It is extremely important to protect the lungs to ensure long-term health. Over time, mold toxins and bacteria can compromise health and lead to irreversible and fatal diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Fortunately, there are some natural remedies that help keep your lungs healthy and breathe well.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Improving Overall Health
Step 1. Eat foods rich in antioxidants
Eating a healthy diet in general helps increase lung strength, and antioxidant-rich foods are particularly good for this. Antioxidants have been shown to strengthen lung capacity and improve patients' breathing quality.
Blueberries, broccoli, spinach, grapes, sweet potatoes, green tea, and fish are all particularly rich in antioxidants
Step 2. Exercise
If you exercise regularly, you allow your lungs to work at their best. You should aim to do:
- At least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity (such as walking, swimming, or golf) 4-5 times a week
- Alternatively, you should do at least 25 minutes of intense aerobic activity (such as running, cycling, or basketball) no less than 3 days a week.
Step 3. Stop smoking
Tobacco smoking is a leading cause of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), emphysema, and lung cancer. The toxins in cigarettes damage and inflame the bronchi, making it difficult to breathe.
- To protect your lungs, do not think about replacing cigarettes with tobacco products that do not produce smoke, such as chewing or snorting, as they increase the risk of mouth cancer and, in addition, cause gum disease, dental caries and cancer of the mouth. pancreas.
- E-cigarettes are also bad for lung health. Recent studies have shown that the flavors in these cigarettes contain a toxic chemical called diacetyl; this substance has been related to constrictive bronchiolitis, a rare and potentially fatal form of non-reversible COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), in which the bronchioles are compressed and squeezed by scar tissue and / or inflammation.
- If you want to detoxify your lungs, you don't have to use any type of tobacco product.
Part 2 of 5: Minimizing Environmental Risks
Step 1. Frequent well-ventilated areas
Make sure that the environments you find yourself in most often, such as the room you work in and your home, have good air circulation. When working with hazardous materials, such as paint fumes, construction site dust or chemicals from hair treatments and dyes, you must ensure that there is adequate ventilation or otherwise you must protect yourself with appropriate devices, such as a dust mask or a respirator.
- Make sure the fans are on and the windows are open to allow fresh air to circulate.
- Consider wearing a respirator when working in small spaces.
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If you have to clean with harsh chemicals, such as bleach, make sure the room windows are open and make sure you can leave the room to give your lungs a "break".
Do not mix bleach with ammonia. These two substances together cause a toxic vapor, chloramine, which causes damage to the mucous membranes of the lungs.
- Do not light the fireplace or wood stove indoors, as they can emit toxins that are harmful to the lungs.
Step 2. Consider sensitivity to plants
Some plants release spores, pollen, and other potential irritants into the air. Make sure house plants don't make your lung problem worse.
Step 3. Use HEPA filters
To help your lungs stay healthy you should choose this type of filtration to eliminate dust microparticles and airborne allergens.
Ozone air purifiers are not as effective at reducing allergens and other micro-substances from the environment, and they can sometimes irritate the lungs
Part 3 of 5: Breathe your best
Step 1. Learn how to breathe properly
One of the best ways to strengthen your lungs naturally is to breathe properly. Inhale from the diaphragm, expand and push the muscles of the lower abdomen. When you exhale, the muscles should return to their starting position.
Breathing with the diaphragm, unlike the throat, increases the capacity of the lungs and makes them stronger
Step 2. Calculate the time of the breath
Inhale and exhale. As you go through both stages, count the seconds it takes. Gradually, try lengthening your breath times by a second or two.
Make sure you don't try too hard or hold your breath for too long, otherwise you could limit the oxygen supply to the brain, causing dizziness or fainting
Step 3. Improve your posture
Get upright when sitting or standing to help strengthen your lungs.
One exercise that helps increase lung capacity is to sit in a chair with your back straight and raise your arms above your head as you breathe deeply
Part 4 of 5: Evaluating Alternative Healing Methods
Keep an open mind. Some of the following recommendations are not based on scientific evidence or have been subjected to limited studies. You should always consult your doctor before trying any alternative medicine or treatment, as some herbs and minerals may interact negatively with prescription drugs.
Step 1. Add more oregano to your diet
Its main positive effect is given by the carvacrol and rosmarinic acid contained within it. Both of these elements are natural decongestants and help reduce histamines, thus proving to be beneficial compounds in improving the passage of air in the respiratory tract and nasal passages.
- The volatile oils of oregano, thymol and carvacrol have been found to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- You can consume oregano fresh or in its dried form and you can add 2 or 3 drops of its oil to milk or fruit juice every day.
Step 2. Make fumigations with eucalyptus to take advantage of its expectorant properties
Eucalyptus is a typical ingredient in many balsamic candies and cough syrups; owes its properties to an expectorant compound called cineole, which reduces cough, fights congestion and soothes sore sinuses.
- To take advantage of the beneficial characteristics of this plant with fumenti, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to boiling water. Then bring your face to the bowl and breathe in the steam for 15 minutes.
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Note: Eucalyptus oil can reduce the rate at which the liver metabolizes some drugs. If you take it together with other medicines you can increase the positive effects, but also the side effects. Before taking it in any form, talk to your doctor to determine if there may be any interactions with the medicines.
Among the drugs that react with eucalyptus oil are Voltaren, Brufen, Motrin, Celebrex, Coumadin, Allegra and others
Step 3. Take a warm shower to clear your lungs
A sauna or hot bath can stimulate secretions to dissolve and help the lungs get rid of toxic substances.
- Make sure you drink water after taking a long shower or spending time in a sauna to avoid dehydration.
- If you decide to have a hydromassage, check that the tub is thoroughly clean, to avoid any form of infection. High temperatures favor bacterial proliferation and, although water can smell intensely of chlorine, it is difficult for this substance to maintain its bactericidal properties in hot water. Some tests have found that even in whirlpools where there are high levels of chlorine, more often than not this has little effect on contaminating organisms.
Step 4. Use mint to soothe the respiratory muscles
Mint and its oil contain menthol, a calming substance capable of relieving the muscles of the respiratory tract and promoting a less contracted breathing movement.
- Together with the antihistamine effect of mint, menthol is an excellent decongestant. You can chew 2-3 leaves (as opposed to sucking candies) for immediate beneficial effects.
- Many people find relief by applying balms to the chest or inhaling other menthol-containing products that are able to dissolve congestion.
Step 5. Drink a mullein tea
This plant is known for its expectorant properties and the ability to clear the bronchial passages. Both the leaves and the flowers of the plant are used to make a herbal extract that can strengthen the lungs.
- Mullein is used by herbalists to clear excess mucus from the lungs, clear the bronchi, and reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract.
- To prepare the infusion, put a teaspoon of dried mullein in 240 ml of boiling water.
Step 6. Get licorice
If you are congested, a licorice root tea is especially helpful in relieving discomfort. This root is believed to be able to reduce swelling, loosen mucus and decrease cough.
- Licorice helps to thin the phlegm present in the respiratory tract, facilitating its expulsion.
- It is also thought to have antibacterial and antiviral properties that fight infections.
Step 7. Ginger has great detoxifying power for the lungs
It has recently been studied to examine its possible role in the prevention of some cancers, including lung cancer, as it appears to be able to inhibit the growth of non-small cell carcinomas.
- You can make herbal tea with ginger root and lemon to make breathing less difficult.
- Raw or cooked ginger can also improve digestion.
Part 5 of 5: Knowing the Dangers Affecting Lung Health
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms
If you have a cough, if it persists for more than a month, makes it difficult for you to breathe, or causes shortness of breath, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Step 2. Learn about COPD
By chronic obstructive pulmonary disease we mean both chronic bronchitis and emphysema; most people with this disease suffer from a combination of both. The disease is usually progressive, meaning that it continues to worsen over time; according to the WHO this is the fourth leading cause of death in the world.
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COPD affects the lungs, especially the alveoli, which are small air sacs that allow the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
- Emphysema is a disease that causes inflammation of the bronchi and bronchioles, which continue to swell and become blocked; consequently the alveoli also swell. These fragile air pockets burst and join together; the resulting damage makes the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide more difficult.
- Chronic bronchitis causes the lungs to produce more mucus, which then blocks the airways and covers the alveoli, making it difficult to breathe.
Detox Your Lungs Naturally Step 19 Step 3. Know who are the most vulnerable
Although anyone can develop COPD, there are some demographics that show some people are more at risk. The disease typically affects adults, especially those over 40, more often than children.
The incidence of the disease among the male and female population is the same, but smokers run a higher risk
Advice
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Support better air quality. In many geographic areas the air is very dirty due to pollution. Even if you believe that you cannot do much to change the situation, you can instead inquire with the local authorities and know the legislation regarding environmental measures and measures; you can also check if elected politicians are working towards this.
You can also consider joining some ecological group or association in your area. If you suffer from asthma, you should find other people who are experiencing the same problem as you and with whom you can share ideas and advice to be able to live in a polluted environment
