Asthma and Allergy Supplement:
Wake Up Call
Close to 20 million Americans (including 6.2 million children) have asthma (2003)
Highest prevalence rate was seen in those 5-17 years of age
Direct and indirect costs of asthma surpass $16 billion (2004)
117,000 people in Hawaii have asthma
Native Hawaiians have the highest prevalence rate
Kaua’i has the highest prevalence rate amongst the Hawaiian Islands
50 million Americans have allergies
54.6% test positive for one or more allergens
Conventional Approach to Asthma:
People with asthma have extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways. The airways react by narrowing or obstructing when they become irritated. This makes it difficult for the air to move in and out. During an asthma attack the muscles around the airways contract; this is one of the body's natural defense mechanisms in reaction to inhaled irritants. In the asthmatic, this reaction gets out of control, restricting the flow of air and causing the asthmatic to become short of breath, with the characteristic wheezing sound.
When under attack by asthma triggers, this causes the airway to become inflamed and swollen. Excess mucus is produced in an attempt to protect the airway. Unfortunately, in the asthmatic, this action can also get out of control. The swelling starts to close off some air passages causing air trapping. The excess mucus becomes thick and overwhelms the cilia, which can only move the thickened mucus slowly and with difficulty, resulting in severe coughing spells, causing more irritation to the airways. This creates a "vicious cycle". Most other asthma medications concentrate on this region of the airways. Steroids, inhaled and oral, reduce swelling of this area. Aerosols help moisten and mobilize thick mucus. Other medications help stabilize certain cells (like mast cells) within the walls of the airways to prevent or break the asthma attack cycle.
Natural Healing Approach
Lung Muscle Region Large Intestine Muscle Region
The Western view of asthma, allergies and lung-related diseases is related to physical, cellular or viral influences in different areas, leading to different diseases classifications, treatment models and medicines. Natural healing adopts a different approach. It views asthma and allergies as part of the same system, yet with symptoms in different areas with varying degrees of blockage and energy imbalances. As such, the approach will be different. Using a complementary approach (both western and eastern) would be best for the asthma and allergy sufferer. Natural healing is simple, cost effective and has no side effects—and it empowers people with self-healing tools they can bring into play in the rehabilitative or preventive process.
The key to health is balance from the perspective of Natural Healing. Imbalances are related to internal organ energies and blockages in the meridians are the root of disease. Natural Healing views asthma and allergies as mainly due to external cold energy getting inside the body causing internal phlegm or mucous and negative changes to the lungs. Blockage in the nose and sinus results in allergies; blockage in throat leads to bronchitis, and blockage in the lungs lead to asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis—even cancer. Asthma is related to spleen, kidney, and lung meridian blockage, as well as imbalanced energies in these internal organs. When spleen energy is weak, food is not digested well and some of it turns into internal phlegm or mucous which obstructs the lungs and bronchial tubes. The mucous and Qi are at odds with each other which causes wheezing.
In terms of treatment, the West uses sprays and medicines to improve the functioning of the lungs, but doesn’t resolve the internal phlegm—the root of the problem. A person could be on medicines their whole life without addressing the root of the problem. Natural healing taps into the three hottest days of the Lunar calendar to take advantage of universal, environment, personal energy, internal organ energy and the herbal patch to help draw out the cold energy. There are several other components to the program that in combination may see even deeper-level results.
Medical Qi Gong Exercises
Medical Qi Gong exercises use specific breathing techniques, intent and movements to open the affected meridians and balance internal organ energies. The exercises are effective, simple and are safe for all ages—including children and the elderly. They can also be used for prevention.
Medical Qi Gong Exercises for Asthma and Allergies
Exercise 1
OPENING LUNG MERIDIAN
Directions:
Sit down at the edge of a chair, with your feet parallel shoulder width apart and the knees making a right angle or standing with the feet parallel shoulder width apart.
Place (tuck) the thumbs inside loose fists, and turn them so palms face forward. Bring the wrists and elbows together, and the head down. The elbows touching will open the reflex points on the upper back (T1 and T2—lung reflex points). The head should be pointing downward with chin close to sternum. Stretching back with the inhale will open up the chest. Then exhale through your mouth as you return to the starting position bringing the elbows together.
Benefits: People with asthma and allergies will have blockage in the lung meridian. The purpose of this exercise is to open the lung meridian (move out blockage) and enhance lung energy.
Exercise 2
ENHANCE OTHER INTERNAL ORGAN ENERGIES TO BOLSTER LUNG ENERGY
Position:
Standing or sitting with elbows together and the back or the hands facing, opens the upper back.
As one inhales, the hands slowly move upwards and rotate 360 degrees. Try to pull the arms back so that they are behind the ears. As one exhales, the hands return to the starting position.
Benefits: The fingers and toes are the exit points for specific meridians to move out negative, sick energy, thereby helping to balance internal organs and to support lung energy.
Repetitions for both exercises: Work up to 2 sets of 8 repetitions. Pause (rest) in between sets for a few seconds and allow yourself to feel the movement of energy (Qi) throughout your body.
Reflexology
There are many special reflex points on the body. Massaging them can help move out meridian blockage and balance the affected internal organ(s) energies, reduce the severity of the disease and increase immune system function. Reflexology is simple, effective, easy to learn and has no side effects.
Reflexology Charts
Reflexology exercise #1: Ring Finger Massage
Directions: Massage the ring finger on both hands from the palms upward along the interior side. People with asthma and or allergies will experience pain or soreness in this area. Massage for 2-3 minutes at a time. As the soreness decreases, the condition will see improvement.
Reflexology exercise #2: Thumb Massage
Directions: People who have asthma and allergies will have sore points along the exterior side of the thumb. Massaging this area often will help with rehabilitation.
Reflexology exercise #3: Soaking the Feet
Directions: Add 3 tablespoons of Epsom Salts to hot water and soak feet for 20-30 minutes. Then, dry off the feet and massage the bottom of both feet along the kidney point around 200 times. This will help to move out cold energy and bolster kidney energy.
Reflexology exercise #4: Big Toe Massage
Directions: People who have asthma and allergies and have used medicines for a long period of time will have sore and tender points in this area and are more prone to obesity in the shoulders, back and stomach. Massaging this area will increase the effectiveness of western medicine and reduce their side effects.
Herbal Supplements:
The most effective herbal supplements are not a single herb, but rather in combination. In this manner, several internal organ energies can be bolstered at the same time.
The key herbs in Empower Plus™ have been used for over 5,000 years in Asia for the lungs and kidneys and are considered the best herbs for cancer treatment and prevention. Prices for these herbs have escalated rapidly in recent year. Empower Plus™ has been shown, in studies of the National Institute of Health and the National Cancer Institute, to inhibit in vitro cancer tumors.
Primal Energy™ is a combination of four different herbs which is beneficial for asthma and allergy sufferers in that it supports immune system and internal organ energy. It also benefits those with heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and works well with the western medicines, though they should be taken 30 minutes to 1 hour after.
Primal Energy™ and Empower Plus™ are recommended when the person has used western medicines for a long period of time and other meds for heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes and for the elderly. Take 2-3 of each twice a day depending on the severity of the disease. Children should use Empower Plus. 2 capsules twice a day.
Back 1 and 2:
Natural Foods & Recipes
Both the East and the West recognized that “food is sometimes the best medicine.” In the West, foods are researched according to its chemical structure. In the East, food is categorized in terms of which meridians the energy moves through and which internal organs it affects. The goal is to balance internal organ energy. Beneficial foods for the lungs include: Chinese cabbage, daikon, radish, lotus root and seeds, soy products, loquat, almonds, kiwis and pears.
Seasonal Approaches to Asthma, Allergies and Lung-related Illnesses:
According to natural healing, in addition to focusing on the most effective time for asthma (summer), spring, fall and winter are also important for rehabilitation and prevention. The other components of the program, including Medical Qi Gong exercises, reflexology, foods, and supplements need to be followed year round.
Autumn Recipe:
This recipe can be used in the fall and throughout the year.
Ingredients:
1 lb. garlic (purple skin)
½ lb. rock candy
Directions: Skin the garlic, separate the cloves and mash. Place in a pot, add the rock candy. Add enough water to be around 2” higher than the garlic and rock candy. Boil for 20 minutes and simmer another 15 minutes. Refrigerate. 1 tsp mornings and evenings.
Garlic helps to open the lung meridian and moves out inner phlegm from the large intestine. It also helps protect the heart. Rock candy bolsters spleen energy and removes inner phlegm; If the phlegm is white, use white rock candy; if yellow, use yellow rock candy.
“I loved the garlic and rock candy recipe. Not only did it help my asthma and allergies, but it lessened the number of colds I got last year. I feel it also strengthened my immune system.” (Julie, May 2006)
Winter is the time when people who have asthma, allergies and lung-related diseases are more likely to have attacks. Following on the heels of the summer and fall program, bolstering immune system energy is most important in the winter. The patches should be applied to the same three points in the summer on the three coldest days to prevent cold energy from getting into the body. This cold energy can lead to asthma attacks. For more information of the dates for winter, see www.qimaster.com or www.naturalhealingresearch.org or contact one of the Qi Centers directly.
Winter Recipe:
Prepared between July 20-August 18. Start using on the first coldest day in the winter.
Ingredients:
1 lb of black rice vinegar
¼ lb. of rock candy (diabetics’ use 1/8 of a pound)
½ lb. Chinese almonds (American almonds not as effective)
Directions: Starting on the first coldest day, use 4 almonds with a teaspoon of black rice vinegar on an empty stomach each day until the almonds are finished.
“I have had asthma and allergies for 12 years. A TCM doctor recommended using black rice vinegar and Chinese almonds and I have had exceptional results.” Karen (June 04, 2005)
Spring recipe:
Prepare the following at the end of December.
Ingredients:
10 lbs. of pears per person
Several pounds of table salt (Hawaiian salt would be best)
Directions: Wash and dry the pears. Place a layer of salt on the bottom of the container, then a layer of pears, then another layer of salt, and so on until all the pears are place in the container. Seal the container until Spring. Peal the skin and dust the salt off. For mild cases: one pear on an empty stomach. For more serious cases, one pear in the morning and one at night.
Spring is worst time for those allergic to pollen. This recipe can help the large intestine, and bolster lung and kidney energy.
“I noticed that a change took place to the salty taste of the salt and sweet taste of the pears. It tasted wonderful. I used this recipe and it had no ill effects on my kidneys and blood pressure and most importantly I didn’t have allergies or asthma attacks. “ Ted J (August, 2005).
General recipe:
Ingredients:
3oz. Chinese Chives
2 eggs
Directions:
Scramble the eggs with the Chinese Chives. Add seasoning and eat for breakfast.
This recipes will increase appetite, Qi and help remove internal mucous.
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