Maintain good hygiene (i.e. conditions and practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease):
Wash hands frequently – for 30-60 seconds of scrubbing each time with soap and water and maintain good hygiene practices at home.
Be mindful of social hygiene (maintaining safe distances from others, wearing masks when needed).
Work on internal hygiene (what you eat and how you manage your stress and support your own health).
• Make sure the house (especially the “sick room” for affected individuals) is fresh and well ventilated.
Consider a high-quality air filtration system if needed.
Burn pure cappings’ beeswax candles to purify air with the refreshing detoxifying negative ions emitted. Avoid burning paraffin (or paraffin mixes) which does the opposite.
Keep plants in the living space to detoxify the air but not in the bedroom, at least not at night, since they also use oxygen when it is dark.
Himalayan salt lamps also help freshen the air.
In caring for others:
Avoid unnecessary close contact with sick people, but do not shy away from providing loving care when needed.
Be vigilant about barrier and hygiene protection when called for.
Limit movement of sick people to minimize shared space and give them more peace and quiet.
Caretakers for older individuals should ideally be healthy young adults.
Learn to have empathy with a measure of objectivity. (That is one place where a good and kind sense of humor can be most helpful – to keep things in perspective.) Try to understand what is going on and think about what you can best do to help that person on their path in their life at that moment (even if it is just to listen) rather than being drawn into the trauma, loss, despair, malaise, and “angst” of the other (and of the world around us).
Stay flexible and make an effort to understand the other person/people rather than pushing your own agendas (what you think they should need or have) on them. Offering to help is most useful (and appreciated) when you stick to what they would like.
• Practice daily hygienic/therapeutic eurythmy exercises (see a therapeutic eurythmist).
Do regular chamomile steam inhalation (10-20 min. weekly to daily depending on circumstances),
Breathing in steam from a handful of chamomile flowers in hot water – in a warm protective atmosphere, followed by 30-60 min rest (warm & bundled up). If loose chamomile flowers are not available, you can try opening up a tea bag or two in the bowl. This is both useful as a prophylactic measure to keep lungs warm, clear, and effective and as a helpful therapy to loosen congestion, soothe irritated mucous membranes, open plugged ears (eustachian tubes) and speed up healing of a cold, cough, or sinus infection. To do a chamomile steam inhalation treatment: – boil water – pour it into a large bowl or pot (on the table) over a handful of loose chamomile flowers – sit next to it with a large towel creating a tent over your head and the chamomile, – breathe in the steam slowly and deeply through your nose and mouth for 10-20 min. – bundle up with a hat over your head and rest for 30-60 min. after the treatment. This can be done with small children by creating a tent under a table (wrapping the hot pot with a towel to prevent burns) and sitting under it with them, with a story or game to keep them quiet as needed.
Re-read these recommendations weekly/regularly to remind yourself and focus on making positive changes. Prioritize them for yourself and make a plan.
