Whether on the news, the radio, or in social network streams, we’re hearing threats about the H1N1 Flu virus and according to the World Health Organization it’s a pandemic. I understand it’s a serious concern and sounds extremely scary, but rather than walking in fear I’ve decided to be proactive and use preventative measures. Proper hand washing is key and to take it a step further, practicing advanced hygiene. I’ll share more about that later.
I read recently that Novant Health, a staff of 26,000 (physicians, nurses, employees) helped to decreased MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) infections by 53% by promoting a campaign for proper hand washing through out their hospitals. What a difference– something that is as simple as hand washing can save lives!!
If washing hands can prevent such infections, it can also prevent colds and flu and other viruses. Several medical personnel are recommending ways to prevent the spread of the H1N1 Flu and one of them is to “Wash Your Hands!” It’s a simple rule of hygiene but unfortunately, not everyone will practice this basic health procedure.
Several years ago I read about an Australian Scientist; Kenneth Seaton, PhD, who coined the phrase “Germs don’t fly, they hitchhike,” and his belief is that germs travel through people contact as appose to airborne exposure. Dr. Seaton found that 80 percent of doctor visits were due to people touching their mouth, eyes, nose and skin with dirty finger nails.
The mouth, nose, ears, and eyes are all channels for germ distribution to our body and causing illness. As parents how often to do we tell our kids to keep their hands out of their mouth, or not to rub their eyes and stick their fingers up their nose? Adults are also guilty of this.
In an effort to help my kids build up their immune system and prevent colds and flu or germs from spreading, we began practicing advanced hygiene-hand wash a few years ago after reading about it in The Great Physician’s Prescription for Health & Wellness.
What is advanced hygiene?
Advance hygiene involves a process of cleansing around and under the finger nails where most people fail to do when they wash their hands. It’s not enough just to run your hands under water and soap. The method of advanced hygiene involves 5 steps and you can learn about it on Clenzology by Garden of Life.
For this post I want to focus on the advanced hygiene-hand washing. Advanced hygiene involves dipping the tips of your finger nails into a tub that contains creamy soap. Clenzology has no artificial fragrance or coloring. It’s made with essential oils, vitamin E, honey, and glycerin. It’s not an antibacterial soap. I’ve stopped buying antibacterial soaps a few years ago; but I’ll have to share more about that another time.
The key to advance hygiene is to get around the cuticles and under the finger nails, since 90 percent of germs reside under your nails. Practicing advanced hygiene and building up our immune system through healthy nutrition and supplements ei: multi-vitamins Ester-C, anti-oxidants and Vitamin D has kept us all in great health over the years.
Knowledge is powerful and it allows us to take action. Having discovered ways to stay healthy, I refuse to sit around waiting for the cold and flu season to plague my family nor do I expect it to. We get what we expect and our focus becomes our reality. So why not focus on ways to stay healthy! We’ll deal with it if comes our way; but meanwhile, I’m all for being educated and focus on doing what I know to stay healthy.
Below is my youngest son demonstrating advanced hygiene using the Clenzology hand soap…
Clenzology can be purchased at health stores and online. If you do not have access to Clenzology, I am sure there are other alternatives.
1. Dip fingers into the soap tub
2. Make sure to get soap around the cuticles and under the finger nails.
3. Massage soap around the cuticles, nail bed and under finger nails
4. Use a soft brush or tooth brush to scrub under and around nails
5. Rub access soap all over hands wash for at least 30 seconds in water as warm as your hands can tolerate (for kids, have them Happy Birthday or a nursery rhyme that will last at least that long) and rinse.
An extra minute or two to practice advanced hygiene will keep germs from spreading and protect you from catching colds, flu, germs, and harmful viruses!
“Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.” ~ 3 John 1:2, NLT
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Great article. News that we need to know and help spread the word about. Never head of this technique! Def stumbling and sharing with my family!
Wow. This is a great post, Duong. I’m going to print it out and give it to the director of our free tutoring program at church. Maybe we can send it home to the parents of the students we tutor as well.