complementary medicine

Air is of prime importance for life. One may live for a few days without food or perhaps even without water. But it is impossible to survive even for a minute or two without air.

Oxygen is essential for the process of combustion taking place in all the various cells of the body. We obtain this oxygen from the air. When we inhale
oxygen of the air dissolves in the blood flowing through the fine capillaries in the lungs
and is thus carried to every cell in the body.
Carbon dioxide and other toxic substances are formed in the cells as the end pr6ducts of combustion and other processes taking place in the cells. Carbon dioxide thus formed dissolves in the blood. When this impure blood carrying carbon dioxide reaches the lungs
carbon dioxide is released into the air present in tt1e lungs
and is exhaled with it.
Thus when we breathe in
oxygen of the air enters the lungs and dissolves in the blood. When we breathe out
carbon dioxide formed in the body is expelled. In short
the blood gets purified in the lungs. Even this elementary information is sufficient to make the importance of deep breathing obvious to everyone.

The main source of oxygen on the earth is vegetation such as trees
shrubs and other green plants. Plants take up carbon dioxide from the air for their nutrition and growth
and release oxygen into the air. The proportion of oxygen in the atmosphere is
therefore
somewhat greater in areas covered with greenery. Densely populated and industrial areas
on the other hand
are comparatively deficient In oxygen
and polluted in other ways. The thoughtless and wanton destruction of vegetation going on - today aggravates this deficiency and pollution.

All these facts make it obvious that a walk in open space~ covered with greenery
such as gardens and fields
is highly beneficial
especially when accompanied by deep breathing to ventilate the lungs. The cool breeze of early mornings
being fresh
pure and rich in oxygen
purifies the blood and the body
and fills the mind with cheer and joie de vivre. The salubrious effects of fresh air on the body
mind and health are universally recognized.

Some suggestions:
(1) Always breathe through the nose. The hair in the nose performs the function of a filter
removing the fine dust particles in the air. Moreover
the air gets warmed up in passing through the nasal passages
which has a salutary effect in the lungs.

(2) Always take deep breaths. The breathing of most city people leading sedentary lives is shallow. The result is that carbon dioxide is not eliminated properly
and toxins consequently accumulate in the body.

(3) Do not cover the face while sleeping.

(4) In winter
protect yourself from the cold with warm coverings as necessary; but keep the windows open.