BREATHE EASY
Well sometimes that’s not easy, especially for asthma sufferers and anyone that’s prone to bronchial or lung issues.
We know the common triggers are dust mites, mould, smoke, cold air, pollen, Ibuprofen and Aspirin. And we know that some of these conditions, like asthma, tie in with eczema, food allergies and hay fever, and are aggravated by chemical cleaners, scented products and sprays, especially cedar.
So, let’s go through some simple things we can do right now to help.
Food intolerance testing: There’s a basic test that I recorded when I was health coaching, and it can be found over on my business page here: https://www.facebook.com/KymVincentiHealthCoach/ . It’s a great place to start.
Whoever is suffering, put them through a test and get them to cut out the negatives from their diet.
Cleaning the house: White wine vinegar and bicarbonate of soda are great for cleaning kitchens and bathrooms and won’t aggravate the airways. My grandad taught me this many years ago. I wipe everything down with vinegar and if I want to get rid of smells or lots of grease, then out comes the bicarb. I also use these to clean my fruit and veg of any toxic substances.
In the wash: Add around 10 drops of eucalyptus oil into the rinse when you do your washing – especially bedding. This will kill dust mites and mould. You can either drip this into your washing liquid or put it on a flannel that you put in with the load. When I’m hoovering my mattress (which I do regularly), I also give it a rub over with a cloth that has been soaked in warm water and eucalyptus oil and leave it to air for an hour or two before changing the bedding. Making the time for this can make all the difference to anyone suffering.
Herbs for tea: Oregano is magic. It’s a natural decongestant and has a whole heap of benefits, like it’s antioxidant, antiviral, anticancer and antiinflammation properties. There’s more but we’ll cover that another time. It grows all year round too and all you need to do is pick the leaves and brew them in hot water for six or seven minutes to make a drink that heals from the inside.
Herbs for Decoction: Osha root is one of my favourites. It’s from the parsley family and is often mistaking for hemlock, so do make sure you get yours from a legit supplier. You’ll know if it’s osha root as it has a smell like celery. This is an antiviral, antibacterial, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory superhero and a great lung cleanser. As a root, it’s actually better as a decoction than a tea. To make one of those, throw a handful of the root into water and boil, then simmer for around thirty minutes. You can drink it straight away but to get the full benefit, leave it to brew for six (ish) hours. It works quite well mixed with warm coconut milk, and it actually tastes nice. Another benefit is that it contains oxytocin, you know, that lovely chemical our brains produce when hugging or kissing. Definitely got the feel-good factor this one.
Please bear in mind, herbs are drugs – I know I keep going on about it, but they are powerful and as such you should use the same precautions you would when using prescribed drugs – better safe than sorry right?
If you are going to use any herbs with children – please use Clarks Rule to make sure you’re giving the correct dose. Here’s how it works:
Weigh the child and convert that measurement into pounds. Divide the weight in pounds by 150, then multiply the fractioned result by the adult dosage of whatever the herb is. So, say the recommended dosage for an adult is 30mg, it would go like this:
Child weighs 70 lb.
70 by 150 = 0.466
0.466 X 30 = 13.98
You would give the child 13.98mg.
Two super important things.
Never give any herbal remedies to pregnant women
Always test the person for intolerances to the herb
