In times of flu, cold, and all sorts of new viruses and outbreaks, commuting by train or bus increases the risk of getting sick. If there is anything that I can do to protect myself of getting sick, I will certainly spend the time and money. Aside from necessary hygiene such as frequently hand washing/sanitizing, as a Clinical Certified Aromatherapist, I have a handful of additional resources that I’ll be glad to share with you so and we can do our best to avoid getting sick!
Here are some things that I do and so far, it has been helping me:
I add Essential Oils (EOs) to my hand sanitizers. I keep a small size bottle in my backpack. I apply the sanitizer after touching surfaces like doorknobs, escalator, bus, and train handrails. I know that a lot of people will say that using the sanitizers too often diminish your own immune system to fight the viruses/bacteria. I don’t disagree with that, but we are talking about flu season and virus outbreaks here… I’m not asking you to swim on hand sanitizer and use it for the rest of your life! You can add 5-10 drops of EO on a small hand bottle. A list of good oils for this season is found below.
I also bought a nice size personal diffuser (spent about $15). You can find them on Amazon, try this link.
I diffuse Eucalyptus globulus every morning when I get at work. It only takes about 5 drops in the diffuser to get my entire office smelling good and it is very effective. However, first, I checked with all my co-workers to make sure no-one is allergic to Eucalyptus. Some people are very allergic to specific smells (or triggers some negative emotional responses), especially with a past bad experience with synthetic fragrances. Synthetic oils will not be effective – it just smells good without any therapeutic property. You need to diffuse a real EO to get the therapeutic benefits. I’ll be glad to discuss the difference – please email or contact me! Please look for pure EOs from a reputable source. I buy most of my oils from Nature’s Gift (www.naturesgift.com), but I also have a list of other equally reputable vendors, endorsed by the International Aromatherapy Association.
I also prepare a spritzer. I spritz on the bus/train seats, on my desk, on office telephone landline phone, computer keyboard. Also, when someone is coughing or sneezing in the bus, I spritz around me. For this, you need to feel confident. People will not say anything, but they will look at you with an expression like “Oh, here comes the hippie one”… I have seen the looks, but I really don’t care! Public transportation has a terrible air filtration system, with no U.V. lights – so it basically nothing in their A/C system kills the germs, viruses, and bacteria. Also, how often do you think they even change the filters, if any? Their system basically refrigerates or heats the air, nothing else. So, here is how you can prepare the spritzer:
- Buy some empty spritzer bottles. Here is an Amazon link, you can get them the next day.
- Buy the cheapest vodka you can find at the liquor store. There are many other carriers you can use to mix with the EO, but trust me… vodka is the best, clean and no smell… just don’t drink it while preparing this! 🙂 Fill the spritzer bottle almost to the top (90% of the bottle volume) leaving some space for the EOs.
- Select any of the following oils – you can mix them all or just pick your favorite one. Please do not add more than 20 drops (total). For example, if you use all the oils below, use 2 or 3 drops of each:
| Name of the Oil | Some of the properties |
| Citrus bergamia (Bergamot) | Antiviral, Antibacterial, antifungal, Immune stimulant |
| Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalyptus) | Antibacterial, antiviral |
| Lavender Angustifolia (Lavender) | Antiseptic, antiviral, antibiotic, fungistatic |
| Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea tree) | Great antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic |
| Pinus sylvestris (Pine) | Anti-tussive, antiseptic |
| Cymbopogon martini var motia (Palmarosa) | Strong anti-infectious, antifungal, antibacterial |
Hope this helps! I can recommend other oils and other methods of application too.
For an Aromatherapy consultation please visit my website: www.massagebybertone.com
The information above does not substitute a treatment or recommendation by a Medical Doctor. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist about drug interactions before using EOs. Please test for allergic reactions by blending a small number of drops of the EOs. Please always consult a Clinical Certified Aromatherapist Practitioner (CCAP) for safety and good practice. Please do not use any undiluted oil in your skin, do not drink any EO, and keep EOs away from children and pets.
