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Eliminate Coughs, Colds and Flus Using Yoga Therapy

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THERE’S A COMMON BELIEF that there’s no cure for a cough, cold or flu. Yoga therapy has a different viewpoint. The exciting news is that you don’t have to dread the onset of the colder weather or suffer through any more autumn seasons dealing with coughs, colds, sore throats or runny noses.

I see many children who get constant colds, who suffer terribly with tummy bugs and parents that get hit with nasty flu bugs or colds that seem to go on and on and never fully go away throughout the whole of autumn and winter.

It’s important to learn how to take control of your own health and that of your family and empower your kids and classes with this exciting information. Once you know how and what to do, colds become a thing of the past.

BACKGROUND CAUSES Have you ever wondered why autumn is

the time of year when the cold and flu season begins? If you have always believed that it is due to the shift in temperature and the onset of colder weather, that’s only partly true.

In many states in Australia, autumn has begun, yet we are seeing unseasonably high temperatures. Still, the coughs, colds, belly aches, head colds and flu bugs have begun.

Once you understand why this is the season for these types of illness, you can prevent them from happening in the future.

In the Eastern medical system of Yoga Therapy and five-element theory, autumn is the time of year when the lungs and large intestine organs become more predominant; the organs of expansion and contraction, of elimination and absorption.

It is the time of year when we eliminate any excesses from summer, build our vitality and pack the body with minerals that sustain us and build strong bones during winter.

YOGAWHY DO WE GET COLDS? If, however, these organs are not functioning well, then issues related to these organs will occur at this time of the year: breathing problems, asthma, lung issues, digestive issues, coughs, colds, flu, headaches, sinus issues, foggy-brains and the inability to and concentrate. These are all issues related to the lungs and large intestine.

Once these organs are working well, coughs, colds and flu don’t appear.

The first year I practised yoga therapy exercises and started to eat foods that help the gut, was the first year I sailed through without a cough or a cold and it is the same for the clients and children I work with.

Because the large intestine relates to our immune function, once it is functioning well, it will ward off a whole host of nasty illnesses as well. It is commonly said that 99 per cent of illness starts in the gut!

The good news is that the best time to fix up any issues and improve your

Fight Flu with

By Loraine Rushton

yj67_32-33 Om Parenting.indd 32 30/3/18 9:20 am

With 20 years of experience, Loraine Rushton is a leading authority on yoga for children and teens.

YOGA

digestive system and lungs is right now, in autumn.

Follow the guidelines and tips below and you will be setting yourself, your kids and the children in your classes up for a healthy, vibrant year ahead.

EAT WELL Because the large intestine is directly infl uenced by what we eat, the best way to fi x the intestines is by changing what we consume.

Whole grains, like brown rice, are the one of the best foods to rebuild the strength and function of the intestine.

We’ve all heard of the impact that probiotics has for the guts and the food that will rebuild your own intestinal fl ora is home-cooked miso soup. The important tip is not to boil the miso, but add it at the end of the soup.

Some children love miso soup instantly, while for others it may take a few attempts. Keep going though as the long-term impacts are health, vitality, a strong immune system, clarity and focus.

AVOID THESE FOODS While the intestines thrive from pickles, grains and vegetables, there are some foods that weaken the intestines or have a negative impact on the healthy bacteria.

If your kids have any digestive issues such as diarrhoea, runny noses and constant colds, then fruit and fl our isn’t working for them and it’s best to avoid.

For constipation, coughs, colds, headaches and breathing diffi culties, sugar, dairy and fl our can exacerbate the problem. It is often the food they crave the most that is creating the problem.

EXERCISES FOR THE LARGE INTESTINEFor faster results or to knock a cough, cold or fl u on the head, try these 3 yoga therapy exercises everyday

A) CyclingSit with hands supporting behind. Lean back slightly and cycle legs forwards x 10, then to sides x 10.

B) Leg SwingLie on the back, with aeroplane arms, palms down. Flex feet.Exhale, swing one leg across body. Inhale, centre.Exhale, swing leg out to side. Inhale, centre. 10 x each side.

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C) Leg LiftsLie on your back.Stretch arms back above head. Flex feet.Exhale, lift one leg up, Inhale, lower leg down.Alternate. 10 x each side.

INSTANT REMEDYIf the cough, cold or fl u has already started, then start the exercises immediately, stop eating fruit, fl our and sugar. Switch meals to hearty soups, stews and broths: miso soup and brown rice would be benefi cial.

Lastly, add a powerful, natural drink that is guaranteed to help: Kuzu.

Kuzu is a natural drink that has been prized for its medicinal properties in China and Japan for thousands of years. Clinical studies, done in China, have shown that kuzu root preparations can reduce high blood pressure, relieve chronic migraines and help with stomach issues. 

Kuzu can be found in most health food shops and works by coating the intestines and drawing the nasties out of the system. (See recipe below.) It is fantastic for diarrhoea or constipation: For runny noses, kuzu sucks all the excess back down the body and eliminates it, often within 24 hours, and it is a lifesaver for general colds.

Keep drinking kuzu everyday until the cold, runny nose, digestive problems or fl u has gone away. Of course, if the illness persists or symptoms worsen, see your GP.

KUZU DRINK RECIPEDissolve 1 heaped teaspoon of kuzu in a little cold water.

Add 3⁄4 cup of cold water to kuzu mix.

Bring to a gentle boil over a low heat, stirring constantly, until it’s thickened into a

translucent liquid. Remove from flame and drink hot.

yj67_32-33 Om Parenting.indd 33 30/3/18 9:21 am