10 Ways to Improve Lung Health
In Chinese medicine, there two aspects to the lungs: anatomy and energetic function.
The lungs carry life-sustaining oxygen and chi to the whole body. Oxygen is the most essential nutrient- you can only go without out it for a couple of minutes. Impaired breathing and infection of the lungs can quickly decrease health making proper care a priority.
10 ways to care for your lungs:
1) Eat foods that support healthy lungs:
Almonds/ almond milk, carrots. parsnips, American ginseng, apricot kernels, warming foods and spices in cold weather, and green tea (our favorite: Calli (TM) tea from Sunrder.com that is 99.9% caffeine free with other food ingredients to help clear the chest and head area on congestion).
2) Use the best cooking method for the season:
Fall is the season of the lungs. In general, if the weather is cool, you want to eat foods that are warming. The Tao of Nutrition by Mao Shing Ni has charts of which foods are warming etc. Baking and broiling meats and veggies are the best cooking method in cool fall climates.
3) Avoid cold temperature foods and iced beverages which cause spasms in the lungs. Aim for body temperature meals.
4) Avoid phlegm-producing (another word for mucous) foods like refined sugar, cow’s milk/whey protein, refined flour, and citrus and raw veggies.
5) Practice proper breathing- It’s the foundation of health. Shallow inhales and chest breathing stresses the lungs and may worsen cough and asthma symptoms as well as increase pain, tension and anxiety. Learn how to belly breathe so that your diaphragm can move. Proper breathing in a slow and relaxed manner can decrease pain, stress, and tension, while calming and energizing your mind and body.
Practice 10 minutes per day to start. Join our Youtube channel for follow-along instruction on healthy breathing and chi gong exercises that all use relaxed breath work.
6) The emotion that injures the lungs is grief. If you suffer a loss, take the time you need to process sadness. All emotions are healthy when they are expressed and released, allowing the next phase in the cycle.
7) Work with a licensed acupuncturist for respiratory health. He or she may help you get symptomatic relief from breathing problems while addressing the root problem. Treatment may consist of acupuncture,
food and herbs prescription, and breathing exercises.
8) Prevent infection by getting acupuncture the day you start to feel sick. Your body has layers of protection from viruses, much like an onion has outer layer and inner layers. An acupuncturist may identify the exact pathogen you have contracted and give you the right treatment and herbal regimen to prevent the virus from getting deeper into your body.
9) Use an essential oil on your chest to open your sinuses. Example: Sunrider.com SunBreeze (TM) , a non-toxic oil or wax balm.
10) Play any wind instrument to build your lung capacity. Buy a pulmonica or bass harmonica (Amazon,com) if you have chronic respiratory problems or want to build and maintain health. These instruments vibrate the lower chambers of the lungs to clear severe congestion.
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