Lung Health

Trauma, loss, grief, global pandemic, fires, smoke, reduced air qualtiy; these are current and recurring experiences for many of us during 2020 and 2021 that leave us struggling to pull relief and healing into our bodies and minds. I live in the knowing that all things are connected and I believe that the alignment of these incidents is no coincidence.  

The earth is hurting - gasping. And so are we.

By taking the time to administer mindfulness and care to ourselves, we are in turn sending that energetic medicine to the people around us as well as (and importantly to) the planet.

It is my hope that the following suggestions empower you to be pro-active for your health and thereby the health of every living thing.

(I am not a medical doctor and share these tidbits based on my own experience and those of my clients, friends, and family. Please always check with your health care professional before implementing changes to your diet or supplement use.)

If you are currently dealing with smoke from wildfires, live in a city, or industrial area these natural methods can support healing and healthy lungs and sinuses.

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION

Take precautions to stop or reduce the amount of particulates that enter your lungs.

Reduce the frequency and amount of time spent outdoors. When going outside, wear at least a N95 mask. These prevent 95% of the tiniest particulates from entering your lungs. 

GIVE YOUR LUNGS A PEP TALK!

Outloud, tell your lungs and self that your body is made for healing. Let your lungs know that you will do what you can to support their healthy function. 

Place your hands over your chest, breath slowly and speak words of gratitude and love to your lungs. 

TRY A CUP OF NETTLE TEA

Nettle tea is a natural antihistamine that helps to calm over sensitive airways and soothe inflammed tissues. 

DRINK GREEN TEA!

The antioxidants present in green tea have been shown to reduce inflammation in the lungs and may help to reduce long lasting, harmful affects of smoke inhalation. 

A study of 1,000 people living in Korea showed that individuals who drank at two cups of green tea per day had better lung function than those who drank none. 

***Bonus points for tasseomancy practice!***

EAT FOODS THAT REDUCE INFLAMMATION

(I've listed some of my favorites.)

Blueberries - Blueberries are one of the richest antioxidant (flavonoids and polyphenols) containing fruits. Adding them to your diet can help protect your lungs from damage.

Carrots - This vegetable contains beta-carotene which has anti-properties and can help heal mucous membranes.

Elderberries - Anti-inflammatory flavonoids in the berries keep airways functioning effectively. Studies have shown that ingesting elderberry tonic or syrup can help prevent respiratiory infections. 

Garlic - Easily added to salads and soups, or eaten roasted, garlic reduces phelgm and reduces inflammation.

Honey - Honey is an antioxidant and antibaterial agent. It is taken orally to treat coughs and used topically on burns and wounds to promote healing.

Pears - This tasty fall fruit supports the immune system and reduces phelgm production.

Tumeric - Acts as an expectorant helping to cleanse the lungs and reduces irritant-caused inflammation responses. 

Walnuts - This nut contains high levels of alpha-linolenic acid, a type of omega-3 fatty acid that is known for its anti-inflammatory properties.

STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART CHAKRA

This chakra is located at the center of your chest and has influence on the heart, lungs, thymus gland, and ribs. The lungs represent your ability to exchange vital life force energy through breath. Inadequate breath causes the lungs to depress which in turn, causes feelings of sadness and repression. 

One way to address and stimulate the heart chakra is by wearing the color green. Wrap yourself in a comforting green blanket, wear a green scraf, wear or carry green colored stones and crystals. 

Another method is to recite mantras such as: I release all grief to the Divine. I forgive myself. I forgive others. I release all bitterness and resentment. I project compassion. I accept and share healing. 

I encourage you to put at least one lung/respiratory support practice into place. You will benefit personally, and the energy set into our collective experience will benefit the earth and each of its inhabitants. 

Stay well. 

Stay safe.

Think of others.

Wear a mask.

As always, I wish you peace and grace.

~ Amber 

Seasonal Support

Healers of ancient cultures were astute observers of the natural world. They noted that the seasons and environment directly affect the various organs and meridians of the body. They observed that as the year progressed through the seasons, the body became more vulnerable to external factors like heat, cold, dampness and dryness. By understanding what seasonal transitions represent and including herbs and foods in our diets, we can maintain optimal health throughout the year.

Our ancestors depended on the bounty of the seasons to fill their plates. Diets consisted of what could be grown, foraged or hunted. Every season offered valuable contributions to the larder. Now we have the luxury of visiting a grocery store to stock our pantries with just about anything we want at any time. But there is more to eating seasonally than convenience; a seasonal diet is also connected with the harmonic nature of your overall health, your body, and your internal organs.

Preparing foods seasonally is linked to the changing of our digestive strength and needs which takes place each season. For instance, winter is traditionally a time to slow down, and meals often consist of warm, hearty stews, broths and soups with root vegetables. These foods feed the kidneys and the kidney meridian. Nourishing these areas helps to reduce emotinal fear, bolster a sense of stability, increase nutrients for bone health, and improves waste elimination.

A basic tenet of Traditional Chinese Medicne (TCM) is that each season is associated with a color related to the types of food eaten (green for spring, for example), as well as specific body organs and a taste that stimulates the organs. In short, our bodies are connected to the rhythms of seasonal cycles, so eating with the seasons is a natural methods of maintaining, detoxifying, and strengthening the body and its organs. 

According to TCM, five seasons are experienced and each corresponds with an element and organ/meridian system:

spring - wood - liver - green

summer - fire - heart - red

late summer - earth - spleen

autumn - metal - lungs and large intestine - white

winter - water - kidneys - black

Winter in TCM is associated with the kidneys which hold our body's most fundamental energy. It represents the slower, inward movement of our body's and mind's functions, this makes it an optimal time to nourish and replenish our kidneys. Foods that specifically warm and noursih the kidneys include; black beans, kidney beans, chestnuts, walnuts, bone broths, lamb, chicken, parsley and dark leafy greens. Goji berry (Gou Qi Zi), astragulus (Huang Qi), Chinese date (Da Zao), and marshmallow root (Yao She Kui) are beneficial herbs to supplement your winter diet and support kidney wellness.

Spring is the season of wood and the liver. Spring is the time for growth and renewal and the climate becomes windy. As spring approaches, we should consume light foods that help trasition into this season; young plants, sprouts, leafy greens, plums, wheat, ry, and barley flavored with rosemary, dill and basil. Herbs like milk thistle (silibum marianum) and Chai Hu (radix bupleuri) are ideally suited to liver health and its associated tissues - the eyes, tendons and ligaments.

Summer is the season of fire and the heart, the season of development, joy, activity, and creativity Cooling and hydrating food suited for transition into the heat include; warermelon, apricot, cantaloupe, mung beans, bamboo, lentil and chicken. Cooling herbs like chrysanthemum (Ju Hua), and mint (Bo He) make a lovely and hydrating summer tea.

Late summer is the fifth season recognized by Traditional Chinese Medicine. Its element is earth and its organ is the spleen. Its environment influence is humidity and dampness. And it is associated with digestion and nourishment. Foods that support the spleen are rice, millet, dates, ginger and beef. Herbs like poria mushroom (Fu Ling), jujube (Da Zao) and licorice root (Gan Cao) make a wonderful earth-nourishing tea.

Autumn is a season associated with wind and dryness. Therefore, it is important to cut back on raw foods and consume slow-cooked moisturizing foods such as apples, pork, pears, radish, cabbage, sweet pototoe, chilli, miso, almonds, onion, eggs, pickle, yogurt, plums, horseradish, grapes, ginger, cinnamon and cardamom. Ginseng root (Hu Tang), astragulus (Huang Qi), schisandra (Wu Wei Zi), and cordyceps mushroom (Dong chong Xia Cao) are the top Chinese herbs used for strengthening and protecting the lungs. 

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we are in the Late Summer to Autumn seasonal change. And, in addition to supporting our bodies dietarily, I suggest using this slowing time to bolster your mind and spirit. Learning to honor the changing needs of your body within the cycles of the seasons is a powerful way to reduce the risk of common seasonal concerns of body, mind, and spirit.

As mentioned above, TCM associates the lung and large intestine with autumn. During this season, they are the most vulnerable.

The lungs are associated with "taking in the new" and emotionally correspond with; grief, sadness, and attachment. When the flow of (and through) the lungs is balanced one can experience enhanced; clarity of thought, positive self-image, and surrending to and allowing inner peace and joy to exist regardless of circumstances.

The large intestine "releases the old" and emotionally corresponds with; inability to let go, uptightness, stubborness, stagnation, a negative outlook or mindset, and how we choose to flow through life. When the large intestine energy is balanced, one can experience increased; sense of relaxation, releasing of what no longer serves them. flowing with life vs. resisting it, and focusing on the day-to-day.  

Since autumn is a natural time of letting go and getting organized (look at the trees dropping leaves and animals organizing food and shelter for hibernation), a lack of awareness and action in this regard can lead to feelings of stagnation and lack of harmony with life's flow. Both of which can affect the health of your lungs and large intestine.

By increasing your self-awareness and taking action, you can ease into fall and winter reassured by the reserve of health, happiness, and strength you have created. 

As always, I wish you peace and grace.

~ Amber