The ultrasonic ionizer is a type of aromatherapy diffuser that breaks essential oils into very small particles which proponents believe deliver a more effective dose of essential oil than other diffusers are capable of providing. However, these devices are considerably more expensive than many other types of diffusers. Whether they are worth the extra cost is open to debate. Exactly how aromatherapy works is poorly understood, and more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness.
What Aromatherapy Is
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils extracted from plants for healing. Although often inhaled, essential oils may also be massaged into the skin. Essential oils have been used therapeutically for thousands of years and were well known among the ancient Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans.
Uses of Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is used in a variety of settings, including health spas and hospitals, to relieve pain, improve mood and promote relaxation. Premenstrual tension, indigestion, constipation, insomnia and headaches are among the specific conditions that aromatherapy may help alleviate.
Cautions
Pregnant women, people with severe asthma and those with a history of allergies should avoid all essential oils. People with a history of seizures, high blood pressure, or estrogen-dependent cancers such as breast or ovarian cancer should avoid specific essential oils, so it is a good idea to consult with a medical professional before trying aromatherapy.
Diffusers
Diffusion is the process of dispersing essential oils so that their aromas fill a room or area. This can be done in a number of ways. Products that can be used in the process include lamp rings, clay pot diffusers and electric heat diffusers, all of which use heat to disperse aroma into the air. Nebulizers are diffusers that break the essential oils into separate molecules before dispersing them. Some people believe that nebulizers are more therapeutic than other diffusers because they break the oils down into smaller molecules. However, most nebulizers have a glass part that is breakable and expensive to replace; cleaning it between uses of different oils is time consuming; and certain oils are too thick to use in it. Ultrasonic ionizers are one type of nebulizer.
Ultrasonic Ionizers
An ultrasonic ionizer is a nebulizer that uses a plastic rather than glass cup and is designed in such a way that thicker oils may be used. Ultrasonic ionizers distribute the essential oil via ultrasonic vibrations -- 2.5 million vibrations per second -- which break the oil into micro-particles. Websites selling ultrasonic ionizers claim that these particles are more easily absorbed by the lungs for a greater therapeutic effect.
Effectiveness
The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy reports that nebulizers probably are not more effective than other diffusers in spite of the "hype" found on the websites selling them. The low concentrations of essential oils dispersed by other, less expensive diffusers produce the desired effect in most instances.
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