[CPAP] essential oils in the water tub

[lewisag]

Dear Forum what is the general feeling about a couple of drops of (say) eucalptyus oil in the water tyb to act as a decongestant?

[k_ogre]

Not a good thing to do

[DariaVader]

Definitely no EO in the tub - but you can put a drop onto a diffuser pad (cotton ball) and have it near the intake. Personally I find it irritating. When stuffy I have successfully put a dab of Vicks vapo-rub on the counter top behind the machine and cleared my nose, but it makes my eyes burn a little so I avoid that too.

I find that cpap really magnifies smells. Son was at the house and cooking at 1am - smells woke me and lingered long after the house was less smelly. Dog farts are heinous, as is spousal "bear breath." If I am going to successfully use any aromatherapy with the cpap it will have to be in minute amounts, and in anycase that is my advice

[justMongo]

Dog farts are heinous, as is spousal "bear breath."
That's a comparison for the record books!

EO near the intake is a no-go also. One cannot tell what the effect would be on the machine sensors.

With my FFM, I have put a little Vick's on my upper lip. I seems to work; but, I think it should not be used long term.

[trish6hundred]

Hi lewisag,
I wouldn't recommend putting essential oils in the water chamber because, over time, they can make things sticky.
You could put some on a cotton ball and put it by where the filter goes into your machine but you still have to be careful.

[truetopath]

You don't want oils to vaporize and be inhaled into the lungs, so putting any oil in the humidifier tub is a huge no no. I will use aromatherapy with my cpap and put say a drop of oil on the diffuser pad and put it about 6-8 inches away from the intake and it isn't overpowering at all. Just remember a drop will do it.

[TyroneShoes]

...

EO near the intake is a no-go also. One cannot tell what the effect would be on the machine sensors...

Since the machine sensors have no connection to the chemical makeup of what is in the tank or what is in the IPAP, or the intake, I think we can easily tell that there would be no effect at all.

If these oils were in reality "essential", doesn't that imply that everyone should have them all the time? Crankcase oil is essential. Not much else.

[justMongo]

Since the machine sensors have no connection to the chemical makeup of what is in the tank or what is in the IPAP, or the intake, I think we can easily tell that there would be no effect at all.

You gum up those sensors and all bets are off. It's like having a dirty MAF sensor on your fuel injected car.

Where did you go to engineering school?

[DariaVader]

Dog farts are heinous, as is spousal "bear breath."
That's a comparison for the record books!

Liked that, did ya?

when someone is a mouth breather, and that someone has big lungs and stinky guts, I assure you, it is appropos! an entire room can be filled with that fug, I kid you not! (Thank God he never reads anything in a forum - bahahahaha I can say what I want)

[eseedhouse]

If these oils were in reality "essential", doesn't that imply that everyone should have them all the time? Crankcase oil is essential. Not much else.

The word "essential", like most words, doesn't have just one meaning.
In this case "essential" is used in the sense of "contains the 'essence' of the plant's fragrance".

Never tried them myself and have no plans to start...