21128754

User avatar
kteague
Posts: 7768
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 8:30 pm
Location: West and Midwest

Re: Lavender oil in cpap?

Post by kteague » Sun Apr 19, 2015 3:42 am

Goofproof wrote:Despite the problems stated here, oil is lighter than water and makes a film that floats on water, making the humidifier less able to do it's job. With added Pure O2, it would be a fire Hazard too. Only use water in a HH period. Jim
Two points I hadn't thought about. Thanks for adding those.

_________________
Mask: TAP PAP Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Improved Stability Mouthpiece
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Bleep/DreamPort for full nights, Tap Pap for shorter sessions

EOre

Re: Lavender oil in cpap?

Post by EOre » Sun Apr 19, 2015 4:06 am

My wife and I use Lavender EO to help get to sleep every night, and although we have ultrasonic EO diffusers, we find the most effective way is a single drop or two on the sheet between our pillows. I believe a single drop on a cotton ball a foot or so away from the CPAP intake would work the same.

The plastic in purpose-built EO diffusers is selected for its ability to hold up in contact with EOs. Clear polycarbonate plastic can crack or even melt in contact with some EOs, as some have found when trying to use room humidifiers as diffusers. Good EO diffusers also use ultrasonic transducers to turn the water and oil floating on it into mist, rather than heat, which can cause the oils to break down. Your CPAP humidifier is the wrong tool for diffusing EOs.

healthychioces
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 1:14 pm

Re: Lavender oil in cpap?

Post by healthychioces » Sun Apr 19, 2015 6:14 pm

Thanks for all the wise advice. I will not use lavender oil in my humidifier. This is a very unhealthy choice.

ImaginaryHobbes78
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Mar 23, 2015 5:57 pm
Location: Missouri

Re: Lavender oil in cpap?

Post by ImaginaryHobbes78 » Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:27 pm

I keep a small dish full of menthol crystals right near the intake vent. It really seems to help keep my nasal passages open through the night as well as helping me breathe better the next morning.