Things You Can Vaporize

Turning something solid or liquid into a gas is called vaporization. Vaporizing water, certain plants and essential oils can have powerful healing effects on the body. However, not everything that can be vaporized should be vaporized and it is important to research the health effects before vaporizing anything. Vaporization is a fairly simple process, such as boiling a pan of water. Vaporization can also be made more precise by investing in a high-end digital vaporizer.

Water

Water is a common vaporized substance, both in the shower and for use in medicinal facial steams. A healing steam is created by boiling a pot of water and then placing the head directly in the steam (at a safe distance). The steam will break up phlegm, making breathing easier for those suffering from congestion. Coughs can also be treated with water vapor. Water placed in special vaporizers, called humidifiers, are placed in the room at night to increase the humidity in a room to a desired level. This helps to ease coughs so that it is easier to sleep.

Herbs

Herbs can be vaporized either by themselves in a vaporizer or by being added to the water in a humidifier. There are many kinds of herbs that can be vaporized, including thyme, sage, chamomile and St. John's wort. Before vaporizing any herb, find out the optimum temperature of vaporization for each. A vaporizer with a digital temperature control will enable you to get best healing effects from each herb.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are often vaporized with water for aromatherapy. Adding a small amount of water and a few drops of an essential oil, such as lavender or eucalyptus, will not only make your room smell great but can also offer powerful healing effects. Lavender can help calm nerves and relieve headaches. Eucalyptus can help ease congestion and coughs. You can also create your own unique blend of oils to create a powerful synergistic effect.

Chemicals

Many chemicals present in tap water vaporize at a much lower temperature than water. When you take a hot shower these chemicals turn to their gaseous form and can be easily inhaled. One such chemical is chlorine. Chlorine in its liquid form is much more benign than in its gaseous form. When vaporized along with other chemicals present in the water, it can easily turn to chloroform. When inhaled along with the steam from the shower, these gases can cause adverse health effects. Those who are sensitive can purchase special filtered shower heads to reduce the amount of chemicals.