Safety
What is MONQ Therapeutic Air®?
MONQ Therapeutic Air® Portable Aromatherapy Diffusers turn our custom blends of essential oils and coconut-derived vegetable glycerin into water vapor and aromatherapy, so while the term “vaporizer” is technically accurate, it can be slightly misleading. MONQ does not contain any of the ingredients commonly found in many of the devices labeled vaporizers, such as nicotine or artificial flavoring. This is why we choose to call MONQ a portable aromatherapy diffuser rather than a “vaporizer.”
MONQ essential oils are made from all organic and natural ingredients, which are placed into high quality stainless steel devices which are produced conforming with the highest safety standards. Within each device is a lithium battery which heats up a small amount of coconut-derived vegetable glycerin into which is infused a blend of essential oils and whole plant extracts.
How Does MONQ Work?
MONQ is a modern aromatherapy delivery device in which breathing in creates a gentle suction. This suction activates a small battery which heats up the aromatherapy liquid which is absorbed onto an organic cotton wick. As the aromatherapy liquid heats up, it turns into a mist consisting of water vapor and carbon dioxide, along with the aromatic compounds released by the heating of the essential oils. You take this mist into your mouth, complete with a wide variety of healthy terpenes and then exhale through your nose.
A related question is “Do you smoke MONQ”?
The answer to that is no. Smoking is the act of burning a substance, and then inhaling the burned material. There is no burning of any substance when using MONQ, so there is no smoking. The haze that you see that looks like smoke is water vapor, similar to steam coming off of boiling water, as the liquid inside MONQ is heated to approximately 215 degrees.
Ingredients
We create custom blends with essential oils sourced from reputable United States companies. To account for discrepancies in supply we purchase from several companies, such as Eden Botanicals. Each blend’s page discusses the specifics of its ingredients’ sourcing.
Starting with non-gmo organically grown and/or sustainably harvested wildcrafted plants (from the United States when possible and from elsewhere in the world when required), the plant material is processed in the United States into essential oils and whole plant extracts. All US-grown ingredients are sourced from Oregon-Tilth Certified Organic processors, and all internationally grown plants are verified organic by region-specific organizations and vetted by Oregon Tilth once in the US. The majority of the oils are produced via steam distillation or CO2 extraction, without the use of alcohol. This is then blended into certified organic coconut-derived vegetable glycerin.
Each MONQ blend is a handful of custom-blended essential oils diffused into an organic vegetable glycerin base. Each blend’s label indicates three prominent ingredients but the MONQ itself includes around a dozen ingredients total. The comprehensive list of our plant ingredients is available. Please note, if you are allergic to any essential oil, or any of our ingredients, contact MONQ prior to using our product.
Device
Essential Oil Safety
MONQ® Therapeutic Air® is safe to use in terms of the essential oil content, as well as the heated vapor delivery system, as far as it is possible to know from current information. This endorsement applies only when used as directed, and not by people with respiratory illnesses, allergies to essential oils, or by pregnant or nursing women.
MONQ is not an e-cigarette, because it does not contain nicotine. And MONQ is inherently safer than most other vaporizers because it does not contain artificial flavors or synthetic chemicals, and because its base is organic vegetable glycerin (made from plant oils).
Pregnant or nursing women should not use MONQ, and neither should people with asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, acute respiratory infection, or other respiratory diseases. Those with allergies to certain essential oils should consider which blends to use, if any. No adverse reaction is anticipated when used as directed by those without these conditions.
Is MONQ for Everyone?
Almost Everyone!
MONQ Diffusers are not intended for individuals under 18. Neither for pregnant or nursing women.
While not illegal for those under 18, MONQ does not want to encourage the familiar ‘hand to mouth’ habit in impressionable children. As an ethical company, MONQ believes that underage children may develop a tendency towards smoking cigarettes, a habit we abhor, and yet we believe that a non-smoking adult who uses MONQ will not be so inclined to smoke.
As for pregnancy; there are certain essential oils the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy recommends to avoid while pregnant or breastfeeding. Some of our blends contain plants on this list. To read the entire article, please visit NAHA.
Similarly, MONQ should not be used by those with chronic pulmonary conditions such as asthma or COPD.
See our disclaimer for more detailed exceptions and explanations.
Are there any Illegal Substances in MONQ?
It surprises us to hear this question, but there are no illegal substances in MONQ Therapeutic Air® devices.
There is no marijuana (cannabis), THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) or any other “drug.” MONQ is legal in all 50 states of the United States, and in the overwhelming majority of countries around the world. Please see our shipping policies for some exceptions.
In addition, there is no tobacco, no nicotine and no artificial flavors. There are no addictive chemicals or ingredients in MONQ. You cannot get ‘addicted’ to MONQ.
What is in MONQ? What’s Not in MONQ?
For each of the MONQ blends, USA-grown organic plants, when available, are extracted and then infused into 100% pure, food-grade coconut-derived vegetable glycerin, which the FDA recognizes as safe. When non-USA grown plants are required, they are processed in the United States using processes such as CO2 extraction and steam distillation.
As discussed above, while the mechanism of action in MONQ is that of a vaporizer, we typically don’t refer to MONQ as a vaporizer for a variety of reasons. First of all, MONQ does not contain most ingredients commonly found in many of the devices labeled vaporizers, such as nicotine or artificial flavoring.
We are frequently asked questions such as “is there diacetyl in MONQ”? Diacetyl comes from artificial flavorings, and there are no artificial flavorings in MONQ. Therefore, there is no diacetyl in MONQ.
Also our lab tests have found MONQ NOT to include formaldehyde, nickel, tin, lead or aluminum.
MONQ is Not an e-Cigarette
MONQ Therapeutic Air® is an Aromatherapy-based wellness diffuser, a modern update of an ancient tradition.
E-Cigarettes are defined as Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, or ENDS. There is no nicotine in MONQ. All MONQ blends are completely free of nicotine, tobacco and artificial flavors.
MONQ can be referred to as a vaporizer as it vaporizes the essential oils, and wild plant extracts, in a vegetable glycerin base. So from a definitional standpoint, the term ‘vaporizer’ may be accurate, as indicated above, the connotation of a vaporizer includes high powered batteries, large quantities of vapor, nicotine and sometimes artificial flavors, none of which is in MONQ.
MONQ is Safe
MONQ is safe when used as directed. We encourage people to use MONQ 2-3 times per day, taking 2-3 gentle breaths with each use, and when we say Breaths, we are referring to bringing the mist into your mouth, holding it there a moment, and breathing out your nose. There is no need to inhale. Please note that most users will experience a pleasant effect, usually within 5-10 minutes after doing so.
People frequently ask us about:
* Heating of essential oils: We frequently hear queries regarding the heating of the aromatherapy liquids from people who believe that heating aromatherapy is a new concept, and is dangerous. We proudly acknowledge that heating aromatherapy by the mechanism used by MONQ is indeed a new concept. However, for thousands of years people have been putting Eucalyptus in water over fire, and there are a plethora of current devices on the market which also heat aromatherapy liquids to high temperatures using different methods, including electricity directly, light bulbs, candles, etc.
* Breathing in essential oils: This is the method of action for just about all EO uses. Whether it be via a diffuser, in a bath, on your pillow, or as a lotion, it is the breathing in of the fragrance that provides the effect, via the olfactory system in the back of the upper nose. Yet, having said this, there is no need to inhale MONQ to get the full benefit.
* Concentration of the essential oils: We acknowledge that concentrated essential oils are dangerous. Each MONQ is composed of 80% organic coconut-derived vegetable glycerin, and 20% essential oil mixture. Each essential oil is rather dilute, and you breathe in approximately 0.003 ml with each breath. The dangers of concentrated essential oils spilling, burning, or being ingested go away with MONQ.