"Broken Nurses Research"
As we in New Zealand, like the rest of the world, come to realise that COVID-19 and the long covid effects are going to be around for a while yet, it is only natural that people are looking for solutions to help. You may wonder what qualifications do I have to comment- firstly I am a registered nurse with past experience in critical care, I am also trained in clinical aromatherapy for over 25 years, have studied, researched and taught it. My doctorate degree explored the use of essential oils in the side effects of cancer treatment. I maintain my currency by reading scientific journals and attending scientific conferences. I don't listen to marketing. I have recently completed a review of some 250 clinical studies on aromatherapy.
First up I am going to be very frank and that vaccination is the first and most important tool in our toolbox. Without this the virus will continue to mutate and seek out the most vulnerable. This is already happening in the countries of Africa, where there are low vaccination numbers and other strains emerging. Barely a year ago the global community could only hope a vaccine could be developed, and now there are several available. this blog post is not about the merits of one type of vaccine against another. Science and history tells us vaccines save lives, and for COVID-19 if we are unlucky enough to catch it even though vaccinated, it significantly reduces the severity of our symptoms and reduces the chances of us needing hospital care.
Let me also be very clear, COVID-19 is not 'just a flu' (remember influenza is also a potentially fatal infection and not something to be brushed off). Just a few short years ago we had the Swine flu in NZ and healthy young people died.
(c) Wendy Maddocks 2021
Geographical location has an impact on efficacy https://www.essencejournal.com/pdf/2021/vol9issue2/PartA/6-6-70-303.pdf
Kia ora
thanks for watching the presentation!
The presentation is now publicly available here. This link takes you to the youtube link.
here is the reference list for the presentation. Please note the two articles are still with the journal publishers being reviewed and will they are accepted for publication I will post links here. This reference list is just of the articles which I reviewed and is not the entire reference list for the articles.
the link to the list is here
Best wishes Wendy
The use of natural supplements and remedies by New
Zealanders during the 2020 COVID 19 Lockdown: Survey
Dr. Wendy Maddocks (RN, DHlthSc) wendy.maddocks@canterbury.ac.nz
July 30, 2020
This survey was completed just after
the level 4 COVID 19 lockdown in May 2020. The survey was live for two weeks
when the country moved to level 3 and before level 2 commenced. You indicated
you would like a copy of the results. Please be assured your results could not
be personally identified in the study and the request for results was separated
from the survey.
A full analysis
and article has been submitted for publication in an international peer
reviewed journal July 30 2020. This is an executive summary of the key findings
of the study. Some details have been omitted to protect privacy of
participants.
The request to
participate in the online survey was posted on Facebook, Linked In, Twitter and
several online chat forums and participants were asked to share the survey with
their own networks.
A total of 124
surveys were completed correctly with all participants indicated they used some
form of natural remedies.
Demographics
89% of respondents
were female and 79% were aged between 36-65 years old.
80.73% respondents
identified as New Zealand European/Pākeha
95% of respondents
spent lock down in their own home
No respondents had
tested positive for COVID 19 or been in quarantine or isolation at that time
Results
31.7% had
increased their use of natural remedies and supplements in direct response to
the risk of COVID19. Supplements chosen had a perceived antiviral or immune
boosting effect. Vitamin C was the most popular remedy chosen. Most people
purchased their supplements either at a supermarket or pharmacy with only 6.5%
obtaining supplements from a qualified practitioner. Five percent of
participants prepared their own remedies. Around 40% told their Dr or
registered health professional about their use of supplements or natural
remedies. The remainder either didn’t or were selective in what information
they gave depending on what they were seeing the Dr. about. The following
images provide further summary of findings.
Full article available by subscription from https://journals.cambridgemedia.com.au/ajhnm
Table 1
|
Remedy/Supplement |
% used |
|
Vitamin C |
62.14% |
|
Multivitamin/mineral supplement |
57.14% |
|
Commercial herbal teas |
43% |
|
Essential oils/aromatherapy |
35.58% |