Eucalyptus Oil in Humidifier for Sinus cure

[palerider]

I have soaked it with vinegar/water and cannot remove it.

dawn dishwashing liquid to cut the oil should work better than vinegar.

also possibly alcohol, the higher percentage the better.

or simple green degreaser.

[chunkyfrog]

The gasket will retain oil and odor long after the hard surfaces are clean.
If you cannot get a replacement gasket, consider a new tank.

[49er]

I started using Neilmed Nasogel for my dry sinus issues after my DME said the other hospital in town recommended for their patients. Works great for me, lots better than saline spray. Good luck!

Thanks, this has been suggested to me before and for some reason, I keep forgetting about it. Hopefully, I will remember today and give it a shot.

49er

[AlanIn AZ]

I know this is a very old thread - anyway I have not used Eucalyptus oil directly but I have used Olbas Oil* for many years as a decongestant with good effect. Breathing the vapors from a cloth/tissue sprinkled with a few drops or a few drops on your pillow/night clothing is the traditional method. I took to re-purposing old Vicks inhalers (opening up and dropping a few drops of olbas oil on the sponge medium) and this worked great for a portable nasal relief. Now Olbas makes these inhalers directly (exactly the same).

With my Resmed CPAP machine I started adding a drop or 2 of liquid oil onto the intake filter medium and got great results from this - the only thing that enters the CPAP is the vapor - no liquid oil. I have done this for years with no ill effects to the CPAP or the humidifer tank. Usually 1-2 small drops is sufficient for the night. I don't use it all the time - but when I have any nasal congestion I may use it every night for a week or more. For me this is maybe ~10 times a year - quite a bit.

*I think Olbas oil is excellent - for me almost a miracle for nasal congestion and allergic reactions - seems to help my lungs settle down too. If you haven't tried it I recommend you do, a strong distinctive smell - I find it pleasant but not all do. Ingredients listed are essential oils: Cajuput, Clove, Eucalyptus, Juniperberry, Levomenthol, Peppermint, Methyl Salicylate. Not a new product by any means - it is made in Basel, Switzerland and has been in use as a naturally sourced remedy for over 100 years . Worth a try - just buy some more filters. Check details and other's experiences on the web - relatively inexpensive and relatively easily sourced (sprouts/whole foods/amazon etc). A bottle lasts a very long time - the inhalers not so long.

Alan

[chunkyfrog]

Not sure if the preceding post is spam or not.
The product is Swiss, marketed since 1916.
The variety of oils is various enough to be a concern.
Patent medicine over a hundred years old--not a lot of confidence.
Aromatherapy oils can be bought from our hosts, cpap.com.

[Guest]

I put one drop of eucalyptus radiata essential oil on a piece of paper I cut the square piece of paper with one drop of oil and put it in my CPAP humidifier and I've been doing so for 3 months and appears to be working well

[AlanIn AZ]

Does it really sound like SPAM to you? Really?

I have used Olbas oil for decades - found it in the UK when I lived there used it long before I was ever diagnosed with COPD. It was not so easily available here in the USA until the last ~10 years - but now it is. Before you doubt it too much or put others off - just actually read up on it - there are some examples of adverse effects (especially its seems with children) - but only if the oil is actually bodily ingested somehow.

Based on the strength of the smell I'd expect most rational adults (and most smart kids) to realize this is not an eye dropper or anything you'd want to drip in your nose - but of course 'kids are kids', if you did either it would instantly sting like hell... In any case even just using the traditional method of dropping it onto a handkerchief it can end up with a slight burning sensation in your eyes or nose due to the close proximity to the actual liquid oil. So filtering it through the CPAP actually ensures less eye fatigue in use and causes better distribution before it gets to you sinuses.

If you need it - I'd assume like me it would be for occasional acute nasal symptoms - not for a chronic condition (though I don't know its ruled out there for sure). If you suffer from occasional acute congestion issues than why not try it out - if not on the CPAP filter medium then just try an inhaler to see if you get any benefit from it. Many do - some don't, some just hate the smell. It's cheap and easy so why not try, not much to lose. I have no vested interest except that it works well for me (I am not Swiss! and I have no interest in the company). The inhaler version is available at Walgreens and Walmart for ~$4.99 - I have no interest in those companies either - at that price nobody is getting ripped off - its much cheaper than a Vicks inhaler for example.

Alan

[chunkyfrog]

The problem with adding anything to the humidifier tank is that if it is too strong,
you are up in the middle of the night, scrubbing the tank until the smell is gone. Been there! Not fun.
Far better to put an oil on something that can be moved farther away until the scent is tolerable.
I had never heard of Olbas oil before, so am hesitant to endorse an unknown product.

[AlanIn AZ]

The problem with adding anything to the humidifier tank is that if it is too strong, you are up in the middle of the night, scrubbing the tank until the smell is gone. Been there! Not fun. Far better to put an oil on something that can be moved farther away until the scent is tolerable.

I specifically said to only put it on the filter medium or try an inhaler. Doing it this way nothing gets in the tank - with my machine anyway after years of use (I'd suspect with all machines). If it's too much swap the filter for a new one - easy - just a few seconds - no scrubbing.

I had never heard of Olbas oil before, so am hesitant to endorse an unknown product.

It seemed to me more like you were actually unendorsing an unknown (to you) product - isn't that as bad?

Olbas oil has been used for ~100 years but you equate that as a negative somehow? to me that speaks to long term customer demand. That it is internationally distributed by the likes of Walmart/Walgreens says its also now a high volume broad market product too.

Anyway - I am real and the product is worth a try if you have that specific need.

Alan

[Cpapian]

I have an outlier opinion......if you wouldn't drink it, why would you want to breathe it.

[AlanIn AZ]

I have an outlier opinion......if you wouldn't drink it, why would you want to breathe it.

This is getting a bit weird, maybe we all just need more air?

I do drink wine but I'm pretty sure I'd regret breathing it in - but worse than that I don't deliberately drink air - so am I just totally screwed

If you had COPD and also occasional really bad nasal congestion you'd just self select to try this - that you can't imagine doing so suggests you are lucky to have one less cause for night time misery.

Alan

[Cpapian]

Alanin AZ sorry, I did not intend to offend. My apologies.

[AlanIn AZ]

Alanin AZ sorry, I did not intend to offend. My apologies.

No problem! I don't get offended easily - just surprised sometimes. I'm new here - so maybe I don't get how the forum works yet.

I do understand there is a good degree of concern that people not try out anything dangerous to their health (or damage an expensive machine), but sharing experimental results of things that have worked (for at least some people) is important for everyone to know what options they can consider.

Trying to use a CPAP machine with heavily congested or runny/drippy sinuses is no fun at all - and for me (perhaps strangely?) this product has helped with both cases. I've used it long enough before & with CPAP to know I have experienced no real detrimental results from it - just more sleep

Alan

[phuqueutoo]

CPAP dot COM has a little attachment you put in the tubing where it connects to the short mask line. It has a little insert that you can put a drop or 2 of Eucalyptus oil (or other oil) on, and it works great.

[phuqueutoo]

Alanin AZ sorry, I did not intend to offend. My apologies.

No problem! I don't get offended easily - just surprised sometimes. I'm new here - so maybe I don't get how the forum works yet.

I do understand there is a good degree of concern that people not try out anything dangerous to their health (or damage an expensive machine), but sharing experimental results of things that have worked (for at least some people) is important for everyone to know what options they can consider.

Trying to use a CPAP machine with heavily congested or runny/drippy sinuses is no fun at all - and for me (perhaps strangely?) this product has helped with both cases. I've used it long enough before & with CPAP to know I have experienced no real detrimental results from it - just more sleep

Alan

Wow, don't even need xxyzx to get smartass, rude, patronizing and downright nasty answers on this forum