Your lungs, if you’re like most people you probably don’t think about how they work day-in-day-out to keep you alive. Even less so, you may not think about how to detoxify your lungs for long-term health.
Even so, our lungs are in reality, an important organ for elimination. That’s why I want to help you learn how to support and maintain healthy lung function. If you’re looking for lung cleansing treatment or just a few helpful tips to keep them healthy, this post is for you.
First, let’s briefly look at the lungs’ function in the body.
The Importance of the Lungs
Aside from the obvious job of helping us breathe vital oxygen, the lungs are also associated with the emotion of grief. When we are stressed from overwhelm or feeling stressed as a result of grief, we tend to hold our breath. This immediately triggers the body’s “fight or flight” mode and overstimulates the nervous system. As you might imagine, this places unnecessary stress on your lungs, and in turn, the rest of your body.
For a bit more insight, there are two important parts to the autonomic nervous system in the body. One is the parasympathetic nervous system and the other is the sympathetic nervous system. During deep breathing exercises, the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, slowing down your heartbeat and increasing the flow of oxygen to the heart and brain.
As a result, an important component of caring for the lungs is to breathe deeply. Taking deep, long, and slow cleansing breaths releases the tension and emotion we hold in our bodies and infuses the body with nourishment. Deep breathing patterns reset the nervous system naturally, leading to a greater sense of calm.
So, how can you use the breath to detoxify your lungs and body?
Breathing Exercises for Lung Health
If you’ve ever caught yourself taking shallow breaths, you know how it can leave you feeling fatigued, anxious and even stressed. Deep breathing does the opposite.
The first step is to become aware of your breathing patterns. Start by checking in once or twice a day to see if you’re breathing from the top of your lungs (shallow) or from your belly (deep).
Then, slowly start to shift your breathing habits. You can do this by practicing abdominal breathing.
A simple breathing exercise you can practice daily is to start by either lying down in your bed with your neck and knees supported or sitting with your back straight in a chair. Next, breathe in deeply as much is comfortable through your nose. If it’s helpful, place your hand on your belly and watch as it rises when you fill it with air. Then, breathe out through your nose. Repeat for at least 5 deep breaths. Ideally, you would do this for 10 to 20 minutes per day, but even a few minutes to start will be beneficial.
Exercises that Support Lung Health
Another way to detoxify your lungs is to choose breath enhancing exercises.
A few great examples are:
- Walking
- Running
- Biking
- Yoga
- Swimming
- Dancing
- Singing
- Laughing
Each of these exercises requires you to breathe more deeply to continue. Yoga, in particular, promotes deep cleansing breaths focused on relaxation. Start with walking, if you aren’t partaking in a regular exercise routine.
Let Go of Your Emotions
Repressing your emotions can lead to significant psychological and physical damage. Take time to process and feel your emotions, especially grief. If you need to cry, cry. It is a great way to let go of painful emotions while cleansing your lungs and body.
Take care of your lungs, and they will take care of you!
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