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Re-posting some information from way back on the thread, possibly useful for current flu (high in most states right now) and/or WuFlu.

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.

Lung and Breathing Support Part Two

Here are some more helpful methods for assisting lung function; whether temporary such as during an illness, or for people were chronic problems..

1. The practice of using a neti pot is generally supportive of breathing in general; helps clear the sinuses and is very useful for people with allergies. It is neither painful nor uncomfortable; quite the reverse, when done properly – especially with the right amount of salt in the water – it is very relieving and safe to do daily.

Once a client with very severe allegies (and he was worked in a bank dealing with mortgages and had to talk to people all day) started using a neti about 4 to 5 times a day, as well as other measures I recommended, and in a few weeks his allergies were so minimal that it was quite miraculous. I have an article about how to do neti which I will post later.

2. Applying oil into the nostrils – this is especially helpful in winter when the air inside houses is dry because of indoor heat, and winter is when more people get sick. But it’s good any time of the year. A neutral oil (refined sesame is my favorite, or mixed with coconut, almond oil works too) is inserted into each nostril, I just use my little finger.

There is an Ayurvedic practice of actually dropping a few drops into each nostril and “snurfling” it up, which I have done. Just rubbing it inside the nose as far as possible is easier. The best kind of oil has some essential oils in it (any of the ones listed in Part One above) adds to the efficacy. Be very careful about not adding too much EO to plain oil.

This helps open sinuses, thus opening upper breathing passages; protects delicate mucus membranes inside the nose thus helping to prevent viruses or bacteria from gaining a foothold, and also helps the mind stay alert, especially when EOs are used in the oil.

3. Lungs are affected by what we eat and drink. Cold foods and drinks cause any excess secretions including mucus or phlegm, to increase and coagulate so more is generated and it is harder to cough/hack etc it out. Therefore, refrigerator cold foods and drinks, and especially frozen ones, are contraindicated for people with breathing issues.

Since I have asthma and get very affected by smoke, and I live in SW OR where breathing smoke all summer has become almost habitual, I have to be very cautious with iced drinks etc even in the hottest weather. I can feel the impact on my breathing within hours. I eat ice cream maybe once every few years.

Hot drinks and warm foods are much better for people with breathing issues or during respiratory related illnesses. This includes not just hot temperatures, but spicy hot. Ginger tea is very good and I will post some recipes later today. Best is fresh ginger root. Other spices help with clearing the lungs such as cinnamon, cardamom, chili peppers, black pepper, ginger powder as well as fresh ginger, and cloves.

Any kind of hot drinks can have pinches of any of these spices added to them and you can make a blend (say ginger, cinnamon, cloves) and keep in a jar to add to black or green tea, herb tea, coffee or even hot chocolate, or hot lemonade. Hot spices can be added to foods (as tolerated).

4. Staying well hydrated is vital for lung health, to keep secretions liquefied and easier to eject from the body. Many people do not drink enough, and plain water is sometimes not as well absorbed into the cells; that is why hydration drinks can be better. Special drinks like Gatorade have very nasty ingredients and it’s much easier to just make drinks at home. A pinch of salt, a pinch of baking soda, a bit of lemon juice or other fruit juice, a small bit of natural sweetener, and a lot of water makes a better drink that store bought rehydration drinks.

But under regular circumstances most people don’t need specialized rehydration drinks, there are many teas including herb blends that taste good and are cheap when made at home. In the summer I mix herb teas, fruit juice, and water to make good drinks. In the winter I sometimes make oatmeal water for a warm, somewhat nourishing drink. Eating soups, blender drinks and other foods with high moisture content is another way to stay hydrated.

5. Sometimes wearing a mask is just sensible. I cannot tolerate regular N95 masks, something in the material makes my skin burn and itch, so I use 100 cotton washable masks, and usually put some drops of essential oils on them as well. I use when mixing dry herb blends as the powder wafts into the air, during summer when going outside if there is a lot of wildfire smoke, or any times when I will be exposed to substances (including car fumes, laundry fumes (other peoples’) and the like. Do other people think I’m weird? IDKAIDC….I don’t know and I don’t care! I like breathing.

Golden Milk (one of many medicated milks, which I will post more later.)

Golden milk seems to be getting well popular lately, although it is part of an ancient tradition of cooking herbs and spices in milk, or milk and water, for easier absorption and strength, as the milk itself helps carry the potency of the herbs. There are many recipes, this is the one I use, amended slightly, from one of my favorite herbs books. For people who want to increase turmeric uptake, it is a tasty way, and by adding black pepper, this is considered to be more beneficial. The benefits of turmeric take up a few pages in many herb books.

First make Turmeric paste:
1/4 cup turmeric powder
1/2 cup water
Place in small pot and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until a thick paste is formed. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator.

Golden Milk
In a small pot, pour 1 cup milk 1/4 to 1/2 t. turmeric paste (I use about 1 1/2 t. for two servings), 1/8 to 1/4 t. finely ground black pepper and (optional) 1 t. almond or other oil. Blend well and cook over medium to low heat, stirring, until it comes to a boil. Add 1 t. honey or raw sugar, and I add 1/2 t. vanilla to offset the strong turmeric taste, since I add a lot. Cinnamon or cardamom can be sprinkled on top.

Turmeric has many incredible benefits only a few of which I will list now, but if there is interest I will start adding information about many of the herbs I use regularly and am familiar with.

Turmeric actions:
Alterative, antihepatotoxic, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, chologogue, choleretic, carminative, cyclooxigenase inhibiting, topical antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal, antihelmintic, hypotensive, anti-atherosclerotic, anticancer
Some of the many conditions turmeric can help:
Colds, coughs, sore throat, pharyngitis, asthma, allergies, infections, poor circulation, diabetes, arthritis, anemia, wounds, bruises, skin disorders, weak digestion, indigestion, sprains, jaundice, gallstones, hemorrhage, colic, flatulence, prevents cataracts