I AM SUPPORTING MY LUNGS

Your lungs have been supporting you since the day you were born; now would be a good time to return the favor. Inhale fresh oxygen from trees and exhale carbon dioxide while feeling grateful for this symbiotic relationship.

“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.”
–Franklin D. Roosevelt

ACTION STEPS

Support the lungs of Mother Earth by helping to preserve her forests. The Amazon rainforest has been deforested to provide land for cattle-ranching. You can help reduce this imbalance by leaning more towards a plant-based diet.

Foods that reduce inflammation in your lungs are: leafy greens, cherries, blueberries, walnuts, beans, lentils, olives and turmeric. Oranges and tangerines are also beneficial; in fact they look like your lungs when you cut them in half. 

Tarzan was clearing his lungs every time he pounded his chest. You can tap on your chest lightly with your fist to release excess mucus that gets trapped in your lungs. Eliminating or reducing dairy products from your diet will lower the amount of mucus being produced and prevent it from building up in your lungs and blocking its airways. 

Combine hand washing with deep breathing. Breathe in slowly to the count of four; breathe out to the count of four. Do this three times and you'll be washing your hands for a good 24 seconds while lowering your stress and supporting your lungs. 

Medicinal mushrooms are anti-viral and they enhance your immune system. Here are some that you can add to support your health: maitake, shiitake, reishi, and cordyceps. You can get them in a powdered form and add them to your smoothies, soups, etc. They're also available in capsules.

Make a habit of drinking hot liquids throughout the day i.e. hot lemon water, herbal tea, and non-dairy soup. This habit will not only help to keep you hydrated, it could potentially carry a virus into your stomach where the acid can destroy it.

Thieves is a blend of essential oils (lemon, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary) used during the Black Plague in the 15th century by grave-robbers who did not contract the disease. They shared their secret so they wouldn't have to be punished by being burned at the stake. You can add five drops to a diffuser and/or massage your feet with it by adding a few drops to a carrier oil.

Cleanse the air in your home by burning sage. Do this when you can open a window or door to allow the smoke to leave your house. Burning sage is an air purifier and can kill airborne bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens. It's also a natural remedy for insomnia. 

Love and light,

Carol Gutzeit 

DYI Blogger/Life Coach