Our lungs are at the forefront of our bodies’ battles against toxins in the atmosphere. Depending on where we are, we could be breathing in car fumes, factory pollution, chemicals used in cleaning products, other peoples’ cigarette smoke – even, dare I say it, our own.
Bearing this in mind, it’s no wonder that our lungs can often show symptoms of toxin overload. Reported cases of asthma are steadily increasing with up to 15 million Americans affected, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Our sometimes less-than-perfect diets also lead to the build-up of fats and mucus in our lung tissue. Add to this the factor of anxiety and stress which can be exacerbated by poor breathing, and it becomes clear that our bodies could benefit from a deep lung cleanse.
Lung cleanses can be undertaken by breathing in an infusion, drinking a tea or herbal liquid, or by use of a paste plastered onto the lung area. They are often taken over a period of up to seven days to allow the full cleansing process to take place.
Common herbs used in a natural lung cleanse are Lotus Root, which is widely used in eastern medicine to support lung function, Mullein, used as an alternative treatment for asthma and other respiratory complaints, and Rosemary to control the production of mucus.
Holistic practitioners can provide even deeper lung cleanses which are not recommended to be attempted by untrained individuals. However many infusions and liquid lung cleanses can be widely bought at health food stores.
Depending on the current state of your lungs, within a few days of taking a lung cleanse you may notice an increase in coughing and sneezing while your body expels the excess mucus, but after a short while you should find your breathing improves, in some cases quite dramatically.
Smokers may find that cleansing the lungs is the first step on the difficult road of quitting. In fact, a cleanse is highly recommended after quitting to help clear the lungs of the long-term build-up of toxins, which will then help the longer, deeper healing of the damaged lungs to take place.
Once you have undertaken a cleanse, there are many ways to help maintain the health of your lungs. Deep breathing exercises can help fill the lungs with clean, fresh air, while clearing out the stale air that can remain deep in the lung cavity.
Breathe deeply through your nose, hold your breath for as long as is comfortable, then slowly breathe out through your mouth, and keep breathing out even when you think there is no more air left – you’ll be surprised! Your stomach will draw itself in and your diaphragm will rise, clearing the lungs of air that has stayed deep within them, and then replacing it with fresh air once you breathe in again. Obviously, this works best in clean air areas, not near a busy highway or a factory pumping out pollution! Up to five times is enough, any more and you may feel yourself getting lightheaded.
Take as many walks by the sea or in the mountains as you can. This also works wonders for our stress levels! Aerobic exercise, or exercise that focuses on breathing such as yoga, can also help the lungs stay strong.
Some people find that cutting down on gluten or dairy products can help prevent a build-up of mucus. Eating foods straight from the refrigerator is also not recommended as excess mucus is secreted to protect our blood from the cold.
And finally, it hardly needs saying – don’t smoke! Your lungs will thank you with many more years of healthy activity.
This article was written by Linda Kelly of HealthyNewAge.com, the natural treatment blog and web site.