With everything going on, you may be thinking about the quality of your lungs and how to naturally strengthen them a bit more often these days.
The truth is, your lungs are the most important part of your body, and pandemic or no, it’s important to hold respiratory health to the utmost importance.
There’s nothing worse than not being able to breathe.
The breath is the source of life force energy for the body, and when it’s labored, one can really suffer.
So, how do you strengthen the lungs naturally?
And, what should you do if you experience respiratory imbalances like cold or flu viruses that affect your breathing?
Every time I use Ayurveda to nourish my lungs and respiratory system, I get the most awesome results!
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a MILLION times… Ayurveda has a remedy for EVERYTHING!
Breathe in…breathe out…and read on for some powerful tips to keep your lungs healthy.
What is the Respiratory system made up of?
Time for a super quick biology lesson. There are 3 major parts of the respiratory system.
The Airway – The airway is comprised of the nose, mouth, throat, voicebox, windpipe, bronchi, and bronchiole tubes
The Lungs – located in the chest cavity
The Respiratory Muscles- includes the diaphragm which expands and collapses the lungs.
What’s Bad for Your Lungs?
Even if you’re wearing a mask on a daily basis, it’s hard to avoid the pollutants in the air that cause lung damage. What you can do is be aware of what’s bad for your lungs.
According to the American Lung Association, there are several public health issues that affect lung health.
- Tobacco smoke and second-hand smoke
- Wildfire-caused smoke and poor air quality
- Air pollution
- Climate change
- Radon
- Indoor Smoking
- Exposure to virus and bacteria that causes infection
These issues can be a threat to those with asthma, chronic bronchitis, or sleep apnea just as much as they can affect someone with a healthy respiratory system.
Finding Freedom in the Breath.
If you read the blog post I wrote about Ayurveda, the pandemic, and how to stay safe and healthy, then you know that when you increase lung capacity, you have a better chance of fighting off a virus.
Pranayama is a form of breath control that helps to expand your lung capacity. It can also regulate your blood pressure and calm the mind. There are so many types of pranayama exercises you can practice – the simplest one being aware of your breath.
If conscious breathing is new for you, then the best place to start is by watching your breath.
Notice if your breath is shallow and in the chest or deep and in the belly. It truly does make a difference and can be a great indicator of the quality of your overall well being.
The best Ayurvedic medicine for breathlessness is learning how to control the breath. When you can control the breath, you can control the mind, think better thoughts, and bring balance to the entire body.
Try this Practice to Increase Lung Capacity:
“The basic belly breath of pranayama goes like this: Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down. Breathe in through your nose and fill your lungs from the bottom up, first expanding your belly, then your chest, and finally raising the collar bones. Pause. Then gently exhale from top to bottom, using your stomach muscles to push out the last of the air. Pause. Repeat.”
6 Herbs that Support the Lungs.
Nature provides us with everything we need to stay healthy.
You can rely on many different herbs to open your lungs, clear phlegm, and get more energy and clarity to your brain.
Herbal remedies come in many forms.
Some like to use essential oils, and there are many amazing blends out there to choose from.
You can add them to an infuser and place it by your bed at night. Another way to use essential oils is to rub a drop or two in the palms of your hands, cup them over your nose and mouth, and take deep breaths in and out.
You can even rub 4 to 6 drops of respiratory essential oils, such as Niaouli, Breathe by doTERRA, or Rosemary, straight onto your chest. Just make sure you do so with a Tablespoon of unrefined sesame oil or other carrier oil massaged into your chest first. You want to form a buffer for the essential oils so that they don’t irritate your skin.
Herbs are also highly effective when used in herbal steam, which I show you how to do in this Fast-Track to Lung Health freebie! Seriously… this is the most POWERFUL lung remedy and it’s so profound, I wish it would go viral! (no pun intended)
Many of the herbs that are best for your lungs could be growing in your backyard!
- Ginger: Reduces Kapha in the lungs that show up as phlegm, grief, and cough
- Comfrey Leaf: soothes and nourishes lung tissue
- Rose Petals: heals the heart which is governed by kapha, the dosha that also governs the lungs (heart and lungs are so connected!)
- Calendula Flowers: a soothing lung tonic that’s also great for the skin
- Peppermint Sprigs: a cooling, soothing, refreshing remedy for the respiratory tract
- Lemon Balm: soft, soothing, and comforting to the respiratory tract
Take a Deep Breath!
Now that you’ve learned about the respiratory system and how to strengthen the lungs naturally, be sure to share this breath of fresh air with a friend!
Also, download this special gift of not one, but TWO Superstar Ayurveda Practices for Truly Healthy Respiration and Natural Protection.
