Have you heard the myth that you may inhale more CO2 than oxygen when you wear an anti-pollution mask – by re-breathing your exhaled air? 

For this myth, some people are avoiding a mask.   Is this Right or wrong?
Do Anti-pollution masks cause you to inhale more CO2?

Absolutely wrong!!

On this page we answer:

1. Does wearing a mask make you inhale more carbon dioxide?
2. Why do some Doctors actually recommend masks that RE-circulate CO2 to high performing athletes for improved lung function?
   

Does wearing a mask make you inhale more carbon dioxide?

“Only if the mask actually holds gas without leaking. Particle Filtration masks are so porous they don’t hold CO2 or other gases inside mask from mixing with the air outside the mask. Last of any breath you exhale from lower lung called end-tidal breath has approx 100x more CO2 than inhaled in fresh air (40000ppm vs 400).

If exhaled into a tight-fitting partial rebreather mask designed to capture the last 100–300ml without leaking (think snorkel; since CO2 is heavier than air it will stay in the bottom of the snorkel for rebreathing even if the top end is left open to air)

The effect on those who wear masks is to automatically, reflexively increase the volume of breathing per minute, known as minute ventilation, approximately 40% within a few minutes. This happens as a high level of CO2 rebreathed from mask headspace at the start of each inhalation triggers carotid reflex .to breathe more deeply. No conscious effort is required. Among indications are collapsed people at risk of dying from respiratory failure from overdoses of opiates, alcohol or carbon monoxide. If their heart is still beating they don’t need CPR but do need some respiratory stimulant. CO2 from rebreathing can be that stimulant.”

Albert Donnay, Toxicologist & Env.Health Engineer

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Does wearing a mask make you inhale more carbon dioxide?

If you wear a snorkel,

This does slightly increase dead space and hence hampers breathing a bit by making the air reaching the lungs have slightly more CO2. But since humans can tolerate a much higher level of CO2 than found in the atmosphere, it would take a very long snorkel to make the CO2 levels in inspired air significantly higher. And a swimmer using a snorkel that long would run into problems with water pressure long before problems with dead space.

A mask is similar. It slightly increases dead space too but since its porous, the volume of dead space is slightly less than the volume of space in between the mask and your face.

250-350ppm is the normal background concentration of CO2 in outdoor ambient air. 5,000 ppm is the workplace exposure limit (as 8-hour TWA) in most jurisdictions. That’s over 14 times the normal CO2 levels. So it would take a dead space increase of a very large volume to cause serious problems.

What is Dead Space?
There is something called “dead space” in respiration.

Dead space (physiology) – Wikipedia

This is an analogy using a syringe

The volume shaded in red is the dead space. Assuming both syringes are the same volume (say 5 ml) let us imagine that they are the lungs. First we “exhale” or press the plunger on the syringe fully. The dead space contains “expired air” or air that is slightly richer in CO2. Now we “inhale”. The syringe on the left contains 5ml of air composed of 4.998 ml of room air mixed with 0.002ml of expired air. The one on the right also contains 5ml but it is made up of 4.916 ml of room air + 0.084 ml of expired air. The syringe on the right contains air that has slightly more CO2 than the left. If we added more dead space like say attaching a small hose to the end of the syringe then the contents of the syringe get higher and higher concentrations of CO2. If the hose you attach is > 5ml then pretty much zero outside air will enter the syringe, it will just be “rebreathing” its own expired air.

From: Vincent Maldia

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Why do some Doctors actually recommend masks that RE-circulate CO2 to high performing athletes for improved lung function?

Using the mask when training forces your heart and lungs to work harder. When you remove the mask for a race or game, your body uses oxygen more efficiently. Fans of altitude masks claim that using them can improve speed, endurance, and strength.

Doctors actually recommend masks that RE–circulate CO2 for athletes to improve their lung function and performance capability. 

Elevation masks don’t change the partial pressure of incoming air; all they do is simply reduce the total amount of airflow to the lungs. … By training in a hypoxic environment, and not changing partial pressure as altitude would, all you’re doing is improving the strength and endurance of your respiratory system

How can lung capacity be increased? Slowly breathe in, and expand your lungs to the maximum capacity. Hold the air for about 20 seconds or what is comfortable for you. While counting, place both hands on your hips with your thumbs facing front with pinkies touching the small of your back. Exhale the air slowly, relax and repeat three more times.

https://drsarahlarsen.com/your-hearts-voice/

You must understand how beautiful your heart is!

The Science & the Chants to deal with Covid-19 A new Experience of Reality

Meet Nikola Tesla a Science, Mathematical Genius – Futurist

Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist who is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply system. Wikipedia Born: July 10, 1856, Smiljan, Croatia Died: January 7, 1943, The New Yorker, A Wyndham Hotel, New York, NY Education: Graz University of Technology (1875–1878), MORE Awards: Order of the Yugoslav Crown, IEEE Edison Medal, MORE

He said: 10. ON CLEANLINESS “Everyone should consider his body as a priceless gift from one whom he loves above all, a marvelous work of art, of indescribable beauty, and mystery beyond human conception, and so delicate that a word, a breath, a look, nay, a thought may injure it. Uncleanliness, which breeds disease and death, is not only a self-destructive but highly immoral habit.”

Have you realized that Your vocal cords move energy! Boys voices crack – and have wings -women’s voices – ah so many amazing things!

LOVE YOU MATTER MORE THAN YOU KNOW! Anytime two or more components act together in a cooperative effort, I suggest that the result is amplification. Amplification appears to work with living beings, “inanimate” objects, and all other forms of Miracles.

To understand Mantra’s you have got to understand Cymatics!

What is Cymatics?

From Gaia: https://www.gaia.com/article/cymatics-provides-explanation-for-the-benefits-of-mantra

https://player.vimeo.com/video/477599008

https://www.gaia.com/article/cymatics-provides-explanation-for-the-benefits-of-mantra

Learn more: https://www.gaia.com/article/cymatics-provides-explanation-for-the-benefits-of-mantra

Physicists know that energy is in eternal motion. According to the Vedas, everything we perceive is the manifestation of oscillating energy. Modern science recognizes electromagnetic frequencies, what the Vedics call “shakti,” as the primal energy source of form. It is vibration and frequency that organizes “this” into “this” and “that” into “that” — including each of us. While this is an oversimplification of the Vedic view of creation and existence, as well as energy science, quantum physics now agrees, since discovering that atoms, and their components, are in perpetual states of vibration. Both systems assert that it is this endless dynamic energy that becomes sound, light, heat, and ultimately form, when reduced to the most basic state, causing creation to pulse with the rhythms of energy moving in waves. Bijas and Mantra Benefits The Sanskrit word “mantra” translates into two words; “man,” meaning “mind,” and “to think,” and “tra,” meaning “tool” or “instrument.” Mantra is an instrument of the mind, or a tool for thought. Frits Staal, founder of the department of South Asian Studies at U.C. Berkeley and a Vedic scholar, believed mantras pre-date language and words. Mantra “bijas,” or “seeds” are single-syllable words that carry the essence of a principle. OM is a bija that is used alone or combined with other bijas to make mantric phrases, i.e. “Om Mani Padme Hum.” The bija “OM” is rich with meaning — learn more here. All mantra, whether spoken or silent, oscillates as subtle frequencies within the body. Karmic habits (how we react the same way over and over again) are imprinted on our energetic being — mantra can subtly change energetic karmic patterns and tendencies. Mantra raises or shifts our subtle frequency, and can “upgrade” our karmic address by helping us change old, unconscious patterns. Along with invoking specific qualities, spoken or silent mantra recitation protects the mind from reactivity, and can “tame” the wild horse of discursive thought. The untamed mind is the source of karma, in that it draws conclusions and judgements that trigger reactivity of all kinds  — for better or worse. Discursive mind has a habit of believing itself to be “right;” always correct in its limited perceptions  — often conclusions based on ignorance. By training the mind with mantra, we begin to break out of karmic tendencies and ignorance and open to the world as it is. Forms of mantra can be found in many traditions. Early Christians chanted single verses from scripture in the same way the Vedics chant mantra. An ancient instruction from a Christian mystic to his student was, “whatever work you are doing, or office you are holding, or journey you are making, do not cease to chant your verse. We must ceaselessly and continuously pour forth the prayer of this verse if we seek holiness.” The Power of Mantra A cymatic image displaying attributes of the universal flower of life geometry Cymatics Derived from the Greek word for “wave,” cymatics is essentially the study of how sound waves and frequencies influence matter. This is illustrated by a substance (salt, sand) suspended in water or on a surface sensitive to vibration. When exposed to sound, substances flow into visible patterns and shapes. Cymatic experiments have documented the ever-changing forms and designs that reflect principles of sacred geometry and biology.  Some researchers theorize that cymatic action on matter created life, using deep-sea hydrothermal vents to illustrate the theory. “The hydrothermal vents spewed mineral-rich gases from earth’s core into the seawater and made contact with molten lava in the vicinity of the vent, causing bubbles to form that ranged in size from melons to microbes. “The elements that poured out of the vents emerged into highly turbulent water in an ocean of rich bubbling sounds. The watery membrane surfaces of the microscopic bubbles offered the perfect places for sound structures to be imprinted with cymatic patterns of energy,” according to the cymascope.com website. Researcher John Stewart Reid has hypothesized that cymatic action is responsible for Saturn’s visible atmospheric hexagon, caused by a constant stream of ELF, or “extremely low frequency” energy. By observing cymatic action, we realize that sonics and sound waves impact the body, which is 65 to 70 percent water. Since the body directly influences the mind, by changing the body, we change the mind the same way soundwaves change water and sand. Conversely, when the mind changes, so does the body. Sonic Science and Wisdom Science has begun mapping the deep, intricate influences of sound and frequency on the human brain and nervous system. Exploration of sound as a healing modality has exploded in recent decades — sonics are being used for pain management, enhanced learning, performance, immune system health, depression, and many more physical and mental health issues. While science has discovered some of the ways the brain and nervous system respond to sound, sonic and acoustic mysteries are still waiting to be cracked — science is still catching up with ancient wisdom. To a fetus, the mother’s heartbeat is the entire world. The instinctual human affinity for rhythm  is hardwired by our first perception of sound as heartbeat — and not just “heard” sound; the mother’s heartbeat pulses through the entire fetus. Studies have determined that infants who could hear recordings of their mothers’ heartbeat were calmer and cried less. The heartbeat is the matrix of life from womb to tomb — when it stops, we stop. Jung believed that sound and rhythm were means to access the collective unconscious. Perhaps he was aware that shamanic and indigenous traditions recognize the power of drumming as a potent tool for healing. The shaman or medicine man uses drumming to enter a trance state and travel to other realms to learn of a patient’s illness or dis-ease. Tribes of all times and places enact ritual and ceremony with drumming and dancing. Whether dancing at an EDM party or festival, or waltzing in a ballroom, those who join together in music and movement are “tribe,” even if just for that moment. Imagine a flamenco dancer with staccato heels whirling to a singer’s lament while the clan claps rhythms in ecstatic trance; a marching band with staccato drums and bright brass instruments rousing a crowd to blood-stirring support for its team at a high school football game; or the woeful wail of bagpipes moving funeral mourners to tears. Sonic Magic: The Wonder and Science of Sound Spanda: The Sound of Shakti and the Word According to ancient tantric sutras, we live and die within the vast, primal heartbeat that the Vedics referred to as the “Spanda.” Derived from the Sanskrit root “spadi,” meaning “to move a little,” the word reflects the yogic perception of the subtle, creative pulse of the universe. These principles are reflected in Judeo-Christian literature when, in Genesis, God speaks formlessness into form with the words “let there be light;” it was the ‘word’ that brought forth light. The famous passage in John 1:1 in the New Testament says, “In the beginning there was the Word; the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” One argument is that since light travels faster than sound, wouldn’t light preceed sound in creation stories? In 2017, a research team at Middle Tennessee State University conducted an experiment that demonstrated that “sound pulses can travel at velocities faster than the speed of light.” Other experiments have had the same result. Sound can be prior to light. As humans, our perceptual window is microscopic relative to all there is in space and time. We stumble across puzzle pieces and iceberg tips as we struggle to bring the infinite into focus. Our year of 365 days is a fraction of Saturn’s 29 year trip around the sun. If we can imagine cosmic cymatic activity on a vast scale over (what would be for us) oceans of time, we could conceptualize the universe as the cymatic expression of the spanda. As above, so below; perhaps the key to unlocking vast, cosmic mysteries may be observing energy’s influence on matter on our human scale.

Cymatics is a subset of modal vibrational phenomena. The term was coined by Hans Jenny, a Swiss follower of the philosophical school known as anthroposophy. FANTASTIC  Visual of the power of manifestation!In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid.In human physiology and psychology, sound is the reception of such waves and their perception by the brain. Only acoustic waves that have frequencies lying between about 20 Hz and 20 kHz elicit an auditory percept in humans. Sound waves above 20 kHz are known as ultrasound and are not audible to humans. Sound waves below 20 Hz are known as infrasound. Different animal species have varying hearing ranges.We love you!Dr. Sarah  P.S. Please share this newsletter on your social media, in an email to get this solution to reach the people that need it most!

You must understand your Heart’s voice connected to your whole body!

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Covid-19 virus |How to Build your Spiritual Immune System! – Your Spiritual Immunity

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Do your tendencies mean something radically different to the people that care? What journey have you been on & when “felt” do you open your heart?

Shamans, medicine people, mystics and sages throughout the ages have always been asked this question.

You may know that the soul doesn’t speak just the human language.

Instead, your soul communicates with you through symbols, metaphors, archetypes, poetry, deep feelings, magic and miracles.

The human language is far too limiting to express the full spectrum of profound knowledge, insight, and revelation that the soul has to share.

As such, most of us were never taught to tune into the dancing rhythms of our deepest selves. Instead, due to our social conditioning, we have come to heavily rely on the mind only and its interpretation of reality. Unfortunately, our emphasis on hard data, facts and linear logic has left a gaping hole inside of us. We fill this empty hole with consumerism, addictions, violence and endless distractions.

Sometimes, a traumatic or extreme event in our lives shakes us out of our habitual way of perceiving existence. But usually, most of us tend to miss the big, glaring daily signs that the soul within us is trying to communicate with us. Not only that, but we tend to actively mistrust, ignore or doubt any sacred form of communication that we receive.

How can we begin to tune into the subtle voice of the soul and rewire our conditioned brains? How can we listen to our soul’s vital messages and nourish ourselves with its life-changing wisdom?

W E L C O M E H U M A N S

Welcome to the re-evaluation of the century.
Welcome to the pan-awakening of a lifetime.
Welcome to the New Earth waking dream,
disguised as the breaking,
disguised as a nightmare,
disguised as the most watched reality TV show
in all of modern history.

Welcome to the beginning of the end
of everything that no longer serves
that of absolute truth and value.

Welcome to the last fork in the road
you’ll ever have the privilege of viewing.
Welcome to the threshold.
Blink too long and the quickening rules.

Eyes open.
Heart first.
Feet planted.
Guidance birthed.

You know you signed up for this,
but you might be questioning
what the hell you were thinking when
you dotted those cosmic i’s
and crossed those heavenly t’s.
But your Soul was like,
‘Yeah, put me in then coach!’
We’ve got this.

Your cosmic software is kicking in
but there’s old code slowing down the processor.
It’s up to you to do the digging
and formulate a swift Spring Cleaning.
There’s only one play:
Reorient to the light
and keep on shining.

Welcome to the re-evaluation of the century.

If you dig deep, a part of you
always knew this was coming.
Like watching the thin polychloroprene skin
of a ballon stretch thinner and
thinner as the unconscious
breathe of development and capitalism
continued to blow hot air into
one tiny mouth whole.

Welcome to the threshold.

Dear scientists – the pandemic is not just a virus.
The virus is a literal and metaphorical announcement
of dire imbalance (and grave manipulation)
that has infected our bodies, minds and souls.

You can’t just vaccinate this one away.

Dear New Agers – the pandemic is not just fear.
There is a very real infectious molecule
simply trying to survive and do its business,
just like all of life.

You can’t just visualize this one away.

This moment beckons a revolution.

Massive systems change requires
not only functional design – but beauty and aesthetics
not only rational argument – but inspiring story and narrative
not only reductionistic analysis – but big-pictured symphony
not only analytical solutions – but empathy of heart and experience
not only practicality – but play and joy
not only answers to how – but why.
A co-created meaningful existence is imperative.

There is a war on our liberty and freedom
and a war against nature and all things holy and sacred.
The solution lays in whole-brained wisdom.

Let the wisdom of you na’au and
the discernment of your mind
usher you into holistic truths
and centered right-action.

With your first breath in the morning light,
what is it that you want to commit to
again and again? Can you say it out loud?

What matters to you
now more than ever?

Where does your energy
yearn to go now that the
world has stopped?

What is worthy of your time and heart,
your prayers and thoughts
your blood and guts?

What will you choose to place your value on?

With a once in a lifetime chance,
a moment out of time,
the movie’s been paused,
and you have the power
to decide what plays next.

Welcome to the re-evaluation of the century.
Paint wisely.

– Lindsey Uluwehimailani Morriss

This is one way to know you are a Creator and you are connected to what created you and nature! You can see that Being’s self-portrait anytime. Right in the food, you are growing.

It’s called Nature, Beyond just appreciation, beyond looking up at the sky. Or taking a drive through the countryside or walking in the park.

Growing, nurturing your own food calms your nervous system, It quiets you enough to hear your inner voice of wisdom and intuition.

Your connection to Creator, Nature, and your inner voice begins with your desire to coax it out into the open in your own life!

Use your breath, feel the fresh air, open yourself to nature and wait.

When you give your body healthy food, you feel more vibrant and alive; the same is true for your soul. What could be more delicious?

To connect deeply with your Soul
You are invited to Miracle Makers Academy

https://www.miraclemakersacademy.com/pages/get-started

Katie Ness in her article Sacral Chakra shares: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Your Second Chakra

“The truest expression of a people is in its dance and in its music. Bodies never lie.”Agnes de MilleAmerican dancer and choreographer

Here are the main characteristics of the Sacral Chakra:

 
The sacral chakra resonates with our need for relationships and our need to control or create the dynamics of our physical world. The second chakra shifts from obeying tribal, family authority, and allows us to discover satisfying relationships and interests of our own.
 
But if the first chakra is already out of balance with lack of root support from your first tribe, how are you supposed to learn how to form harmonious friendships, relationships and healthy physical interests later in life?
 

The Sacral Chakra Houses Creativity, Relationships, and Sexuality

Being creative in nature, the sacral chakra’s main focus is allowing the individual to discover what they enjoy, to form hobbies, create loving and exciting relationships, and even creativity in lovemaking and sexual eroticism.
 
The second chakra is centered on personal identity or personal play in the external world and how it responds to the seductive forces of the physical world. Therefore, if the second chakra is unbalanced, it can lead to addictions of drugs, sex, gambling and money.
 
The Svadhisthana is the foundation of a healthy ego that allows us to interact with the world without selling ourselves short or pretending to be someone we are not. A person with a strong second chakra can survive financially and physically on his or her own and bond with others to form harmonious friendships. A balanced second chakra has the ability to take risks and have the resilience to recover when things go wrong.
 

How the Second Chakra Relates to Sex

Sexually, this is the pleasure chakra that essentially ‘turns us on’ and is deeply connected to our partnerships with others. This chakra also correlates to physical things that we find pleasure in such as painting, fishing or writing erotic poetry – whatever floats your boat!
 
Sexual eroticism is a form of physical and emotional freedom as well as spiritual liberation because it is about being in the moment so we can let go of our fears and boundaries to enjoy the bountiful happiness of the human experience.
 

What the Sacral Chakra Teaches Us

This chakra is all about having the power to realize and utilize your talent to express the life you want to lead. A sacral chakra in distress can form abusive, controlling relationships, and cause bullying in the workplace, fear of abandonment, and loss of financial and creative power.
 
The lesson the sacral chakra teaches us is that every relationship we create – from the casual to the most intimate – has a purpose, no matter how painful, to help us become more consciously aware of our karma and ourselves. Some relationships are necessarily difficult because it makes us learn about our own limitations and ourselves.
 
Through this lesson, we remember that nobody is perfect – all human beings are beautifully flawed. So the next time that rude colleague is mean to you, try to empathize with them. They might be having a rough day or perhaps had a turbulent childhood that has caused a number of complexes.
 

The Power of the Sacral Chakra

Symbolically and literally, the sacral chakra is the birth canal. We have the capacity to birth a life we want, to start that project we’ve wanted to, a relationship with the cute guy in the coffee shop, or a friendship with a fellow yogi in class.
 
It is having that personal power of choice to make the move. It is the sensation of being physically alive and creating the life you desire.

Balance Your Sacral Chakra with these Yoga Poses By Yoga Bear

Having read previously about the Sacral Chakra, we have learned that, a balanced sacral chakra can bring with it sense of creativity and connection to other people.

Here are some poses that can either stimulate the chakra to increase energy or release excess energy. Hold each pose for five, slow deep breaths.

Located in the lower abdomen, below the navel, this chakra relates to our sense of creativity and connection to other people.

An imbalance in this chakra can result in emotional instability, lack of energy and motivation, low self esteem and dependency on others. 

This can physically manifest in urinary infections, lower back pain, and irregular menstrual cycles among others.

A balanced sacral chakra will have you feeling full of energy, confident and inspired to enjoy each new experience life brings. The sacral chakra is represented by the colour orange.

Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana)

• Stand with your feet wide apart and your feet turned outwards.
• Bend your knees deeply working towards having your thighs parallel to the floor (remember that’s a ‘goal’ not a ‘target’ – work within your ability).
• Align your knees over the centre of the feet. Ensure that the shoulders are stacked above the hips.
• Lengthen the tailbone downwards while lifting through the crown of the head.
• Bring the palms together in front of the heart (Anjali Mudra).

Reverse Warrior Pose (Viparita Virabhadrasana)

• From Goddess Pose, turn your hips to the right as you spin your back heel outwards and place it onto the mat with the toes turned in a little.
• If you find you’re a little off balance, you can bring the right foot out closer to the long edge of the mat. Otherwise align the heel of the right foot to the arch of the left foot.  
• Extend your arms outwards at shoulder level then rotate the palm of the right hand upwards as you begin to arch up and back, sliding the left hand down the back leg.
• Soften in the upper body while remaining strong in the legs.
• Stay here for a couple of breaths then repeat on the other side.  

Wide-Legged Forward Bend C (Prasarita Padottanasana C)

• Stand with your feet wide apart, legs straight and your toes pointing forwards.
• Interlace your fingers behind your back and rest them on your sacrum (that piece of bone at the base of the spine between the hip bones).
• Roll the heads of the shoulders back as you draw the shoulders blades down the back and begin to extend the arms downwards.
• Begin to hinge forwards from the hips to fold forward, lengthening the crown of the head towards the floor.
• Bring the weight forward a little, aligning hips over heels.  It feels like you might topple over a little but let that feeling go and trust that your body know what to do.
• Stay here for a couple of breaths before lengthening through the crown of the head to lift up and out of the pose.  

Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana)

• Sit either on your mat or on a rolled-up blanket or foam block to elevate the pelvis slightly and prevent rounding in the lower back.
• Extend the legs long and gently rock from side to side to discover your ‘sit bones’ and ground them into the mat/block.
• Press gently through the heels to keep the feet flexed and the toes soft.
• Raise arms above head and lift up through the fingertips, palms facing each other.
• Inhale and as you exhale begin to hinge forwards from the hips, leading with the heart, keeping length in the spine and avoiding a rounding in the lower back.
• Place your hands on the mat beside your calves and inhale to lengthen through the crown of the head, extending the heart forward, exhale to release and fold a little deeper.
• Stay here for a couple of breaths maybe repeating the inhale to lift, exhale to fold movement a couple of times and feel into the gentle stretch across the back of the legs. 

Reclined Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana)

• Lie on your mat and bend your knees, bringing the soles of the feet together and letting the knees release out to the sides towards the floor. If you wish, you can place a block underneath each knee for support.
• Place your palms on your belly, letting your elbows rest on the floor.  Inhale and with each exhalation, allow your body to get a little heavier.  
• A nice way to practice these poses is to bring with it an intention of spaciousness within the hips and pelvic area.
• Draw on your own creative energy and belief in your abilities.
• Approach the day with a sense of openness to yourself, others, new experiences and joy.

What do your lungs do for you and how to enhance their abilities?

The most important function of the lungs is to take oxygen from the environment and transfer it to the bloodstream.

Taking more than 6 million breaths per year, the lungs affect every aspect of our bodies and health.

This article looks at the form and function of the lungs, plants & herbs that affect the lungs, and how to maintain healthy lungs.

Function

The lungs’ main role is to bring in air from the atmosphere and pass oxygen into the bloodstream. From there, it circulates to the rest of the body.

Help is required from structures outside of the lungs in order to breathe properly. To breathe, we use the muscle of the diaphragm, the intercostal muscles (between the ribs), the muscles of the abdomen, and sometimes even muscles in the neck.

The diaphragm is a muscle that is domed at the top and sits below the lungs. It powers most of the work involved in breathing.

As it contracts, it moves down, allowing more space in the chest cavity and increasing the lungs’ capacity to expand. As the chest cavity volume increases, the pressure inside goes down, and air is sucked in through the nose or mouth and down into the lungs.

As the diaphragm relaxes and returns to its resting position, the lung volume decreases because the pressure inside the chest cavity goes up, and the lungs expel the air.

The lungs are like bellows. As they expand, air is sucked in for oxygen. As they compress, the exchanged carbon dioxide waste is pushed back out during exhalation.

When air enters the nose or mouth, it travels down the trachea, also called the windpipe. After this, it reaches a section called the carina. At the carina, the windpipe splits into two, creating two mainstem bronchi. One leads to the left lung and the other to the right lung.

From there, like branches on a tree, the pipe-like bronchi split again into smaller bronchi and then even smaller bronchioles. This ever-decreasing pipework eventually terminates in the alveoli, which are little air sac endings.

Here, gas exchange occurs.

How long could you live without breathing?

After five to ten minutes of not breathing, you are likely to develop serious and possibly irreversible brain damage. The one exception is when a younger person stops breathing and also becomes very cold at the same time. This can occur when a child is suddenly plunged into very cold water and drowns.

Below is a list of herbs that can not only boost lung and respiratory health but can also repair it. Herb information is courtesy of John Summerly who is a nutritionist, herbologist, and homeopathic practitioner.

• The left and right lungs are different sizes.
• The lungs play a part in many functions, including regulating the acidity of the body.

The lungs are surrounded by two membranes, known as the pulmonary pleurae. The inner layer directly lines the outer surface of the lungs, and the outer layer is attached to the inner wall of the rib cage.

The space between the two membranes is filled with pleural fluid.

Your lung capacity, being still and connecting deeply answers questions, struggles, challenges, and concerns regarding your health, relationships, connection with spirit and so much more!

“More” – More life is what your lungs do according to Louis Hay.

CAUSES OF SYMPTOMS ACCORDING TO LOUISE HAY

Lung: The ability to take in life. Depression. Grief. Not feeling worthy of living life fully.

List of 15 Plants & Herbs that can boost your lungs! 

1. Licorice Root

Licorice is one of the more widely consumed herbs in the world. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it occurs in more formulas than any other single herb because it is thought to harmonize the action of all other herbs. Licorice is very soothing and softens the mucous membranes of the throat and especially the lungs and stomach and at the same time cleanses any inflamed mucous membrane that needs immune system support. It reduces the irritation in the throat and yet has an expectorant action. It is the saponins (detergent-like action) that loosen the phlegm in the respiratory tract so that the body can expel the mucus. Compounds within this root help relieve bronchial spasms and block the free radical cells that produce the inflammation and tightening of the airways. The compounds also have antibacterial and antiviral effects to them as well which helps fight off viral and bacterial strains in the body that can cause lung infections. Glycrrhizins and flavonoids can even help prevent lung cancer cells from forming which means they can even prevent lung cancer.

2. Coltsfoot

Coltsfoot has been traditionally used by Native Americans for thousands of years to strengthen the lungs. It clears out excess mucus from the lungs and bronchial tubes. It soothes the mucus membranes in the lungs, and has been shown in research to assist with asthma, coughs, bronchitis, and other lung ailments. Coltsfoot is available in dried form for tea or as an alcohol extract known as a tincture.

3. Cannabis

The toxic breakdown of therapeutic compounds in cannabis from burning the plant are totally avoided with vaporization. Extraction and inhaling cannabinoid essential oils of the unprocessed plant affords significant mitigation of irritation to the oral cavity that comes from smoking. Cannabis is perhaps one of the most effective anti-cancer plants in the world shown in study after study to stimulate cannabinoid receptor activation in specific genes and mediate the anti-invasive effect of cannabinoids. Vaporizing cannabis allows the active ingredients to stimulate the body’s natural immune response and significantly reduces the ability of infections to spread. Vaporizing cannabis (especially with very high amounts of cannabinoids) opens up airways and sinuses, acting as a bronchodilator. It is even a proven method to treat and reverse asthma.

4. Osha Root

Osha is a herb native to the Rocky Mountain area and has historically been used by the Native Americans for respiratory support. The roots of the plant contain camphor and other compounds which make it one of the best lung-support herbs in America. One of the main benefits of osha root is that it helps increase circulation to the lungs, which makes it easier to take deep breaths. Also, when seasonal sensitivities flare up your sinuses, osha rootm, which is not an actual antihistamine, does produce a similar effect and may be help calm respiratory irritation.

5. Thyme

Thyme is very powerful in the fight against chest congestion. It produces powerful antiseptic essential oils which are classified as naturally antibiotic and anti-fungal. Thyme is well known to zap acne more so than expensive prescription creams, gels and lotions. Thyme tea has the power to chase away and eliminate bacteria and viruses so whether your infection is based on either, it will work. Thyme has been used as a lung remedy consumed since antiquity and is used extensively today to prevent and treat respiratory tract infections and bacterial infection pneumonia.

6. Oregano

Although oregano contains the vitamins and nutrients required by the immune system, its primary benefits are owed to its carvacrol and rosmarinic acid content. Both compounds are natural decongestants and histamine reducers that have direct, positive benefits on the respiratory tract and nasal passage airflow. Oil of oregano fights off the dangerous bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, better than the most common antibiotic treatments. Oregano has so many health benefits that a bottle of organic oregano oil should be in everyone’s medicine cabinet.

7. Lobelia

Did you know that horses given lobelia are able to breathe more deeply? Its benefits are not limited to equestrians. It has been used as “asthmador” in Appalachian folk medicine. Lobelia, by some accounts, is thought to be one of the most valuable herbal remedies in existence. Extracts of Lobelia inflata contain lobeline, which showed positive effects in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tumor cells. Lobelia contains an alkaloid known as lobeline, which thins mucus, breaks up congestion. Additionally, lobelia stimulates the adrenal glands to release epinephrine, in effect, this relaxes the airways and allows for easier breathing. Also, because lobelia helps to relax smooth muscles, it is included in many cough and cold remedies. Lobelia should be part of everyone’s respiratory support protocol!

8. Elecampane

Elecampane has been used by Native Americans for many years to clear out excess mucus that impairs lung function. It is known as a natural antibacterial agent for the lungs, helping to lessen infection particularly for people who are prone to lung infections like bronchitis. Herbal practitioners often recommend one teaspoon of the herb per cup of boiling water, drunk three times daily for two to three weeks. Elecampane is also available in tincture format for ease.

9. Eucalyptus

Native to Australia, eucalyptus isn’t just for Koala bears! Aborigines, Germans, and Americans have all used the refreshing aroma of eucalyptus to promote respiratory health and soothe throat irritation. Eucalyptus is a common ingredient in cough lozenges and syrups and its effectiveness is due to a compound called cineole. Cineole has numerous benefits — it’s an expectorant, can ease a cough, fights congestion, and soothes irritated sinus passages. As an added bonus, because eucalyptus contains antioxidants, it supports the immune system during a cold or other illness.

10. Mullein

Both the flowers and the leaves of the mullein plant are used to make an herbal extract that helps strengthen the lungs. Mullein is used by herbal practitioners to clear excess mucus from the lungs, cleanse the bronchial tubes, and reduce inflammation that is present in the respiratory tract. A tea can be made from one teaspoon of the dried herb to one cup of boiled water. Alternatively, you can take a tincture form of this herb.

11. Lungwort

Lungwort is a tree-growing lichen that actually resembles lung tissue in appearance. However, this natural remedy doesn’t just look the part. As early as the 1600?s, lungwort has been used to promote lung and respiratory health and clear congestion. Pulmonaria selections come in all kinds so seek a herbologist for direction. Lungwort also contains compounds that are powerfully effective against harmful organisms that affect respiratory health.

12. Chaparral

Chaparral, a plant native to the Southwest, has been appreciated by the Native Americans for lung detoxification and respiratory support. Chaparral contains powerful antioxidants that resist irritation and NDGA which is known to fight histamine response. NDGA inhibits aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis (the energy-producing ability) of cancer cells. Chaparral is also a herb that fights harmful organisms. The benefits of chaparral are mostly available in a tincture extraction but chaparral tea may support respiratory problems by encouraging an expectorant action to clear airways of mucus.

13. Sage

Sage’s textured leaves give off a heady aroma, which arises from sage’s essential oils. These oils are the source of the many benefits of sage tea for lung problems and common respiratory ailments. Sage tea is a traditional treatment for sore throats and coughs. The rich aromatic properties arising from sage’s volatile oils of thujone, camphor, terpene and salvene can be put to use by inhaling sage tea’s vapors to dispel lung disorders and sinusitis. Alternatively, brew a strong pot of sage tea and place it into a bowl or a vaporizer.

14. Peppermint

Peppermint, and peppermint oil, contains menthol — a soothing ingredient known to relax the smooth muscles of the respiratory tract and promote free breathing. Dried peppermint typically contains menthol, menthone, menthyl acetate, menthofuran and cineol. Peppermint oil also contains small amounts of many additional compounds including limonene, pulegone, caryophyllene and pinene. Paired with the antihistamine effect of peppermint, menthol is a fantastic decongestant. Many people use therapeutic chest balms and other inhalants that contain menthol to help break up congestion. Additionally, peppermint is an antioxidant and fights harmful organisms.

15. Plantain Leaf

With fruit that is similar in appearance to a banana, plantain leaf has been used for hundreds of years to ease cough and soothe irritated mucous membranes. Many of its active constituents show antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, as well as being anti-inflammatory and antitoxic. Clinical trials have found it favorable against cough, cold, and lung irritation. Plantain leaf has an added bonus in that it may help relieve a dry cough by spawning mucus production in the lungs.

Sources:

1. http://www.everygreenherb.com/lungs.html

2. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100209183337.htm?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

3. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/antibiotics-may-make-fighting-flu-harder

5. http://thegoodnewsnp.com.au/files/45th_Edition_small_file_size._pdf.pdf

6. http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/20/15-plants-herbs-that-can-boost-lung-health-heal-respiratory-infections-repair-pulmonary-damage/

7. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/305190#function