My Life-Style Choices During COVID -19

There are times I digress from writing about clothing in one's closet and this post is one of those digressions. To quote myself, this "can be rationalized for health sake and so . . . do what it takes. Take care of yourself so that you can enjoy the clothing, the shoes, the bags, the jewellery, the accessories . . . and look great in them." 

Nice: First and foremost I am employing relative self-isolation. The extent of my excursions: a local grocery store, recently the plant and seed store and the pharmacy. I have done some food deliveries for friends but generally I have not see or spoken to anyone who wasn't at least 2 meters away from me. I wash my hands. I wear a mask. I don't touch my face while out. I have a box of those blue plastic disposable gloves for grocery shopping.Oh yes and I take my temperature twice a day.

No Thanks: To meeting with my friends for a glass of wine or dinner (this saddens me the most and is my greatest sacrifice). I am planning a strategy to meet with another couple of friends but I haven't worked out the details yet. I suppose I don't want to jeopardize anyone's safety even though I think I am healthy but we just don't know. That being said, I am a Type I diabetic and do not know how the virus will manifest in my body at this time. I care not to find out.

Note-Worthy: There are strategies I am employing during this pandemic that are not considered effective or valid. No, it's not that — I guarantee you. I am not drinking bleach or ordering holy water nor am I hoarding anything.

Essential Oils: I do use essential oils for aromatherapy and for topical application. I like them. They make me feel good. I don't wear perfume and I seldom wear make-up. And yes, I do believe they have have some therapeutic effect. So to those who are telling me that I am wasting my money because nothing works against COVID-19, all I can say is, we choose where we want to spend our money. Do I think thieves blend or eucalyptus, lemon or ravintsara oils will keep me safe from COVID-19? For the most part, NO. It is very improbable but not entirely impossible (disclaimer - no scientific evidence therefore this is not a recommendation). Do I still admit to using them? Yes, I believe they have properties that can lessen effects of normal flu bugs and I know enough about how to use them that they're not going to hurt me, so I put them in my diffuser at night and rub them on my neck and upper chest when I go out. Remember I still maintain social distancing and wear a mask but I believe I'm adding an extra layer of protection, at least, in my mind if not in reality.

Supplements: I am also taking supplements, which I have always taken in my adult life. There is nothing new in my regime, except for one that deals with helping to lower blood pressure, Quercetin. The others are the usual, which I take rotationally — not all of them all the  time: Omega 3, Vitamins C, D and E, Zinc, a Mushroom blend (I have taken this for years to boost my immune system), Magnesium and a combination including Collagen for hair, skin and nails.

Meditation: I meditate and listen to hz sleep music while I'm trying to and am falling asleep. Does it help? I believe so. It certainly does not hurt and I am falling asleep more quickly and sleeping through the night. Is it the music or the Magnesium? I don't know.

Eating and Exercising: I'm eating healthfully and exercising, not as strenuously as I was when I was going to the gym but I am maintaining my weight and I am pleased about that.

The point of this digression is simply to remind everyone who is reading about fashion and trends and other frivolous stuff, to take care of yourself and no matter what else you believe will keep you healthy, make sure you do not jeopardize your safety when going out.

I have written about oils before: 
Not a Closet and No Clothing Within: Essential Oils in a Wine Box

The Top 10 in My Essential Oil "Closet"

Before I left France and in anticipation of not being back for six months, I went shopping for essential oils to carry me through my time in Canada. Of course, I can buy them in Canada, however I find prices more reasonable in France. It is an issue of supply and demand and competition. The French are more used to them as supportive and supplemental treatment. Pharmacies carry essential oils, and French pharmacists can advise you about their use. Ask a North American pharmacist and it is likely that they may not have any academic or professional knowledge about essential oils. The general attitude here among pharmacists tends to be hesitant at best.  

I am self-taught and perhaps more adventuresome in trying  "new" possibilities. Treatment of my husband's legs (he inherited his mother's varicose veins) was my first essential oil challenge. Have the varicose veins completely disappeared? No. Have they improved? Immensely; so much so, that he decided to cancel the surgery recommended to strip the veins. He became a believer. Other benefits might not be so obvious or might be debatable relative to diet or traditional medications; however, I am convinced enough about their efficacy that I am incorporating them to help alleviate potential complications in my diabetic life. I wouldn't be alive without western medical technology (thank you Drs. Banting and Best) but I believe that my general health can be improved through herbal supplementation.

The basics are tried and true and I don't think that I could manage without them now. My top five must-have essential oils are: lavender, tea tree, peppermint, helichrysm and frankincense. If you asked me which of the five I would want if deserted on a tropical island, I probably would opt for frankincense, although as I begin to think about it, I would be able to rationalize for any one of those five, lavender in particular. I use lavender everyday for my personal use and it is a necessity in my linen closet and in my clothing closet - I suppose frankincense would serve me better on a deserted island. Although, peppermint would keep the creepy crawlies away and  . . . no . . . frankincense would be number one on my list.

Next come the specifics for particular conditions and ailments. For my skin I want to have myrrh to complement the frankincense and lavender. For my husband's veins, I want cypress, ginger and mastic or lentisque pistachier which I would add to helichrysm and frankincense. Because we both enjoy wine, rosemary verbenonne and lemon is needed to maintain a healthy liver. For my carpal tunnel and his arthritic pain, I want birch and lemongrass to add to the helichrysm and peppermint. Of course I would take oregano compactum if I was deserted on a tropical island or enjoying the winter on the Canadian prairies. That's just the beginning. 

The next five in importance in my life would be myrrh, cypress, ginger, rosemary and oregano compactum. You can see why I have chosen the original five and so if I had no others to complement their attributes I would be satisfied. Lemon could replace the rosemary but I think it would be number 11 on my list.

If you don't have essential oils in your life yet and for those of you who would like to try essential oils, I would suggest the introductory three: lavender, peppermint and tea tree. Your closets and your body will love lavender. Peppermint will invigorate you and keep creepy crawlies out of your home. Tea tree will kill germs while you clean your space and prevent infections when you use it on yourself.

If you are already using essential oils, which are your favourites? Click on Comments and share your favourite one, two or ten.

They are a pleasure to use and we can always use small pleasures in our lives.

Not a Closet and No Clothing Within: Essential Oils in a Wine Box

My apologies for a topic that is totally off-blog-focus; however, I have written about essential oils before.

Although this blog's title refers to "closets" and the clothing within, in particular, I can't help writing about other storage units including cupboards and drawers and medicine cabinets and . . .  so you see, I want to tell you about something else in another storage unit. I have taken a wine box and converted it into storage for my essential oils. After all, if you are not healthy, how can you feel beautiful - and sorry, clothes alone won't do it. 

Before moving to France I was aware of essential oils but not totally convinced. I hate to admit it, but the exorbitant prices of essential oils in North America made me reticent to use them. Here, in France, they are affordable (even the expensive ones).

The most convincing rationalization for me happened when I was advised by my dentist to have a root canal. I would have continued with his advice but I was on my way to Europe the next day and promised him that I would seek a French dentist as soon as possible. In the meantime he prescribed antibiotics and I continued on my trip. When I arrived in France, I had to wait another two weeks before I could see the recommended dentist. I finished my antibiotics and went to the pharmacy to ask about interim care. The pharmacist suggested that I use oil of oregano with a carrier oil such as coconut oil and swish my mouth for a few minutes every morning. He implied that it may hold off the infection and keep me stable until I saw the dentist. He did not offer it as a cure. I did just that and continued to research online. From my online research, I found that those who used oil of oregano for dental crises were satisfied with the results. To make a long story short, six months later I have not had the root canal and the French dentist simply advised me to come back when I was infected and in pain from the abscess. So far, so good. Hooray for oil of oregano!

Then, there was my husband . . . who suffers from a hereditary case of varicose veins. Again a Canadian doctor told him that he will have to have them operated on and the dark discolouration on his shins will simply be there . . . forever. There was nothing that could be done for it. After my success with oil of oregano, I went to the pharmacist again and asked about varicose veins. He suggested some supplements for circulation and then offered the idea of using essential oils, namely cypress and helichrism. My husband took the attitude that "it wouldn't hurt" and so he began a daily evening routine of massaging his legs (with upward strokes toward the heart) with the essential oils mixed in jojoba oil. After six months of online research, experimenting with other oils, varying the combinations, and religiously applying the oils every evening, his legs are amazingly changed. Last year at this time, his legs were so dark, and swollen, I was thinking awful consequences. This year after approximately 6 months of "oil therapy" the colour of his legs is, dare I say, normal. The varicose veins have reduced in size and intensity and his legs are starting to look healthy, if not totally normal. We will continue with his essential oil therapy and if surgery can be avoided, all the better. Hooray for helichrism and cypress oil!

My digression from clothing in one's closet can be rationalized for health sake and so . . . do what it takes. Take care of yourself so that you can enjoy the clothing, the shoes, the bags, the jewellery, the accessories . . . and look great in them.





  

Essential Oils in my Closet

NICE in response to a NO THANKS

Essential Oil Diffuser
in my closet (Photo by JoyD)

It's just part of the housekeeping strategy, here in the south-west of France, to keep the lavender, both in sachets and on diffusers, fresh and regenerated. I keep sachets of lavender hanging in my closet with my clothing and in the armoire that houses my bed and bath linens. Beds that are not used regularly have sachets of lavender tucked into pillows and duvets. I also add a drop or two of lavender to the clay essential oil diffusers that are in my closet and in my armoires.

Lavender Sachet and Oil Diffuser in my Linen Armoire
Photo by JoyD

Lavender is my oil of choice because it deters insects and the aroma is perfect for bed linens but peppermint was added over the summer when several different types of spiders made their way into the house. Now I know spiders are good since they trap and dispose of insects in a very natural way; however my bedroom is my space and I prefer that they keep to the outside or at the very least the periphery. I would do a spider sweep of corners with peppermint essential oil on the duster and that made them keep their distance.

Now that it is fall their numbers have dwindled but I still do my peppermint spider sweep and keep the lavender refreshed.

Another successful use of peppermint against insects was when I found a few of the tiniest ants in a cupboard this summer. It appears there was a tart tin that was not cleaned properly and the wee smudge of grease was enough to attract the little beasts. I was happy I found them few in number and was able to halt any further progress. Essentially I discombobulated them with peppermint oil. I washed the pans and entire area with a few drops added to the soapy wash water and then left a clay diffuser with peppermint oil in the cupboard. I kept on checking and if I saw any who were following their comrades' paths, I stifled them with more peppermint on a paper towel. After attending to the cupboard diligently for three days, I eradicated the little pests and have not seen any since. Mind you I do look into this seldom used cupboard to see if there are any who are exploring. No food, no greasy smudges, everything spotless clean and the aroma of peppermint has kept them from re-attending. 

I love the idea of keeping everything fresh with essential oils.