Flu season here in the northeast is especially NOT FUN this year. While our household hasn't been hit (yet), children and adults are coming down with the flu all around us! But it's winter and we deal with this every year I suppose! Here at our house, we've been extra diligent with handwashing and the use of hand sanitizer when a sink is not available. The kids have the routine down by now; they come in the house, take off their shoes and wash their hands before doing anything else. We are also trying to make sure we are getting enough sleep, eating lots of healthy foods, taking vitamins, and trying not to overdose on sugar, which I have read can weaken the immune system.
While searching the internet for natural and alternative ways to stay healthy during flu season, I have discovered something that I wanted to share with you called "Thieves Oil." Over at Secret of Thieves, they describe the origin of a well known anti-infective essential oil blend which dates back to the Middle Ages:
“Century after century, bubonic plague outbreaks decimated the population of Asia and Europe for the better part of a thousand years. Out of this period emerged a legend of four thieves who were captured and charged with robbing the dead and dying victims. When the thieves were tried, the magistrate offered leniency if they would reveal how they resisted contracting the infection as they performed their gruesome acts. They told of a special concoction of aromatic herbs, including garlic, cloves and rosemary, that they rubbed on themselves before committing their crimes.”
Is it just a myth? Who knows! Studies done on this blend of essential oils, which includes clove, rosemary, cinnamon bark, lemon, and eucalyptus have shown it to have a 99.96% success rate against airborne bacteria. There is a site Young Living which actually sells many Thieves Oil items, including cleaning products. Dr. Lawrence Rosen, M.D., a integrative pediatrician and medical advisor to the Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center at Hackensack University Medical Center in NJ, wrote about Thieves Oil Blend and its uses and effectiveness in his blog The Whole Child. Here he provides scientific research to support the use of the Thieves Oil Blend and also includes a link to a how-to video of a DIY version of the essential oil blend.
So how have I been using Thieves? First, I got my own supply of these essential oils from Whole Foods, and along with some aloe vera gel and a spray bottle, I have been mixing up batches of my own Thieves Oil. After doing some research, I found that lavendar is also a good antiseptic, so I substitute it for the rosemary because I do not like the scent (or taste!) of rosemary. I have been using it as hand sanitizer, counter and tabletop spray, car air freshener (did I mention I love the smell?!) and have also put the oils in a small diffuser to help "clear" the air in rooms throughout the house. I love it and my daughter has enjoyed making little spray bottles with me for friends and family. We are hooked!
What about for my therapy room? Flu season or not, there are precautions that I take after every session for the protection of everyone who comes into the room. I wipe down the tableop with an all-natural, environmentally safe disinfecting wipe by Seventh Generation. I might give it a spray with a vinegar and water solution or better yet, the Thieves blend as well. I do the same with the mirror, chair, and any toys that can be wiped. Any toys that were mouthed by a child are put in a plastic baggie marked "to be sterilized" and these soak in a solution of 10% bleach/90% water to disinfect, then soak in hot soapy water, and are finally rinsed clean. The kids are also encouraged to use hand gel sanitizer when they come in, especially during the cold and flu season. Now, after my discovery of the secret of the thieves, I also like to offer my Thieves blend as an alternative to the alcohol-based sanitizer. Now that you know the secret, try it for yourself and let me know what you think!
No comments:
Post a Comment