In these days with the threat of SARS, there is a severe increase in the awareness of keeping personal hygiene and boosting up our immune system. Incorporating essential oils into your daily life is effective to create a healthier living environment and to support your immune system.
When you are in Soho Central, don't forget to pop down DK Aromatherapy, a holistic aromatherapy shop, which houses around 100 types of pure essential oils. Their friendly staff will help you to choose the appropriate essential oils.
There are many essential oils which have antiseptic, antiviral and anti-infectious effects, namely Tea Tree, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Thyme, Lemon and Ravensara. Among them, Ravensara (Ravensara aromatica) is highly recommended for its antiviral property. It is a gentle yet powerful essential oil which does not have the contra-indications such as high blood pressure, epilepsy and pregnancy that Eucalyptus and Wild Thyme contain.
Besides, Ravensara is a sedative oil that is very suitable to vaporize at night time. Use an electric vaporizer to diffuse Ravensara with Lemon and Lavender is a very good choice for babies and children as it is safe to burn at night and calming.

Essential Oil	Therapeutic Uses	Contra-indications
Tea Tree	Athlete's foot, candida, acne, colds, flu, coughs, fever, dandruff, bronchitis, asthma, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, immune stimulant	-
Lavender	Headache, insomnia, cuts, eczema, scars, sunburn, muscle spasms, insecticide, hypotensive, antiseptic, analgesic, immune stimulant	First trimester of pregnancy
Eucalyptus	Arthritis, bronchitis, catarrh, cold sores, colds, flu, coughs, fever, poor circulation, sinusitis, clears head	High blood pressure, Epilepsy
Thyme	Arthritis, colds, flu, tuberculosis, muscle aches, sciatica, flatulence, poor circulation, sore throat, aids memory	High blood pressure, Pregnancy
Lemon	Asthma, colds, flu, corns, lightens skin pigment, fever, oily skin, varicose veins, warts, poor circulation, constipation, antiseptic, aids concentration	Phototoxic
Ravensara	Immune stimulant, antiviral, colds, flu, whooping coughs, laryngitis, allergies, asthma, muscle fatigue, aids digestion, oedema, anxiety	-

For keeping household hygiene, you could blend 10 drops of Tea Tree or Lavender with 100ml distilled water to spray into the environment to create a clean and fresh start of the day. You could also spray this antiseptic blend onto furniture, door handles and windows and then wipe with a clean cloth. To keep the floor clean, you could put 5 drops of Lemon into a bucket of water to wash the floor. The nice aroma will linger throughout the day.
	Almost everybody is wearing mask in the public area nowadays. By putting one drop of Ravensara onto the mask (near the nose area) for direct inhalation and prevention of airborne bacteria can add some fun to this awkward routine. If you are a Lavender lover, you could choose Lavender as an alternative.
After hanging around all day out, you may want to refresh and kill the bacteria immediately. DK Aromatherapy carries three pre-blended shower gel: Tea Tree, Lavender and Peppermint. These antiseptic shower gels not only washes your dirts and toxins away, but also lessens the heaviness of cold and flu. What makes it more economical is that they could be used as a hand wash.
Besides maintaining a healthy diet, doing regular exercise and drinks lots of water, the best way to boost up your immune system is to receive regular aromatherapy massage. A treatment with a qualified aromatherapist can help to fight against your chronic pain and fatigue. The aromatherapist will help you to choose the appropriate essential oils for you to detox and de-stress. Unwind in a pollution free environment with some relaxing soft music, let the essential oils trigger your sense of smell and uplift your mood.