Our beautiful city of Portland has been covered in a blanket of thick smoke for the past few days now. As the smoke and ash from the wildfires in Clackamas county blow into Multnomah county, our air quality index continues to increase to even more dangerous levels for our Lungs and respiratory system.
Photograph by Chip Osborne (@chip_osborne_photography)
In Chinese medicine, the Lungs are the commander of Qi. This means that they are in change of circulating energy around your body. They govern the airways in the throat and they also connect to the Heart below, setting the rhythmic pulses of the body through their timekeeping function of inhalation and exhalation. The Lungs are called the Delicate Organ because they are extremely susceptible to damage by environmental influences such as allergens, pollution, viruses, bacteria, and climate.
As the organ in the body that sits on top, the Lungs are like a cloud canopy that mist down and lubricate all the other organs. The delicate nature of the Lungs is most sensitive to fire, wind, and dryness. When the Lungs are dry, their energy does not descend to the other organs for lubrication. Instead, Lung energy goes into reverse flow, and we can experience symptoms like cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, hoarse voice, dry mouth and nose, fatigue, and even skin issues like acne.
Here are some easy DIY tips for ways to support your Lungs and respiratory system during such hazardous conditions.
AROMATHERAPY SUPPORT
Use essential oils to open the sinuses and clear the airways. Eucalyptus, Pine, Cedar, Rosemary, Peppermint are excellent for steams or topical applications. Use 1 drop in a bowl of freshly boiled water, place a towel over your head and the bowl, and inhale the steam for 5-15 minutes. You can also dilute oils into a carrier oil like Jojoba oil to make a topical application that can be applied to your skin. Use a spray bottle to spray onto your chest and throat as needed, or massage the diluted oil directly into these areas.
AIR PURIFICATION
If you are not lucky enough to have a HEPA filter running at home, herbal steams are fantastic for purifying the air in your home. Boil a handful of any or all of fresh herbs like Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Lavender on the stove in a large pot of water. You can also add 15 drops of Cedar essential oil or Eucalyptus essential oil. Once boiling, turn to low and simmer throughout the day to purify the air and replace the smoke smell with lovely, soothing herbal deliciousness.. Be sure to keep enough water in the pot to avoid burning the herbs.
NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT
Foods that moisten and support the Lungs and its partner, the Spleen, are apples, pears, garlic, ginger, carrots, sweet potato, daikon radish, and green tea. This Asian pear recipe is great for quenching thirst and addressing chronic Lung issues, warding off seasonal colds and flus, preventing allergies, and moistening the mouth, nose, throat, and Lungs.
1 Asian Pear (or any variety of pear), peeled and chopped into bite-size pieces.
1 slice fresh Ginger
1 Cinnamon stick or 1/2 tsp. ground Cinnamon
4-6 Cardamom pods or 1/4 tsp. ground Cardamon
4-6 Cloves
1 Tbsp. local raw Honey
1 Lemon wedge
Add all ingredients to a pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer until pears are soft. (Asian pears require 15-20 mins, other varieties 8-10 mins). Remove herbs once cooked and enjoy! Mash into a pear sauce, drink the juice, or use as a base for your regular breakfast porridge by adding oats, chia seeds, granola, quinoa, etc.
MULLEIN TEA
My favorite Skin Whisperer, Doctor Ellerie ND LAc (@doctor.ellerie), recommends drinking Mullein tea to bring moisture to dry places. Mullein is the fuzzy weed we see growing everywhere on the West coast and is easy to buy from any herb or tea shop. It is used for relieving symptoms of cough, bronchitis, hoarseness, pneumonia, colds, chills, flu, swine flu, allergies, tonsillitis, and sore throat. Dr. Ellerie advises drinking Mullein tea with honey and lemon to hydrate and bring moisture back to all the places your body needs it most.