Breathing With COPD

[Root]

One of the things I worry about every Fall is When will I get my Winter Cold this year? I call it my Winter Cold because it used to last ALL winter!
Now that I keep watch on my PH and eat a healthier diet, I am better able to fight colds.
But, since I have been a smoker for 40+ years, I have at least a mild case of COPD *cough cough*
Here are a few things that help me...
Drink herbal tea - Any tea will do, the warmth helps with breathing and sweeten with honey for the benefits. (recipes)
Vitamins - Eat foods high in these vitamins or take a supplement; A,C,D and E
Magnesium flakes and oil - Taking a bath with Magnesium flakes relaxes your airways making it easier to breathe. Magnesium oil rubbed on your neck and chest (especially at bedtime). Neutralizing or a face steam with the oil usually gives instant relief and is long lasting. (more info)
Breathing Exercises - Not hard ( like exercising LOL) They do seem to help!
Deep Breathing Exercises for COPD
Last Updated: Aug 16, 2013 | By Kimberly Wonderly

Pursed Lip Breathing
This exercise is especially beneficial when you are out of breath. According to the University of Michigan Health System, you need to relax your neck and shoulders when performing this exercise. Focus on letting your diaphragm and chest muscles do the work for you. Slowly breathe in through your nose for a count of 3. Then, purse your lips as though whistling and blow out for twice as long. Be sure to let the air come out slow and naturally. Do not force it out of your lungs. Continue this style of breathing until you have overcome the shortness of breath episode. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, pursed lip breathing effectively improves the gas exchange in COPD patients and reduces difficulty breathing.

Diaphragmatic Breathing
The Department of Veteran Affairs states that diaphragmatic breathing is used to try to stop the abnormal chest wall motion experienced by many people with COPD; thus, making breathing easier and decreasing the feeling of difficulty breathing. According to the University of Michigan Health System, this exercise should be practiced while lying on your back with your knees bent and supported by pillows. Gently, place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen, just below your ribcage. Take a deep breath in. While breathing in, focus on making your lower ribs and abdomen rise; do your best to keep your chest as still as possible. Continue to inhale for a count of 3. Then, exhale for a count of 6. By slightly pursing your lips, you can control your exhale more efficiently. Once you can take a dozen of these breaths without effort, try practicing the exercise while standing, and eventually, practice it while moving around.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/89168-deep-breathing-exercises-copd/

 

[Root]

8 Herbal Home Remedies For Colds And Flu

in herbal blog by herbal academy january 13, 2014 24 comments
I’M SICK – NOW WHAT?
The cold and flu season is at its peak right now and it hits hard and fast. While prevention is the best defense, what do we do when symptoms hit? Some of us prepare for the cold and flu season in the fall by starting our fire cider and tinctures to stay healthy and treat illness at the onset.

Many herbalists keep their arsenal stocked and ready. But, what if you find you don’t have the herbs you need? What if the herbs you need are not readily available in your area? Once symptoms hit, you don’t have time to order online. You want relief and you want it fast.

Luckily, there are plenty of herbs you can buy at your local supermarket to alleviate symptoms and shorten the duration of colds and flu. And, if taken early and often, it is possible to prevent an illness from worsening and turning into bronchitis or pneumonia.

The herbal home remedies below are meant to be simple to make using ingredients that are readily available. The best thing about these recipes is that they can be customized to the individual and many of the herbs can be used to address a variety of illnesses.

Home Remedies for Colds and Flu Shopping List:
Garlic – anti-viral, antibiotic, and antiseptic.

Onion – great for coughs and raw onion keeps the respiratory tract open.

Ginger – antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. In addition to treating cold/flu, ginger is excellent for nausea and vomiting.

Sage – carminative, antiseptic, and astringent – the mouth and throat plant. Used for sore throats and cough. Also used for sinus congestion. Sage should not be used when pregnant or breast feeding.

Thyme – antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, expectorant, and astringent. Thyme is great for respiratory infections and coughs. It is also good for the stomach and relieves gas.

Cayenne powder – stimulant, anti-microbial, analgesic, carminative, diaphoretic, and expectorant. Cayenne can help prevent a cold or flu as well as shorten the duration of a cold or flu. It brings heat to the body, which can help dispel coldness.

Honey – raw, local honey should ideally be purchased either at a farmer’s market or at Whole Foods or Trader Joes. Honey is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiseptic. Do not give honey to children under 1 year old.

Lemon – high in vitamin C, lemon may helpdecrease the strength of the cold and flu virus in the body and reduce phlegm. Many folks use lemons to build resistance to cold and flu, and speed up healing.

TEA AND INFUSIONS
HERBAL TEA – GENERAL PREPARATION
Herbal teas are a great way to treat cold/flu symptoms! Not only do you get the medicinal benefits, but they are also soothing, warm, and relaxing.

• Pour boiling water over the herb, steep at least 20 minutes, and strain.
• You can also use a French press, preparing as above and pressing after 20 minutes

INFUSION – GENERAL PREPARATION
Infusions usually use more herbs than regular herbal teas and are steeped for longer periods of time. I find using a French press to be the best method of infusing and the easiest way to strain. But, any glass jar (mason or recycled food containers) and a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth can be used.

• 2 ounces of herbs or 2 generous handfuls of dried herb
• 1 pint of water (if not completely covered add more water until the herb material is completely covered)
• Steep for 4 – 10 hours or overnight
• Strain herbs

Basic Cold & Flu Tea


I use this tea as a base and then add some of the other remedies below if needed. Garlic can irritate the stomach. If you are drinking this often you may need to adjust the amount of garlic or eliminate it.



Ingredients
3-4 slices fresh ginger with skin
One clove chopped garlic
Cayenne powder
Tea of choice (black, green, oolong, herbal)
Honey to taste
Milk/milk alternative, optional

Directions

• Bring 3-4 slices of fresh ginger (skin on) and one clove of chopped garlic to a boil and simmer for approximately 20 minutes
• Use ginger water to steep tea (black, green, oolong or any herbal tea)
• Add cayenne powder as hot as can be tolerated to induce sweating
• Honey to taste
• Add milk or dairy alternative (almond, soy or other)
• Drink 3-4 cups per day
• Drink before bed and bundle up to induce sweat

Garlic Lemonade


This is another base recipe to drink daily through the duration of illness.



Ingredients
2-4 chopped garlic cloves
3-4 slices fresh ginger
Raw honey
Water
2-3 lemons

Directions

• In a 1 quart mason jar combine 2-4 cloves chopped garlic and 3-4 slices of fresh ginger.
• Cover and let steep for at least 20 minutes.
• Add juice of 2-3 lemons and honey to taste (approximately ¼ cup)
• You can strain or leave herbs in mixture.
• Consume warm and as needed. It can be consumed at room temperature, but not chilled.

Below are some easy tea preparations for a variety of symptoms.

Ginger Tea: 2- 3 slices of ginger per cup of water (or to taste – ginger can be strong)

Sage Tea (Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding): 1 ½ teaspoon dried sage (or 3 teaspoon fresh) per cup of water.

Thyme Tea: 1 ½ teaspoon dried thyme (or 3 teaspoon fresh) per cup of water.

HERBAL HONEYS AND SYRUPS
Syrups make herbs tastier and they work well to soothe cough and sore throats. Local honey is best but should not be given to children under age 1. Powdered herbs are recommended to avoid the hassle of straining from honey.

Basic Herbal Honey




Ingredients
1 cup raw honey
1/4 cup dried powdered herb
Sterilized, dry jar and lid

Directions

• Place honey and herbs into sterilized, dry jar and place into a double boiler over low heat.
• Heat for 15 to 20 minutes, being sure not to let the honey boil or scorch.
• Stir, then remove from heat and cool.
• When completely cooled, seal and store.
• Honey can be used immediately, but for a stronger honey, leave plant material in honey for two weeks before using.

Basic Syrup Recipe




Ingredients
Warmed herbal decoction or infusion (see above)
Raw honey
Sterilized, dry jars and lids

Directions

• Begin with an herbal decoction or infusion that has been reduced to about 1/2 to 1/4 of the original amount. For example, if you usually steep 15 grams of herbs in 1 quart of water for 20 minutes, infuse the same amount of herbs in 1 cup of water for the same amount of time.
• Strain tea well.
• Add three times as much honey (in volume) to a double boiler (or something you have fashioned yourself that acts like a double boiler). For example, if you have 1 cup of tea, combine this with 3 cups of honey.
• Heat gently, avoiding a simmer or boil.
• Stir into the tea until it is completely incorporated.
• Divide smaller portions into sterilized jars.
• At this point, you can add tincture if desired, cap jar, and shake it to infuse the added medicine.
• Store in refrigerator.

Below are honey and syrup recipes to try:

Onion Cough Syrup – Honey Alternative




Ingredients
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2–3 onions
White or brown sugar
Sterilized, dry glass jar and lid


Directions

• Peel and chop the onions.
• Alternate ½ inch layers of sugar and onion in a glass jar, starting and ending with sugar.
• Refrigerate overnight.
• You can strain out the onions or leave them in the syrup.
• Keep refrigerated.

Garlic Honey




Ingredients
6 cloves raw garlic
1/4 cup raw honey
Sterilized, dry glass jar and lid

Directions

• Finely grate raw garlic and let sit for 10 minutes to activate medicinal compounds.
• Add honey to garlic and mix.
• Can be consumed immediately.
• Store in a sealed, sterilized, and dry jar.
• Stir well with dry clean spoon and turn jar to mix daily and before taking.
• For internal use, spread 1 tablespoon on a piece of bread and eat, twice a day during active infection.

Onion Honey




Ingredients
1–3 organic onions
Raw honey
Sterilized, dry jar and lid

Directions

• Peel and chop the onions and place in jar.
• Pour enough honey to completely cover onions and leave overnight in fridge.
• Store in refrigerator.

STEAM INHALATION
Steam transports herbal medicine into the nose and throat. Use extreme care not to burn your face, especially with the first rush of hot steam.

Basic Steam Inhalation




Ingredients
4 cups of water
Herbs of choice: thyme, rosemary, sage, etc.
Large towel

Directions

• In a large heat proof glass or ceramic bowl, add a generous handful of your herb/s of choice.
• Pour the boiling water over the herbs, place face above bowl, and quickly throw towel over head. Use caution: start high above bowl to avoid burning face.
• Inhale the steam for approximately 10 minutes or more.

RECOMMENDED AMOUNTS
Dosages vary by herb, condition, constitution of a person, and herbalist preference. In general, for acute conditions, small amounts are taken frequently. For chronic conditions, dosages are larger amount taken less frequently but on a consistent basis.

Adults – Acute illness guidelines:

Syrups and honey – ½ to 1 teaspoon every 2 hours for a total of up to 10 teaspoons daily
Tea – ¼ cup of tea every half hour for a total of up to 4 cups per day


Adult – Chronic illness guidelines:

Syrups and honey – 1 to 2 tablespoons twice daily or as needed
Tea – 3 to 4 cups daily


Children – Guidelines:
Always consult qualified health professional before administering herbs to children. Do not give honey to children under 1 year.

When adult dosage is 1 cup (8 oz.)
Age Dosage
Younger than 2 years ½ to 1 teaspoon
2 to 4 years 2 teaspoons
4 to 7 years 1 tablespoon
7 to 11 years 2 tablespoons


When adult dosage is 1 teaspoon or 60 drops
Age Dosage
under 1 year consult physician
12 to 18 months 7 drops
18 to 24 months 8 drops
2 to 3 years 10 drops
3 to 4 years 12 drops
4 to 6 years 15 drops
6 to 9 years 24 drops
9 to 12 years 30 drops

WHAT HERBS TO USE AND WHEN
All the herbs discussed are culinary herbs. But, when used medicinally, they should be used in moderation when pregnant or breastfeeding. Avoid sage if pregnant or breastfeeding as it is sometimes used to dry up breast milk. In many cases, thyme can be substituted. You can choose one remedy or use several depending on symptoms. You can also use the 2 base recipes above and treat other specific symptoms by adding other teas, honey or syrups.

Herbal Remedies for Cough
Onion honey – 1 spoonful as needed
Onion cough syrup
Thyme honey
Thyme tea with lemon
Thyme and/or sage inhalation

Herbal Remedies for Respiratory Symptoms
Thyme and Sage tea are lung strengtheners and treat respiratory tract problems. You can use both thyme and sage alone or they can be used together
Thyme and/or sage steam inhalation, teas or honey

Herbal Remedies for Nausea
Plain ginger tea is the go to tea for nausea and vomiting
Thyme tea sweetened with honey is a close second to ginger tea
Thyme syrup
Ginger syrup

Herbal Remedies for Sinus Congestion
Sage tea in Neti pot
Neti pot with saline

Herbal Remedies for Sore Throat
Sage tea (drink as needed and add honey and lemon to taste)
Warm water and salt gargle
Warm sage tea and salt gargle
Turmeric and salt gargle
Use thyme tea in a small spray bottle and mist the back of your throat

HERBAL INSIDER TIPS FOR COLDS AND FLU

• Lemon juice squeezed into your sage tea removes the bitterness.
• Sweeten your tea with sugar or honey for respiratory problems, but leave it unsweetened for digestive upset.
• Make an infusion of 1 cup of herbs and 1 quart of water. Infuse overnight in a French press and strain. Heat individual servings on the stove throughout the day when ill, rather than making an individual cup each time.
• Over-the-counter medications suppress symptoms. Taking a little time to prepare these remedies not only will help you feel better, but also aid the body in doing its job of healing itself.

 

[Root]

MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE & OTHER SALTS FOR COLDS & FLU
Posted on December 28, 2012 by Magnesium Oil
With the season of cold and flu in full swing, I thought of writing about the role of salts – magnesium chloride, magnesium sulphate, sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate – in the treatment of colds and flu.

As the second most abundant mineral in the human body, magnesium plays a very important part in how our bodies respond to infection. Here is an abstract from a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition:

“Regarding the relation between Mg and the immune system, several groups leading in Nutrition and Immunology have shown evidence that magnesium plays a key role in the immune response; that is, as a co-factor for immunoglobulin synthesis, C’3 convertase, immune cell adherence, antibody-dependent cytolysis, IgM lymphocyte binding, macrophage response to lymphokines and T helper–B cell adherence(Galland, 1988).” (“Possible roles of magnesium on the immune system”, M Tam, S Gómez, M González-Gross and A Marcos, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2003) 57, 1193–1197. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601689).


Dr Mark Sircus observes in his book “Transdermal Magnesium Therapy”: “Our bodies are best served when they are brimming with magnesium reserves and we need to absorb a sufficient amount each and every day. A magnesium saturated body will have a tougher immune system that will fight more easily against infections and influenza.” (“Transdermal Magnesium Therapy”, 2007, p.200).

A person who is already ill or is recovering from an infection will require a higher dose of magnesium than a healthy person. Normally magnesium oil – the best source of magnesium for transdermal magnesium therapy – should be applied transdermally once a day, by rubbing or spraying it on the body. Magnesium oil is highly concentrated, so can sting, especially if one has sensitive skin. It is advisable in this case to dilute magnesium oil in a 1:1 or even 1:2 ratio of magnesium oil to water. It is also easy to make own magnesium oil – by mixing good quality magnesium flakes with water, to suit hyour skin type. Magnesium foot baths is another very effective way to relax and replenish the body with magnesium. Use about 150ml of magnesium oil per oot bath, or 100g of flakes. Take foot baths every day for 7 days, and then 2-3 times a week afterwards.

When using in a bath, add 200-250ml of magnesium oil to a warm bath. If using magnesium flakes – about 150g should do, although some people prefer a more concentrated bath, and this is fine too. When just starting with transdermal magnesium therapy, the best thing is to apply the oil or have a bath every day for a week, and then 2-3 times a week, or as required.

It is also important to rememeber that infection thrives in an an acidic/ low pH environment, so alkalising the body is important. Dr Sircus has written a lot about alkalising the body with sodium bicarbonate. I can also suggest bathing in and drinkingsodium bentonite clay mixed with water. Not only will it alkalise the body (sodium bentonite has a typicl pH of 9-10), but will also pick up heavy metals and organic toxins from the body through ion exchange mechanism. Clays are mild but at the same time powerful natural substances which work with the body systems in a very intelligent and harmonious way, adjusting what needs to be adjusted, removing what needs to be removed, leaving what needs to be left and replacing deficient minerals.

A few words should be said about Himalayan salt. It is an ancient salt which is mined in the salt caves of the Himalayas. It is unchanged by processing, and works really well for colds and flu – both when rinsing an infected throat and nose. For rinsing the nose, I can suggest using 2-2.5 grams of salt per 100ml of water, adding to it 5g (level teaspoonful) of sodium bicarbonate. Pour it in a bowl, and start breathing “sucking” it into the nose by inhaling slowly. Once it is in the nose, and just before it gets into the mouth, push it out by exhaling through the nose. Do it a couple of times. You will feel the urge to blow the nose afterwards, and the sinuses will feel much clearer as a result.

For rinsing the throat the amount of the salt can be increased to a full teaspoonful (5g) of salt and sodium bicarbonate. Rinse at least 6 times a day, until the infection goes away.

Himalayan salt is easily available online these days. Sea salt can also be used (preferably unprocessed), or Dead Sea salt. And although magnesium chloride is the best salt for transdermal magnesium applications, if it is not available, then Epsom saltis the next best alternative. Baths with Epsom salt are both relaxing and detoxifying. They are also a great source of magnesium for the body.