Diabetes Talking

Question:

When a person has an episode of sleep apnea, their air passages close up on them during sleep. Air gets blocked off, and the person has to wake up for a moment to recover from it. That’s how I understand it anyway. I was diagnosed as having severe sleep apnea a month ago and am now using a CPAP machine. My sleep doctors isn’t all that conversational and usually just hands me brochures rather than answer questions. I was wondering if I put just a drop of menthol or eucalyptus oil in the humidifier for my CPAP machine, would that improve things even greater?

Response:

This is a horrible idea.  Nothing beats clean fresh air.  Why deliberately pollute the air you are breathing? — Glenn

Response:

Mace Windu wrote: > I was wondering if I put just a drop of menthol or eucalyptus oil in > the humidifier for my CPAP machine, would that improve things even > greater?

As someone who has done some studying of aromatherapy, drops like that are only supposed to be diffused into the air for 5-20 minutes at the most. Anything more than that could make you sick. I don’t think it’s a good idea to sleep all night with it blowing at you.

Response:

"Mace Windu" <mace-wi…@excite.com> wrote in message

news:c4i2fukgqfe009q8o5m8r5j8v1tgd9an1d@4ax.com… > When a person has an episode of sleep apnea, their air passages close > up on them during sleep. Air gets blocked off, and the person has to > wake up for a moment to recover from it. That’s how I understand it > anyway. I was diagnosed as having severe sleep apnea a month ago and > am now using a CPAP machine. My sleep doctors isn’t all that > conversational and usually just hands me brochures rather than answer > questions. > I was wondering if I put just a drop of menthol or eucalyptus oil in > the humidifier for my CPAP machine, would that improve things even > greater?

While not saying they are wrong in your diagnosis, I *AM* saying that you should be finding someone else to look after your sleep apnea and you. This person doesn’t seem to care so is more likely to let you down. Eucalyptus, as you are likely aware, came from here in Australia originally. I have to say to you that some people are allergic to it and while you may show no signs normally, continued use of it may show it up. If you become allergic to it and it starts to make your mouth or throat swell, you are going to be a lot worse off. For that reason I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Regards, Greg.

Response:

"Shena Delian O’Brien" <sh…@darklock.com> wrote in message news:3CF1524B.4010604@darklock.com… > Mace Windu wrote: > > I was wondering if I put just a drop of menthol or eucalyptus oil in > > the humidifier for my CPAP machine, would that improve things even > > greater? > As someone who has done some studying of aromatherapy, drops like that > are only supposed to be diffused into the air for 5-20 minutes at the > most. Anything more than that could make you sick. I don’t think it’s a > good idea to sleep all night with it blowing at you.

Actually, there’s a VERY good idea. Get an electric "burner" and drop a few drops into the water of that appliance. Let it work naturally that way. Very good idea! Regards, Greg.

Response:

"gaj" <num…@usjet.net> wrote in message

news:3CF1529C.D90505D2@usjet.net… > This is a horrible idea.  Nothing beats clean fresh air.  Why > deliberately pollute the air you are breathing?

Actually, it depends on what you mean by pollute. Smells are the strongest link to memory and if a certain smell makes you relax more, then you are more likely to go to sleep more quickly, disregarding the quality of that sleep though. I have never liked incense burning before but recently I found these small cones that looked like they were tiny little cone shaped cigars and for fun I bought the orange scented ones. As luck would have it, that particular scent produces a smell like fireworks after they have gone off for reasons I cant identify. Other scented cones from the same maker don’t do this. I found I was so relaxed all the time when burning them and when I identified the smell it makes, it made sense to me. It reminded me of good times when a young boy with fireworks! Thus, I relaxed easier, went to sleep easier. Regards, Greg.

Response:

gregh wrote: > Actually, there’s a VERY good idea. Get an electric "burner" and drop a few > drops into the water of that appliance. Let it work naturally that way. Very > good idea!

As long as it’s a burner with a timer that goes off after 5-20 minutes. Leaving it on all night *will* make you sick even if you aren’t allergic. Menthol and eucalyptus are very potent.

Response:

"gregh" <s…@abuse.someone.else> wrote in message

news:pUcI8.708$3t6.37386@ozemail.com.au… > Actually, there’s a VERY good idea. Get an electric "burner" and drop a few > drops into the water of that appliance. Let it work naturally that way. Very > good idea! > Regards, Greg.

but DON’T put anything in the humidifier that comes with your CPAP

Response:

On Sun, 26 May 2002 16:24:44 -0500, gaj <num…@usjet.net> wrote: >This is a horrible idea.  Nothing beats clean fresh air.  Why >deliberately pollute the air you are breathing?

I tried it once.  It ranks right up there among the Top Ten Stupid things I have done to myself.  I ended up that morning with a pounding sick headache and had to throw away the humidififer tank because I couldn’t get the residual smell out of it. Sure, do it.  You’ll only do it once.

Response:

Mace Windu wrote: > I was wondering if I put just a drop of menthol or eucalyptus oil in > the humidifier for my CPAP machine, would that improve things even > greater?

This article is about a baby but it will make you think about such things being good. Sorry about the length, a copy & paste from several years ago – Vicks VapoRub Causes Liver Problems in Toddler Avoid camphor-containing products for any child under 2  By Neil Sherman  HealthSCOUT Reporter  THURSDAY, June 15 (HealthSCOUT) — Grandma may have  rubbed Vicks VapoRub on your chest when you were a  child, but don’t rub it, or any other product containing  camphor, on your own toddler.  Doctors from the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics  say that a 2-month old girl developed liver trouble after  her mother rubbed generous amounts of Vicks VapoRub on  her neck and chest for five days. The infant’s liver returned  to normal after the mother stopped rubbing on the popular  cold remedy.  "Basically, camphor [the active ingredient in Vicks  VapoRub] is a poison if it is ingested," says Dr. Warren  Bishop, director of pediatric gastroenterology at the  University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City. "It  smells good, it makes your skin warm whenever you rub it  in, but it really has no efficacy whatsoever. But it has been  reported that camphor causes death of liver cells, and that  can lead to death if a product containing camphor is  eaten."  The little girl was brought to a local hospital because her  mother noticed a swelling in the child’s groin. After  discovering the child was malnourished because her mother  was incorrectly diluting her formula, the child was admitted  to the hospital. A spate of tests revealed her liver was not  working right.  Upon questioning, the child’s mother recalled applying  Vicks VapoRub to the baby’s chest and neck, three times a  day for five days. Doctors instructed the mother not to  apply the cold medicine again until after the child was 2.  The baby’s liver returned to normal on its own, once the  Vicks was discontinued.  "The child had camphor poisoning through the skin," Bishop  says. "Babies have relatively thin skin and a relatively  large surface area with respect to their total weight, so it  is a lot easier to get a toxic dose." The case study was  reported in the June issue of Southern Medical Journal.  Procter & Gamble, the manufacturer of Vicks VapoRub,  says the product contains camphor, menthol and  eucalyptus oil and should be inhaled to relieve the stuffy  nose and coughing due to colds, according to the Vicks  Products Web site.  Procter & Gamble warns that the product should only be  used externally, should not be put up the nose, should not  be heated and should not be used on children under 2  without consulting a doctor.  Repeated attempts to contact Procter & Gamble were  unsuccessful.  Bishop says the case study is a big reminder to parents  and doctors about the danger of camphor, particularly in  infants. "While we have never seen a case like this, it has  been reported in the medical literature. If parents are  contemplating using an over-the-counter medication, they  should think very carefully about it, particularly in infants.  "Babies are much more susceptible to side effects from  lots of over-the counter preparations," he warns. — Bob Gootee When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. news.newusers.questions Moderation Team Worker news:news.newusers.questions

Response:

"Shena Delian O’Brien" <sh…@darklock.com> wrote in message news:3CF15B50.7050806@darklock.com… > gregh wrote: > > Actually, there’s a VERY good idea. Get an electric "burner" and drop a few > > drops into the water of that appliance. Let it work naturally that way. Very > > good idea! > As long as it’s a burner with a timer that goes off after 5-20 minutes. > Leaving it on all night *will* make you sick even if you aren’t > allergic. Menthol and eucalyptus are very potent.

I have an electric burner and also an electric timer! No prob! ;-} Regards, Greg.

Response:

"Tiger Lily" <TigerL…@nospam.alt-support-diabetes.org> wrote in message

news:p%eI8.12291$PM1.554643@news2.telusplanet.net… > "gregh" <s…@abuse.someone.else> wrote in message > news:pUcI8.708$3t6.37386@ozemail.com.au… > > Actually, there’s a VERY good idea. Get an electric "burner" and drop a > few > > drops into the water of that appliance. Let it work naturally that way. > Very > > good idea! > > Regards, Greg. > but DON’T put anything in the humidifier that comes with your CPAP

Ya…..that’s why I said it the way I did! ;-} Regards, Greg.

Response:

Mace Windu <mace-wi…@excite.com> wrote in message >

..snip… > I was wondering if I put just a drop of menthol or eucalyptus oil in > the humidifier for my CPAP machine, would that improve things even > greater?

No. Some plastics will react with the "oils" or carriers. A little bit is fine. Try an aromatherapy device. We like the T pot candles where you put a few drops in water in the top part. The flickering light is nice. My other way, when I have a blocked nose or cold, is to rub a little bit onto my nose.

Response:

The long and short answer is NOOOOOOOOOOOO, and NO! Look at the instructions for your humidifier.  I’ll bet you a $10 bill to a hole in a donut they say NOT to put anything in the humidifier but WATER. And, the instruction on any room humidifier also say NOT to put anything in the humidifier but water.  Also, the instructions on any container of menthol or eucalyptus should tell you not to add it to a humidifier.  Not to mention the fact that neither menthol or eucalyptus are effective to open airways that close because of sleep apnea.  You CPAP machine is designed to do that, and additives are not helpful with that dynamic. Breathing menthol and/or eucalyptus fumes fore more than a few minutes are NOT recommended. I just looked at a jar of Vicks Vapo Rub, which contains both menthol (2.6%) and eucalyptus (1.2%), and camphor (4.8%).  The warning says "Do not heat. Never expose Vapo Rub to flame, microwave, or place in any container in which you are heating water.  Such improper use may cause the mixture to splatter"  That pretty much knocks out your humidifier.  If you’re going to use it, rub it on your chest, but that won’t help much when you have your mask on.  I suggest you discuss it with your doctor, and see if s/he will prescribe Flonase.  That’s what I use, and it works wonders.  OTC decongestants are not recommended. Chris "Mace Windu" <mace-wi…@excite.com> wrote in message

news:c4i2fukgqfe009q8o5m8r5j8v1tgd9an1d@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> When a person has an episode of sleep apnea, their air passages close > up on them during sleep. Air gets blocked off, and the person has to > wake up for a moment to recover from it. That’s how I understand it > anyway. I was diagnosed as having severe sleep apnea a month ago and > am now using a CPAP machine. My sleep doctors isn’t all that > conversational and usually just hands me brochures rather than answer > questions. > I was wondering if I put just a drop of menthol or eucalyptus oil in > the humidifier for my CPAP machine, would that improve things even > greater?

Response: