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.
