Keeping Well doing Lockdown
As a registered nurse as well as aromatherapist and a natural health practitioner I have a few tools up my sleeve to try and see through this compulsory lockdown and COVID 19 pandemic. What was once an unlikely future event has now very much become a reality. Quite a few people have contacted me and asked what are the best essential oils to prevent COVID19 or to minimise symptoms when it arrives. The short answer is we simply don’t know and it would be improper of me to give clinical advice. Robert Tisserand, possibly the most respected aromatherapist globally, has this to say on the matter. [Blog] The key message is one which is being repeated everywhere whether you are in lockdown or not- stay home, minimise spread, wash your hands with soap and water often, and don’t touch your face. There are lots of rumours swirling around so I go the NZ government website for the latest.
There are also many recipes on line about making hand sanitiser, some are completely useless and others actually unsafe and may either harm your skin or not provide the protection you need. I was selling rosemary gel as a base which has been designed to take pure ethanol in the right proportion (>60% of 99% v/v alcohol). The WHO formula is here.
PLEASE don't try and make your own with vodka or other spirts that are less than 60%. Remember alcohol is very flammable as well!
Oils to help you keep alert and focussed on your work tasks while working at home-use in a diffuser or similar.
- Rosemary (Rosamarinus officinalis
- Sweet orange (Citrus sinsensis)
- Bergamot (Citris bergamia)
- Peppermint(Mentha piperita)
- Lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora)*
- Lemon tea tree (Leptospermum petersonii)*
- Lemon eucalyptus- Eucalyptus citridora)*
- Lime (Citrus medica)
*These oils also good for anxiety/stress
Oils to have ease stress and anxiety in the home
- Rose geranium (Pelargonium spp)
- Geranium (Pelargonium graveolans)
- Any of the citrus mentioned above
- Yuzu-(Citrus Junos)
- Bitter orange (Citrus aurantifolia)
- Neroli (Orange blossom a/a)
- Frankincense (Boswellia carters or serrata)
- Honey myrtle (Melaleuca teretifolia)
If you are not sure how to use essential oils or want some more information I have my free introductory package available which is sent via email. In addition I have slashed the price off my home learning packages while we are in lockdown to share the aromatic love. This includes my Kitchen Cosmetics package.
Other top tips
- Keep to a routine- if you are working from home try and hold office hours and get dressed as if you are going to work (well top half at least so you look relatively normal when you have your online meetings. I have noticed that a webcam seems to drain my complexion so I have opted for a bit more make up when I am having a meeting. Don't look down at your camera or position it so it is looking up your nose. I have found resting my laptop on a ream of printer paper does the trick
- Exercise snacking- 3-4 minute bursts of activity through the day are easier to cope with rather than trying to persuade yourself to do 30 minutes on a treadmill. I am working my way through the sound track of Live Aid on the treadmill- such good music and the time flies by!
- Put the music up loud and dance like no one is watching!
- I have my normal ‘winter’ essential oils out on the diffuser at this autumn time of year- Melaleuca alterniflia, Eucalyptus globulus, manuka- Leptospermum scparium and a few others depending on what my mood is.
- Get out side and least once a day- even if it is cold. Feel the fresh air (don't touch anything) and wash your hands when you come back.
- Serve smaller portions of food or serve on smaller plates- it is most likely you will eat more during lockdown and snack more, but your energy expenditure is less.
- Keep you hands moisturised
Home made massage oil
I have tried this as a way to create a lovely quick massage oil just using things you would have in the kitchen. Use coconut oil (ccoking is fine) and melt in a double boiler and add 3-4 drops of vanilla or peppermint food flavouring and pop in fridge. When it is hard can use as a hand or food massage. If you have a garden add some chopped fresh mint, lemon rind or sweet orange rind to the coconut oil and heat it through for a while (dont bolt - you aren’t making chips!). The aromas from the plants will diffuse in to the oi. Strain it through a tea strainer and let it set in the fridge. Coconut oil melts on contact with the skin.
In my blend here I have 1 teaspoon grated orange rind, some chopped rose geranium leaves, lemon verbena leaves, lavender leaves and flowers and I used abut 30 gm coconut oil. You basically want to make sure your raw materials are covered by the oil when it is melted. Let this heat in the double boiler for about 10 minutes so the maximum aroma is transferred from the plants through to the coconut oil. Using a clean tea strainer pour through into a clean and dry jar (very important otherwise there will be microbes. Scoop out what you need and massage into your skin.
While my business can't trade I am finsihing off end of season projects such I will be doing some last distillations as autumn draws in- my scented geranium , lemon myrtle and lemon verbena are all ready. Of course as I can’t sell these I will just be enjoying the misting of them daily. I made make some soaps for myself with the hydrosol but my ingredients are very low here. It is a time for make do and mend it seems.
Be safe and wash your hands and stay at home. Use essential oils to help maintain wellness and minimise infections as you would normally, Wendy
Posted: Sunday 29 March 2020