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The love Your Nose Naturally (LYNN) is a holistic medical treatment program. Holistic medicine is the art and science of healing that address the whole-person, body, mind and spirit. The essence of its practice is the belief that unconditional love is life's most powerful healer. Participants in this program learn to love and nurture their body, mind, and spirit. The initial objective of the LYNN Program is to heal the mucous membranes lining the nose, sinuses and lungs, i.e. to love and care for your respiratory tract. The program addresses the multiple factors contributing to sinusitis, allergies, asthma,colds and bronchitis. These include physical, environmental, mental, emotional, spiritual and social causes. As a result of practicing this holistic approach you can be successful at treating, preventing and potentially curing each of these respiratory conditions. For it to work for you, you need only to make a commitment to yourself-- one that you'll soon regard as a labor of love.
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Diagnosis is the first step to the successful treatment of your respiratory condition.
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Primary Symptoms - almost always present:
- preceded by high stress; too much going on at once
- preceded by a sore throat
- nasal congestion
- runny nose
- thin clear/ white nasal mucus
- fatigue
- mild muscle aching
- lasts for four to seven days
Secondary Symptoms - frequently but less often present:
- headache
- sore throat
- cough
- low-grade fever
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The Sinus Infection
(Acute Sinusitis)
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Primary Symptoms - almost always present:
- preceded by the common cold
- preceded by unexpressed anger
- head congestion
- head or facial pain (headache, cheek, tooth, or eye pain)
- thick green/yellow nasal or especially postnasal mucus drainage (down the back of throat)
- extreme fatigue lasts for two or more weeks
Secondary Symptoms - frequently but less often present:
- preceded by allergies or by prolonged exposure to air pollution, smoke, or toxic fumes
- fever
- sore throat
- cough
- hoarseness
- nasal congestion
- lasts for several months
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There are three types of chronic sinusitis:
Type I: A persistent low-grade infection with periodic flare-ups of acute sinusitis.
These
people are always sick to some degree. It may have been months, and in
most cases years, since they've been healthy or completely normal.
Type II: Recurrent or repeated sinus infections (acute sinusitis)
These
people suffer at least three or more infections within a six-month
period. They usually have most of the symptoms I've already described
for each episode of acute sinusitis. However, they often do not have a
cold before their sinus infection begins.
Type III: Chronic inflammation with little or no infection
These
people are not nearly as sick or uncomfortable as those with 1 and 2.
They have chronic inflammation of the mucous membranes lining their
nose and sinuses with infrequent (one or two per year) or no infections
at all. Inflammation involves pain, swelling, and increased secretions
from the mucous membrane, but without the causative agents of bacteria,
viruses, or fungi that are present with infection.
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Allergies, Hay Fever,
and Allergic Rhinitis
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Primary Symptoms - almost always present:
- preceded by personal or family history of allergies, eczema, or asthma
- intermittent symptoms: either seasonal (pollen), food-related, environmentally or emotionally triggered
- positive allergy skin tests
- thin, clear/white nasal mucus
- nasal congestion
- sneezing
- itching of nose, eyes, or throat
- symptoms relieved with antihistamines, food elimination, environmental clearing, or stress reduction
Secondary Symptoms - frequently but less often present:
- persistent or perennial symptoms
- postnasal drip with intermittent sore throat, cough, or hoarseness
- wheezing, difficulty breathing
- skin rash
- allergic "shiners" (dark circles under eyes)
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The holistic medical treatments for each of the chronic respiratory diseases are very similar. In recognizing how the nose, sinuses, and lungs are connected by one continuous mucous membrane, you can not only appreciate their intimate relationship, but also understand how one affects another; why certain factors, especially colds, cigarette smoke, and air pollution can adversely affect all three parts simultaneously; and how an effective treatment program directed at one condition can benefit your entire respiratory tract.
The primary goals of the holistic treatment for respiratory disease are
- To heal the mucous membrane lining your nose, sinuses, and lungs
- To strengthen your immune system.
If you suspect candida is involved with your condition, then its elimination will require a major commitment and will become your third goal. I have devoted an entire chapter to that subject in the current (fourth) edition of Sinus Survival. The holistic medical treatment program is directed at loving and nurturing your body, particularly the respiratory tract, and specifically the injured, inflamed, and irritated mucous membrane. This is the essence of the Sinus Survival Program.
Below is an overview of the theraputic recommendations that address mind, body, and spirit for true holistic healing.
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Physical and
Environmental Health
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Dietary and Exercise Recommendations:- Sleep: 7-9 hrs/day no alarm clock
- Water: bottled or filtered; 1/2 oz/lb body weight, 2/3 oz/lb body weight when exercising
- Diet: increase - organic fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fiber; decrease - sugar, dairy, caffeine, alchohol
- Exercise: preferably aerobic, minimum 20-30 min., 3-5 x/wk (avoid outdoors if high pollution)
Vitamin,Mineral and Herbal Supplements: (see your doctor or the Sinus Survival book for dosages)- Vitamin C (polyascorbate or Ester C)
- Vitamin E
- Proanthocyanidin (grape seed extract)
- Multi-vitamin
- Selenium
- Zinc Picolinate
- Magnesium Glycinate
- Calcium Apatite or Coral Calcium
- Chromium Picolinate
- Flaxseed Oil
- Fish Oil EPA, DHA
Indoor air enhancement using air cleaners and humidifiers:- Negative ions or air cleaner (use ions with air conditioning)-
Sinus Survival Air Vitalizer
- Humidifier: warm mist when dry, during winter and with air conditioning
Nasal irrigation and saline nasal sprays:- Sinus Survival Nasal Spray daily (several times a day) especially with dirty and/or dry air
- Steam daily or as needed with dry or dirty air-RST Personal steam inhaler
- Nasal Irrigation daily or as needed with dry or dirty air-SinuAire Nasal Wash System or the SinuPulse System
Diagnosis and treatment of Candida albicans- Refer to pages 205-254 in the fourth edition of Sinus Survival
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Mental and
Emotional Health
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sufferers of chronic sinusitis have repeatedly heard the message,
"You're going to have to live with it" from their physician, or have
come to the conclusion themselves. This belief often adds to already
existing feelings of anger, sadness, fear, and possibly hopelessness.
Modifying beliefs and attitudes through affirmations and
visualizations; creating a goal list and an ideal life vision
(developing clarity about personal and professional objectives);
undergoing counseling, psychotherapy, or biofeedback training; learning
to express painful emotions, especially through the safe release of
anger, journaling, and finding more humor, optimism, and play in life
are all essential mental and emotional components of the Sinus Survival
Program.
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Physical
problems with the nose and sinuses correspond with mental and emotional
issues associated with self-evaluation, truth, intellectual abilities,
openness to the ideas of others, the ability to learn from experience,
emotional intelligence (the ability to identify, experience, and
express feelings) and feelings of adequacy. I have found the majority
of chronic sinusitis patients to be high achievers, perfectionistic
with a strong need for control, and unforgiving of themselves and
others. This personality trait is often associated with a great deal of
anger. Just becoming more aware of these possible contributing factors
can help to begin the process of healing.
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Mental and Emotional Health Practices
- Affirmations
- Visualizations
- Goal or ideal vision list
These
first three should be practiced daily for 10 to 20 minutes.
Affirmations are most effective when written, recited, and visualized.
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Anger release (safely): punching (a punching bag, sofa, or pillow),
screaming, stamping - this is highly therapeutic for chronic sinusitis
- Journaling
- Optimism
- Humor
- Biofeedback
- Psychotherapy: cognitive therapy and family therapy
- Play
- Energy medicine modalities: healing touch, therapeutic touch, reiki, Qi gong, or craniosacral therapy | |
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Spiritual and
Social Health
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Healing the spirit is by far the most powerfully therapeutic component of the Love Your Nose Naturally Program. The ultimate outcome of healing the self holistically is the recognition that we are truly spiritual beings, and the heightened awareness of the transcendent power known as God or Spirit. By making the commitment to become spiritually healthy, we open ourselves to the underlying life force energy to which all religions refer, known in holistic medicine as unconditional love. Learning to love the self in body, mind, and spirit is also the simplest and most effective way to develop spiritually. To heal the self spiritually involves relating to the aforementioned transcendent Spirit in a personal way and becoming attuned to its presence in all aspects of daily existence. By doing so, you will begin to experience a profound reduction in feelings of fear and a greater capacity for unconditional love of self and others. The spiritual practices I recommend most are:
- prayer
- meditation
- gratitude
- spending time in nature. | |
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Relationship with others is the crucible that most strongly determines the spiritual health of each person. Optimal social health consists of a strong positive connection to others in community and family, and intimacy with one or more people. It is often much easier to feel our connection with Spirit during moments of solitude than it is to express that connection through interactions with others. At the same time, relationships offer the greatest opportunities for spiritual growth and for learning how to receive and impart unconditional love. True spiritual health is a balance between the autonomy of the self and intimacy with others. The primary opportunities available to each person for improving social health include:
- forgiveness
- friendships
- selfless acts and altruism
- support groups
- marriage, committed relationships, and parenting.
Practicing forgiveness is particularly challenging for and most helpful to the typical person with chronic sinusitis. In learning to forgive yourself, you are better able to expand your own capacity to forgive others, and thereby heighten intimacy in your relationships.
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