It’s not embarrassing to admit that we are a little fearful of the affect of swine flu, H1N1 or whatever name it eventually assumes. By all indications, we have a right to worry. Judging by the 40 oz. containers of liquid hand sanitizers appearing on store shelves, we are the perfect audience for businesses to make a significant sum of money. They barely have to market the products as the expectation is by mid-October, those 61-62% alcohol products will be hard to find. That’s how panicked we are, and schools seem to have begun the semester with a liquid sanitizing mantra: A quick pump push and you’ll be OK.

For those who want to avoid the commercial approach, there are a few holistic strategies that seem to have a history of protecting from infection. One such is Cinnamon Oil. The claims seem supported by the research the article mentions, but maybe a more fascinating aspect is the link to Old World Safety and the ingredients of Thieves Oil. Studies indicate that the combination of aromatic herbs protects against antibacterial transmissions. Those of us who worry about killing the immune system from overuse of commercial hand sanitizers, should take note. The doctor mentioned in the article has his own home brew of lemon oil, eucalyptus, and cinnamon bark.

If you’re not allergic to the oils and herbs of the various home brews, you may be happier creating a mix that has some historical prominence in warding off infection.  As for simple hand-washing, it is not that simple, nor is protecting yourself and others after a cough or a sneeze. If you follow Elmo’s advice, you may stand a chance.

Holistic approaches; commercial products: It is a worrisome issue.