Have you seen the orange sun and skies over the last few days? It’s not a coincidence. Smoke from Canadian wildfires has been blowing south, scattering tiny particles into the air. These particles absorb the shorter wavelengths of light that appear blue, leaving the longer wavelengths of red light visible.

As a result, much of the northeast has been surrounded in an apocalyptic haze, making breathing difficult and putting outdoor activities off-limits. With air quality alerts in place, people are cautioned to wear N95 masks while outdoors, harkening back to the not-so-distant days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

When viewed from the TCM perspective, we know that the body innately knows how to take care of itself. Your inherited wisdom knows what to do. But in situations like this, you can provide your body with some additional help. Follow the tips below!

Grand Master Lu’s Tips for Dealing with the Effects of Smoke and Air Pollution:

1. Drink Peppermint Tea with Ginger and Honey

Peppermint is cooling and aids the respiratory system in cleansing the throat, ears, and eyes. Ginger will help strengthen the digestive tract and honey will add moisture and support the lungs.

2. Qigong Practice

If you are in the Tao of Morning Qigong class, your circles are a very important tool to support healthy Lung function. In addition, the Four Energy Gates are major intersections that work together to stimulate the body. Energy Gates 1 and 2 are most beneficial to process the effects of airborne particles and smoke. Practice along with Grand Master Lu in this video:

3. For those who are part of Tao of Morning Qigong, now is the time to use your circles wisely.  The constant reminder to stretch the thumb is one key while the movement of making the circle is another.