May 2005


Words from us…

Wayne’s World
Our upper respiratory tract is composed of our nose, nasal cavity, sinuses, pharynx (throat), and larynx (voice box). Main functions here consist of directing air into the respiratory system, hairs that stop entrance of large particles, conducting, warming, and humidifying air, mucus trapping of smaller particles and bacteria, enhancing the quality of the voice, directing food to the stomach and air to the lungs and aiding sound/speech production. The lower respiratory tract consists of the trachea, the bronchial tree, and lungs (alveolar walls, blood vessels, connective tissue, nerves, and lymphatic vessels). Functions here consist of directing and filtering air and receiving oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide and other gases. According to authors Daniel Gagnon and Amadea Mornigstar in their book, “Breath Free”, there are some important things to remember when caring for your respiratory system. First, if you’re not getting better in 3 to 5 days or getting worse, see a knowledgeable health care practitioner. Productive coughing is mucus coming up and should not be suppressed, but a dry irritating cough which is exhausting you or preventing sleep can be suppressed. Remember that fever is useful and helps fight off infection. If fever exceeds 104◦ for a prolonged period of time, it is a danger. With fever, ensure adequate fluids and electrolytes and use cold soaks in place of aspirin. One can help break up congestion and mucus with postural drainage and percussion to the back. Heat to the chest with hot packs, tiger balm, rubs, and heating pads will also break up lung congestion. Healthy lungs use only 2 to 3 percent of the body’s total energy during normal quiet respiration. If a lung(s) is diseased, that figure jumps to 33 percent. On the average a person takes about 12 breaths a minute or 17,280 breaths a day! The right lung is larger then the left one and has 3 lobes to the left’s 2. One side of the sinuses is engorged with blood for one hour and then it’s the other side’s turn. It is a very remarkable system all told. Rest well and hydrate your cells with good quality water (EON). Inquire of our staff for the right supplements and herbs to keep you breathing free. Stay Healthy!        
Thank you so much for your patronage. Stay Healthy!

Jenny's Jive:  You can live only about two minutes without oxygen although you can live without water for about one week. Within 24 hours, most adults circulate about 2,500 gallons of air through their lungs, so it is important to make each breath count.  It is been known for centuries that hot, spicy, pungent foods can help clear the lungs and breathing passages. They do so by thinning mucus and encouraging it to move along. Aniseed is a  popular spice and a flavoring agent and a valuable mucus clearing food. It possesses expectorant properties and helps remove phlegm from the bronchial tube. Ginger is an expectorant food. It helps clear phlegm from the bronchial tube and is valuable in asthma, bronchitis and tuberculosis of the lungs. A teaspoon of fresh ginger juice, mixed with a cup of fenugreek decoction and honey to taste, is an excellent medicine in treatment of these conditions. Honey is a mucus clearing food. It helps remove mucus and phlegm from the bronchial tube. It is said that if a jug of honey is held under the nose of an asthma patient and he inhales the air that comes into contact with the honey, he starts breathing easier and deeper. The effect lasts for about an hour or so. Honey usually brings relief whether the air flowing over it is inhaled or whether it is eaten or taken either with milk or water. 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 as noted above, possess great healing properties. Many foods provide benefits for respiratory health. Open yourself to the endless possibilities that food is our medicine.

Jeff's Positive Vibrations:  Lung and respiratory diseases have increased dramatically in just the last decade. Air, water and environmental pollutants may have finally reached an overload point on the general population, when having a congestive “cold” is more common than breathing free. During high risk seasons, almost a third of Americans have a cold every 2 or 3 weeks. Cold symptoms are your body’s attempt to cleanse itself of wastes and toxins that have built up to the point where your immune system cannot handle or overcome them. Your glands are always affected as the body works through all its detoxification processes. Is your body showing signs that it needs a lung and respiratory cleanse? Chronic phlegmy cough? Do you wheeze with asthma? Stuffy head with congestive allergies? Bronchitis or severe sinusitis? Highly sensitive to chemicals and pollutants? Runny nose in any weather? A smoker? Well, any program to overcome chronic respiratory problems is usually more successful when begun with a short lung cleansing diet. Use alkalizing foods like fresh fruits, high chlorophyll greens and sea greens, and non-gluten grains like brown rice or millet. Drink plenty of non-dairy fluids, like water, juices, herb teas or broth to hydrate and flush the body. Come into Stay Healthy! where our knowledgeable staff will always help you to breathe a little easier.

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 five thousand years. Chi-Kung is a system of gentle movements combined with specific breathing techniques and healing sounds. God said “let there be light”, showing the power of sound to move and transform energy. Using the healing sound Sssss, cleanses the negative emotions of sadness and grief from the lungs. Chi-Kung can really benefit respiratory health because most people have never learned how to breathe deep and rhythmically. I have personally practiced Chi-Kung for over five years at the “ Lohan School of Shaolin” and can honestly tell you that my health has improved remarkably. 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.
"Breathing control gives man strength, vitality, inspiration, and magic powers." -   Chuang Tzu
Knowledge applied is wisdom…

Nik Notes:  One of the biggest problems for city kids is asthma, particularly for those children living in the heart of the city.  Due to any number of causes the majority of these children are in the racial minority.  According to the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute,”The incidence of asthma is especially pronounced in Hispanic and African-American inner-city communities.  It is estimated that 20 to 30% of Puerto Rican children living in inner cities have asthma. This is the highest reported rate among Americans.  Deaths among African-American children make up more than 22% of asthma deaths.  As more individuals smoke, lung cancer incidence increases and kills more Hispanic men than women. Unfortunately today, Hispanics, as a major population group, represent the highest increase in use of tobacco products, and lung cancer is the number one cancer killer.”  These statistics can be interpreted in many ways, so come to your own conclusions, but understand that these numbers are based on real people, some of whom are no longer with us.  Enjoy your lung capacity and do your best to breathe!