Targetting the blood, skin and lungs

Targeting the
Blood, Lungs,
and Skin
“Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the infl uences of each.”
Henry David Th oreau
In this chapter you will learn
• The many important functions of the blood, lungs, and skin • The symptoms and disorders linked with excessive toxins in the blood, lungs, or absorbed by the skin • Why it is essential to purify your blood and cleanse the lungs and skin of toxins • How to use foods, herbs, breathing exercises, massage and energy medicine to assist with cleansing your blood, lungs, and skin Chapter ..: Targeting the Blood, Lungs, and Skin ...
Maintaining healthy blood, lungs, and skin is essential to great health. Your blood bathes the cells of your body and provides them oxygen that is essential to life. Your lungs and respiratory system ensure that your blood has this oxygen available—every cell depends on their optimal functioning. Your skin does not just sit there and look pretty, it plays an integral protective and cleansing role for your body. What the other detox systems cannot handle, your skin tries to eliminate. If you are suff ering from skin problems, look no further than inadequate detoxification mechanisms for the solution.
During Phase 4 of The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan we targeted the blood and circulatory systems, lungs and respiratory tract, and the skin. To further cleanse these organs and systems, you can use additional herbal therapy, nutritional therapy, and other types of natural treatments. You can incorporate these suggestions into the four-week plan for power-packed cleansing or you can further cleanse these systems after the four weeks are completed. Th e program described in Chapter 5 is recommended, along with the suggested therapies below.
I have included information about many excellent herbs for cleansing the blood, lungs, and skin at the end of each respective section. Herbs are powerful medicine, so consult a medical doctor before using any herbs if you are pregnant or have a serious health condition. Consult an herbalist before combining two or more herbs or while taking medication with herbs. Avoid long-term use of any herb (longer than three weeks) without first consulting a qualifi ed herbalist.
BLOOD AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEMSixty thousand miles of veins and arteries, along with your heart,pump approximately five litres of blood, oxygen, and nutrientsthroughout your body every minute. Along with all this blood,
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your circulatory system is often loaded with plaque and cholesterol buildup, thanks to our love of french fries, ice cream, burgers, cakes, and all things artery-clogging. Sugar and sweets and everything grease, that is what heart disease is made of. If you think you are safe, you may wish to consider that one in every two people will die of heart disease or stroke. That’s right, over 50 percent of people living in the Western world die of diseases that have an underlying cause of hardening of the arteries (also called atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis).1 That need not happen if we keep our arteries cleaner.
You may have heard the words “plaque,” “LDL,” and “HDL” cholesterol floating around. LDL is also commonly called the “bad” cholesterol while HDL is sometimes called the “good” cholesterol. You have probably been exposed to people talking about triglycerides and homocysteine, as well. These are not the stuff of a chemistry experiment, unless you are referring to the myriad chemical reactions taking place within your body. To help end the confusion of all this medical jargon: plaque is the buildup that occurs in your arteries, never your veins. Arteries have an inner muscular layer that veins lack. This muscle wall constricts and expands, increasing blood pressure, whereas veins have a lower pressure.
Plaque is not just one thing; it is made up of many substances, including fibrin, collagen, phospholipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, mucopolysaccharides, foreign proteins, heavy metals, muscle tissue, and debris—bonded together with calcium.2 It is not necessary to know about all these substances—suffi ce it to say that cholesterol is getting a negative reputation and being wrongfully blamed as the sole cause of heart disease. Your body needs cholesterol to live. According to some experts, cholesterol prevents blood cells from being damaged by the acidity and free radicals in the bloodstream. Cholesterol may be a potent antioxidant that protects your body against free radicals.
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All the unhealthy foods I mentioned above create acidity in the body. This acidity scours the walls of the arteries, according to some experts. Cholesterol, which is primarily made in your body, attempts to protect the arteries by patching their inner walls. High cholesterol is not a disease. According to Dr. David Rowland, author of Th e Nutritional Bypass,“It is a symptom of insults to our bodies through lack of exercise and improper diet.” One of the most common questions I am asked is whether high cholesterol levels can be normalized using food. I tell people, “Food is one of the main factors for high cholesterol levels—the wrong food, that is. Eating the right foods and exercising can reverse it.”
There are numerous ways to get and keep your blood and circulatory system working more efficiently. Of course, there are the obvious ways: stop eating so much meat, dairy products, sugar and sweets, fried and prepared foods. Stop adding salt to your foods. In a week or so, your taste buds will adapt and you will actually enjoy the taste of foods better. Most people know these nutritional basics and simply make poor choices, perhaps believing that they are indestructible, or maybe they just do not care enough. Some people believe that only food that is bad for you actually tastes good. This could not be farther from the truth. The best-tasting food I have ever eaten is healthy. Chapter 13 contains many excellent recipes to help you discover the decadent taste of healthy foods.
You learned earlier that the kidneys filter the blood, so it is imperative to cleanse the kidneys when dealing with any cardiovascular problems.
Blood and Circulatory System Stress Quiz
Do your fingers and/or toes frequently go cold?
Do you suffer from chest pains after physical exertion or
emotional stress?
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Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure?
Do your arms and/or legs often “fall asleep”?
Do you have a sharp, diagonal crease in your earlobe?
Does a short walk cause cramping or pain in your legs?
Do you become breathless with even a slight exertion or from
lying down?
Do you urinate more than twice during the night?
Do you have a persistent cough?
Is your memory not as good as it used to be?
Do you get tingling in your lips or fingers?
Do your hands cramp from writing?
Do your ankles swell in the evening? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your heart and circulatory system could use further tuning up.
Eat for Clean Blood and Circulatory System
The topic of arterial cleansing is a book unto itself. Some forms of nutritional chelation can speed the cleansing of the arteries. Nutritional chelation is a method of taking large amounts of specific nutrients that are proven to break down plaque and escort it out of the body.3 The topic is too voluminous for adequate discussion here. See the Resources section for information on nutritional chelation.
In addition to eating a nutritious diet of wholesome foods, primarily or exclusively vegetarian, with large amounts of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and legumes, you can also supplement with particular nutrients and herbs that are beneficial in helping to break down plaque buildup.
Boosting your levels of HDL cholesterol will help lessen the amount of LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, two of the key
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constituents of plaque. You can increase the levels of your body’s natural vacuum cleaner by adding a greater number of flavonoids to your diet. The best sources are fruits and vegetables, especially pitted fruits such as apricots, peaches, plums, and cherries. Niacin (vitamin B3) is also important to increase this good cholesterol.
Eating a diet high in fibre is essential to flush the arteries. Choose carefully, however, since all fibres are not created equal. Water-insoluble fibres such as wheat bran and cellulose, are minimally effective in lowering the risk of arteriosclerosis. Water-soluble fi bre such as that found in oats, psyllium, guar gum, and pectin are far more eff ective.4
Folate (vitamin B9) is important to lower excess homocysteine that could be prematurely damaging and aging your body’s cells, which will speed up the aging process. Oranges are rich in folate.
Getting adequate amounts of essential fatty acids is also imperative to flush out toxins and plaque buildup in the arteries. We discussed the different types of essential fatty acids earlier. Most people eat a ratio of about 20:1 of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids. The ideal ratio, estimated by experts, is 1:2 in favour of larger amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. This means that most people are eating twenty times more omega-6 fatty acids than they should be. Omega-3s play an integral role in cleansing the arteries and preventing heart disease and stroke. Some of the best sources of omega-3s are raw unsalted walnuts, flax seeds, and cold-pressed flax seed oil. All these ingredients should be found in the refrigerator section of a health food or grocery store, otherwise their critical ingredients might be rancid by the time you get them. Th ey should also be kept in the refrigerator at home. Grind flax seeds in a small coffee grinder prior to adding them to salads, salad dressings, or smoothies or sprinkling them on whole-grain cereal or toast. Do not cook any of these ingredients, otherwise you will turn them from healthy fatty acids to damaging trans fats.
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Clean Up Your Blood and Circulatory System
If you have not already quit smoking and you answered yes to any of the above questions, it is time to quit now. Smoking is directly linked with circulatory disorders and heart disease. Truthfully, it is a slow suicide. Instead of pulling a trigger on a gun or using some other violent means to die, a person slowly poisons every cell in his or her body. Smokers die many years earlier than non-smokers. Th ey typically die of heart disease or cancer.
Adequate exercise is essential to cleansing the arteries. When you undertake aerobic activities such as walking, jogging, Pilates, and other vigorous activities, your heart rate increases, thereby quickening the pace of blood that pumps through your arteries. This is critical to adequately cleanse the arteries. Exercise also helps lower your levels of HDL cholesterol, which in turn lessens LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Research shows that cardiovascular exercise for thirty minutes at a time, three times per week, has a signifi cant effect on high cholesterol levels.5
Herbs for Deep Blood and Circulatory System Cleansing
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera juice is helpful for cleansing your arteries. Aloe vera is a tropical plant that has been used medicinally for millennia. Its healing properties have been known for over four thousand years. It has been used for stomach and intestinal ailments, dysentery and kidney infections, and sunburns, and to slow the aging process, but it is also effective against arterial plaque. Aloe vera encourages circulation and elimination. It is full of amino acids, enzymes, chlorophyll, essential oils, vitamins and minerals, and other nutrients that are benefi cial for good health.
Herbalists know aloe vera for its antibacterial, antiviral, pain killing, anti-inflammatory, fever-reducing, and cleansing properties. It
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also helps dilate capillaries and enhances normal cell growth, making it useful for treating diseases such as arteriosclerosis and cancer.
Drink a quarter to half a cup of aloe vera juice, twice a day. Note that aloe vera juice is not the same as the gel, which tends to be more concentrated. Avoid using “aloes” or “aloe latex” since their strong purgative action can be too harsh on the intestinal tract and result in severe cramping or diarrhea. Avoid aloe vera juice during pregnancy and lactation.
Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)
Yellow dock is an excellent blood-cleansing herb that also benefi ts the skin, intestines, and mildly stimulates the liver. It has antiviral properties as well. Use one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of water to make a decoction. Drink one cup three times per day. Alternatively, take a quarter to a half teaspoon of the tincture three times per day.
LUNGS AND RESPIRATORY TRACT The respiratory tract has numerous parts, including the nose, pharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, vocal cords, trachea, and lungs. Air enters the trachea, where it moves into passageways called bronchi or bronchial tubes that are located behind the rib cage. From there it moves into smaller tubes called bronchioles and then into even smaller air sacs called alveolar sacs or alveoli, where oxygen is extracted and supplied to millions of capillaries. At that point, oxygen combines with hemoglobin in red blood cells and is carried throughout the body. Exhaling reverses the passage from alveoli to the trachea to allow carbon dioxide to be released.
Asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema are breathing disorders linked to improper lung functioning or damage to the lungs. Any of these disorders, or other lung problems, can be triggered or worsened
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by toxins, particularly those found in the air, such as cigarette smoke. The lungs have the greatest exposure of all the internal organs to the outside world. Air includes dust and pollution, chemicals and microorganisms, all of which enter the lungs and need to be separated from oxygen.
Enzymes naturally found in the lungs help metabolize chemicals such as medications. These enzymes break down synthetic chemicals to make them more water-soluble so they can be excreted by the kidneys.
If you are suff ering from lung or respiratory tract problems or disorders, you can do a great deal to ease your diffi culties. After completing The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan, you may wish to further target the lungs.
Lung and Respiratory System Stress Quiz
Do you suffer from a chronic cough?
Do you frequently have a runny nose?
Do you have frequent bouts of bronchitis or wheezing?
Do you have frequent or ongoing sinus problems?
Do you suffer from asthma or other breathing disorders?
Do you suffer from allergies?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, your lungs and respiratory system could use further tuning up.
Eat for Clean Lungs and Respiratory System
Supplement with vitamin E. This antioxidant helps protect the lungs from toxins and their resulting damage.
Drink at least eight to twelve glasses of water, unsweetened juice, herb teas, and soup broth per day.
Avoid all dairy products. Many people are sensitive to these foods without realizing that their sensitivity is showing up in chronic health
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problems. Even if you are not sensitive to dairy, these foods are quite mucus-forming. They add further burden to the lungs and respiratory tract.Yes, I know, “but, where will you get your calcium?” Th e answer to this is simple and we’ve already discussed it briefl y.You will get your calcium from the same sources as every other animal (we are part of the animal kingdom, after all) on the planet. Most foods contain calcium. Don’t forget what I explained earlier: just because there is plenty of calcium in dairy products does not mean that you should eat them, nor does it mean that your body will extract the calcium from this food. Eliminate them from your diet and, over time, your lungs will thank you. Contrary to popular belief, so will your bones (for more information, consult my book, Healing Injuries the Natural Way (www.healinginjuries.com)).
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and gluten-free grains such as millet and brown rice. You can learn how to prepare these grains in Chapter 13. Gluten sensitivities often mask themselves as lung and respiratory conditions.
Eat chlorophyll-rich foods. Chlorophyll is the green colour in most plant foods. Eat lots of leafy greens and supplement your diet with“green supplements” such as chlorella, spirulina, or barley green, all of which enhance lung cleansing.
Eat one to two tablespoons of ground flax seeds daily, sprinkled on food after it has been cooked (do not heat or cook flax seeds) or mixed into smoothies. Flax seeds are helpful in soothing and protecting lung tissue while helping to alleviate coughs and helping the lungs ward off infection.
Eat apples, blueberries, bilberries, onions, green tea, and fruits that contain pits, which include apricots, peaches, plums, and cherries. They are high in natural substances called flavonoids. Th ese substances are powerful antioxidants that reduce the damage of toxins in your body. They also bind to heavy metals. Plants produce these substances to protect themselves from bacteria, parasites, and
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cellular damage. More than four thousand of these powerful substances are currently known. Some flavonoids found in fruits and veggies contain more powerful antioxidants than vitamins C, E, or beta-carotene. Flavonoids even protect these vitamins from damage so they can work their magic in your body. So there are four thousand more reasons to eat your fruits and vegetables.
Clean Up Your Lungs and Respiratory System
I hope it is not necessary to tell you that if you are suffering from any lung or respiratory tract disorders or ailments, you should avoid all forms of cigarette smoke. That includes second-hand smoke, which many studies have shown is actually more harmful than smoking.
If you have not already stopped using scented and synthetic cleaning products, personal hygiene products, cosmetics, body- and hair-care products, it is essential that you do so now if you want to give your lungs a chance to recover.
Try to minimize your exposure to dust, dust mites, mould, and pollens if you suspect you are allergic. I have seen many allergic clients who gave up dairy products and refined sugars recover from their seasonal allergies. If you have allergies you might benefi t from taking quail egg homogenate. Quail breeders accidentally led doctors, especially French researcher J.C. Truffi er, to study the eff ects of quail eggs as an allergy remedy. A French woman who was a new quail breeder and allergy and asthma sufferer saw her allergies and asthma disappear as she ate more quail eggs. This observation led Dr. Truffier, followed by over two hundred allergists, to prescribe six raw quail eggs per day as a treatment for allergies, with tremendous success. However, eating six raw quail eggs per day has obvious problems. Scientists in France later developed a tablet that dissolves under the tongue while delivering the anti-allergy benefits of eating the eggs. Many clinical trials have proven quail eggs effective for the treatment of allergic asthma, sinusitis, and hay fever symptoms. See
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the Resources at the back of this book if you are unable to fi nd quail egg homogenate.
Improving the air quality in your home (and workplace, if possible) should be a priority if you suffer from respiratory ailments. In addition to improving the quality of cleaning products and building materials, using a high-quality air purifier can help.
Exercise is imperative to help clear the lungs of excess mucus and toxins. The increased oxygen helps the lungs perform their jobs more efficiently while helping you to feel more energized due to the increased oxygen available throughout your body’s cells for cleansing and healing. Be careful not to over-exercise if you have breathing difficulties as this can worsen problems. Gradually build your tolerance for cardiovascular activities.
Breathing and emotional releasing exercises like those suggested in Chapters 6 and 7 will also be helpful to oxygenate your body and improve the functioning of the respiratory tract. They take minimal time and effort yet offer tremendous rewards. Even someone who is very ill with respiratory problems can typically handle qigong breathing exercises like those you learned earlier in this book.
Herbs for Deep Lung and Respiratory System Cleaning
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Coltsfoot is an excellent herb for clearing out excess mucus from the lungs and bronchial tubes. In addition to clearing catarrh, it helps soothe coughs, protects and soothes mucous membranes, and increases the flow of urine to help with urinary tract toxins. It has proven itself useful for bronchitis, chronic and acute coughs, asthma, whooping cough, and emphysema. It combines well with horehound and comfrey. You can use one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup for an infusion or use a half to one teaspoon three times a day in tincture form.
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Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
Comfrey soothes and protects the body’s mucous membranes while helping to clear out excess phlegm and mucus. It also soothes irritable coughs and bronchitis. It combines well with borage. Comfrey works on damaged mucous membranes in the digestive tract and is therefore helpful for hiatus hernia, stomach or duodenal ulcers, infl ammation of the small or large intestines, ulcerative colitis (especially combined with slippery elm powder and aloe vera juice), and skin problems. Use one to three teaspoons of finely chopped herb per cup of water for an infusion or use a half to one teaspoon of tincture three times a day.
Daisy (Bellis perennis)
Use the flower heads, not the leaves, dried or fresh. If you are using fresh, be sure that it is the correct species and that the plant is organic. Daisy is an expectorant that helps to clear out excess mucus from the lungs while toning the tissues. It combines well with coltsfoot or goldenrod. It also helps if you are cleansing too quickly and have diarrhea. Daisy is also helpful for rheumatism, arthritis, liver, and kidney problems. Use one teaspoon of the dried flower heads per cup of water for an infusion, drinking one cup three to four times a day. Alternatively, use a half to one teaspoon of the tincture, three times a day.
Elecampane (Inula helenium)
The root of the elecampane plant helps kill harmful bacteria, lessens coughs, expels excess mucus, and helps alleviate stomach problems. In the respiratory system, it gradually alleviates any fever that might be present while battling infection and maximizing excretion of toxins through perspiration. If you have a tickling cough or bronchitis, elecampane may be able to help. Because of its action on excess mucus and toxins in the respiratory tract, it is often helpful with
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emphysema, asthma, bronchial asthma, and tuberculosis. In addition to the effects on the respiratory tract, it also helps a sluggish digestive system. Take one teaspoon of herb per cup of water in an infusion or one to two millilitres of tincture, three times a day.
Grindelia (Grindelia camporum)
If you have problems with catarrh, grindelia is the herb of choice. It is especially helpful for eliminating excess catarrh from the upper respiratory tract while helping to relax the muscles of the lungs and bronchial tubes, making it suitable for people suff ering from asthma and bronchial disorders or whooping cough. It is also appropriate for lung disorders that are accompanied by an increase in heartbeat or nervous tension. In addition, it helps normalize high blood pressure since it helps relax the smooth muscles of the heart and arteries through its antispasmodic action. This herb combines well with lobelia and pillbearing spurge. Take one teaspoon of the dried herb in a cup of water and infuse for ten to fi fteen minutes. Drink this amount three times a day. Alternatively, take a quarter to a half teaspoon of tincture three times a day.
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
While you may prefer the candy from this bitter herb, it is the dried leaves that are best for their medicinal properties. They relax the muscles of the lungs while encouraging the clearing of excess mucus. Due to its antispasmodic properties, it is also good for bronchial spasms and coughs. Thanks to its highly bitter nature (which is why it is frequently blended with sugar) it is also good for digestive diffi culties. The same bitter nature stimulates bile flow, thereby helping to cleanse the digestive tract by initiating normal elimination from the intestines. Horehound combines well with coltsfoot, mullein, and lobelia to effectively clear the lungs. Take one teaspoon of dried herb per cup of water or a quarter to a half teaspoon of tincture three times a day.
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Lobelia (Lobelia infl ata)
Lobelia is an excellent herb for lung concerns, coughs, infections, bronchial asthma, and excessive phlegm. It helps alleviate bronchial spasms, making it useful for asthmatics. It is an extremely strong herb and should therefore be used with caution. Infuse a quarter to a half teaspoon of dried herb per cup and drink one cup three times a day. Alternatively, take one-eighth to one-quarter teaspoon of tincture three times a day.
Lungwort (Pulmonaria offi cinalis)
Lungwort clears catarrh from the upper respiratory tract, nose, throat, and upper bronchial tubes, while helping the body soothe the mucous membranes in these regions and lessening coughs. It is also good for bronchitis. Lungwort combines well with coltsfoot, lobelia, and horehound. As an infusion, mix one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup and drink one cup three times a day. Alternatively, take a quarter to one teaspoon of tincture three times a day.
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
The leaves and flowers of the mullein plant soothe mucous membranes in the respiratory tract while clearing excess mucus. It reduces inflammation and pain, including within the nasal lining, throat, bronchial tubes, and digestive tract. Mullein is also mildly cleansing for the urinary tract. It is helpful for coughs, sore throats, and bronchitis. Use one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of water to make infusions. Drink one cup three times a day. Alternatively, take a quarter to one teaspoon of tincture three times a day.
Pleurisy Root (Aescepias tuberosa)
Pleurisy root is another good herb for clearing out excess catarrh and mucus from the respiratory tract. It also has antispasmodic properties, decreases flatulence, and increases urine flow to help
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expel toxins within the urinary tract. If you are suffering from a large amount of mucous or catarrhal buildup, pleurisy root works better when combined with coltsfoot. If you are suff ering from chronic respiratory problems, including asthma, combine pleurisy root with lobelia. To make an infusion, combine a half to one teaspoon of dried herb per cup of water. Drink one cup three times a day. You can substitute a quarter to a half teaspoon of tincture three times a day if you prefer.
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
You are probably far more familiar with red clover than you realize. It rears its head in lawns across the country, and most people respond by pulling out their nasty chemical weed killers. What you may not realize that this so-called weed is one of Nature’s powerful medicines. Red clover helps to expel excess mucus from the respiratory tract and is an excellent blood purifier. Use one to three teaspoons of dried red clover flowers per cup of boiling water. Let infuse for ten to fi fteen minutes. Drink one cup of this infusion three times a day.Alternatively, use one teaspoon of red clover tincture three times daily.
Pokeroot (Phytolacca americana)
Pokeroot, as you learned earlier, is an excellent choice for cleansing the lymphatic system. Pokeroot is also helpful in expelling excess catarrh and dealing with general respiratory conditions. It is also a powerful blood cleanser. Take three to ten drops of the tincture in water (warm or cold) daily. Avoid exceeding the recommended dose of this herb.
Supercharge Your Lung Cleansing Efforts
You can massage along the midpoint where the ribs in the front of your body converge, called the sternum, to assist with lung and skin cleansing, according to Donna Eden and David Feinstein. Th ey recommend
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massaging the sternum, and in the points beneath each of the second, third, and fourth ribs. In addition, massage the points about an inch away from either side of the spine near the top of the shoulder blades. See the diagram below for help finding these spots on the body. Th ese are neurolymphatic massage points that are integrally linked to the lungs. By stimulating them through vigorous massage for a minute or two daily, you will greatly assist with the cleansing efforts of the lungs and skin.
THE SKIN YOU LIVE IN The skin is the largest organ in your body. Not only does it provide a barrier between your body and the external environment in which you live, it also helps the other detoxifi cation systems cleanse your body of internal toxins. Much of what you slather on your skin will be absorbed. That is why it is imperative that you refrain from using soaps, creams, and other hygiene or beauty products that contain synthetic ingredients. Not only will using them expose you to further toxins, it will also limit your skin’s ability to eliminate internal toxins.
............................................Figure 11.1 Lung and skin neurolymphatic massage points
The skin is mostly waterproof and prevents your body from becoming waterlogged or from drying out. It also protects your body from microorganisms, sun damage, and exposure to cold or heat. Sweat glands lie within the inner part of the skin and produce sweat to prevent the body from overheating. Toxins are also eliminated through sweat.
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Skin Stress Quiz
Do you suffer from acne, blackheads, or whiteheads?
Do you ever have rashes or hives?
Do you have psoriasis, eczema, or dry, scaly patches of skin?
Do you have blotchy or ruddy skin?
Do you suffer from dry and/or flaky skin? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your skin could use cleansing.
Eat for Better Skin
Follow the nutritional suggestions in Chapter 5. If you are still suff ering from skin conditions, follow the nutritional and herbal suggestions made under all the other detoxification organs. Often, skin conditions are the result of the other organs being overloaded with toxins.
Herbs for Deep Skin Cleansing
People spend so much money on skin-care and beauty products to improve their skin. Yet what you do internally is far more eff ective. Let’s use our car analogy again. This is like spray-painting a rusting car that is falling apart. It will look slightly improved but the rust will start to show through and the car will still be falling apart.
The skin is a type of run-off system for the other detoxifi cation organs. If you are having skin problems, it could be a sign of a sluggish liver, intestines, blood, or lymphatic system. Work on cleansing the other systems first. Some herbs are specifically good for improving skin problems. Interestingly, they typically cleanse other detox systems at the same time, which could explain their eff ectiveness.
Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)
Yellow dock is helpful for skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis. It works especially well on the skin when combined with burdock and pokeroot. It is a mild liver stimulant and is sometimes used to treat jaundice.Yellow dock
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also cleanses the blood, has antiviral properties, and has a mild laxative eff ect on the intestines. Use one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of water to make a decoction. Drink one cup three times a day.Alternatively, take a quarter to a half teaspoon of the tincture three times a day.
Cleavers (Galium aperine)
You learned about this plant for its ability to cleanse the kidneys and lymphatic system. Used regularly, it also cleanses the skin and helps with acne. It is best used as an infusion. For cleavers (also known as Goosegrass or Grip Grass) tea, use two to three teaspoons of the dried herb per cup of water. Drink one cup three times daily. Alternatively, use a half to one teaspoon of tincture three times per day. Avoid using cleavers if you suffer with diabetes or have diabetic tendencies.
Supercharge Your Skin Cleansing Efforts
Follow the directions listed under “Supercharge Your Lung Cleansing Efforts” above. This energy medicine technique is helpful for cleansing both the lungs and skin.
Cleansing your blood and circulatory system, lungs and respiratory system, and skin is essential to health. Keep these powerful detox organs functioning at their best and you will be blessed with more energy, vitality, and freedom from illness.
In this chapter you learned
• The blood, lungs, and skin play critical roles in great health • There are many symptoms and disorders linked with excessive toxins in the blood, lungs, or absorbed by the skin • It is essential to purify your blood and cleanse the lungs and skin of toxins to achieve great health • Foods, herbs, breathing exercises, massage and energy medicine assist with cleansing your blood, lungs, and skin Chapter ..: Targeting the Blood, Lungs, and Skin ...