I know you’re probably getting bombarded with information about how to keep yourself and your family healthy during this unprecedented time. There are a lot of great herbs and supplements that can boost your body’s natural defense and overall vitality – but sometimes instead of focusing only on what we put in our bodies, we also need to be aware of what is on our bodies.
So let’s get back to some basic practices that we all should be doing regularly to keep the bad germs at bay and continue thriving.
A disclaimer – the recommendations below are not a replacement for the guidelines that have been set by the CDC for the current pandemic. These are additional practices to try alongside the regimen they have outlined.
#1 How To Sanitize Your House Safely (Psst… Vinegar Is A Cleaning Powerhouse)
Quick! Think of 3-5 things you touch on a daily basis. Think laptops, purses, water bottles… and phones.
These are things that we bring out into the world with us. We set them down at the grocery store counter. We bring them into the car. We even bring them to the bathroom with us. So why do most of us never think to clean them?
According to an article published by The Seattle Times, your phone has 25,127 bacteria per square inch! Shocking (and gross), I know. So we definitely need to be more diligent about cleaning our phones off.
Obviously, be sure not to harm the hardware, but you can easily avoid that. Just wet a paper towel with a bit of white vinegar and some essential oil you like, and wipe down the parts of the phone that you touch with your hands or face. It only takes a few seconds.
By doing that, you minimize exposure to illness that can come from surfaces and from your own hands.
You can use a 1:1 vinegar-and-water solution and add in essential oils to mask the pungent scent. Apply it on everything from tables to toilets, and even add it to your laundry.
This is a safe alternative to the toxin-packed cleansers on the market today. The acetic acid in vinegar is powerful enough to kill bacteria, according to a study that compared commercial cleaning products to natural ones.
#2 Hand Washing 101
There are a million hand-washing videos circulating the internet right now with simple instructions like “sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice to kill all the germs.” But it’s not just the length of time you spend scrubbing that matters — it’s also the frequency.
Obviously, wash after bathroom trips. But you should also wash:
- Before and after meals
- When you’ve been in contact with someone sick
- Any time you leave a public area
- When you blow your nose
- When you play with your dog
- After taking out the trash
It seems like a lot, but it’s the #1 way to keep yourself from catching a bug.
#3 Use Essential Oils To Clear The Air
Essential oils have gotten so popular that they’re a staple in many people’s homes. Their widespread availability makes it extremely easy to get the right blends of essential oils that will not only smell amazing, but will also protect your family from germs in the air.
You may be wondering, “How could something so simple be so effective?”
Well, researchers have been testing essential oils in gaseous form against different strains of viruses and bacteria, from your everyday flu virus to more serious things like TB. What they’ve found is that certain essential oils can actually kill pathogens, while other essential oils stop their spread!
The most potent options are: Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, and Tea Tree.
Any mixture of these is an easy and safe alternative to the harsh chemicals in conventional commercial air disinfectants.
Stay curious,
Nick Polizzi
Host of Remedy: Ancient Medicine for Modern Illness
& Founder of The Sacred Science
8 Responses
Nick,
I love your articles and your knowledge. Thank you for sharing.
I’ve heard eucalyptus and tea tree aren’t safe to use around infants and pets. Are their safe options to to stop/kill germs?
Nick your a Godsent thankyou for these natural herbs to keep our Immune system strong. Can I add one more. Frankincense. Supposed to have been given to the baby Jesus by one of the wise men. Clinical Trials today make it one of the most naturally effective germ fighters
THANK YOU, You are THE BEST! always
thanks
Just got this info from a friend. Thought you would like it because it covers Covid19. Vinegar is not powerful enough to sanitize against it. Just thought I would pass this info on to you. Stay safe and healthy. Subject: Covid 19
The following is from Irene, whose daughter is an Asst. Prof in infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins University, quite informative.
* The virus is not a living organism, but a protein molecule (DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular, nasal or buccal mucosa, changes their genetic code. (mutation) and convert them into aggressor and multiplier cells.
* Since the virus is not a living organism but a protein molecule, it is not killed, but decays on its own. The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and type of material where it lies.
* The virus is very fragile; the only thing that protects it is a thin outer layer of fat. That is why any soap or detergent is the best remedy, because the foam CUTS the FAT (that is why you have to rub so much: for 20 seconds or more, to make a lot of foam).
By dissolving the fat layer, the protein molecule disperses and breaks down on its own.
* HEAT melts fat; this is why it is so good to use water above 77 degrees Fahrenheit for washing hands, clothes and everything. In addition, hot water makes more foam and that makes it even more useful.
* Alcohol or any mixture with alcohol over 65% DISSOLVES ANY FAT, especially the external lipid layer of the virus.
* Any mix with 1 part bleach and 5 parts water directly dissolves the protein, breaks it down from the inside.
* Oxygenated water helps long after soap, alcohol and chlorine, because peroxide dissolves the virus protein, but you have to use it pure and it hurts your skin.
* NO BACTERICIDE OR ANTIBIOTIC SERVES. The virus is not a living organism like bacteria; antibiotics cannot kill what is not alive.
* NEVER shake used or unused clothing, sheets or cloth. While it is glued to a porous surface, it is very inert and disintegrates only
-between 3 hours (fabric and porous),
-4 hours (copper and wood)
-24 hours (cardboard),
– 42 hours (metal) and
-72 hours (plastic).
But if you shake it or use a feather duster, the virus molecules float in the air for up to 3 hours, and can lodge in your nose.
* The virus molecules remain very stable in external cold, or artificial as air conditioners in houses and cars.
They also need moisture to stay stable, and especially darkness. Therefore, dehumidified, dry, warm and bright environments will degrade it faster.
* UV LIGHT on any object that may contain it breaks down the virus protein. For example, to disinfect and reuse a mask is perfect. Be careful, it also breaks down collagen (which is protein) in the skin.
* The virus CANNOT go through healthy skin.
* Vinegar is NOT useful because it does not break down the protective layer of fat.
* NO SPIRITS, NOR VODKA, serve. The strongest vodka is 40% alcohol, and you need 65%.
Edit: there are a few alcohols more than 65%, and Vodka does come in 50%, but still not strong enough to kill the virus.
* The more confined the space, the more concentration of the virus there can be. The more open or naturally ventilated, the less.
* You have to wash your hands before and after touching mucosa, food, locks, knobs, switches, remote control, cell phone, watches, computers, desks, TV, etc. And when using the bathroom.
* You have to Moisturize dry hands from so much washing them, because the molecules can hide in the micro cracks. The thicker the moisturizer, the better.
* Also keep your NAILS SHORT so that the virus does not hide there.
-JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL
we’ve been using spray bottles of hydrogen peroxide 3% then a spray of vinegar. My daughter went to a dental conference where they said a scientist discovered this combination is the best.
I believe the virus is an RNA molecule not DNA. Also, a microfiber cloth wetted with a spray of water then washed in hot water would be great to mop up the virus. Use gloves, of course, and provably a mask when cleaning. Seems the peak is over. I had a flu in 1995 that left me with life-long Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. A low carb diet helps a lot.