The Foojin
I have often turned to placing essential oils on a cotton ball ( I have used Oil of Wintergreen) and wearing them inside my nose when riding my training and sometimes to start off my training rides. Having essential oils touch the inside of the nose directly is not the best, as some essential oils should not touch the skin.
It’s really about respiratory health. Cyclists warming up have done this for a long time. They shove cotton pieces with Olbas oil on them into their nostrils. What is Olbas oil?, It’s a decongestion oil made with Cajaput Oil, Clove Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Juniperberry Oil, Levonmenthol, Dementholised Mint Oil and Wintergreen Oil. The combination of all these natural ingredients clear the sinuses and air ways making breathing easier and allow the necessary oxygen for a proper performance. So once again when it comes down to it, it’s really about respiratory health.
How to use these essential oils yet avoid them touching the inside of your nose.
Here you can see professional cyclist Bradley Wiggins being given cotton balls with Olbas oil on them to place in his nostrils, as we warms up on a trainer before a race.
There is the Foojin. Its a essential oil diffuser that is worn on the septum, the piece of your nose that separates the left and right nostril. The Foojin is gently clipped just below the nose, with two small cups in which a “wick”, that can soak up a small amount of essential oils. Only a drop or two is needed. Unlike a cotton ball, it does not hinder the air flow into the nose. The Foojin nose clip is easy to insert in the nose and the essential oils can last up to three hours. No more need to have cotton balls hanging out your nose.
Small “wicks” that sit in the baskets on the bottom of the wearable essential oil diffuser hold onto the oil placed on them. The essential oil never touches your skin or the inside of your nose.
I wear the Foojin while riding on my set of rollers (a stationary bike type of trainer) or if I’m headed to a group ride, I wear it while riding there in the car.
There are two different models of Foojin. There is the Sport model, which is orange in color, and the Therapeutic model, which is tan in color. They both do the same thing, the real difference is the Sport model is designed to be worn during activity while the Therapeutic model is more for less active times. While inhaling through the nose, essential oils enter the nose. Both models of the Foojin come with a storage case as well as 20 wicks to start with, while more wicks can be purchased at The Foojin
The Foojin also includes a glass eye dropper for helping place the essential oil on the wicks.
Special formulated blend have been created to use with the Foojin. A performance blend for energy during high intense activities. An endurance blend for long extended activities, and a recovery blend for relaxing and restoring your body.
