Basic but Important Breathing

Poor breathing or breathing from the chest rather than the abdomen can contribute to many diseases and disorders in the mind and body. Science has shown that many people, especially during the winter months do not breath deeply or correctly.

When we breathe in, oxygen passes through the lungs and is absorbed into the bloodstream, or at least this is the perfect way our bodies are designed to function. We then breathe carbon dioxide back into the air, but if our breathing is too shallow, the body does not eliminate enough carbon dioxide through the mucous membranes of the lungs. This then disrupts cellular respiration and cell metabolism and can be the cause of a decline in mental capacity because the brain does not get enough oxygen.

The primary causes of faulty breathing are anxiety or stress, poor posture can also be a contributing factor. Wearing clothing that is too tight can also be a cause of faulty breathing as well as some surgically procedures. All of these can leed to simple bad habits of shallow or inadequate breathing. Without proper breathing, our lymphatic system becomes sluggish and does not "fire" properly.

With breath therapy, you can relearn proper breathing techniques, wich will help to alleviate tension, increase metabolic rate, as well as relieve many asthma symptoms and insomnia complaints. Proper breathing will make a crucial contribution to the health of your immune system.

The goal of breath therapy is to promote a proper breathing form that is rhythmic and engages the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm. Shallow chest breating, in which only the rib cage rises and falls, should be reduced as much as possible. In addition, intentional yawning and stretching from the waist up gradually increase lung volume.

Many people can improve their breathing patterns on their own, but some may require assistance from a professional. A therapist who specializes in breath work stimulates the breathing process via the patient's conscious awareness. This targeted training concentrates on breathing depth and rhythm, and promotes the optimum distribution of abdominal and chest breathing with a focus on proper posture.

Laughter is a good exercise for the breathing muscles. When you laugh, the upward and downward movement of your diaphragm is particularly intense and massages your internal organs. It has been said that "laughter is the best medicine" and it might just be that this type of breathing exercise helps the lymphatics to drain more toxins easier.

Enzyme Therapy

Throughout the coming year lets take the time to explore many of the healing methods both ancient and new that are being used around the world by many natural health practitioners. One such method is called Enzyme Therapy!

Without enzymes, human beings cannot exist. These complex proteins are the catalysts that control almost all of the body's processes. They trigger all of the biochemical reactions and ensure that these processes occur in a timely manner. For instance, enzymes transform food into energy and the regulate blood clotting as well as the transmission of genetic material, they also are responsible for the functioning of the entire immune system. Each enzyme is specialized and target a specific function. So far, about 2,500 human enzymes have been identified.

Today, modern enzyme therapy relies primarily on preparations that contain protein splitting enzymes known as proteases, that are drawn from plant and animal sources. These are taken internally or applied externally for inflammations, infections and rheumatism and as a supplementary treatment to cancer therapies.

Eating enzyme rich fruits can be very therapeutic; these foods help the body replenish its own supply of enzymes. Today we know that figs, papayas, avocados and pineapples are rich in these enzymes, But even before people know the exact composition of these foods, they recognized their healing potential. An early medicinal use of the fig, for example, is recorded in the Bible; where the Prophet Isaiah suggested using a fig plaster as a natural remedy.

Enzymes can alleviate digestive disorders, boost the body's ability to battle infection and reduce unwanted immune reactions, as in the case of allergies. Enzymes may also be used for relieving autoimmune illnesses. Enzymes can serve as decongestants and pain relievers and in many cases they help speed the healing of wounds. They have been shown to support the therapeutic action of antibiotics and some chemotherapy and at the same time they improve the body's tolerance for many of these drugs.