IBF Network - Part 2

A Brief Look at HoloTropic Breathwork

Sometime in the 1970s the idea of holotropic breathing techniques was developed by a group of therapists. These therapists worked on the assumption that the human body is its own best healer and there is no need for prescription medication or other conventional medications. The idea of holotropic breathwork is the idea that there is an ability to create a very powerful breathing technique that allows the person to develop self-exploration, transformations and healing of the body.

One of the most appealing aspects of the holotropic breathwork theory is that there is very little tools or time involved with the whole process. Individuals work in groups and there is usually some type of soft music playing in the background. These individuals will lay on their back or sit in a circle and relax. The facilitator will then talk them through various breathing techniques that are intended to help them relive memories or heal the body. The whole experience takes two to three hours and will last a person for several months.

The whole experience of holotropic breathwork is unique. One of the most unique aspects of this type of therapy is the ability to share personal experiences with the individuals of the group. After going through the breathing techniques with a partner the group will gather together and discuss their experiences that they had while they were breathing. The facilitator of the group as well as other group members will offer their tips and advice as well as support for the individual that is talking.

Another aspect of the holotropic breathwork experience is the ability to create and form what is called a mandala. A mandala is a drawing or representation of what the individual went through while they were in the breathwork therapy. The group will separate and create their own and then gather around and discuss what was drawn. This allows the whole experience to be a group environment and really help individuals grow and mature.

Alternative Medicial Approaches to Reducing Asthma Symptoms

There are two types of asthma. There is extreme asthma that requires the use of prescription medications and there is a less severe type of asthma that can be controlled through alternative means. If you are suffering from the less severe type of asthma there are many alternative approaches that you can take to reduce your asthma symptoms. Here is a look at some of the alternative methods.

Warm Liquids. Warm liquids are believed to help open up the chest and relieve any coughing or asthma symptoms. In fact, some alternative medicine practitioners will recommend the use of teas or coffee to open up the chest as the caffeine works as a bronchodilator and help loosen up the airways to the lungs.

Steam. Steam is another alternative approach to treating asthma symptoms. It is believed if you sit in a warm room with steam such as a bathroom or a sauna it can help loosen up the bronchial tubes and help relieve the symptoms of asthma. Steam can be inhaled by inhaling it from a cup of warm liquids or even just sitting in a bathroom with the shower or hot bath running.

Breathwork. There are many yoga breathwork exercises that will help the asthma sufferer learn how to regulate their breathing. It is believed that when those with asthma start to breathe properly they are able to reduce the effects that asthma has on the body. Yoga and Pilates are also known to help open up the chest and loosen up the airways so that breathing is a lot easier in those that suffer from asthma.

Germ Management in the Home

One aspect of health care people often overlook is closer to home than they may think. You get sick. You get over it. You get it back. What happened? Germs happened. Here are some great tips to germ management in your home in addition to frequent hand washing.

Use EPA Qualified Disinfectants

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) does not recommend using any product that claims to kill germs that are not registered with them. Look at the product’s label to make sure it has an EPA registration number on it.

Keep in mind some products kill only bacteria, some do not claim to kill any germs, and some will kill a whole slew of common viruses in addition to bacteria. Fantastick is a great product because it kills 99.9% of common germs in 10 seconds whereas most comparable products require the product to sit for up to 10 minutes. In the bathroom, Scrubbing Bubbles will kill quite a bit of bathroom infamous germs in a minute. Lysol disinfectant spray will kill the bulk of your viruses including H1N1 and Rota virus, but requires a sitting time to do so.

Where to Aim

Disinfect commonly touched areas such as door knobs, handles, cabinets, refrigerator handle, etc. Most stomach flu viruses are transmitted from germs coming from fecal matter and vomit, so be sure to disinfect toilet areas and any place someone might have had an accident such as an adult heaving in the sink or a baby diaper being changed on the floor. In addition, commonly used items that often carry loads of germs include remote controls, purses, wallets, and cell phones. The kitchen is also a place where illness can be avoided with proper disinfection of areas that handle raw meat and vegetables.

Consider the Germ

Germs love to live in moist, warm places. Create an environment germs hate. For instance, keep the bathroom door open after showers so the bathroom dries out quicker.

A Look at Shamanic Breathwork

There are multiple forms of breathwork that can be used to cure a number of illnesses and reduce stress. One of those forms of breathwork includes the shamanic breathwork practice. Shamans are believed to be healers who are able to restore the balance of the spirit or energy of the person who is suffering from an illness or imbalance. The shamanic breathwork practice takes a small part of the contemporary forms of breathwork and mixes them with the shamanic principles.

Here is a closer look at some of the activities that go on during a shamanic breathwork exercise.

Awakening Inner Shaman. The goal of the shamanic breathwork practice is to reawaken the inner shaman inside the sufferer. Once the inner shaman is released it is believed that the balance of energy and spirit is restored.

A Group Journey. The journey to reawaken your inner shaman is not one that you undergo on your own. You will have someone who handles the ceremony as well as several other people who are also trying to release their inner shaman.

Shamanic Principles. During the ceremony you will be doing traditional breathwork but you will also experience some shamanic principles. Chances are you will be brushed with various herbs or plants such as sage or cedar. You will also hear prays or chants being said around you as well as some ceremonial music being played.

Duration of the Ceremony. The ceremony will typically last between one to three hours depending upon the amount of people involved in the ceremony. Occasionally there will be all day retreats that use the shamanic breathwork principles and those will last longer and be a bit more intense.

Yoga Breathwork Exercise to Relieve Allergy Symptoms Part 2

Yoga breathwork has been used as a way to relieve allergy symptoms for a number of centuries. The practice of using yoga breathwork to relieve the body of toxins and allergens can be traced all the way back to early Chinese medicine practices. There are two types of yoga breathwork exercises that allow the allergy sufferer to reduce their allergy symptoms. The first is a simple breathing exercise that cleanses the nasal cavities, while the other is a more relaxed approach.

Here is a look at the relaxed approach to cleansing the body of the toxins and allergens.

Step 1. Start this yoga breathwork practice by sitting up straight and keeping your spine aligned properly.

Step 2. Set your hands on the sides of your body with the palms facing upwards. You can also place the hands on the stomach. There is no right or wrong way it is whatever feels comfortable.

Step 3. Start breathing through your nose. Each breathe should be a quick breathe that is quickly forced out of the nose. Your stomach should also be rising and falling quickly. This will feel like you are panting after a long run. Breathe in and out ten to twenty times in a row.

Step 4. After completing one set take a deep breath and exhale slowly. This will allow you to start a completely new set of breathing exercises.

Step 5. Do this breathing exercise at least three to five times in a row.

Step 6. After completing the breathwork exercises it is time to cleanse the body and relax. Start by closing your eyes and raising your arms above your head. As you raise your hands breathe in deeply, hold it for five counts and release it slowly while lowering your arms. Make sure when breathing that you breathe through your nose so you can properly cleanse it of the toxins and allergens.

Yoga Breathwork Exercise to Relieve Allergy Symptoms Part 1

Allergy sufferers are always looking for ways to relieve their allergy symptoms. For some that might mean turning to conventional medicine and taking antihistamines to reduce the symptoms of allergies. For others it might mean taking an alternative approach to allergies and using a form of breathwork to get rid of the toxins that are causing the allergy symptoms.

If you are considering trying a form of yoga breathwork to reduce allergy symptoms here is a look at a common yoga breathwork exercise that is used to cleanse the body and increase lung functions.

Warm Up Exercise. Yoga breathwork requires a warm up so that the body is ready to cleanse itself. The warmup includes sitting in a comfortable position either on the floor or on a chair. You will then take your arms and raise them above your head. While your arms are in the air you will breathe in and hold the breath for three counts, then let it out slowly while you move your arms down to your side. Repeat this warm up five to eight times.

The Yoga Breathwork with the Nose. There are two types of yoga breathwork exercises that help with allergies here is a look at the one that involves the nose. Simply sit down and put your thumb over the right of left side of the nose. While you do this inhale deeply with the nostril that is left open and hold the breath for three counts. Slowly cover the left side of the nose and inhale for three counts. Release both sides of the nose and slowly exhale while counting to three. You will repeat this action six times for each side of the nose. This is used to cleanse the nasal cavities and rid it of any allergens or toxins that might cause allergies.

Breathwork Can Help Allergy Sufferers

Allergens are all around us. Some people are allergic to pollen, dust, grass and even dander. While many people might turn to the conventional medicines like over the counter antihistamines and prescription decongestants, some allergy sufferers turn to yoga breathwork to relieve their allergy symptoms.

Yoga breathwork has long been used as a way to relieve allergy symptoms and rid the body of harmful toxin for a number of years. In fact, breathwork was used centuries ago by Chinese medicine practitioners as a way to rid the body of the toxins that are causing the allergy symptoms to appear.

The way that yoga breathwork works to reduce the allergy symptoms is simple. Allergies are caused when a foreign substance enters the body. The body views that foreign substance as a bad factor and will try to rid the body of it naturally. This is usually done by causing the body to create histamines which result in watery eyes, itchy eyes, hives and even sneezing. These are all ways that the body tries to rid itself of the foreign body naturally. Yoga breathwork can help rid the body of foreign substances by trying to force the substance out of the body by breathing deeply through the nose or helping the lungs expel toxins that have built up through the body. As a lot of the toxins and foreign substances that are the result of allergies are inhaled through the nose breathwork will get rid of them so that the person can go about their day in an allergy free way.

In order for yoga breathwork to work on allergies many breathwork practitioners recommend that the allergy sufferer practice yoga on a daily basis. This will allow the body to rid itself of the harmful toxins that have built up over time and reduce the amount of allergy symptoms that are present.

How Breathwork Helps Those With Asthma, COPD and Cystic Fibrosis

Many people who suffer from breathing conditions like asthma, cystic fibrosis and COPD have started to turn to the alternative medicine approach of using breathwork. Breathwork has been used for centuries as an effective means of maintaining and helping various health conditions that involve the lungs. Here is a look at how breathwork has helped improved these conditions and why it has become so popular over the past few years.

There are dozens of different types of breathwork techniques out there. Some involve the use of yoga or Pilates while others use meditation or a licensed breathwork coach. No matter what breathwork technique you use the basic concepts behind breathwork is the same. Breathwork is used to improve the functions of the lung by opening up the passageways that lead to the lungs. When these passageways are opened up the body can release built up toxins and create newer fresher oxygen. This characteristic of breathwork makes it ideal for those that suffer from asthma, COPD and cystic fibrosis because it allows them to naturally open up the airways and improve lung functions that might have been decreased because of these illnesses.

Many people have started to turn to breathwork as an alternative medical approach to asthma, COPD and cystic fibrosis because they do not want to suffer the side effects that might come with many of the medications that are used to treat these conditions. Instead they are looking for a natural and healthy way to improve their lungs and increase their oxygen intake.

Breathwork is the answer to these people’s problems because it can increase the oxygen flow and open up airways just by using the simple function of breathing in and out. While many people who suffer from these health problems might need to use some conventional medicine they can often decrease their reliance upon conventional medicine.

How to Tell if You are Breathing Properly

Not many people realize this but they are actually not breathing properly. It might be hard to believe because everyone has to breathe to live but it is estimated that over 90% of the world’s population is not breathing properly. Here is a look at how the world is breathing improperly and why it could be very detrimental to their health.

Most adults when they breathe use the upper half of their lungs. The lungs are a part of the body that filter and make oxygen for your body. The problem with breathing with the upper portion of the lungs is that the upper portion does not create a lot of oxygen and that causes a person to breathe improperly.

Researchers are unsure why many people breathe with the upper portion of their lungs. If you were to observe a small child or baby you would notice that when they breathe their bellies move up and down. This is a sign that they are breathing with their lower part of the lungs. However, as humans grow older they move from breathing with the lower part of the lungs to using the upper portion.

If you are wondering if you use the upper or lower portion of the lungs all you have to do is observe your belly when you breathe. When you take a breath in does your stomach move into your body or away? If it is into your body then chances are you use the upper portion. If it is away then you probably use the lower portion.

This might not seem very important but breathing with the upper portion can create adverse health problems. The less oxygen that you consume the more fatigued you might feel and the less energy you will have. It is also believed that the less oxygen you consume can have a direct effect on heart attacks and strokes.

In order to learn how to properly breathe many people have to engage the help of a breathwork counselor to help them re-learn how to breathe properly.

Basic 411 for Children’s OTC Cold Medicine

FDA Warnings

Cold medicine is not safe for children under the age of 2 and not recommended for any children under the age of 4. Tips on safe use of cold medicine:

Make sure you are not providing two medicines containing the same active ingredient.
Try to purchase medicine with a child safety cap, and make sure you close it all the way after each use, and try to store it out of reach of your children.
Only use measuring devices specifically made for medicine.
Keep a log of the medicine you give your child tracking date, time, quantity and drug so that you or another caregiver don’t accidentally give another dose too soon.
Keep in mind cold medicine only treats symptoms. It won’t make your child get better sooner.
Follow instructions accurately, and do not give children cold medicine intended for adults.

Antihistamines

Examples: Diphenhydramine, Brompheniramine, Chlorpheniramine, Loratidine. Ceterizine, and Carbinoxaimine

Antihistamines are used to treat allergies. Most night time medicine includes an antihistamine to help you sleep. It is not generally recommended to give your child an antihistamine just to help him fall asleep. If your child is having a problem sleeping due to a cough, better he have the luxury of waking up to hack something out that could choke him rather than the luxury of sleep.

Expectorants

Most commonly used: Guaifensesin

Expectorants help loosen phlegm and make it easier to cough it up; however, they have not been proven to help children. Steam will also help loosen mucus.

Cough Suppressants

Most commonly used: Dextromethorphan (DM)

If your child is coughing a dry, unproductive cough and is breathing fine, cough suppressants can help reduce the amount of coughing. Decongestants are usually used to complement this drug.

Decongestants

Examples: Phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine

Decongestants help relieve runny noses, but often come with the side effects of hyperactivity, irritability, and sleeplessness.

Breathe Network