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SYMPTOMS & AYURVEDIC REMEDIES
MUCUS CONGESTIONWHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHAT'S CAUSING IT? WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Are you prone to a problem with 'Mucus Congestion'?
OverviewExcess mucus is generally a sign of "sweet blood". Blood that is high in sugar, fats, or proteins is sweet blood. Sweet blood is thicker than dry blood and causes mucus. Sweet blood causes thick mucus while toxicity generally creates thin, clear mucus.Thick MucusThick, white or clear mucus is associated with an imbalance in Kapha and can often be traced back to rich diet of sweet, heavy and oily foods. Over time, these foods increase kledaka kapha in the stomach which can then aggravate avalambaka kapha in the lungs. The wet, cold, liquid and slimy qualities of avalamabaka kapha leads to respiratory congestion, runny nose, blocked sinuses and phlegm in the lungs and throat. To balance this respiratory ailment, it's important to avoid Kapha provoking foods like sugar, ice cream, cold milk, cheese and fried foods. Instead, favor foods that are dry, light penetrating and hot in quality. These will melt away congestion and dry excess mucus. Pungent aromatics such as cinnamon, ginger, cloves and black pepper, especially when combined with honey, are expectorants and decongestants that help the body spit out, dissolve or dry out mucus. Add some mustard seeds to your next curry and sip on some tulsi tea to breathe easy. Pungent, bitter and astringent tastes also work to balance kapha mucus in the stomach and lungs and will promote comfortable breathing.Infected MucusWhen mucus is a yellow or green color, generally this means there is an excess of Pitta in the lungs and a possible sign of infection (Pitta is responsible for infection). The quality of this mucus is hot, sharp and penetrating. You will feel this mucus as a burning sensation in your throat at times. To remedy this type of respiratory congestion, it is best to follow a Pitta pacifying diet and lifestyle. Favor pitta pacfiying aromatics and pungents (cardamom, fennel, fresh ginger) and bitter taste (greens or neem if using herbs).Thin Mucus
Thin or clear mucus is often a sign of cold sinuses, or irritation of the sinus membranes due to toxicity. It is typical of a common cold due to deficiency in autumn. Thin mucus often increases with gas or constipation, due to toxins (ama).
The sinuses need to be kept warm and colon needs to be clear, so if constipation is present, herbs like triphala may be appropriate in some cases. This will gently encourage a bowel motion and cleanse digestive toxins. Sipping on licorice tea is also a powerful remedy for dry, scratchy respiration. Its demulcent properties adds moisture and its expectorant properties helps expel difficult to release phlegm in dry coughs. Sweet, oily and unctuous foods will soothe and lubricate the respiratory tract afflicted by rough Vata. ARE YOU NEW TO AYURVEDA?
Are you wondering what Ayurveda is and how to use it?
WHAT HAS HELPED YOU HEAL?DIET REMEDIES FOR 'MUCUS CONGESTION'SpicesBasil ,  How does Basil affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. Black Pepper , How does Black Pepper affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. Cardamom , How does Cardamom affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. Cinnamon , How does Cinnamon affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. Dill , How does Dill affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. Mustard Seed , How does Mustard Seed affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. Turmeric How does Turmeric affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. RootsDaikon Radish How does Daikon Radish affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. FruitsLemon How does Lemon affect this symptom?
IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME We will use this information to better predict food that helps you. HERBS & PRODUCTS FOR 'MUCUS CONGESTION'RESPIRATORY HEALTH TIPS DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine. HOW DOES AYURVEDA HEAL 'MUCUS CONGESTION'?AVOID DIETS, LIFESTYLES & HERBS THAT AGGRAVATE THESE EFFECTSAccording to Ayurveda, one or more of the following doshas and qualities may aggravate 'Mucus Congestion'. If you have an excess of one of these doshas or qualities below, Ayurveda recommends reducing foods and lifestyle habits that aggravate them. Click on the quality to learn what foods and lifestyle habits should be reduced. Symptoms Tell A Story The first step to healing is learning patterns from your symptoms. Symptoms are clues that reveal underlying imbalances. Symptoms show you where your body is weakened. Ultimately, all disease has a root in tissues too weak to defend itself. Ayurveda describes these patterns of weakness using doshas & qualities. If you notice a quality or dosha appears next to many of your symptoms, it helps you establish a pattern that may be systemic.V = VATA, P = PITTA, K = KAPHA 
To learn more about the symbols above, click on them. Are you prone to a problem with 'Mucus Congestion'?
FAVOR DIETS, LIFESTYLES & HERBS WITH THESE MEDICINAL EFFECTSEverything you eat has an effect on your body, which Ayurveda categorizes in a simple and easy way, using gunas. Gunas are qualities (like cold and hot) that describe the effect a food or herb has on your body. Cooling foods like cucumber, decrease metabolism. Heating foods like chili pepper, stimulate your body and increase metabolism. For 'Mucus Congestion', you should select foods with the following qualities (gunas). Individual results will vary, based on your body type and the root cause of your imbalance.
To learn more about the symbols above, click on them. Cleanse and Detox: Burns Toxins BURNS-TOXINSAn herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them.Lung and Sinus: Flushes sinuses , FLUSHES-SINUSESAn herb that relieves sinus congestion by flushing out mucus.Decongestant , DECONGESTANTAn herb that reduces mucus congestion in the sinus or lungs by restricting blood flow to mucus membranes.Expectorant EXPECTORANTHerbs that help you cough up and eliminate mucus. These herbs often work by increasing the quantity of mucus, or thinning the mucus.ADDRESS ISSUES IN STAGE OF DISEASE 2MUCUS CONGESTION IS IN STAGE OF DISEASE 2 - AFFECTING BLOOD & EMOTIONSAffecting Blood: Initially, imbalances are localized, often in the digestive tract. As an imbalance grows, it starts to affect your body systemically, via the blood. If you have symptoms in this category it means that your imbalances are starting to spread, have entered the bloodstream, and are now systemic. Pay particular attention to the gunas, tastes, and doshas out of balance systemically, so you know how to strengthen your body as a whole, and reduce physical stress on your organs. At this stage of imbalance you will begin to experience generalized discomfort, imbalanced emotions, and may develop sensitivities to temperature. It may take several weeks of strict adherence to a specific remedial diet to clear blood level imbalances. Blood cleansing herbs may reduce symptoms. A several day cleanse may shorten the recovery time. REDUCE THESE RELATED SYMPTOMS & HABITSThe following symptoms & habits may be related to 'Mucus Congestion'. See your quiz results for a computerized assessment of your body type. Please click on the symptoms below to learn more about them.WHAT'S NEXT? 
DO YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR UNIQUE BODY?What aggravates it? What heals it?
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HOW AYURVEDA WORKS
ARE YOU WONDERING HOW AYURVEDA CAN HELP YOU?
WHY IS AYURVEDA THE RIGHT SOLUTION?Ayurveda strengthens the body, in addition to addressing the disorder. It take a holistic, systemic approach, instead of myopically focusing on the disorder in question. Ayurveda shows a person how to interpret signs and symptoms of imbalance, and how to address them using materials from home, so they can optimize their health on a continual basis. You can't take the doctor home with you, but you can take Ayurveda home with you. Ayurveda is the most advanced and easy to use home system for self healing with an exceptional focus on digestion.HOW DOES AYURVEDA WORK?Ayurveda starts by identifying your body type, which identifies certain tendencies in your body to get sick (as well as identifying your strengths). It uses body type to determine the likely root causes of your disorders. Next, Ayurveda analyzes the nature of your disorder. It fits all your signs and symptoms into a pattern, expressed as a combination of gunas / qualities. For example, you may have a heat disorder, a cold disorder, or an oily disorder, etc. This simple categorical approach shows you how to correct systemic imbalances and strengthen your body as a whole.On Joyful Belly, we've created an extensive categorization of food so you can easily match food to your imbalances (gunas). By eating an optimal diet that balances your gunas, your whole body is strengthened and the conditions that created the disorder are removed. Once the root causes of the disease are removed, the disease lessens in strength or disappears altogether. Additional remedies - such as herbs and lifestyle practices - focused on the specific disorder, can greatly enhance your healing. Want to learn more about Ayurveda and its step-by-step approach to healing? Click below.LEARN MOREGET STARTEDTo get started on your Ayurvedic journey, we first recommend that your find your body type by taking our free quiz. In Ayurveda, every solution is based on your unique body type, so by taking this quiz, you’ll get the best results.5 WAYS TO HEAL YOUR BODY
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