With a wildfire hovering around us there a variety of symptoms that you may feel including:
~Coughing, wheezing, trouble breathing
~Increased asthma attacks
~May feel like a sinus infection with headache, sore throat, runny nose, phlegm
~Fatigue
The lungs are our body’s connection to the outside and are susceptible to dryness and heat, this is especially the case with smoke in the air. Here are a few ways we can help support lung health:
~Eat foods that are considered moistening or pungent: pears, apples, apricots, sweet potato, broccoli, cinnamon, seaweed, almonds, peanuts, rice, eggs, garlic, onion, and radishes. Limit spicy food.
~Use essential oils like eucalyptus, ginger, peppermint, clove, and rosemary.
~For temporary relief of a cough add a honey, lemon, and ginger to hot water.
~Hydrate
Why are some people more sensitive than others?
Some people are finding themselves more impacted than others by the smoke. This may have to do with overall health, or qi of the lungs.
Physically, the role of the lungs in Chinese Medicine is similar to Western Medicine. In addition to respiration there are other functions the lungs support. Some common signs that your lung system needs a boost include:
Easy to get sick with cold and flus
Asthma
Allergies
Voice gets tired
Stuffy nose or constant runny nose
Dry skin
Shortness of breath with exertion
Spontaneous sweating
Need to clear throat or feeling of phlegm in throat
Fatigue
Depression
As with all organs in Chinese Medicine the organ represents a system with various associations.
Seasonally: lungs are associated with Autumn, and like nature the focus shifts more internally with introspection and letting go.
Emotionally: With good lung health there is clear thinking and openness to new ideas. Sadness and grief are emotions that affect and weaken the lungs.
Acupuncture, cupping, and herbal formulas have been shown to reduce difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, and relieve conditions like asthma, allergies, and bronchitis.