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There are many natural, easy, and
inexpensive ways to stay healthy during cold and flu season.
Especially if you can’t get the flu shot, or choose not to –
these simple ways can be very effective!!
As nurses we are indoctrinated in the most simple yet highly
effective way to prevent the spread of germs and infection –
and that is hand washing. Paying close attention to
where your hands have been (shopping cart handles, money) –
and where they go ( food we prepare and eat, rubbing faces,
eyes and mouth) – and when to wash them in between. There
are varying opinions on the use of antibacterial soaps. Many
say that these soaps are not good to use – because we may
not want to kill all of the bacteria. We want to keep some
of the bacteria there because the normal microbial terrain
that exists on our skin is part of our immune system and it
actually helps to fight off invasive germs.
Most of the culprit microbes in colds and flu are airborne.
This means they travel in the air and are transferred from
person to person by sneezes and coughs. A simple, and
common-sense prevention, is to avoid being close to
someone who has a cold or a flu, or at least not near
them when they are hacking away. And for the person who is
afflicted – they should cover their mouths and nose as their
body attempts to release these germs! Be sure to toss dirty
tissues away immediately after use!
It’s easy to have a love/hate relationship with antibiotics,
many people do because they can be effective, but the side
effects can be less than desirable. My life was saved with
antibiotics years ago when I had a life threatening
pneumonia. But I also suffered with the side effects of
candida overgrowth. As a result I went on a mission to find
something natural to keep me healthy so that I may never
have to face the need for antibiotics again. That is what
led me to a discovery that has changed my life and my
nursing career. That discovery was
therapeutic grade essential oils. I read a fascinating
story when studying the history of aromatherapy about
how during the Black Plague when thousands of people were
dying – there were robbers and thieves stealing from the
dead and dying. These thieves did not get sick! They were
caught by the officials and the king offered them a lesser
sentence if they would tell him what they were doing to not
get the plague. As perfumers of their time they knew if they
rubbed things like clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus,
and rosemary on their bodies they would not get the plague!
Today there is a budding awareness, along with a great need
to learn, about the use of essential oils for germs and
disease. There is research that is supporting the effective
use of essential oils in infections. One study found
eucalyptus and tea-tree oil to be effective at treating a
bad bug in the hospitals that antibiotics can’t help called
MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus).
Simply put, here’s how these essential
oils work: they create an environment so that unwanted germs
can’t live. And better yet – they do not harm the good
bacteria that should remain there helping to fight off those
germs. That’s my favorite part.
There is one major caution and that is that you must use a
therapeutic grade essential oil and not perfume grade
oil. Perfume grade oils have fixatives and fillers and
unnatural ingredients. Surprisingly, many popular
aromatherapy products today are perfume grade, some even
found in health food stores. Therapeutic grade A oils are
pure, often from organic plants, and have no additives. The
best standards to go by are AFNOR (Association French
Normalization Organization Regulation), EC (European
Community), and ISO (International Standardization
Organization) in Switzerland.
There are various ways to use the oils. Listed here are some
of the ways we use them in our household and every day
lives. During flu and allergy season we diffuse them in our
home with a cold air diffuser so a gentle mist of the oil
penetrates the environment. Never apply heat to therapeutic
oil if you want to have the germ fighting effects - so
forget the candles, although they may smell wonderful. I
carry a bottle of my favorite oil in my purse and sprinkle a
few drops on my hands, rub my hands, cup them together and
do a nice inhalation a few times a day. For the kids you can
sprinkle some drops on the collar of their shirts or dresses
before they go to school. And a great place to use the oils
anytime, for anyone (including pets) is on the feet!
Another ingredient in the recipe to keep you naturally
healthy in cold and flu season is the wholesome nutrition
to keep the immune system strong. Eating more whole foods
and less processed foods are best. Whole foods are in their
natural state which the body likes more than the processed
foods that have preservatives for longer shelf life but less
nutrition.
Proper rest recharges the body and fuels the immune
system to stave off invaders.
Last, but not least, a happy smile. There’s a lot to
be said for a positive attitude and keeping negativity away
– and that includes germs. We can think of this in a common
sense way, but there is a study of this called
psychoneuroimmunology. It has to do with the effects of
attitudes and emotions on the immune system. Did you ever
noticed when you were under more stress and worried about
many things you have more of a tendency to get sick?
So here you can look good, smell good, eat good, sleep good,
show your happy face to the world – and be flu-free all
season!
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Direct comments or questions about this article, including
requests for reprint rights, to:
Marilee Tolen RN, HNC - Board
Certified Holistic Nurse
HomeSpaLady™
“. . .natural remedies for health and beauty that you
can do at home!”
Get your FREE “Tips of the Week” at
http://www.HomeSpaLady.com
www.HealingEnergies.com
Learn more about
essential
oils here
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