RESPIRATORY

NOSE, THROAT, TRACHEA, BRONCHIALS, LUNGS

The lungs are one of the main channels of elimination in the body. They also provide oxygen to the blood so that it can be carried to all the cells. Metabolism in all body organs is stimulated with the intake of oxygen. Trouble in the respiratory tract can impair immune function.

DISEASES

Allergies, asthma, bronchitis, coughs, chest pain, colds, croup, emphysema, flu, hay fever, laryngitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, sinusitis, tuberculosis

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms are varied and manifest in many ways.

STRESSORS

Pollutants such as lead, ozone, carbon monoxide, too much red meat, congestion in the bowels and liver, repressed emotions, being “smothered” by another person

PROBLEM DRUGS

Pindolol (high blood pressure), Hydralazine (hypertension), Ketroprofen (anti-inflammatory)

VITAMINS / MINERALS / FOODS

Vitamin A, vitamin E, B-Complex, minerals, salmon oil, flaxseed oil, lecithin, eucalyptus essential oil

HERBS / SUPPLEMENTS

comfrey, mullein, marshmallow, ephedra, horehound, wild cherry, rosehips, aloe vera

EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS

Breathing is an autonomic nervous response. We subconsciously trust that when we breathe out another breath of life-giving air is available to us. If we have been betrayed by a trusted loved one, or other events in our lives have caused us to fear for our emotional or physical safety, our chest may become tight and our breathing restricted.

Other primary emotions related to the lungs are sadness and the inability to incorporate new ideas, ways of doing things, and people into our lives. There may also be the feeling of being smothered by someone or by our responsibilities. Sometimes we smother feelings of grief or guilt.

A persistent tickling sensation in the throat or lungs may indicate that something in our lives has become irritating or annoying to us. Perhaps there is something we need badly to say but we feel that no one is listening or that it is somehow unsafe to express our emotions and needs. A chronic cough may indicate that there is something we want or need to “get off our chest.”

GENERAL COMMENTS

There are many ways in which the respiratory tract may develop problems—pneumonia, chronic sore throats, allergies, and asthma, to name just a few. Some are viral or bacterial in nature and some are allergenic, an immune system dysfunction.

Asthma comes in a couple of different forms, allergic and non-allergic. Possible causes of non-allergic asthma include adrenal disorder, anxiety, temperature changes, extremes of dryness or humidity, fear, low blood sugar, and stress. An asthmatic reaction to any of these situations indicates a potentially serious imbalance in the body somewhere. Our bodies are designed to handle a certain amount of these types of things without “starving us for air.” The underlying situation needs to be discovered and corrected.