March 2006


Words from us…

Wayne’s World
With our respiratory tract constantly under siege so to speak, we need to take care by resting well and hydrating our cells with good quality water (Eon).  Take it easy on yourself also.  Alkalize the whole body with vegetables and fruits, and start using green drinks on a daily basis.  Check out our “Green’s Section” from manufacturers such as New Chapter, Jarrow, and Aloe Life.  Lots to choose from there.  Dairy foods such as milk, cheese, and ice cream exacerbate congestion.  Herbs that are useful include yarrow, garlic, osha, cayenne, echinacea, and astragalus.  Stay Healthy! offers many quality respiratory formulas to be used as directed with plenty of water.  Important supplements include beta-carotene, zinc lozenges, buffered vitamin C and a good daily multiple vitamin and mineral formula.  N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is a great amino acid combination for getting mucus loose.  It works!  Exercise is a powerful stimulant for a sluggish lymphatic system.  One can also break up congestion and mucus with postural drainage and percussion to the back.  Inquire of our staff for more information and literature.  Stay Healthy!
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Jenny's Jive:   You can live a week without water, but only seconds without air! For centuries hot, spicy & pungent foods have helped clear the lungs and breathing passages by thinning mucus and encouraging it to move along. Ginger is an expectorant food. It helps clear phlegm from the bronchial tube and is valuable in asthma, bronchitis and tuberculosis of the lungs. Honey is a mucus clearing food. It helps remove mucus and phlegm from the bronchial tube. Honey thins out accumulated mucus and helps its elimination from the respiratory passages. Honey also prevents the production of further mucus. Foods not only nourish our bodies, but possess great healing properties. Many foods provide benefits for respiratory health. Open yourself to the possibility that food IS medicine!

Jeff's Positive Vibrations:  Chronic pulmonary diseases have increased in the last decade. Environmental and heavy metal pollutants, such as fluorocarbons and smoke, and general malnutrition along with vitamin A deficiency, have caused more problems with our respiratory health. Suppressive over-the-counter cold and congestion remedies become a factor in aggravating problems when they don’t allow the lungs to eliminate harmful wastes properly. Some medications damage the lungs and can cause drug-induced lung disease. Alkalize the body with fresh fruits, high chlorophyll greens, sea greens, and non-gluten grains like brown rice or millet in a 4 : 1 ratio over acid-forming foods. Drink plenty of non-dairy fluids, like water, juices, herb teas or broth to hydrate and flush. Milk congests and constipates. Aloe vera juice helps the body increase nutrient uptake and absorption which helps your minerals increase oxygen. Lemons are very cleansing and alkalizing while grapefruit and pineapple juices are natural expectorants. Olive leaf and oregano are anti-viral and anti-bacterial, helping clear infections and thinning excessive mucous secretions. Chlorella, spirulina and barley grass speed up lung cleansing. Bromelain (an enzyme from pineapples), quercetin (a bioflavonoid) and vitamin C help protect the lungs and increase lung function. Another important health tip for the lungs--- INCREASE YOUR EXERCISE!!!

Emily Ideas: Let’s take a look at Respiratory Tissue States and how they correspond to Western Herbal Energetics.  The first tissue state is HEAT/EXCITATION, and the symptoms of a hot, excited respiratory state include inflammation, allergies, and asthma.  Herbs that help assist healing here are cool herbs such as rose petals or hips, wild cherry bark, and hawthorn berry.  The second tissue state is WIND/CONSTRICTION, with a symptom of a spasmodic cough.  Herbs that help relax this excess tension include lobelia, blue cohosh, and agrimony.  The DRY/ATROPHY tissue state exhibits symptoms such as a dry, unproductive cough, and recurrent respiratory infections.  Herbs that help moisten and soothe the tissues are marshmallow root, mullein, anise seed, pleurisy root, and slippery elm bark.  The tissue state of DAMP/RELAXATION will produce free secretion of fluids, and chronic sinusitis.  Astringent herbs will help correct this imbalance, and includes red raspberry leaf, red root, eyebright, white oak bark, and sage.  A tissue state that is TOXIC/STAGNATION will cause thickened mucus, yellow-green discharge, and swollen membranes.  Herbs that assist here are elecampane, dandelion root, and poke root (poke in small quantities only).  The last tissue state COLD/DEPRESSION will have symptoms of a sudden chill causing a cold or flu.  Herbs to help here are warming stimulants such as cayenne, garlic, ginger, turmeric and thyme.

J.C. Speaking Words of Wisdom
The way you breathe has a lot to do with how you feel, physically and emotionally. All ancient sages and systems of health regard breathing as the first and most important aspect to health. Chi-Kung (energy work) is a system of healing that has been around for over six thousand years. Chi-Kung is a system of gentle movements combined with specific breathing techniques and healing sounds. Chi-Kung can really benefit respiratory health because most people have never learned how to breathe deep and rhythmically.  The main differences in the air between healthy outdoor environments and unhealthy or harmful outdoor environments are the levels of negative ions, ozone, and pollutants.  Pollution has been the biggest factor in the majority of respiratory issues and the air is getting worse. Look into air purifiers, ionic air purifiers, ozone generators, HEPA air cleaners, etc. Remember the air in your house is usually worse then the air outside. There are many different herbal formulas that can help with respiratory health. Planetary Formulas “Mullen Lung Complex”, one of my favorites, has been well- documented with clinical studies on its effectiveness. Other herbs I like for respiratory health are oregano oil, cayenne-ginger combination and thyme. Inhaling eucalyptus, rosemary or peppermint oil is great for immediate relief of congestion and stuffiness.
"Improper breathing is a common cause of ill health." -  Andrew Weil, M.D.
Knowledge applied is wisdom…

Basic Lung Function Illustration: