In Today’s post we will list out 10 steps to naturally cleanse or detox your lungs. Lung cleansing techniques may benefit smokers, people who get regular exposure to air pollution, and those with chronic respiratory conditions.
The idea of cleaning out your lungs might sound very appealing. But if you’re tempted to buy vitamins, teas, or essential oils that say they will “detox” your lungs, Save your money!
Here are 10 steps you can take to keep your lungs as healthy as possible:
No 10: Stop Vaping: Vaping means smoking electronic or e-cigarettes. Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it’s still not safe! E-cigarettes heat nicotine, flavouring agents and other chemicals to create a water vapor that you inhale. There has also been an outbreak of lung injuries and deaths associated with vaping. This is especially true for vaping products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). And moreover, Electronic Cigarettes Are Just As Addictive As Traditional Ones.
No. 9: Avoid Passive and Active Smoking: Cigarette smoking is the cause of death for one in every five people in the United States, And this includes passive or second hand smoking. The combination of the smoke coming from the end of a cigarette, plus the smoke that comes out of the smoker’s mouth, contains hundreds of toxic chemicals which can accelerate development of Lung Cancer.
No. 8: Steam Inhalation: Inhaling water vapor opens up the airways and help the lungs drain out mucus and mucus plugs. Steam adds warmth and moisture to the air, which may improve breathing and help loosen mucus inside the airways and lungs. Inhaling water vapor can provide immediate relief and help people breathe more easily.
No.7: Controlled Coughing: Coughing is the body’s natural reflex or defence mechanism to expel toxins trapped in mucus. Controlled coughing loosens excess mucus in the lungs, sending it up through the airways.
You can follow these steps for controlled coughing:
- sit on a chair upright and relaxed
- slowly inhale through the nose
- slowly exhale while leaning forward, pushing the arms against the stomach
- cough 2 or 3 times while exhaling, keeping the mouth slightly open
- slowly inhale through the nose
- rest a while and repeat if necessary.
No. 6: Green Tea: Green tea contains many antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation in the lungs. These compounds may even protect lung tissue from the harmful effects of smoke inhalation.
No.5: Anti-inflammatory foods: Foods that help fight inflammation include turmeric, leafy greens, cherries, blueberries, olives, walnuts, beans and lentils.
No. 4: Keep your lungs strong with exercise. There is some evidence that cardiovascular exercise — anything that makes your heart beat faster — can help your lungs work better! It also makes the heart and muscles more efficient, so when you do physical activity, there is less demand on the lungs, so you feel better and breathe more easily.
No.3: Prevent Infections: Protect your lungs from further harm by getting flu and pneumonia vaccines. Also, frequently washing your hands, and avoiding contact with anyone who has a sniffly nose or other illness are helpful points to remember.
No.2: Avoid Air Pollution both Indoors and Outdoors: Keep your house clean! Make it a habit to vacuum your home regularly. You can also use Vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters and Even Air Purifiers with HEPA filters to get rid of those toxic carcinogenic gases.
If you are going outdoors, avoid spending time outdoors on days with poor air quality and use good quality pollution masks. You can check air pollution index in your zone using some standard apps on your phone.
No.1: Breathing Exercises: We already discussed how exercise and physical activity can improve our lungs and heart. Taking a step further, Diaphragmatic breathing, also known as “belly breathing,” is an effective technique that can be used to strengthen the diaphragm and increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the lungs. This technique is performed by taking a deep breath in, almost as if you were attempting to breathe all the way in your stomach. As the inhalation occurs, you will feel the diaphragm contract. Then you can exhale slowly through pursed lips. This create back-pressure in the alveoli which is great for improved lung compliance and detoxifying your lungs.