The 'Tree of Life'
Recommended Reading
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EVER
looked at the shape of the lungs we carry around with us in diagrams
and seen that they either look like tree roots or a reversed tree
with branches spreading out in all directions?
Both are breathing machines and involved with either the giving out
or taking in of oxygen. Oxygen is energy and energy is life.
In Eastern medicine "prana" (universal energy) enters the body when
we inhale. How we breathe, whether shallow or deep, slow or hurried,
influences our bodily and mind states. A Westerner tends to take
breathing for granted and only pays attention to it when we stop -
for a moment. Then it's panic stations
We breathe on average 20 000 times a day and, deep down inside of us
trillions of tiny cells are reaching out and embracing trillions of
tiny atoms of oxygen. Each one bears the ongoing gift of life we
take for granted.
Oxygen and carbon dioxide have a balance within our bloodstream that
is unique to each individual at any one moment in life.
Lung illnesses are usually serious and always need professional
medical attention.
| Bronchitis | the swelling of bronchial tubes caused by infectious organisms, or chemical agents. |
| Croup | caused (mainly in children) by infectious organisms. |
| Pneumonia | Inflammation of the lungs, bronchial tubes, alveoli, etc caused by bacteria, viruses and/or fungi. |
| Emphysema | breakdown of the walls of the alveoli thus reducing the surface area in which oxygen can be passed to the blood. |
| Asthma | a debilitating breathing condition mainly attacking young children caused by unhealthy organisms and even allergic reactions to food or environmental pollutants and toxins, or low blood sugar. |
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Oriental medicine has much to say about healing these conditions and a qualified acupuncturist should be sought for advice. |
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Foods that have a strong healing effect on lungs are rice and
leafy green vegetables. Others to be considered are: |
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| Vegetables | celery, daikon. carrots, lotus root, turnip, watercress, encumber. |
| Fish | cod. haddock, halibut. |
| Cooking herbs | ginger, garlic, dill, cinnamon, corainder, fennel, nutmeg; basil, cardamom |
| Fruits | pears, tangerines, avocado, plums, lemons. |
| Other Supplements | seaweed, chlorophyll (found in spirulina, alfalfa, wheat and barley grass, chlorella etc), kelp. |
| Oregano / Marjoram | to get perspiration going to clear lungs and bronchial passages. |
| Fenugreek | to promote elimination of mucus. |
| Eucalyptus | for croup, asthma, coughs and colds. |
| Licorice root / Coltsfoot | to encourage better digestion. |
