| 184 | 185 | 186 | 187 | 188 |
| 1 | 79 | 159 | 238 | 317 |
|
1
76
The Complete Home Guide to Herbs, Natural Healing, and Nutrition
stop immediately and take a few drops of lobelia leaf tincture to
relax the muscles, including the heart, and remove the associated
pain. Then tell your health professional.
Hydrotherapy will greatly help the heart and circulatory system; adjust
the temperature of the water according to your individual strength and
tolerance. Train your body gradually over a period of time to tolerate the
extremes of hot and cold, which will be extremely beneficial.
A castor-oil pack placed over the sternum is excellent (see chapter 3);
make one half the size of a tea cloth and place it slightly toward the heart
side. A compress made from ginger, cayenne, and mustard powders will
also help; it can be a great relief to the circulatory system because it gets
the blood moving. Increase the strength of the herbs according to your
own strength and use once or twice daily.
Massage and meditation will enhance the circulatory process. Essential
oils of hyssop and ylang-ylang are particularly good for either massaging
in or adding to the bath.
The Respiratory System
Modern society truly underestimates breathing and its key role in the
well-being of our bodies. Older cultures and societies understood the role
of breath much more than we do. They used it as emotional and physical
nourishment for the body.A freely and fully breathing body is healthier and
better equipped with natural defenses against negative effects including
pollution, infection, and nutritional deficiencies. One of the most potent
ways of stimulating the lymph system, thus aiding the immune system, is
by deep yogic breathing.
Yogic breathing and other breathing techniques devised and practiced
in other parts of the world have been used for centuries to allay hunger,
heal sick bodies, balance strong emotions, and explore different states of
consciousness. Anybody at any time can explore breathing this way; it is
an attainable goal. What usually happens to our breathing is that we
forget it and generally get so mixed up with our emotions that we literally
stifle, repress, and contort its healing potential and daily life-giving
properties.
After our first breath as babies, we generally continue for roughly the
next three years breathing deeply into our bellies, expanding and pushing
our diaphragms and filling our lungs. About the age of two to three years
old, this pattern changes as the ego asserts itself more. A colorful range of
more advanced emotions come into play, and breathing moves from the
round cherubic belly up into the chest during the day, returning at
nighttime to the more relaxed belly area. Practicing and remembering
how a baby breathes can be a tool for life, helping emotionally and
Page
Quick Jump
|