You see, classical Feng Shui is one of the Eight Brocades of Chinese Medicine along with 

The ancient Chinese were much more connected to Mother Earth and to Father Sky, so to speak, and modern pharmaceutical drugs were not yet invented, so people successfully relied upon natural and holistic medicine for thousands of years. People understood that health was a multi-faceted condition that relied upon a mixture of their own self-responsibility (eating well, exercising and meditating) and expert advice (best herbs and acupuncture practices to adopt etc). 

The wise old Feng Shui Masters created various maps, just as there are maps of the acupuncture meridians of the body. There is no time to teach the theory behind these maps in this blog post. See my online course available for purchase very soon if you want more detail. 

Suffice it to say that based on Natural Law and the Five Elements, the forces of sun and moon, yin and yang etc. certain directions are associated with certain body parts. See the image above. 

For those who are interested in how ancient wisdom can be applied to support you and largely help (not guarantee) to prevent imbalance and illness, then please read on:

If you suffer with headaches on a regular basis, and have seen a doctor or take medicine and supplements but still have them and don't know why, then like the people of old turned to the feng shui master, maybe you need to consider whether your environment is influencing you? You could do no harm by looking at the NW area of your home, as this represents the head.  Is this full of clutter?   Clutter will stagnate the healthy flow of energy there, so you might consider decluttering that space. There are other aspects to look for (bathrooms, really tall trees close to the house, energy pylons in that direction etc, but these become a little too advanced to discuss as the rules change for the outside of the house and feng shui is all about bespoke audits and solutions, not a one size fits all approach).  But clutter is one of the 'safe' points, which is why you see it mentioned so often in relation to feng shui. Clearly there is MUCH more to this, and I would encourage you to seek my help with a virtual consultation using video, photos and Google Earth etc., but I also know that sometimes very simple changes can have profound effects, hence writing this article for you. 

The above diagram cannot cover all aspects, as this subject is so rich, so what about the lungs? The lungs & large intestine are associated with the Metal element in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and that is the direction of the West and Northwest.  So, if you want to have an environment that supports the lungs and toxin excretion function of the body, try to make sure the West and Northwest don't have any clutter or aquariums or water features or dying plants. Keep it tidy, well lit and well organised. 

If you need help with understanding your home, then contact me about my virtual floor plan analysis service. Or you can also pre-book an onsite consultation to happen once the lockdown lifts. 

Please refer to my blog post on how to feng shui your home for good sleep as this is even more crucial now than ever. 

Grounding Mats - these help you sleep better and also help with detoxifying the body.  See this blog post. To purchase a high quality Nikken Grounding Mat, click here. 

Redox signalling molecules - this supplement replenishes your body with native Redox signalling molecules that help your body heal naturally and support your cellular health and therefore boost immunity - click here to learn more and purchase online. 

Diet - according to Traditional Chinese Medicine foods that support the lungs are: 

I personally love Plantain tincture for when I have any type of cough, but do seek out a professional herbalist for bespoke advice as what works for me and my unique constitution might not be suitable for your body type and state of health. 

Sometimes you just need a bit of mechanical support, so I often find myself recommending air filters & non-ozone ionisers to help to keep the air in the home much cleaner and fresher. I have secured a 5% discount at this company for all my clients/contacts who quote KINWellness at the point of checkout. Give the team (David in particular) a call at Breathing Space to advise further and say you were recommended by Sarah McAllister. Their number is Tel. 01207 507 444. Ideally, your choice of air filter would also have an air ioniser function as well that is non-ozone - David will know which models offer this feature in addition to the air filter function.

Both tea-tree oil and oregano oil have highly effective anti-viral and anti-bacterial action. I am not claiming they are a cure for Covid19 strain of coronavirus, of course, but they have long been used as a household cure to counteract and/or prevent viral conditions. I dab some tea tree oil behind my ears and under my nose when visiting the supermarket, and burn it in an oil burner when I get home. Be careful with oregano oil though as it must be diluted with a carrier oil before being applied to skin. 

Don't shut the curtains and blinds! Let the sunlight into your home, and if you are lucky enough to have a garden try sunbathing regularly to get some Vitamin D (a good immunity booster) and also the ultraviolet rays in the sunlight weakens viruses. There is some debate though, as the most powerful virus killer is UVC light which actually immediately burns us if exposed and is usually blocked by the ozone layer. UVA and UVB rays still contain some anti-viral effect, but it takes a lot longer as they are not as concentrated as UVC. Either way, the Vitamin D that you can get from sunbathing means it is still a good idea to get out in the sunshine. Your decision whether you use sunscreen or not. 

It always amazes me how some people will rely upon air conditioning systems and never open their windows to let fresh air and fresh chi into their home or office. It is vital to keep the energy moving. I know one friend who drives me mad, because I love her dearly but her home is a breeding ground for germs. She hardly ever opens the curtains or windows! She is always getting sick with colds and flu.  She even contracted Covid19 (high fever and coughing etc). 

If it isn't obvious enough - don't smoke! - as this weakens your lungs substantially, increasingly the likelihood of contracting a respiratory illness. 

I know you might well have had to stop having your cleaner come round (!), but do make sure you regularly vacuum your carpets and floorboards to prevent dust and bacteria build up.  Pay particular attention to the toilets at home, so that bacteria doesn't build up to unhealthy levels. Wash the windows so that all this beautiful spring sunshine can come streaming in all sparkling, rather than dulled by dirty window panes. 

Make sure your fridge shelves are cleaned out and that your kitchen surfaces and kitchen floor are cleaned. Sounds obvious, but I do know a few 'arty' types (clients and friends) who live in beautiful homes but in pretty unhygienic conditions!

Spring Clean - Decluttering & Home or Office organisation 

Use the extra time at home to have a traditional Spring Clean (or those in Southern Hemisphere enjoy an Autumn Purge!) - declutter, sell items on eBay for cash, organise the cupboards etc! Remember all those small chores you haven't had time (or energy) to do - mend those button holes, mend those trouser turn ups, darn that hole in your cashmere sweater... fix that squeaky hinge, get that water feature connected to the electricity in the garden, replace those lightbulbs in hard to reach places, etc. etc. !

With the increase in mindfulness around breathing effectively to reduce stress, I asked the fabulous BreathGuru Alan Dolan to share some tips with us here. 

Alan writes "When we breathe better we live better. Breathing properly boosts our immune and lymph systems , it reduces our stress levels and promotes mental and emotional health as well as connecting us profoundly to ourselves."

"When we are stressed and anxious our nervous system picks up the information that we are "in danger" and our sympathetic nervous system prepares us for "fight or flight". One of the consequences of which is that our breath tends to gravitate towards the upper chest and become shallow and rapid. Belly breathing (also known as diaphragmatic breathing/abdominal breathing) is the antidote to stress/anxiety states in that it literally turns them off and activates our parasympathetic nervous system i.e. our "rest and digest" state . The many health benefits of this type of breathwork have been scientifically proven". See https://www.breathguru.com/breathwork/breathwork-science/ 

How to do it at home:

Sit or lie down .

Place one hand on your chest and one hand on your stomach

Breathe in through your nose, noticing your stomach rise.

Exhale through your mouth. 

You can download the Breathguru App which has video tutorials and guided sessions which you can use to practice "breathing" at home

For more information see www.breathguru.com