Respiratory health is a year round concern. More people lose time from their job due to sinus problems than any other single illness. When your sinuses are blocked, you can’t even think so it’s probably a good thing that they stay at home!
Spring and Summer are considered allergy season but we are more aware of the fact that Fall and Winter pose respiratory challenges as well. In the warmer months, airborne pollens trigger lung and sinus reactions when we’re outdoors, or if we let the outdoors in. The cooler months cause us to seal in the dust, dander, sprays and pollutants we’ve brought inside and use daily. Heating systems then blow them around, circulating them all through the house. We can only imagine what is being blown around in some working environments!
The point is that you need to feed and protect your lungs, sinuses and nasal passages all year long. The best thing you can do for your respiratory system is drink lots of pure water. Mucous membranes are designed to be wet. When they dry out, it’s like getting a deep tissue massage without the massage oil. Ouch! The sinuses are a ventilation system for the brain, designed to keep it from overheating. They also allow toxins produced as a by product of brain functions to escape. It’s no wonder the brain goes dull if the sinuses aren’t doing their job! Something as simple as taking a whiff of Peppermint Essential Oil or the combination Breathe Free™ can clear the passages and, suddenly, you can think again! Magic, isn’t it? (Don’t use on children under 2 years old.)
Ephedra has been much maligned and recently taken off the market. This is a shame since there is no better herb with a longer history of helping respiratory problems. In fact, all of the prescription theophyllines and over the counter pseudoephedrines still contain the main constituent of ephedra but without the natural safeguards present in the natural form. With only 50 deaths attributed to ephedra, most of which were counted twice and all of them involving other medications making it impossible to tell the real cause of death it is hard to justify its removal when Vioxx caused 150,000 heart attacks and 20,000 death before it was taken off the market.
Thankfully there are lots of herbs that work well to clear the airways. The combination, ALJ® helps the entire respiratory tract to gently cleanse itself and promotes healthy respiratory tissue. It contains: boneset herb, horseradish root, mullein leaves, fennel seeds, fenugreek seeds. It comes in capsules and a great tasting liquid so it can be used for all ages. Colds, allergies, sinusitis, it doesn’t matter what the challenge is; this is super food just for your respiratory system. You should feed your respiratory system every day, unless you don’t plan on doing much breathing!
Hista-Block™ helps the body adjust to challenges brought on by airborne particles, environmental conditions, etc. It is a combination of stinging nettle, quercetin, bromelain and immature orange peel. Keep this on hand for direct aid when seasonal triggers are causing discomfort or distress. Don’t you like a product that does exactly what is says?
A Chinese formula that we’ve had personal experience with is Chinese Lung Support, a combination of 16 herbs specially formulated to supplement the needs of a weakened respiratory system. Its primary herbs—anemarrhena, aster, bupleurum and astragalus—work to boost the immune system, promote moisturizing, build energy and soothe inflamed tissue. Studies on bupleurum have shown it to be as effective as cortisone as an anti-inflammatory without the damage to bones and connective tissue associated with long term steroid treatment. Lahni was disabled due to asthma for over four years and this formula allowed her to get off the damaging prednisone. Choose this to repair damaged lungs.
What’s the most important nutrient for the body? You guessed it, good old Oxygen! Make sure you feed the system that helps you get all you need. Then you can Breathe Easy!
|