Are you a heavy smoker? Or are you just a victim of the pollution in your city? With the rise in the levels of smoke and smog all around the world, we are at a high risk of getting our lungs affected. This makes the detoxification of our lungs very important from time to time. People who smoke often need to detoxify their lungs in certain periods and intervals as they introduce toxic chemicals in the body by breathing in toxins. When we cleanse our lungs, we help the oxygen reach the deepest depths of our lungs. This ensures that our alveoli get inflated and also, breaks up the accumulated toxins and pollutants in our lungs. Lung detoxification, thus, expands the capacity of our lungs and lowers the chances of lung cancer. Find out effective ways you can follow at home that will help you cleanse your lungs and heal all kinds of respiratory infections.
Inhaling Essential Oils
It has been found that inhaling rosemary essential oil or eucalyptus essential oil two to three times a week can help you cleanse and detoxify your lungs. All you need to do is heat some water in a big pot, put a few drops of essential oil in it, cover your head with a towel, and inhale the mixture. You will certainly feel refreshed and much better if you are dealing with painful breathing issues. Inhaling essential oils also help you deal with cold, flu, and other respiratory problems.
However, essential oils must be used with caution and never be taken orally as they are often toxic. They must not be used in large doses or by people who are suffering from stress, anxiety, and depression. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children must also avoid using essential oils.
Note: A dose of essential oil higher than the recommended dose can result in a headache.
Lung-Cleansing Foods
A healthy diet is crucial for the body as it encourages natural cleansing of the body and boosts the immune system. For good lung health, eat lots of fruits and vegetables and drink adequate water.
Chili
The spicy taste of chili help in clearing the mucus in the lungs. If you have been wondering why your nose starts to run after eating spicy food, this is the reason. It affects tar and mucus in the lungs the same way and clears the lungs of them.
Onions
Onions are a rich source of numerous nutrients. Onions can prevent you from getting many diseases, such as cancer, lung diseases, etc. Onions also help in breaking down the mucus and remove harmful toxins from the lungs.
Ginger
Ginger can effectively cleanse the lungs. Drink ginger root tea blended with lemon to remove toxins from the respiratory tract. You can also have a ginger bath by mixing powdered ginger in warm water. This bath should be taken for at least 20 minutes to open the pores and make yourself sweat, as sweating removes toxins easily. You also get to inhale the steam of ginger water while taking this bath, and this steam goes into the airway that purifies the lungs. To initiate overall cleansing of the body and improve your digestion, eat a small piece of ginger with every meal you take.
Mullein Tea
Smokers have contaminated lungs, and drinking Mullein tea can help them. Just be careful when you drink Mullein tea as the little hairs on the leaves, when absorbed, can have disturbing effects.
Uva Ursi And Coltsfoot
If you are quitting smoking, it is also important to cleanse your lungs from the harmful toxins in the body. Uva Ursi and coltsfoot can help you cleanse your lungs easily. These plants also strengthen the respiratory system.
Alternative plants such as fenugreek, eucalyptus, and peppermint have also been found to be effective in cleansing the lungs.
Drinking fenugreek tea helps in cleansing bronchial passages, eases congestion, and clears mucus from the lungs. When you put a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil in steaming water and breathe the vapor in, you get relieved from asthma and excess mucus gets cleared up from the lungs. Peppermint oil is used in therapeutic balms that you can rub on the chest and get rid of upper respiratory congestion that often stem from asthma, flu, cold, allergies, and bronchitis.
Water
Water is a natural cleanser. Always drink clean water and try to avoid coffee, soda, and alcohol as much as you can. Keeping yourself hydrated is the key to accelerate the process of detoxification in any part of the body.
Avoid This During Lung Cleansing
There are certain things you must keep in mind while you are cleansing your lungs:
- Avoid having sugar, white flour, and dairy products as these foods encourage the body to form mucus.
- Avoid stressful situations as much as possible.
- Do not indulge in second hand smoking.
