Homa therapy, as a radiation medicine.

This ancient practice of using fire to purify the atmosphere is now being used all over the world.

It is not a secret anymore the effects of the fire in the well being of the practitioner as well as on the earth.

Through this ancient tradition we can revitalize our environment and obtain healing for ourselves.

As it was in the beginning

For two thousand years, at the precise moments of dawn and dusk, sages and seekers of truth have performed the Agnihotra fire ceremony, the art of communing with the energies of the sun to honor and express gratitude to the elements in nature. The sun's subtle energies, which are harnessed during these powerful rites, balance spirit, mind, body and the environment. Recorded in the Vedas, one of the most ancient of texts, Agnihotra originated in northern India, and is now available to everyone.

Healing the Earth with Fire

Agnihotra is a simple practice anyone can perform. When you use Agnihotra's healing fire you heal the atmosphere of the damages of pollution and in turn obtain healing for yourself. The atmosphere is the air we and all that lives breathes; it protects the planet from the harshness of space.

The ashes from the fire, which have been transformed by the ceremony, can be used as medicine or in food production and even in gardening or for your houseplants and pets.

A Simple Daily Practice

The ritual itself takes 3 to 5 minutes to perform, and involves chanting a simple mantra. It requires certain materials such as a copper container shaped like an inverted three-stepped pyramid, some grains of rice, ghee (clarified butter) and dried cow dung to use as fuel for the fire.

Why dried cow dung?

The Sanskrit word for cow dung is gobar, meaning 'gift from the cow'. Unlike human and most animal feces, scientific analysis has shown that cow's feces are free of viruses and infections and possess medicinal and curative properties. (What about the bad publicity from the media concerning mad cow's disease and hoof-and-mouth disease. How are these diseases propagated? Perhaps to replace, look into traditional Hindu perspectives on the cow, find scientific evidence of virus-and-disease-free status etc)

How does it work?

To explain Agni Hotra in Western terms is a challenge that requires a blend of scientific and spiritual terminologies. During the ceremony a magnetic field is created through the fire and the pyramid, producing tremendous amounts of subtle energy (in the form of an electromagnetic field) that radiates outwards, neutralizing negative energies and reinforcing positive ones. The timing of the ceremony is crucial; the first word of the mantra must be uttered at the very second that the sun crests the horizon at dawn or sinks below the horizon at dusk. These two moments in the day are brief windows when all the electricities, energies and ethers are at their peaks and can be focused and broadcast from the fire and the copper pyramid.

The Materials To Perform Agni Hotra

1. The copper pyramid

The pyramid can be made of pure copper or pure gold. These are the two materials able to conduct the electromagnetic field produced by the ceremony. The dimensions for it are very precise: 14.5 cmx14.5 cm at the top, 5.25 cmx5.25 cm at the bottom and 6.5 cm in height. The bottom is flattened and it has three steps, which give it the appearance of a three-stepped Egyptian pyramid or (Babylonian?) ziggurat.

2. Cow dung

To prepare the dried cow dung it is ideal to use fresh cow manure (from the adult or juvenile animal, male or female), but if this is not possible, dried cow pats in the field are fine (remove any stones or grasses) or you can purchase prepared dried manure from a supplier (see resource list). Whatever route you take, it is important that the manure be not of cows that are fed with concentrated food containing fish flour. The ideal cow dung comes from an organic farm, in particular those with the Demeter organic certification.

To prepare your own fresh dung, form it into "patties" and dry them in the sun on a screen so that air can reach both sides during the drying process. After a few days you can store them in a cardboard box. Prepare your supply during the summer since it is difficult to dry the patties in wet climates and in winter. Once the patties are dry there is no unpleasant smell. In fact, dried cow dung smells like sweet grass!

3. Whole brown rice

Only the whole, unbroken grains are selected. The whole, perfect grain of rice retains the subtle energy structure ideal for the healing fires. You only need a small amount for each ceremony; enough to hold between your thumb and two middle fingers of the right hand.

4. Ghee (clarified unsalted butter)

To prepare Ghee, melt 1 pound of unsalted organic butter over medium heat in a heavy, covered saucepan. Keep the pan uncovered to allow moisture to evaporate, which will help the milk solids to separate. The butter will bubble and make popping sounds. The ghee will begin to smell like popcorn. Whitish curds will form and sink to the bottom and a white foam will froth to the top. Discard the foam. The ghee is ready when the curds at the bottom start to turn tan in colour. When in liquid form, the ghee is a rich golden colour. Pour the hot ghee through a fine mesh strainer into a clean glass container.

Ghee does not need refrigeration. Do not introduce water or particles of food in the ghee container. This will create conditions where bacteria can grow and will spoil the ghee very quickly.

5. Wooden matches

Only use sulphur matches to light the fire. A lighter or any other lighting substance will introduce unwanted substances into the pyramid.

6. Timing

Because timing is so crucial in the correct performance of this ritual, have a clock or watch nearby that can count seconds and set your time-piece to the correct time. You can contact the Agni Hotra website to obtain the exact times for sunset and sunrise for your location (see resource list). If one does not do Agni Hotra at the correct time, there are no healing effects.

7. Accessories

There are copper spoons, plates, tweezers, bases and so on available. Some of these items can be substituted with wooden, porcelain, glass or clay materials (see resource list).

Building the Agni Hotra fire

Spread a little ghee on each piece of dried dung. The oil from the ghee will help sustain the fire. The arrangement of dung is designed to permit good air flow and prevent the fire from collapsing as it burns. Consult figure #1 as you read these instructions. Start by placing a small piece of dung at the bottom of the copper pyramid (1). Add two small pieces in opposing corners (2), then continue adding pieces in alternating corners, using larger pieces as the pile grows and the pyramid becomes wider (3,4 and 5).

Starting the Fire

To light the fire, spread ghee on another piece of dung and ignite it, using a wooden match. Be sure that none of the material from the match falls into the pyramid. Once you've lit the piece of dung, place it flame downward in the centre of the pile. Light the fire a few minutes before the moment of sunrise or sunset to be sure that your fire is blazing enough to completely burn the offerings of rice and ghee.

Offering

This is the actual moment when Agnihotra is performed. When you drop the rice and ghee in the fire you will also need to chant a mantra, one for the morning Agnihotra, one for the evening ritual (see below). We will begin by describing the morning Agnihotra ceremony.

Put two pinches of clean, unbroken brown rice grains in your left palm or place them in a small dish. Smear them with a few drop of ghee and divide them into two parts. With your fire blazing brightly, at the exact time of sunrise, take one of the pinches of rice using the middle and ring fingers of your right hand and start chanting the first mantra 'Sooryaya Swaha'. 

It is essential that the mantras start at the exact moment of sunrise and sunset or the healing effects of Agnihotra won't work. When you start to say 'Swaha', offer the grains of rice to the fire. Chant the next line, 'Sooryaya Idam Na Mama'. Repeat this process with the following line, 'Prajápataye Swaha', again offering the second pinch of rice at the moment you begin to say 'Swaha'. Complete the mantra with 'Prajápataye Idam Na Mama'. Concentrate on the fire until the offerings are fully burnt to conclude the morning Agnihotra.

In the evening, remove the morning Agnihotra ash from the pyramid and keep it in an earthenware, glass or wooden container. The ceremony in the evening is the same as the morning Agnihotra except for the Sunset mantra, indicated below. Remember to make your offerings of rice when you begin to say 'Swaha'.

It is best not to disturb the fire until it is completely extinguished to allow for the proper interplay of subtle energies. If at all possible, avoid moving the pyramid until the next time you prepare Agnihotra.

Meditation

After each Agnihotra, it is beneficial to sit in meditation at least until the fire extinguishes itself.

Mantras

Sunrise                                   

Sooryaya Swaha                        (add the first portion of rice)

Sooryaya Idam Na Mama           

Prajápataye Swaha                        (add the second portion of rice)           

Prajápataye Idam Na Mama           

Sunset

Agnaye Swaha            (add the first portion of rice)            

Agnaye Idam Na Mama

Prajápataye Swaha (add the second portion of rice)

Prajápataye Idam Na Mama

Who can do these healing fires?

Anybody who is able to utter the mantras can and should perform the Agnihotra.

visit agnihotra.org to hear the mantras or contact us for your free training

Home Care for the Nose, mouth and Throat

care for your nose :
Keeping the sinus and nasal passages clean provides a clear entry point to the mind.  Prana can flow freely, thus allowing life to be lived with joy and loving kindness.

When these passages get blocked, the life force is also blocked.  Emotions may be fearful or depressed.  We tend to feel sluggish, fatigued and our minds are foggy.  Breathing though the mouth does not provide us with the optimal intake of prana that nose breathing gives us.

The nose is connected with the Kapha dosha.  When there is too much kapha in the body, one becomes congested and ama, toxins), become stored in the tissues of the body.  The following are some helpful techniques for clearing ama from the nose and sinus cavities.


NETI a way to clean your nostrils

Neti is the procedure where a warm saline solution is applied into the nasal passages to release accumulated mucous and toxins.  It can be done every morning, upon awakening.  For colds, allergies, sinusitis or excessive mucous, do it once again before bed.  If the sinus passages sting during neti, try reducing the amount of salt used.  Do not do neti if a serious infection is present.  If the nostrils become too dry, discontinue neti for a few days until the condition resolves itself.  See notes below on applying ghee to nostrils.

Using a neti pot:
            Ingredients:
            1/8 tsp rock or sea salt
            1c water
            neti pot

Boil pure water and dissolve the salt in it.

Add cool water to the mixture to bring it to a warm, comfortable temperature to apply into your nostrils.

Decide which nostril is the most blocked.  You will cleanse this nostril first, which means you will apply the neti pot spout to the clearer nostril first.  The water will go up into this nostril and down through the more blocked nostril.
If you are beginning with the left nostril, then place the right hand behind the back.

Cup the neti pot in your left hand.

Bend forward, keeping your spine straight.

Tilt your head so that the nostril you will begin to fill is pointing up.

Bring the neti pot up to the nostril and slowly begin filling the nostril with the saline solution.

The water may go through and out the other nostril quite quickly, or it may drip out very slowly.  It depends on how blocked-up your sinuses and nasal passages are.  If you feel pain in your sinuses, try tilting your head and repositioning until the water is flowing through the other nostril.

When you have finished with one side, you can pinch your nose and squeeze out excess water and mucous.  Do not blow your nose, as this can result in water going into the ear canal, which can remain there creating a bacterial infection.

Repeat on the opposite side.

Nasal drying:
Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and bend forward, placing your hands on your knees.

Tilt your head from side to side while gently forcing air out of your nose with each turn of your head.  Have a kleenex handy. Once your nasal passages feel dry, gently blow your nose.

NASAL DROPS
Nasal drops clean the sinuses and improve voice, vision mental clarity and help to keep the nostrils lubricated.  They also prevent allergens from entering into the sinuses.  In addition they can be helpful in preventing nosebleeds, (ghee is a homeostatic, it stops bleeding).

Put 3-5 drops of warm ghee, (vata and pitta) or warm sesame oil, (vata or kapha), into each nostril.  If you don't have a dropper bottle, you can use your little finger.  Once the oil is in, inhale it up your nose by pinching and releasing your nose as your inhale.

A more powerful remedy for severe sinus congestion and pain is to use garlic juice.  Press or squeeze out some fresh garlic juice.  Using an eyedropper, pick up some juice and insert a few drops into each nostril.  Keep your head tilted back for about five minutes to let the juice do its work, then sit up and let it drain out onto a tissue.  The garlic juice may burn and sting.  The relief to come will make it worth your while...your sinuses will be clear.  Do this once a day as needed or up to 3 times a day for a severe sinus attack.

The nose is the doorway to the brain.  Use of nose drops nourishes prana and enlivens consciousness and intelligence.

SINUS PROBLEMS
The sinus cavities are constantly draining into the nose.  They serve to keep the nasal passages moist and to amplify the voice when we speak.  Cold drinks, smoking and excessive consumption of dairy products can clog the sinus passages leading to infection.

Herbal Decongestant:
A mixture of fresh ginger juice, (or freshly grated ginger pulp), with 1 teaspoon honey taken 2-3 times daily can help drain the sinus passages.


Medicated Steam:
This is amazingly effective in helping to clear up painful, congested sinuses.

Heat up about a cupful of water and add 3 to 5 drops of eucalyptus oil.  Turn off the flame, cover your head with a towel, lean over the pot and inhale the steam. You can also use ginger in the same way.  Take 1 inch of fresh ginger, chop it into pieces, and boil it in about a cup of water.  Then cover your head and inhale the ginger steam.  It will be effective for draining the sinuses. (you can use powdered ginger as a back-up if you don't have any fresh)

Sinus Headache:
Try mixing 1/2-teaspoon cinnamon with enough water to make a paste, and apply locally.

CARING FOR YOUR THROAT

Gargles:
Gargling stimulates and soothes the sense organs, freshens the breath and invigorates the mind.  Hold the liquid in your mouth with a swishing motion for 1-2 minutes.  Rinse with water.  Repeat 3 X's.  You can repeat 3x's gargling in the back of the throat, if you wish.

Benefits:
Bad breath; red spots on tongue; bad teeth; strengthens gums; sweet voice; ulcers; cancer; removes wrinkles from cheeks; insomnia; removes mucous; aids in any problems from the neck up.
 
When:
The best time is in the morning, after cleaning your teeth and tongue and before neti.  However, you can also gargle in the evening, 3 hrs after eating.

The Gargles by Dosha:
Vata
1 tbsp sesame oil, 1/2 c milk, 1/2 c water

Vata/Pitta
Use pitta recipe, add a pinch alum

Vata/Kapha
1/2 tsp trikatu, 1/4 tsp alum, 1/2 c water, 1/2 c milk, 1/8 tsp honey

Pitta
1 c milk, 1/2 tsp honey, 1tbsp ghee

Pitta Kapha
Same as pitta, plus add 1 tsp trikatu

Kapha
1/2 tsp trikatu, 1 c warm water, 1/2 tsp honey

Not recommended for:
Children under age 5
The old and weak
Night shift workers

Sore Throat
A sore throat is caused by irritation and inflammation of the throat.  This condition is generally quite easy to remedy using Ayurvedic methods.

Gargle:
Use 1 cup of hot water with 1/2-tsp turmeric and 1/2-tsp sea salt.  Gargle with this mixture morning and evening.


Turmeric milk:
Drinking 1 cup of hot milk boiled with 1/2-tsp turmeric is also helpful for a sore throat.

Soothing herbal tea:
The following ginger-cinnamon-licorice tea also works well.

Ginger 2 parts
Cinnamon 2 parts
Licorice 3 parts

Steep 1 teaspoon of the herbal mixture in water for 5 to 10 minutes and drink up to 3 times a day.

Avoid:
Dairy products, (with the exception of the turmeric milk), cold food and drinks.  These create mucous, increasing kapha and can worsen a sore throat, leading to a secondary illness.

CARE FOR YOUR MOUTH

Make your own Tooth Powder

Benefits:
Good for toothaches in children
Whitens teeth
Lessens negative effects of gingivitis
Removes toxins
Cleanses saliva glands, purifies pitta


                      
Recipe:
2 tsp triphala
2 tsp trikatu
2 pinches alum
1/2 tsp tumeric
1 tsp rock salt

Mix ingredients together.  Place approximately 1 tsp of powder in non-dominant hand.  Wet the middle finger of the dominant hand and apply powder, massaging the mouth, gums and teeth.

 Visit satkiana.com to reserve your ayurvedic treatment.

Moisturizer recipe to protect from radiations

The spreading of nuclear radiations from the Fukushima nuclear reactors are a concern, but every day exposure to other radiations also need to be addressed. Cell phones, computers, microwave ovens and various other common tools in our immediate environment are also sources. Fortunately, we can protect ourselves and our families, and neutralize their pernicious effects.
Below is a recipe to make a helpful moisturizer. It involves several ingredients, including agni hotra ashes and a maceration of yellow yarrow. Since most people don’t know either, the two following paragraphs describe how to obtain them.

Agni ashes
Homa therapy1 is the use of ashes from beautiful Ayurvedic fire ceremonies that remove the toxic conditions of the atmosphere to heal it and purify it. The ceremony replenishes the nutrients that pollution robs from our environment and heals humans, animals and plants. Vasant V. Paranjpe, who brought this technology to North America said: “When Agni hotra (one of the ceremonies) is performed, the Agni hotra smoke gathers particles of harmful radiation in the atmosphere and on a very subtle level, neutralizes their radioactive effect. Nothing is destroyed, merely changed.” After the ashes have cooled, they are reduced to powder and kept for healing purposes, ideally in pottery of dark glass containers.

Making a maceration
A maceration is obtained by soaking a dried herb to transfer the healing properties of the plant to an oil. For this recipe, pack dried, organic yellow yarrow in sterilized glass jar and fill with virgin olive oil to the rim. The least air left in the jar the better. Keep in a dark, cool place for 6 to 8 weeks. Label your jar with the product name and date it. Strain the oil in a sterilized jar, ensuring that there is no roughage left in the oil. Note: if the herb is not completely dry, the oil will go rancid and become useless.

Recipe:
column 1
¾ cup yellow yarrow maceration
1/3 organic coconut oil
½ oz bees wax

column 2
2/3 cup chamomile hydrolate
1/3 cup aloe vera gel
¼ tsp. vitamine E
¼ tsp. vitamine A
25 drops lavender essential oil
12 drops Yarrow Environmental Solution2
1/8 tsp agni hotra ashes

1. Melt ingredients in Column 1 in a non-stick pot
2. Blend hydrolate and aloe vera gel
3. Drizzle warm oil in hydrolate and gel with one hand while using hand-held blender at high speed in the other until it looks like mayonnaise
4. Blend vitamine oils, essential oil and yarrow solution and ashes (too much ashes will make your cream dark grey and clog your pores)
5. Pour in sterilized, dark, glass jars
6. Label and date; keep one jar at hand and store the others in the fridge or cool, dark place
7. Apply generously and massage it to penetrate

This recipe works applies to external radiations and emotional ones too. They are just as destructive, whether you or someone else set off the explosion. Don’t let the radiations burn you.

Yarrow Environmental Solution is a flower essence mix; visit www.fesflowers.com/yarrow-formula.htm#herbs for information.

How to clean and Nourish Your Eyes

Akshitarpana: Ayurvedic Treatment to Nourish Your Eyes
Benefits of the treatment:

Akshitarpana is the process of holding warm ghee in the eyes.  This treatment improves the sight, heals stiffness, pain and roughness around the eyes.  It strengthens the eyes and protects them against the sharp rays of the sun.  Akshitarpana is also helpful for serious eye disorders, such as glaucoma, ulcerated cornea or inflamed lesions surrounding the eyes.  It can help dissolve early stage cataracts as well.  This is an excellent treatment for those who suffer from dry eyes.  Eye pain, darkness around the eyes, paleness around the eyes and roughness around the eyes will be relieved.  Overall, akshitarpana is very soothing and relaxing to the eyes, releasing any tension in the eye muscles and leaving the eyes feeling relaxed and nourished.  The skin around the eyes will be softened as well and eye wrinkles will be diminished.  Your mind also benefits from this treatment by achieving greater clarity.

When to do it:                                         
This treatment is suited to all body types.  It is often performed in the summer, as it reduces Pitta, (heat), in the eyes and cools down the body.  The best time of day to administer akshitarpana is early morning.
                                                      
Treatment schedule:
Aksthitarpana is ideally repeated each day for 7 consecutive days.  If this is not possible, than having 7 treatments as close together as you can is optimal.  It can also be applied as a one time treatment to soothe mild eye irritations.
 
Materials Required:
Mixing bowl
Urid dal flour (black lentil flour), can be found in an Indian grocery store
Water
Ghee
Dropper bottle
Small coffee cup warmer to keep ghee warm (you can find these at Canadian Tire)
2 Damp cloths (for wiping the sticky dough off your hands after placing it around eyes and for wiping the ghee from around your client's eyes)
Dry towel to wipe hands
Box of tissue
Blanket (to keep person warm)
Massage table or mat on floor
Stool or cushion to sit on while doing treatment
Rose water
Round make-up remover pads
Eye pillow (filled with flax seeds and soothing herbs like lavender and chamomile)
Triphala eye wash (see below for details)

Triphala Eye Wash

Ingredients:
1 tsp triphala powder
1 cup pure water (spring water, distilled water or reverse osmosis water)
 
How to make it:
Boil water in a stainless steel saucepan.  Remove from heat and stir in triphala powder.  Let sit for 5 minutes.  Strain through a fine wire strainer or through cheesecloth.  Let cool to just warm or room temperature before using.  Pour into a dropper bottle.

Akshitarpana Procedure
 
Making the dough:

Use about 1 cup of flour and add enough water to form a stiff dough
You may need to add more water or flour to get the right consistency
Divide the dough into 2 ballsMake a dough ring with each of the balls (it will look like a round doughnut).
Make the doughnut large enough so that it fits just around the eye of your client.
 
Administering the treatment:
Have client lie down on a massage table or on a mat on the floor
Cover them with a blanket, (if they would like one)

Gently massage around the eyes with a bit of ghee, (you can massage the entire face too, if you'd like)

Using a Kleenex, gently blot around the eyes to remove any excess ghee

Apply a few drop (around 5), of triphala eye wash into each eye and have client blink.  The eyes might sting and tear a bit.  This is normal and helps to clean out any impurities in the eyes.

Blot the eyes with tissue to dry them

Apply one of the dough rings, beginning with the right eye.  Ensure that the dough ring has adhered to the skin, forming a seal, by gently pressing down on it.  You want to ensure there will be minimal leakage of ghee our of the dough ring

When the ring is in place, you can begin by applying a few drops of ghee to the bottom corners of the eyes.  Eyes are to be closed to begin.  Begin slowly so that it is not a shock to your client.

Apply drops of ghee into the dough ring until the eyes are completely immersed.

Wait 2 minutes and then instruct client to open their eyes
Guide them in some eye exercises: look up...look down...to the right...to the left...criss-cross...circles to right...circles to left...blink...After 3 more minutes (a total of 5 minutes), ask the client to close their eyes and relax.

Fold a tissue so that it forms a thick wad that will fit into the dough ring.  Gently use it to soak up the ghee inside the ring.  You may need to use a few tissue wads.
Once ghee has been removed, you can use a damp cloth to  gently wipe around the eyes of your client.  Ensure cloth is not cold!

Apply some rose water to an eye pad and apply over the right eye (the one that has just been treated)
Repeat the procedure with the left eye.

You can leave the rose water pads over the eyes afterwards and fold a tissue in half, place it over top of the rose pads, across both eyes, and then place an eye pillow over top
Gently massage the hands and feet of your client with a bit of leftover warm ghee.  You can also milk the hands and feet, by grasping with both hands from wrists/ankles and gently pulling along hands/feet as if you were squeezing milk from the udders of a cow.

After the treatment, leave your client to relax for 15 minutes before getting up
 
Post-treatment instructions:
Rest the eyes, no reading, watching television, driving, or any visual stimulation for the rest of the day
Wear sunglasses to protect the eyes against the sun's rays
Drink lots of water to flush out the system.  This simple treatment is detoxifying
If you are going home afterwards, have someone drive you home
 
Comments:
I have had a lot of positive feedback with this treatment.  One of my clients had extremely dry, itchy, irritated eyes.  After receiving just one treatment, he told me that his eyes were not dry for quite some time, (several weeks).

Another client said this treatment reduced her Pitta, (excess heat in the body), and was so soothing to her eyes, she just loved it.  She also commented that her vision felt sharper after receiving a series of 7 treatments.

It is advisable to be taught this treatment before administering it yourself.  If you would like to receive training in the application of this treatment, please contact Satkiana."


Satkiana
Ayurvedic Practitioner
www.satkiana.com

Herbs to detox the lungs

Your lungs are an important part of your respiratory system. Their 
function is to take and distribute oxygen to all your vital organs. Your
 lungs are self-cleaning organs. They contain microscopic hairs called 
cilia that continuously remove particles and toxins out of your lungs. 

When your lungs are constantly bombarded by pollutants such as dust and 
cigarette smoke, they become weak and the cilia become damaged and can 
no longer function effectively. There are natural herbs that can be used
 to help cleanse and strengthen the lungs.

               Herbs for the Lungs
             

             1.  Lotus Root Tea
                 --------------
                 This tea helps dissolve and eliminate mucus and lung 
                 congestion over time.

                 Fresh Lotus Root (preferable)
                 ----------------
                 a.  Grate a 2-inch piece of fresh lotus root and 
                     squeeze out juice through a cheesecloth.  Add 2-3
                     drops of ginger juice squeezed from freshly grated
                     ginger root and a tiny pinch of sea salt.  Add an
                     equal amount of spring water and boil for a few 
                     minutes.

                 Lotus Root Powder
                 -----------------
                 b.  Add one teaspoon of powder to a small cup of 
                     water.  Add a tiny pinch of sea salt and 2-3 drops
                     of ginger juice.  Heat on low flame and turn off
                     flame when boiling begins.

             2.  Breeze Free
                 -----------
                 This is a formula for curing congestion and upper 
                 respiratory problems.  It contains Platycodon Root,
                 Ephedra, Elecampane, Wild Cherry Bark, Mullein,
                 Licorice Root, Ginger Root, Cinnamon Twigs, and Wild
                 Ginger.

                 You can purchase this formula (made by Planetary
                 Herbal Formulas) from your local natural food store
                 or call Planetary Herbal Formulas 800-606-6226 for
                 the nearest distributor.

        ii.  Lotus Root Plaster
             ------------------
             Lotus root plasters are excellant for dissolving mucus 
             deposits in the bronchi and sinuses.

             Supplies needed:

             1.  Everything that is needed for Ginger Compress (see 
                 above).
             2.  White flour.
             3.  Fresh lotus root (check chinese grocery store or 
                 natural food store).
             4.  Cotton cloth.
             5.  A sheet or other cloth to keep plaster in place.

             Steps:

             1.  Perform a ginger compress for 10-15 minutes on lungs 
                 region.

             2.  Grate fresh lotus root.

             3.  Mix lotus root with 5% grated ginger and 10-15% 
                 white flour.

             4.  Spread paste on cloth about 1/2 inch thick.

             5.  Apply cloth so that plaster directly touches the 
                 skin.

             6.  Tie in place with sheet or large cloth.

             7.  Keep plaster on for several hours.  You can sleep 
                 with it on if you tie it in place.

             8.  Procedure should be repeated for 7-21 days.  Thick 
                 mucus will start to be discharged.

            

             A more complete description of the Lotus Root Plaster 
             can be found in the following book:

                    Macrobiotic Home Remedies
                    by Michio Kushi
                    Japan Publications, c1985
                    ISBN 0-87040-554-3

Other herbs you can use to maintain the health of your lungs are:

Drink one to two cups of honeysuckle flower tea daily. This herb promotes healthy mucous membranes. It also helps your lungs remove pollutants and mucous, according to herbal scientist Albert Leung.

Consume one 500 mg rosemary herb tablet daily. Rosemary contains antioxidants that can help improve the blood circulation in your lungs according to Dr. Light Miller, author of "Ayurveda & Aromatherapy." This helps your lungs remove pollutants into your bloodstream, where they can then be filtered and eliminated.