Food and mucus

[josie_c]

Hi all,

I'm new to macrobiotics (5 months). I've been a modified vegetarian for years, but always consumed a lot of dairy. Since August, I've pretty much eliminated dairy from my diet (it's been about a month since I consumed any). I'm finding that my body seems to have become very mucusy, it's completely clear and I feel fine, but it's like it's just pouring out of my body. Does anyone have any dietary recommendations for dealing with this? I've also pretty much eliminated all sugar except occasional fruit, raw honey, and brown rice syrup.

Any advice is appreciated.

Josie

[Waco]

Hello!

I saw this post yesterday, and didn't think much of it as i didn't know of anything to help, then this morning while doing some of my work for the herbal medicine course i have started, i was reading a bit about elimination of toxins from the body and remembered this post. It was talking about how excretion (of toxins, etc) can go astray. It can go astray in the form of mucus production, so putting that and the bit of information i have read about macrobiotics together, i guess that your excess mucus is the result of your body cleaning itself out. I don't think its a good idea (or that you would want to) stop the body cleaning itself out. In my course work it sujested Elderflower (Sambucus nigra) tea, this not only tones the respiratory mucus membrane (thus reducing mucus) but also acts as a diuretic (stimulates urine production) and diaphoretic (makes you sweat) amongst other things, so this would reduce your mucus and help the body discharge toxins in a better way. Elderflower tea bags can be brought from most health food shops that i have seen.

It also recommends that if toxins are going to be redirected to the kidneys for getting rid of (where toxins are normally got rid of) that a tonic for the kidneys and also the liver (which works together with the kidneys for processing toxins) should be taken, Dandelion (you can also get dandelion tea bags from health food shops) covers both organs.

I do not know how the use of these herbs ties in with macrobiotics, i would be very interested to know. I would also be interested to know what someone with more experience with herbal medicine thoughts were on this (i'm sure there must be some on this board)

I hope this might be of some help

Thankyou

Mark

[josie_c]

Thank you Mark. I do have Dandelion tea but I've been drinking mainly twig tea. I'll start incorporating more of it into my day.

Thank you again,
Josie

[Waco]

Your welcome!

The dandelion tea is more to support the action of the elderflower tea, so i don't know whether on its own it will have much influence on the mucus, thou it may still be helpful (it is a good detox tea)

Mark

[Klara]

You might be interested in reading Michael Rossoff

http://www.michaelrossoff.com/macro-articles.htm

He has some wonderful ideas in recreating mb.

Very stimulating thoughts. I thought he might appeal to you as he teaches Chinese Medicine and makes mention of herbs.

Generally herbs are not in a strict mb diet - one because they have very specific effects that people need to be educated of, and two, most are considered too yin.

Somehow in my path, my teachers have discouraged herbs. That could be Michio's influence. Again, it's wonderful to re-think things for ourselves, but also wonderful to learn from others.

Michael's article in the Macrobiotics Today (January/February 2005) caused quite a stir in the macrobiotic world. Herbs is just one part of his "let's have a new look" at everything approach. Wondering if others were influenced by his article.

Klara

[Cool Dude]

Hi!

Macrobiotics is lots of fun, isn't it?

That is, unless you have a serious condition or illness and then you have to take macrobiotics more seriously.

Herbs (herb n 1: a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests [syn: herbaceous plant] 2: aromatic potherb used in cookery for its savory qualities -From Dictionary.com) and spices (spice n 1: aromatic substances of vegetable origin used as a preservative 2: any of a variety of pungent aromatic vegetable substances used for flavoring food 3: the property of being seasoned with spice and so highly flavored [syn: spiciness, spicery] v 1: make more interesting or flavorful; "Spice up the evening by inviting a belly dancer" [syn: spice up] 2: add herbs or spices to [syn: zest, spice up] are usually considered too yin for healing most sicknesses and illnesses using macrobiotics.

Everyone, here, know what yin and yang are?

A good book which not only covers what foods to eat in our daily life and also to use (with yin and yang) to help heal sickness and disease is <A HREF="http://www.simply-natural.biz/Path-To-Health.php">The Macrobiotic Path to Total Health: A Complete Guide to Preventing and Relieving More Than 200 Chronic Conditions and Disorders Naturally</A> by Michio Kushi and Alex Jack.

An excellent cookbook for beginners and everyone else, especially those just learning about yin and yang, is <A HREF="http://www.simply-natural.biz/Self-Healing-Cookbook.php"> The Self-Healing Cookbook: A Macrobiotic Primer for Healing Body, Mind and Moods With Whole Natural Food</A> by Kristina Turner.

From the Human Medicine chapter contained in the out of print Healing Ourselves: A Book to Serve As a Companion in Time of Illness and Health by Naboru Muramoto (with Michel Abehsera):

"According to the Shurai, a three-thousand-year-old Chinese book, distinguishes 5 levels of doctors according to the type of medicine being practiced.

The highest doctor is the Sage, he is followed by the food-doctor, the surgeon, the doctor of general medicine, and the animal doctor.

The most venerated doctor, the philosopher-doctor teaches about the harmonious order of man and his world. The teachings ofb the food-doctor are classified as preventative medicine, which is known as the "medicine of logevity." The surgeon employs his special skills to remedy the effects of violent injuries, also using herbs and food to help extend his patients' lives. The doctor of general medicine uses herbs and employs the techniques of acupuncture, moxibustion, and massage to cure specific ailments.

Oriental medicine operates on the principle of balancing Yin and Yang in all its remedies. This method is based on subtlety and gradually changing changing balance is gentle, safe and long lasting."

Be Well.

Cool Dude

[Waco]

Thank you Klara, i look forward to reading that article when i have a few minutes!

Cool dude - thank you. Quickly though, herbs or medicinal plants aren't always yin, many macrobiotic foods can also be classed as medicinal plants, and although diet is the best way to health, herbs can restore inbalances quickly in some cases when they are needed. But i agree, a good diet should be the main focus

Thanks

Mark

[Waco]

I have just read the article by Michael Rossoff, thankyou, it has cleared up a few issues i had, and i found it very inspiring.

Much thanks

Mark

[Leenie]

Hi Josie,

I was an ovo-lacto veggie for 26 years before beginning MB almost a year ago. I had dairy at almost every meal and then some. I found that it took several months to discharge toxins. Mind you, I had already gravitated to organics and pretty much avoided white flour/sugar, artificial ingredients, and was eating mostly whole foods instead of processed foods for at least 6 months before finding MB. Almost any dairy now will facilitate a series of skin eruptions that can last 7-10 days. Certainly not worth it in my book.

Cool Dude mentioned my favorite MB books. The Kushi Book gives quite a bit of great detail. Personally, I follow the excess yin/yang MB diet, because I also 'balanced' my dairy intake with sweets...read ice cream almost every day. I diligently use brown rice syrup and occasionally will use concentrated fruit sweetener (pear) when making something for the kids.

Dairy seems to go internally very deep, so it takes time to bring it all out. I found that burdock was helpful in keeping my liver strong throughout the first few months. A kinpura of burdock and carrots is very good. Aduki beans are great for strengthening the kidneys, so eat them several times a week. I like to make mine with some leeks, a dash of mirin (eden brand has no added sugar...most of the others do), and a dash of tamari/shoyu.

I hope this helps.
Thanks,
Leenie

[Blue Dolfin]

Grated raw daikon is also very helpful in breaking down mucus deposits. I remember when I started eating macrobiotically, I hadn't been a great consumer of dairy products in the past (of course I had some, but nothing like most Americans), and I eliminated mucus like crazy for several weeks. It was like the worst headcold I'd ever had, going through cases of tissue... but it finally ended and I felt more clear than ever.

[jfitty]

I have the opposite problem, I have to drink alot of milk at the moment for the fat content as I am having trouble eating, I have so much muscous in my throat and chest its so gross, its clear I think but just feel awful....

Julie

That is why you have all the mucus in yout throat!!!
because the milk is causing it!!!!
I would quit the milk straight away.
I bet your symptoms go really quikly if you do this.
Milk is Bad....with a capital B!!!!!!