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Lung Health

dedicated to the memory of an old and dear friend, John Herald, who struggled with emphysema

Plan ahead to beat allergy     Herbal Help for Your Lungs     Vitamin E for Lung Health

Vitamin A is protective for the lungs and is a helpful treatment for pneumonia

From Mary Enig, PhD: "When it comes to our lungs, the very important phospholipid class called lung surfactant is a special phospholipid with 100 percent saturated fatty acids. It is called dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine and there are two saturated palmitic acid molecules attached to it. When people consume a lot of partially hydrogenated fats and oils, the trans fatty acids are put into the phospholipids where the body normally wants to have saturated fatty acids and the lungs may not work effectively. Some research has suggested that trans fatty acids are causing asthma in children."

Sixteen Thousand  New Cases of Asthma Yearly - directly related to air pollution.  Get involved, write your congress person and the EPA.  Seventy percent of toxic air is the result of chemical and diesel pollution. "While it is not clear why pollution is toxic to humans, experts suspect that pollutants inflame the lungs or cause the body to release chemicals that can affect heart function. " Source: American Journal of Public Health 2001; 91:571-577.

It has been found that most people who struggle with respiratory dis-eases have low serum magnesium

BRONCHITIS: ANTIBIOTIC  or  VITAMIN C?

"Vitamin C in quantity was a good cure for bronchitis. Then all hit the fan, so to speak. But in May, 2002, the journal Lancet published a paper showing that azithromycin, an antibiotic commonly used against bronchitis, is no more effective than even LOW-dose vitamin C in treating the condition. 

And for those of us that have tried HIGH dose vitamin C, well, there was no contest from the start.  Antibiotics in general seem ineffective against acute bronchitis. The medical supposition is that perhaps this is because it is a viral disease, not a bacterial one. To a megadose vitamin C user such a distinction is academic. I once saw orthomolecular physician Robert F. Cathcart, M.D.,  http://www.orthomed.com,  on a national TV talk show. He said that disease names can be a waste of time. He prefers to classify illness by how much vitamin C it takes to cure them. Bronchitis, for example, is a 60-gram (per day) cold. Pneumonia would be a 120-gram cold."

When you are trying to Stop Smoking -  Nourish yourself with a handful of raw sunflower seeds.  Sunflower seeds reduce the body’s craving for nicotine by filling the nicotine receptor sites.  Also try a cup of nettle or oatstraw infusion daily for 4 to 6 weeks before quitting. The infusions strengthen blood vessels and nerves, and cushion the impact of withdrawal.

Chew on a piece of licorice root instead of lighting up, or a small piece of Panda natural licorice.  Use licorice with care if you are hypertensive (have high blood pressure).

A healthy diet based on on fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats is very important. It can helpl prevent the weight gain so often associated with quitting smoking. Secondly, eating meals at regular intervals, particularly meals including protein, will help stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent cravings and irritability. 

One of the foremost botanicals used in traditional herbal medicine to assist in this process is Lobelia (Lobelia inflata). Its major alkaloid lobeline, is said to be similar to nicotine and reduces tobacco-withdrawal symptoms. In the body, Lobelia's other compounds make the taste of nicotine extremely unpleasant and relaxes the nervous system to quiet your nerves nerves. Also an expectorant, Lobelia thins thick mucus that often accompanies smoking cessation.

Scullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia) is a powerful nerve tonic that relieves nervous tension, and anxiety. Scullcap has been helpful in combating drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms as well as nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Pineapple Fast for the Lungs is best done around the time of the full moon, for 3 to 10 days. Pineapple and pineapple juice are good for lung health, high blood pressure, tumors, and intestinal cleansing.  The enzyme bromelain, found in pineapple is good for destroying parasites.

• Eat as much fresh pineapple as you like for three days.  Ginger and wormwood tea can be used along with raw almonds, figs, and raw pumpkin seeds.  Take strong laxative tea or frozen castor oil capsules on the morning and evening of the third day to aid in clearing the large intestine.  This also helps restore the elasticity of lung tissue.  

In oriental medicine the lungs and large intestine are energetically connected.

• Yellow Charged Water is an old healing remedy, that blends well with today's revival of color healing.