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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 MucusThin 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.
REBALANCE YOUR BODY WITH DIET, LIFESTYLE & HERBS HAVING THESE QUALITIESEverything 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. For best results, get a one on one consultation.QUALITIES THAT MAY CORRECT IMBALANCES RELATED TO MUCUS CONGESTION
To learn more about the symbols above, click on them. FAVOR HERBS WITH THESE MEDICINAL PROPERTIESIngredient and herbs each have unique effects on the various organs of your body. Herbalists study these effects and categorize them, so it is easy to identify which foods and herbs are most helpful for your unique body type. Click on the medicinal properties below to learn more about them, and to figure out which recipes, ingredients and products will be a good match for you. Individual results will vary depending upon the root cause of your imbalance. The following medicinal properties are useful for a general case of 'Mucus Congestion'. You must independently verify whether these medicinal properties address the root causes of your case of Mucus Congestion.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. Click here for general 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 best way to do this is with a one on one consultation. DIET TO BALANCE 'MUCUS CONGESTION'
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EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR MUCUS CONGESTIONBrowse these educational resources for 'Mucus Congestion'.$297.00 Gain deeper wisdom and insight as you balance your Kapha diet in a week with this eCourse. Gracefully heal your body. SPECIALITY FORMULAS, AYURVEDIC HERBS, & NATURAL PRODUCTS FOR MUCUS CONGESTIONWe've specially chosen these products because of their potential for healing imbalances associated with 'Mucus Congestion'. Choose a product from this list that also matches your imbalanced doshas and qualities, to ensure a good fit. Please review these products to determine which are right for you. Before making any changes to your health and wellness routine, please check with your medical doctor.$8.95 Cleanse your body, invigorate your blood. The rustic warmth of this formula is especially useful on damp, cold days. Other Related Herbs & ProductsTrikatu, Strong Lungs, Sinus Rinse, Cardamom Tincture, Osha Tincture, Neti PotLOOKING FOR RESPIRATORY HEALTH RELATED PRODUCTS?
See our herbs & products in these categories:
REMOVE THE CAUSES OF YOUR IMBALANCEWith Mucus Congestion, one or more of the following doshas and qualities may be aggravated. If you have an imbalance of one of these doshas or qualities, Ayurveda recommends avoiding foods and lifestyle habits that aggravate that quality and/or dosha. These imbalanced doshas and qualities will need to be brought back into balance before this condition can be healed. Click on the quality to learn what foods and lifestyle habits should be avoided. If you have a systemic imbalance of one of these doshas or qualities, Ayurveda would generally recommend avoiding foods and lifestyle habits with that quality.MUCUS CONGESTION USUALLY MEANS THESE |
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| GUNA | DO YOU HAVE THIS IMBALANCE? |
|---|---|
TOXIC
A substance that causes toxicity in the body, or that harms the body.
|
 Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Toxic' guna |
HEAVY
Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight.
|
Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Heavy' guna |
GOOEY
Gooey is identified by anything gelatinous (such as oatmeal), or by mucus congestion.
|
Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Gooey' guna |
COLD
Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.
|
Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Cold' guna |
SWEET
Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
|
Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Sweet' taste |
To learn more about the symbols above, click on them.
Are you prone to a problem with 'Mucus Congestion'?
Find your imbalances and create a diet for your Respiratory System by taking the
free respiratory health quiz.
STAGE OF DISEASE: 2 - AFFECTING BLOOD & EMOTIONS
Affecting 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. A several day cleanse may shorten the recovery time.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 STARTED
To 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
WITH AYURVEDA - FREE eBOOK!
RELATED SYMPTOMS & HABITS
The 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.
About the Author
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda exudes a certain ease, which many find enjoyable and insightful. His online course Balance Your Ayurvedic Diet in a Week provides tools for gracefully healing with Ayurveda to thousands. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda , which specializes in digestive tract pathology & Ayurvedic nutrition. John and his wife Natalie recently published Explore Your Hunger: A Guide to Hunger, Appetite & Food.John's interest in Ayurveda and digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, including his public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.
John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well.
Comments & Personal Experiences
How does 'mucus congestion' affect your quality of life? What aggravates it? What has helped you? Is there something you'd like to know about 'mucus congestion'?
(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 review, 17 likes
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