Natural Help for Fire-polluted Air

Recent California fires have had their way with my respiratory system and skin. At first I thought I was catching cold. There was coughing, nasal discharge and congestion in my chest, along with mild headaches and tiredness. At the same time, my skin was dry and lackluster, and I couldn't drink enough water. My normal essential oil and herbal remedies for a cold weren't having lasting effects. On day 4 of wiping morning ashes from my car and windows, it hit me that the same annoying muck that I was wiping away was entering my respiratory system and, consequently, my blood stream. It was time step up my self-care (and home-care) game.

Essential oils to the rescue?
My knee-jerk reaction was to whip out my essential oil diffuser and filled it with doTERRA Breathe to cleanse and purify the air. While I did feel better for a while, it occurred to me that perhaps I needed to concentrate on removing toxins from air, rather than adding particles to the air. After a bit of Internet research, I pulled out my ionic air purifier and placed it near the largest opening where polluted air was probably entering my home.

BEFORE: Ionic Air Purifier Filter after running for 12 hours

The ionic air purifier has helped to clear the air. However the way it works is that it releases ions that bond with toxins in the air. When this happens, the contaminated molecules become heavy and fall onto the floor and hard surfaces. So it is important to follow-up by dusting and vacuuming the area. A HEPA filter works differently. It sucks contaminants out of the air and releases fresh, purified air into the space. This eliminates the critical need for deep cleaning the area. Whichever method you choose, diffusing purifying essential oils is a safe and helpful addition after purifying the air.

AFTER: Same Ionic Purifier Filter - Cleaned

After using the ionic purifier(along with vacuuming and dusting) for a week, my nose has stopped running, no more itchy eyes, and my skin is return to its usual moist, pliable texture. My suggestion is, if you can afford it, invest in a HEPA filter air purifier to cut back on the work you have to do later. But, the ionic air purifier does the job as well we executed with a little conscious care.