Alternative Health

A recent survey published in USA Today illustrated how “unhygienic” the modern world is. The investigators found that fully 40% of all Americans, men and women, fail to wash their hands after using the restroom, that is public restrooms. Negligence of hygiene is a serious offense. This is because it is automatic that a lack of cleanliness will impair health, both in the offender and in those with whom he/she is in contact. 

Lack of careful attention to hygiene is a primary cause of the transmission of infections throughout the world, and America is no exception, Microbes are easily transmitted from direct contact with other humans as well as animals.

Although this may surprise many individuals, microbial infections can also be readily contracted from inanimate objects.  The hands are an unsuspecting agent in the transmission of infections. For instance, an individual may have a cold; a sneeze is covered with the bare hand. Then, he/she shakes someone’s hand. That person might use their newly contaminated hand to eat or might rub the face, eyes, or nose, leading to infection. Although most of us hate to think of it, as reiterated previously, a large percentage of people fail to wash their hands after urinating and/or defecating. Certainly, infection may be transmitted from these “unhygienic” individuals by handshakes. br>

However, imagine the potential dilemma that might occur if the contaminated individual is a food handler. Diaper changing is another means of fecal-oral contamination. Millions of diapers are changed every day. The potential for spread of disease is enormous, especially if there is failure to conduct careful hand washing. Many mothers may unthinkingly change the diapers and not even wash the hands, and this dangerous practice can cause infection in the mother as well as in uncountable other individuals.

In America we might take a greater number of showers than any other nation of the world, but there is widespread negligence in attention to careful hygiene, especially hand washing. No wonder contagious infections, such as hepatitis, meningitis, flu, colds, encephalitis, food poisoning, and giardiasis, remain endemic in America.

Oil of Oregano helps reduce the risk of contracting microbial infections. It can be used both on the body and on inanimate objects. It may be added to soaps and body washes. It is a universal antiseptic, and there is no limit to the versatility of its uses. Let’s review some of the potential uses of oil of oregano for daily hygiene.

HAND WASHING TECHNIQUE
Add oil of oregano to soap. Obviously, pump soaps are the ideal medium. They are also preferable because bar soaps tend to breed bacteria, especially if they are left in the open air in bathrooms. If bar soaps are used, add the oil directly to the bar before washing. Be sure to add it to soaps when washing in public restrooms. To wash hands, pump soap in the palm and turn on the water. Vigorously wash hands and rinse with copious amounts of water. Dry by using a fresh linen or paper towel. Use a paper towel to open the door, if using a public washroom. Touching the door handle will re-contaminate the hands, and this causes infection.

SHOWERING
Add a few drops of oil of oregano to liquid or bar soap, and wash the skin gently yet thoroughly. For washing hair add a few drops to shampoo. The oil helps eradicate scalp fungus as well as mites, the latter being a cause of baldness. It also conditions the hair, giving it strength and texture. Avoid contact with eyes.

THE FEET and Nail Fungus
 The feet harbor a variety of microbes. In fact, they are one of the most commonly infected external sites on the body. Circulation in this area is poor, and this leads to sluggish local immunity. A variety of microbes may find residence in the skin of the feet, particularly between the toes, where moisture is retained. Foul odor is a dependable sign of poor health of the feet, as is the development of scaling or athlete’s foot.Toenails may readily become infected, particularly by fungi, although bacteria, such as Pseudomonas, may also infect them. Toenail infections are difficult to eradicate, because the infection beings deep within the nail bed, and the delivery of medicine to this region is difficult.

It is a little known fact that poor health of the feet affects the health of the entire body. Thus, for optimal health the feet must be kept clean and free of infection. Wash the feet often and be sure to keep the toenails well manicured. Clean any debris that might accumulate about the toenails or between the toes. Rub oil of oregano once or twice daily over the nail beds, the soles and between the toes. Don’t neglect the health of the feet; your body will pay a price as a result.

FINGERNAIL FUNGUS
Fingernail fungus is one of the major health problems of the modern world.
Fingernail fungus is caused primarily by the same organisms which cause ringworm nd athlete’s foot: the dermatophytes. The fungus invades the deep nail bed of the fingernail and takes up residence, feeding off the rich supply of keratin.

A number of factors increase the likelihood for the development of fingernail fungus. These factors include
--A high sugar diet
--Skin or hand contact with noxious chemicals
--The application of artificial nails
--Finger nail polish
--Alcohol abuse
--Poor Hygiene

Usually, it is thought that the infection arises from the outside environment, much like we might contract a cold or flu. In fact, the organism may arise from within the body and infect the nail bed through the bloodstream.

NAIL FUNGUS AND CHILDREN
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Be sure to educate children regarding the importance of hand washing. Oil of oregano and/or Tea Tree essential oil should be a part of every child’s school locker. Infections spread like wildfires in public establishments, especially schools. Instruct children to use the oils during hand washing to prevent the transmission of infection from child to child and also to prevent it from arriving at home.

Fingernail health is often neglected in children. Dirty fingernails transmit infection, as microbes readily live under the nail bed. In particular, parasites tend to reside under the nails, and from there they readily reintroduced into the body. The fingernails must be kept neatly trimmed. Wash the edges of the nail beds with a soap and oil of oregano solution. If this is done regularly, the incidence of infectious disease in children will be curbed dramatically.

PARONYCHIA
 Paronychia is a type of infection of the tissues surround the nail and nail bed. The skin directly surrounding the nail becomes infected. As there is very little space between the skin and nail bed when the region becomes swollen and inflamed, the infection results in great pain and pressure.

Paronychia is often caused by Candida infection, although infections by staph and strep are other prominent causes. The risk for infection is increased by poor hygiene and constant immersion of hands in water or soapy water. Contact of the hands with toxic chemicals increases the risk.

 Antibiotics are often prescribed for treating this condition. However, the problem is that antibiotics only kill bacteria, and Candida albicans is immune to them. Oil of oregano and Tea Tree essential oils are the ideal substance to use, since they are active against all of the organisms which cause paronychia, plus it aids in the relief of the pain, pressure, and swelling.

RINGWORM
Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin. Any part of the skin may be attacked; the most prominent sites include the scalp, face, back, chest, abdomen, legs, and arms. Ringworm is cause by a fungus known as tinea. This organism has a predilection of the skin and in fact, thrives upon a protein in the skin known as keratin. It lives on the keratin in the dead cells that are shed by the skin every day. Tinea is readily destroyed by oil of oregano; in fact, the organism is no match for it. Researchers have discovered that oil of oregano is directly toxic to tinea, and, when evaluated in the laboratory, it totally destroyed all species of the organism. If the oil is applied regularly, a complete resolution of ringworm should be evident in as little as a week.

There are powerful therapeutic, authentic essential oils that have been proven to kill the fungi that causes toenail and fingernail infection. If you have ever struggled with candida, you know it can be very difficult to eradicate. Fortunately, there are essential oils that can help eliminate nail fungus with none of the dangerous side effects seen in numerous medications, and they have been tested in medical labs and proven effective to kill fungus infections. Some of these oils are oregano, tea tree, pine needle, lemon, peppermint, and Myrrh.

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