7/15/11 1 The ABC+D Approach With Steven Horne, RH(AHG) Lesson Six You Were Born to Breathe Freely: The Respiratory System Respiratory Anatomy and Physiology • The lungs bring oxygen to the blood and remove carbon dioxide • They help buffer pH in the body • Mucus traps dust and particles to protect lung tissues
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The ABC+D Approach · 2011. 7. 19. · You Were Born to Breathe Freely: The Respiratory System Respiratory Anatomy and Physiology • The lungs bring oxygen to the blood and remove
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7/15/11
1
The ABC+D Approach
With Steven Horne, RH(AHG)
Lesson Six
You Were Born to Breathe Freely: The Respiratory System
Respiratory Anatomy and Physiology
• The lungs bring oxygen to the blood and remove carbon dioxide
• They help buffer pH in the body
• Mucus traps dust and particles to protect lung tissues
• Natural therapy is to use anti-inflammatory (cooling remedies)
• Pleurisy root is a specific remedy for this condition
Pneumonia
• Infection in the lungs resulting in fluid retention in the lungs
• Symptoms Include: – Fever or fever with chills – Cough, usually productive – Chest pain – Shortness of breath
• Treated naturally with warming and drying herbal remedies and antimicrobial agents
Snoring
• Occurs in about 1/3 of the American population
• Isn’t just an inconvenience, it is a sign of blockage in the upper respiratory system which creates a lack of oxygen and inefficient CO2 removal; snoring may lead to sleep apnea
• Affects the health of other family members by causing sleep deprivation
• Natural therapy includes colon cleansing, elimination of allergens and decongestant remedies to improve respiratory function
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Sleep Apnea
• Airways block off while sleeping, person wakes up because of lack of oxygen
• May happen many times a night without a person’s awareness
• Can cause fatigue and eventually heart damage
• Similar remedies for snoring, but may also require losing weight
Moves downward to inflate the lungs (inhale), causing the belly to rise
Moves upward to deflate the lungs (exhale), causing the belly to fall
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Deep Abdominal Breathing
• Physical Benefits – Relieves pain and reduces inflammation – Alkalizes the pH – Centers the emotions and calms the
nerves – Pumps the lymphatics
• Mental and Emotional Benefits – Reduces your stress – Centers your emotions – Helps you stay “grounded”
Hiatal Hernia
• The stomach and joining section of esophagus slide up into chest area through the hiatus (opening in the diaphragm).
• Inhibits movement of the diaphragm and creates shallow breathing
Hydration and Histamine • Histamine is involved in inflammatory
responses, but it is also a neurotransmitter in the nervous system
• Histamine is a “drought-management” hormone. It is used to direct water to critical organs
• Dehydration causes higher levels of histamine – hence more inflammatory responses (asthma and allergies)
• Histamine also suppresses antibody production, thus lowering immune defenses
• Water and salt act as a natural antihistamine, reducing inflammatory responses and allergic reactions
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Allergic Reactions
• With lowered antibody production and less water available for mucus and tear production, the body has a hard time discharging minor irritants like pollen, dust and animal dander
• The body uses histamine to create an inflammatory reaction to “flush” irritants away from eyes and membranes
• Antihistamines interfere with this process by “drying out” mucus membranes
• Mucus, tears and sweat are all salty, so drinking water with salt helps promote tear, mucus and sweat production to flush away irritants without histamine
Asthma and Dehydration
• A lot of moisture is lost through the lungs (especially when talking or exercising)
• When there is a shortage of water, the bronchial passages constrict to reduce air flow and water loss through the lungs
• Water and salt can stop an asthma attack • Epinephrine inhalers dehydrate the lungs
further, creating a vicious cycle • Asthma and allergies are closely related
and both can be “cured” by proper hydration
Water Therapy
• Asthmatics and allergy sufferers need to drink as much as ¾ of an ounce of water per pound of body weight per day
• Use natural salt with water and food (about ½ teaspoon per day)
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Chinese Metal Element
• The lungs (and colon) are the seat of the Chinese metal element
• Metal energy is the swords and shields that allow us to defend ourselves
• The “metal chi” is the body’s defensive energy
• Unresolved grief damages the defensive chi
Western Phlegmatic
• The western “water” or phlegmatic constitution was thought to have too much phlegm or mucus
• This personality type is too yielding and have a hard time standing up for themselves
• They may suffer a lot of grief and loss as a result of this
Grief and Respiratory Problems
• It is not uncommon to see people develop respiratory problems after a significant loss
• Often this is due to their failure to grieve their loss
• Helping people grieve often eases respiratory ailments
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Symptoms and Emotions
• Asthma – feeling unable to “breathe freely,” that is to be myself
• Chronic Post Nasal Drip – internalized sadness and crying
• Chronic Cough – need to get something “off my chest”
• Pneumonia – many elderly people die of it within six months of losing their beloved spouse
Grieving
• Grieving is not just crying; it is surrendering to the pain and may include – Weeping – Wailing – Sobbing – Convulsing – Screaming – Moaning – Anguish
Flower Essences for Grief
• Bleeding Heart – helps a person let go of what they lost
• Borage – cheerful courage when facing loss or adversity
• Love-Lies-Bleeding – remedy for profound grief and emotional anguish, where the person feels “cut off”
• Wild Rose – rose is the “heart-opening” remedy, it comforts people after loss and emotional trauma
• Yerba Santa – internalized grief, unable to breathe freely
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Building the Respiratory System
• Pungent foods (spices)
• Antioxidants • Mucilaginous
Foods
Raising the Shields
• In Chinese medicine pungent tasting foods are said to tonify the metal chi
• They move blood and energy to the surface, which helps to flush microbes and irritants
• Most spices are pungent, such as: – Garlic and onions – Chili peppers
(capsicum) – Horseradish – Thyme, rosemary and
oregano
Antioxidants
• Reduce inflammation and oxidative stress to tissues
• They can be very helpful for “cooling” allergic reactions and “hot” conditions in the lungs
• Increasing intake of fruits and vegetables, while decreasing consumption of grains, dairy and meat, can be very helpful for lung and sinus problems
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Mucilaginous Foods
• No one is quite sure how it works, but mucilaginous herbs and foods help to moisten, soften and heal lung tissue
• These include: – Okra – Slippery elm – Barley water – Marshmallow
Cleansing the Respiratory System
• Don’t smoke • Filter or clean
indoor air if you live in an area with a lot of air pollution
• Don’t suppress mucus discharge
• Digestive/respiratory connection
Smoking
• Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your lungs
• Helps to stopping smoking – Lobelia – B-complex vitamins – Vitamin C – Chamomile – Nicotiana flower
essence
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Oxygen-Deprivation
• Because of 100,000 plus environmental contaminant dumped into our atmosphere over the last 50 years, our atmospheric oxygen levels have been reduced in some major industrial cities from 21.9% to under 10%.
Air Purification
• There are many devices which can be used to filter and purify air in your home
• If you live in a highly polluted area, it may be a good idea to get one
Mucus
• Mucus is what the respiratory passages use to flush out irritants
• Stopping mucus discharge with antihistamines, cough suppressants, etc. interferes with this cleansing action
• Instead, use water along with expectorants and decongestants to help the respiratory passages clear more efficiently
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The Digestive – Respiratory Connection
• Both the lungs and the colon are part of the Chinese metal element
• They are both lined with mucus membranes that act as primary lines of immune defense
• Problems with the respiratory passages often link back to the digestive tract
• Eliminating allergy-causing foods often decreases mucus congestion and allergic reactions in the lungs
• Colon cleansing usually helps chronic sinus and respiratory problems
Foods that May Contribute to Respiratory Congestion