by Setareh Kiumarsi
Air pollution fills our lungs with soot and dust. Our nasal passages, sinuses, and lungs become like a chimney clogged with residue. So what can we do to clean them out?
Boil a pot of water. Add 2–3 tablespoons of herbs such as yarrow, lavender, or rosemary. (You can also use 10 drops of lavender or rosemary essential oil instead of the herbs.) Let it boil together for about 5 minutes. Then place the pot on a table, lean over it with a towel over your head, and inhale deeply for 10–15 minutes.
Gradually, your face will start to sweat, your nose will begin to run, and the sticky, soot-filled mucus that’s been clinging to your nasal passages and sinuses will begin to loosen and drain, just like spraying warm steam on a soot-covered wall.
Looking for a good remedy for coughing or shortness of breath on polluted days?
When the air is especially dirty, you might find yourself coughing nonstop and feeling short of breath. That’s because your bronchial tubes are filled with dirty mucus, reducing your lungs’ capacity to take in fresh air. So what can you do?
At night before bed, rub eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, or Vicks on your chest and shoulders, both front and back where the lungs are located. Place a cotton pad over it, wear a snug shirt, and leave it on overnight.
This method is like lighting a fire beneath a pot full of mucus. It helps burn off the phlegm, clear out your bronchial tubes, and open your airways. This remedy also works well when you have a cold and persistent phlegmy coughs.
Still congested due to air pollution?
Did you know nasal rinsing with saline solution can help clear your sinuses? When you flush your nose with properly concentrated saline, the salt in the solution draws out the mucus in your sinuses and helps eliminate accumulated toxins.
So how do you rinse your nose with saline water?
The best methods are to either buy saline solution from a pharmacy or use a Neti pot. You can find a Neti pot online or at yoga centers.
Nasal rinsing with a Neti pot not only helps clean your sinuses, but is also beneficial for eye problems, headaches, respiratory conditions, depression, forgetfulness, and more.
Why? Because when you perform this rinse, you clear mucus and toxins from the area between your eyebrows, stimulating and cleansing the third-eye chakra. In this area, there are acupressure points related to the liver and spleen. Each time you rinse, you stimulate these points.
When the air is polluted, or you’re dealing with a cold or allergies, it’s great to do a nasal rinse once a day. Under normal conditions, doing it 2–3 times a week is enough.
But be careful not to overdo it. Excessive rinsing can dry out the nasal membranes and cause headaches.
Please be sure to credit the author, Setareh Kiumarsi, when sharing or republishing this article, which was written with love and the hope of well-being for all.
