By Anna Von Reitz
for at least 30 years. He was always quiet and alert and helpful, no-nonsense,
but kindly. He kept an eye on the kids in the parking lot, did his bit for
public safety, and carried on his business in a tidy, understated way that
everyone appreciated. And now, he's gone.
pneumonia. It developed this fall as soon as the fall rains set in and the
humidity spectrum changed to cold/wet outdoors and dry/dusty indoors. For many
people of a certain age, this annual shift in humidity factors is hard to take.
advantages of a simple indoor humidifier backed up with a few drops of essential
oil.
home-scale air purification system, either. So they suffer. And they die.
mucous membranes and makes them much less effective in filtering out harmful
bacteria, fungal spores, viruses, and other pathogens.
fall, and Mother Nature is having a full scale party for all the decay bacteria
and molds and spores and debris that comes with rain and leaf litter.
prevails.
of respiratory illnesses in fall, winter, and spring --- the so-called "indoor
season" or, more to the point, "flu season" of the year, and this is true
despite all the maladies of summer hay fever and other seasonal allergies that
cause a respiratory ruckus in summer, too.
me, have spent your lives sneezing because you are allergic to all dust,
including paper dust, or suffer from chronic sinus infections, you are probably
reading this and nodding, because the liturgy of the dust and humidity cycles is
all too-familiar.
didn't think a lot about indoor air quality. I was never in his store long
enough to think much about it, either, yet in retrospect, the large beer and
wine coolers were probably a happy habitat for many kinds of molds, and the
west-facing door must have brought in a lot of dust along with the prevailing
wind.
mask, like so many people faced with the task of serving the germaphobic public.
That trapped the dust and bacteria from his own mouth and recycled everything
and reduced the amount of oxygen in his system. Imperceptibly, he grew weaker
day by day.
their teeth and don't know that their own mouth is the Number One source of the
bacterial infections they face.
hunched over the cash register more than usual, but his voice was as strong and
"can do" as ever, and I didn't really look at him closely. The next day in the
afternoon, he simply keeled over. Too much fluid in the lungs. And he was gone.
been suffering from walking pneumonia and had been battling it for over a month.
non-chronic respiratory illnesses, and it is far more common than we think. It
is exacerbated by restricting the flow of air, poor air quality, airborne
pathogens, and by concentrating and re-breathing bacteria-laden air as many
people are now doing.
the role of bacterial pneumonia contributing to the death toll mistakenly
attributed to the Spanish Influenza, co-authored by none other than Dr. Fauci.
[Facebook friends will have to visit my website, www. annavonreitz.com
paper.]
don't end up like Bill?
humidifier. These are inexpensive and widely available and you simply choose
them according to how much space you need to humidify. Units will typically
cover anything from 250 square feet to 1000 square feet. Add water and keep it
clean and it can add comfort and years to your life. You can also do what
Grandma did, and boil an open kettle of salt water on the back of the stove,
though this is not nearly as constant as a supply source of water vapor and
costs more energy-wise.
germ-killing essential oil online or from a health food store. Many essential
oils have germ-killing properties, including all the citrus oils, peppermint,
eucalyptus, lavender, and the bad boy, oregano oil. During the holidays, you
might use balsam fir, cinnamon, or a touch of cloves. Adding a few drops to your
humidifier will boost the germ killing and nose protecting benefits.
access to fresh air. Once or twice a day, open a door or window, even in cold
weather, and let fresh air into the house.
use a mixture of coconut oil and oil of cloves (just a few drops) that works
miracles as a mouthwash. I also use an electric toothbrush which is hard to get
used to, but well-worth the expense and effort-- and the tiny little gum brushes
are now available to use like toothpicks, and dental floss, of course. Taking
care of your mouth and teeth pays many, many health dividends including reduced
respiratory infections.
allow for a conventional air purification system, consider "growing your own".
Spider plants, also known as Mother plants, are super-effective natural air
cleaners, as well as providing a high quality source of indoor oxygen. They are
among the hardiest and least fussy houseplants to grow, and they multiply like
crazy, so there are always abundant new plants to replenish your stocks and to
give away.
that can improve everyone's health this winter, is an electric blanket or heated
throw. These are safe, inexpensive, and can reduce temperature shock. We all
know what it is like to sleep in a warm bed versus sleeping in a cold bed. It
takes a while for a bed to warm up naturally, and takes body heat that may be
needed -- especially for elders, and especially for anyone battling a
respiratory infection.
for a few minutes while you are doing your nightly bathroom routine will warm up
your bed and make it an effortless pleasure to slip under the covers.
you love, consider giving them a gift of good health and comfort this winter.
They may look at you kinda funny, but when you explain the benefits and help
them get used to using these simple tools, you can all look forward to a more
comfortable and healthier winter.
Ultrasonic humidifiers; (2) Essential oils; (3) Electric toothbrushes; (4)
Houseplants; (5) Electric blankets or throws; (6) Winter boots with built-in ice
grips (the kind that won't harm floors); (7) Environmentally friendly ice
melter; (8) Snow removal services; (9) Home weather stations; (10) Wholetones
Music (promotes health of plants and animals); (11) Indoor exercise equipment --
light hand and ankle weights, resistance bands, balance boards, etc. (12)
ergonomic pillows to promote healthy sleep and proper neck support; (13) LED
Deitz-type lanterns you can carry easily; (14) warm socks, hand muffs, hats with
ear-flaps; (15) roomy vests with pockets; (16) daylight spectrum LED reading and
desk lights; (17) Fresh spices and dried herbs and Himalayan pink salt; (18)
Fresh raw nuts -- walnuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios; (20)
dried organic fruits --- raisins, plums, apricots, cranberries, mango.
Gifts --- of the sort you probably got from your own Grandma every year, along
with a sock monkey. Nothing too flashy or memorable, the sort of solid
inconspicuous things (like Grandma herself) that simply contribute in a humble
way to your health, to your comfort, and to your safety.
hygiene, and sufficient warmth are, along with a healthy diet, clean water, and
sufficient exercise, the pillars of good health and well-being that children
need to establish in their lives and which elders need to revisit on a regular
basis.
winter. Wrap everyone up in your love. And remember that a gift doesn't have to
be big, expensive, or flashy to be packed full of meaning and blessings.
community is grieving the loss in one way or another. We will miss his steady,
reliable service, his long open hours, the convenience of being able to "run
down to the corner store", his cheerful signage, his droll sense of humor and
willingness to laugh at the absurdities of the world. We will remember how he
lost his only child, a daughter, a few years back. How the whole community
sucked in its breath over the pain that caused him. In a world full of change
and uncertainty, Bill and his little store, Big Lake Liquor, were comforting
constants. Now, he's gone and the door is closed. Hail and farewell, old friend.
passing and the loss of yet another small town Mom and Pop private
business.