I just wrote these up and have a lot more which I will add tomorrow. Any questions I will try to answer.
Lung and Breathing Support
There are many simple methods to help improve lung function, whatever the cause may be. Not everything works the same for everyone as each person is different. I have used most or all of these and find they help with my asthma. At times I have used inhalers 10 or more times a day, primarily living where there is mold all over the place (Big Island Puna side) or while living on a small lot and breathing in all the neighbor’s laundry smells. Now I use an inhaler maybe three times a year. Some of these can also be helpful when someone has flu or other respiratory ailment. They are listed in no particular order.
1. Steam inhalation – simple, old timey and works very well. Bring 3 to 4 quarts of water (non-chlorinated, or if you use city water, boil it for a while to boil off the chlorine, breathing chlorine gas is NOT what you want. (Better yet, get a water purifier, I recommend Berkfeld). Pour the steaming hot water into a large bowl on a table. Sit and breathe in the steam, towel on head if desired. I prefer to have a small towel funneling the steam to nose but not having my entire head steamed. Breathe until the water stops steaming. Essential oils can be very helpful as well.
2. Use essential oils to help open all the breathing passages. Eucalyptus is of course the old standby, but adding some others to make a blend is even more effective. I make a blend with about 1/2 to 1/3 Eucalyptus, with additional Peppermint, Fir, Pine, Spruce, Basil, Tea Tree, Camphor, Wintergreen and a little Thyme. Any of these will be helpful. They can be used in a hot bath (stir before getting in as they stay on the surface and will irritate sensitive areas if not dispersed), in steam inhalations, in any kind of aromatherapy diffusers, sprinkled on clothing or pillows, sprinkled on a hot wood stove, or on a handkerchief tucked into a pocket.
3. Hot Compresses – these are especially helpful in respiratory illness or when breathing problems are more troublesome. Fill a bowl with hot but not boiling water. Have rubber gloves as the water should be too hot for the hands, and 4 washcloths or two small towels. It helps to have two people but one person can do it for themselves if need be. The person getting the compresses should sit comfortably and have no shirt, and a wool or warm shawl or other item to cover up with. EOs can be added to the water.
Put all wash cloths or small towels into the hot water, take two washcloths (or one small towel ) out and wring well but not dry, just not dripping. Spread on the upper/middle back and cover up. The washcloth/towel should feel as ht as tolerable but not painful. As soon as it is cooled down to warm, switch with the w.cloths/towel in the bowl and repeat, this time on the upper chest area. It helps to have a lid to cover the bowl with so the water stays hot. Repeat the compresses 3X on the back and 3X on the front, alternating. When finished, the person should dress warmly and relax. The hot water can then be used for a hot foot soak which is very soothing and therapeutic for illness. Usually the person feels so relaxed it’s nap time or bed time!
3. Practicing deep breathing is very helpful for increasing lung functioning and getting rid of phlegm or mucus in the lungs, or for people who used to smoke. I experienced this 9 years after quitting smoking, I started to run and did a lot of deep breathing and after some time coughed out gobs of black stuff. I was amazed…Very brisk walking would be better, but only in clean areas, ocean air is excellent. Breathing car and truck exhaust deeply will not help!
Slow, deep abdominal breathing can be done sitting or lying, and there are various hatha yoga breathing excercises that are also very therapeutic. Any kind of deep slow complete breathing to empty the lungs completely can be practiced daily or even twice daily.
4. This brings up air quality. It is said that often the most toxic air is in the home. As noted earlier on the thread, carpets, upholstery, drapes and other items are usually made from artificial fibers and have other things such as foams which outgas formaldehyde and toxic glues, etc. Seriously, wood or tile floors are much better for people with any kind of breathing issues. Keeping dust at a minimum is much easier without carpets. I use an Ionic Pro air filter and I find it very helpful; there are other kinds of filters but I like the Ionic Pro as there are no filters to buy and it neutralizes VOCs as well as collects dust and mold.
5. Another part of air quality is avoiding the use of products which have artificial fragrances. Many people with asthma react badly to them, and people who thought they had no problems, feel much better when using only non-perfumed products. I have done research on this topic and found that almost all perfumes/fragrances, no matter how advertised, are made from petroleum by-products, with some from coal tar. Unless a label says “only pure essential oils”, it is artificial. Not only artificial fragrances aggravate lung and breathing problems, but can cause a host of other conditions, such as but not limited to skin rashes, sinus pain and problems, headaches, difficulty with thinking and remembering, nausea, etc.
More and more products add perfumes, often to mask other odors (even WD-40 now adds perfume!) or to make the inside environment smell “nice” even if it is not clean. Thankfully, there are more “natural” or at least non-fragranced household and personal care products available as there is a large demand; as more and more people are realizing that artificial perfumes make them feel sick.
I practice most of these and I love EOs. Unfortunately the EOs that are good for lung health are very bad for seizures so I have to avoid most of them, even rosemary.
I stick mostly to the citrus EOs.
I practice most of these and I love EOs. Unfortunately the EOs that are good for lung health are very bad for seizures so I have to avoid most of them, even rosemary.
I stick mostly to the citrus EOs.
elderberry pinging
mark
To make it easier, I will copy and repost some of the useful comments about breathing difficulties and lung support that may be helpful.
Lung and Breathing Support
There are many simple methods to help improve lung function, whatever the cause may be. Not everything works the same for everyone as each person is different. I have used most or all of these and find they help with my asthma. At times I have used inhalers 10 or more times a day, primarily living where there is mold all over the place (Big Island Puna side) or while living on a small lot and breathing in all the neighbor’s laundry smells. Now I use an inhaler maybe three times a year. Some of these can also be helpful when someone has flu or other respiratory ailment. They are listed in no particular order.
1. Steam inhalation – simple, old timey and works very well. Bring 3 to 4 quarts of water (non-chlorinated, or if you use city water, boil it for a while to boil off the chlorine, breathing chlorine gas is NOT what you want. (Better yet, get a water purifier, I recommend Berkfeld). Pour the steaming hot water into a large bowl on a table. Sit and breathe in the steam, towel on head if desired. I prefer to have a small towel funneling the steam to nose but not having my entire head steamed. Breathe until the water stops steaming. Essential oils can be very helpful as well.
2. Use essential oils to help open all the breathing passages. Eucalyptus is of course the old standby, but adding some others to make a blend is even more effective. I make a blend with about 1/2 to 1/3 Eucalyptus, with additional Peppermint, Fir, Pine, Spruce, Basil, Tea Tree, Camphor, Wintergreen and a little Thyme. Any of these will be helpful. They can be used in a hot bath (stir before getting in as they stay on the surface and will irritate sensitive areas if not dispersed), in steam inhalations, in any kind of aromatherapy diffusers, sprinkled on clothing or pillows, sprinkled on a hot wood stove, or on a handkerchief tucked into a pocket.
3. Hot Compresses – these are especially helpful in respiratory illness or when breathing problems are more troublesome. Fill a bowl with hot but not boiling water. Have rubber gloves as the water should be too hot for the hands, and 4 washcloths or two small towels. It helps to have two people but one person can do it for themselves if need be. The person getting the compresses should sit comfortably and have no shirt, and a wool or warm shawl or other item to cover up with. EOs can be added to the water.
Put all wash cloths or small towels into the hot water, take two washcloths (or one small towel ) out and wring well but not dry, just not dripping. Spread on the upper/middle back and cover up. The washcloth/towel should feel as ht as tolerable but not painful. As soon as it is cooled down to warm, switch with the w.cloths/towel in the bowl and repeat, this time on the upper chest area. It helps to have a lid to cover the bowl with so the water stays hot. Repeat the compresses 3X on the back and 3X on the front, alternating. When finished, the person should dress warmly and relax. The hot water can then be used for a hot foot soak which is very soothing and therapeutic for illness. Usually the person feels so relaxed it’s nap time or bed time!
3. Practicing deep breathing is very helpful for increasing lung functioning and getting rid of phlegm or mucus in the lungs, or for people who used to smoke. I experienced this 9 years after quitting smoking, I started to run and did a lot of deep breathing and after some time coughed out gobs of black stuff. I was amazed…Very brisk walking would be better, but only in clean areas, ocean air is excellent. Breathing car and truck exhaust deeply will not help!
Slow, deep abdominal breathing can be done sitting or lying, and there are various hatha yoga breathing excercises that are also very therapeutic. Any kind of deep slow complete breathing to empty the lungs completely can be practiced daily or even twice daily.
4. This brings up air quality. It is said that often the most toxic air is in the home. As noted earlier on the thread, carpets, upholstery, drapes and other items are usually made from artificial fibers and have other things such as foams which outgas formaldehyde and toxic glues, etc. Seriously, wood or tile floors are much better for people with any kind of breathing issues. Keeping dust at a minimum is much easier without carpets. I use an Ionic Pro air filter and I find it very helpful; there are other kinds of filters but I like the Ionic Pro as there are no filters to buy and it neutralizes VOCs as well as collects dust and mold.
5. Another part of air quality is avoiding the use of products which have artificial fragrances. Many people with asthma react badly to them, and people who thought they had no problems, feel much better when using only non-perfumed products. I have done research on this topic and found that almost all perfumes/fragrances, no matter how advertised, are made from petroleum by-products, with some from coal tar. Unless a label says “only pure essential oils”, it is artificial. Not only artificial fragrances aggravate lung and breathing problems, but can cause a host of other conditions, such as but not limited to skin rashes, sinus pain and problems, headaches, difficulty with thinking and remembering, nausea, etc.
More and more products add perfumes, often to mask other odors (even WD-40 now adds perfume!) or to make the inside environment smell “nice” even if it is not clean. Thankfully, there are more “natural” or at least non-fragranced household and personal care products available as there is a large demand; as more and more people are realizing that artificial perfumes make them feel sick.