Covid-19 outbreak in Nghe An, incense sticks are in high demand
(Baonghean.vn) - In recent days, in Nghe An, the number of F0 cases has reached 2,000 cases/day. One of the methods to support the prevention and treatment of Covid-19 that many people choose is steaming leaves, essential oils... Therefore, steaming leaves and essential oils have increased in price and are very popular.
| Clip: Thanh Phuc |
Right after knowing I was F1 whenclose contact with F0, Ms. Nguyen Hoai Anh (My Ha hamlet, Hung Loc commune) was very worried. After learning and being instructed by a specialist to wash her nose, gargle with salt water and steam her nose and throat with leaves, she ordered aromatic herbs to steam to prevent disease for her whole family.
Ms. Hoai Anh said: “I am self-isolating at home and limiting going out, so I ordered steaming leaves including grapefruit peel, lemon leaves, lemongrass, ginger, and perilla through a Facebook account. 10 bundles of steaming leaves cost 200,000 VND, but you can only steam about 3-4 times. Compared to before, the price of steaming leaves has increased 2-3 times.”
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| Currently, the price of lemongrass at traditional markets has increased by 7,000 VND - 12,000 VND/kg (depending on the type). Photo: Thanh Phuc |
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha (Nguyen Chi Thanh Street, Hung Dong Commune, Vinh City) has maintainedaromatherapy bath and saunafor the whole family. Accordingly, in addition to steaming with leaves such as lemongrass, lemon leaves, grapefruit leaves, basil, perilla... Ms. Ha also buys lemongrass and ginger, grinds them, bottles them, stores them in the refrigerator, and pours them into warm water for bathing.
Ms. Ha said: “Every day, the whole family uses about 1kg of ginger and 1kg of lemongrass. Before Tet, the price of ginger and lemongrass was quite cheap, only 8-10,000 VND/kg. However, in recent days, the price of these two spices has doubled, even tripled compared to before. Although expensive, luckily there are still available products and compared to other modern medicines, they are still quite cheap, so the family still maintains the use of these spices for daily steaming and bathing.”
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| Perilla leaves have also increased in price and are chosen by many people to use as room fresheners and to treat Covid-19. Photo: Thanh Phuc |
Demand increases soherbal productsIn traditional markets, it is very popular and almost any vegetable stall also buys additional aromatic herbs to sell. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh, a vegetable vendor at Quan Lau market (Truong Thi ward, Vinh city) said: "Before, we only sold vegetables and roots. Since the 4th day of Tet, we have been selling lemongrass and various types of aromatic leaves. These items are quite popular, selling 40-50kg of lemongrass and 200 bundles of aromatic leaves every day."
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| The price of fresh ginger has increased by one and a half times compared to before Tet. Photo: Thanh Phuc |
The supply of herbs for steaming such as: basil, perilla… is mainly from the spice vegetable areas in the province such as: Hung Nguyen, Nam Dan, Dien Chau; while lemon and grapefruit leaves are mainly from fruit farms. Particularly, lemongrass and ginger are currently mainly taken from Nghia Dan, Do Luong, Ky Son and imported from other provinces.
Mr. Tran Dong, owner of a lemongrass farm in Dang Son, Do Luong said: “The 4 hectares of lemongrass in the alluvial area were previously mainly used to process essential oils and floor cleaners. However, currently, retailers are purchasing fresh lemongrass, including leaves and roots, at high prices, so I am selling this product to the market. Customers have called to order quite a lot, mainly wholesalers, buying by the truckload and then retailing in the localities. Currently, the price of fresh lemongrass in the field is 12-13,000 VND/kg.”
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| Traders buy fresh lemongrass right in the field. Photo: Thanh Phuc |
On Facebook, Zalo accounts, online business groups, the products of steaming leaves, steaming spices, essential oils... are also very active with many different prices. Currently, the prices of these products have increased from 5,000 VND - several tens of thousands of VND/product. According to the survey, currently, the price of 1kg of lemongrass ranges from 20-25,000 VND/kg; perilla 20-25,000 VND/bunch; mugwort 15-20,000 VND/bunch; ginger 20-25,000 VND/kg; lemon leaves, grapefruit 7-10,000 VND/tael...
Many families, wanting to save time and convenience, have chosen bottled essential oils or dried leaf packs for steaming and bathing. Currently, the prices of cajeput, lemongrass, grapefruit, cinnamon essential oils, etc. at grocery stores and drugstores are also quite attractive. Tools such as essential oil diffusers, steam pots, steam tents, etc. are selling quite well at many different prices.
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| Items such as essential oils, essential oil lamps, aromatherapy tents... are also in high demand. Photo: Thanh Phuc |
In the F0 home consultation program, BSCKII. Nguyen Trung Son, Center for Family Medicine and Community Health Care, Hanoi Medical University Hospital said that steaming with leaves should follow two methods. Specifically, the ingredients include lemongrass, lemon, mint, basil, ginger, garlic, grapefruit leaves, perilla, shiso, cajeput... Put the medicinal herbs in a pot, pour water over the medicinal herbs, cover the pot, bring to a boil, open the lid to let the steam saturate the essential oils and diffuse into the room.
The second method is lemongrass, lemon, mint, basil, grapefruit, cajeput, cinnamon essential oils..., dissolve the essential oils in 75% ethanol, shake well, put in a spray bottle, spray around the room, close the door for about 20 minutes, spray 2-3 times a day.
