58. Free Your Lungs of Grief
Lungs are wonderful! If you were to spread them out completely, with all of the little pockets, the total surface of your lungs appears to be as large as half a tennis court! Incredibly large! And inside, they look like the kind of sponge you sometimes see at sea. A natural sponge with all of the little branching pockets. By the way, did you know that your lungs have 5 lobes? Looking outside from within, you have 3 on the right and 2 on the left. Only 2 on the left because your heart also takes up space there.
Lung disorders
What I find most remarkable is that the lungs become sick. Infections, strictures, formation of mucus, constriction, coughing, asthma, chronic bronchitis, lung emphysema. All of which lead to a restricted oxygen intake. And a restriction of your oxygen intake is not good for your health, because your entire body needs it. The result is that many people with lung disorders are tired, often long before they even know that they have a problem with their lungs.
Causes of lung disorders
But why do the lungs become sick? There are many causes for that. The most common cause is that your lungs become contaminated. By air pollution: fine particles, smog, nitrogen dioxide, cigarette smoke and automobile exhaust fumes. As for that, I’m really happy about each electrical car driving on the road! I often thank them in my thoughts: “On behalf of all people with asthma and COPD: thank you for driving electric!” I even suspect that if everyone were to start driving or cycling electrically, many people would be freed of their lung problems. And as increasing numbers of citizens demand, more and more industries are upgrading to more environmentally friendly emissions. Just think about how many people have switched to environmentally friendly clothing and food.
Another cause: unresolved grief
Very often the cause lies in emotions and, in particular, unresolved grief. In Chinese medicine it appears that many lung disorders develop through a disturbed lung meridian. This meridian is weakened by old grief. People have lost someone and not been able to deal with it. Think about the loss of a child, or the sudden loss of a loved one. People who were not able to fully grieve because they had to take care of a family. Think about the oldest daughter in a family where the mother just died. There’s not much space for her to grieve, she needs to take care of her younger brothers and sisters.
It can also be grief that has developed as the result of a loss of faith in people or in life. Consider people who have been bullied or been in war situations. And it happens because people don’t let go of the past. They continue to remember the pain from past days and can’t get rid of it. You often see this with people who have experienced serious traumas but never talk about them.
Whose grief is it?
I always find it interesting how children “take over” the grief of their parents or try to “shoulder it” for their parents. That especially happens with parents who are not aware that they are carrying this grief. The result is that children absorb this grief and can develop illnesses from it themselves. This becomes apparent when you look into a family to see who has lung problems. If something terrible happened a few generations ago, it can continue to have an effect even on to the great-grandchildren. Thankfully we don’t need to know exactly what happened to let go of it.
What can the MIR-Method do?
The MIR-Method works by causing your body to discharge contaminations out of your lungs as well as working on the emotional side. If it can’t get rid of the contamination, it can choose to encapsulate it or to cause an inflammatory response. You notice that because it produces more mucus. If you do the MIR-Method, the amount of mucus often increases through step 2: “Detox all toxicity”. If your body makes more mucus, you can cough it up along with the contamination. A good way of getting rid of rubbish. If you need to cough a lot during the first weeks of the MIR-Method, be glad about it. You may seem worse off, but the opposite is true because your body is working hard to get rid of waste products by coughing up mucus. Always get in touch with your doctor if you don’t trust the situation and it seems to take too long.
Step 3: “Detach father. Detach mother” is necessary to break through the family line and especially the line of old grief. You don’t need to carry your father/mother’s or grandfather/grandmother’s loss, grief and the sadness, or anyone else’s for who knows how far in the past! That was then, that is theirs and not yours. Detach yourself!
Step 4: “Clear meridians” is important for clearing up the lung meridian. With this, you can let go of all the old grief. Step by step, but it can sometimes cause you to have a good cry. Totally good if that happens.
Step 7: “Fulfill basic needs” plays a large role when it concerns resolving grief. One of the basic needs is “comfort”. If you need comfort, you can give yourself that by stroking step 7. An interesting detail is that the lung meridian begins in the shoulder and ends in the thumb. And what does sucking your thumb do? It comforts!
Always do all 9 steps!
Although I’ve only explained a few of the steps, it’s important that you always do all 9 steps! The 9 steps work together. If you leave out a few steps, you take apart the system of the MIR-Method and it either doesn’t work or goes awry.
What I would love to know is if you’ve noticed that your breathing is less restricted or if you cough less because of the MIR-Method. Please let me know about it below. Thank you!
Hearty greetings and with the hope that your lungs can use their entire “tennis court’ again!
Mireille Mettes
P.S. Will you help spread the MIR-Method? You would do me a big favor by forwarding this article to other people! Feel free to post it to your Facebook page or send it via e-mail, Twitter or Linked-In! Use the icons on the left-hand side or below! Thank you!
P.S. Not familiar with the MIR-Method yet? Please go to the homepage. You can watch the video there and also the instruction video. Sign up for our newsletter and 6 weeks of coaching e-mails for extra support!
Oh my goodness! you have no idea how timely this was! I’ve been doing the MIR-Method and was starting to worry about the amount of mucus I was coughing up. I’ve long been a kind of ‘poster child’ for old grief. Thank you so much for clearing this up (in more ways than one.( Greetings from Guadalajara —
This is better info than I have found so far.
Thank you Mireille for this eye-opening article – I did not realise that lung problems could be linked to grief. As a child I suffered from asthma and in retrospect I wonder if I acted like a sponge for my mother’s unspoken grief. She lost her father when she was a child and never, ever mentioned him, this was truly a taboo subject.
More recently I have been through a very traumatic experience – my boyfriend took his own life nearly two years ago – and since then I seem to have lost all my energy. I remember that my acupuncturist talked about the lung meridian when she treated me last year.
As I was reading the article, I found myself crying (which is probably a good thing). It feels as if you have given me the missing piece of information I was looking for, and I think this will really help me to let go.
I have been using the MIR-Method for a couple of years now, not necessarily twice a day (more often once just before I go to sleep). I think I will now try to make this a priority, twice a day, to help me break free from all this grief that is weighing me down.
Many thanks again for your marvelous MIR-Method and insightful articles.
Very best wishes,
Jenny
Hi!
I’ve been practicing the MIR method for 3 years now and it’s helped tremendously with my trauma. My nail fungus is gone but my asthma will not go away. My dr said that i may have permanent damage from smoking 1988-2003
I love the MIR method ❤️
Dear Stella,
So great that the MIR-Method helped you with your nail fungus!
About your lungs: keep looking for the deep grief that is inside you, helping yourself to let go of it. There still may be improvement possible!
Greetings, Mireille
Hi there,
I have experienced seasonal depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember. I also have low iron absorption and I am always tired. As well very low self-esteem and lack of direction. My father was an alcoholic and my mother has bi-polar. I have tried many things in the past- yoga, meditation, therapy. I recently saw a body worker who told me that I carry an awful lot of grief in my lungs. This seemed unusual to me. I had asthma as a child due to my father smoking a lot but it seemed to disappear after a few years. Running has however always been hard for me due to feeling breathless very easily so although it is probably.good for me it’s something I avoid. This revelation with the body worker got me thinking immediately. My grandfather (on my mum’s side) died of lung cancer and my father’s cancer started in his kidney but eventually spread to his lungs. Is it possible that I am carrying generations of grief in my lungs? Does that also explain the seasonal depression with it’s onset in autumn? I have just signed up to the newsletters and I am eager to start the MIR-Method soon. Will keep everybody posted about my progress.
Daniela
Dear Daniela,
Yes, it is possible to ‘carry’ the grief of other members of the family. Step 3 ‘Detach father. Detach mother’ helps you to let go of emotions that aren’t yours. The lung meridian will be cleared, doing step 4, which will make the grief leave your system.
Hope the MIR-Method will bring you much good!
Greetings, Mireille Mettes
I came across your website following a search to find out more about grief being held in the lungs. Both my mother and sister died last year and I have been so concerned about supporting my 92 year old father, elderly aunt and 2 nieces that I haven’t had time to grieve myself. I have recently suffered a lot of stress and anxiety resulting in a lung infection and decided to start the MIR method 11 days ago. I certainly began to notice release of toxins from my body very quickly but now the pain in my lungs is worse and I am feeling very breathless and unable to walk far without resting. In retrospect I wonder if I should have just started with steps 5 & 7 as you suggest? Is this a normal reaction, Mireille? It has me pretty frightened as it’s horrible struggling to breathe. Also my appetite has decreased quite a bit – not complaining about that because I am very overweight! I believe in your method and am keen to continue, just would like some reassurance from you if possible.
Dear Karen,
You have done the right thing, to start with all 9 steps. Not to worry. Your body is working intensely to get all the grief out of your system, including the toxins. It is a good thing you eat less. Don’t worry about that either. Your appetite will come back once your lungs have finished the clean-up. Make sure you drink lots of water, tea or chicken broth.
Wishing you great healing!
Greetings, Mireille Mettes
Its working!!!!! I’ve tried everything…the MIR method is working on day 5!!! Thank you forever grateful!!!
Dear Glen,
That’s so great to hear, that you notice it working! Can you maybe describe to us what you notice exactly?
Greetings from the Netherlands,
Mireille Mettes
Hi Mireille, I am working with a dog with separation anxiety. Will the MIR method help? And if so how?
I’m new to this and only recently started using it on myself out of curiosity, but I can always feel it working. I’m fascinated.
Many thanks
Jayne
Dear Jayne,
How wonderful that you can feel it working! Yes, you can use it for your dog and it can surely help him/her. Please read the frequently asked questions, nr. 5D and your know how.
Good luck for the both of you!
Greetings, Mireille Mettes
I pray your procedure can help me. I also get worse in the fall to the point of hospital and ER visits. Prednisone is not the answer. Last night I woke up gasping for air at 1 pm. 2-4 hours sleep is killing me. Fifteen doctors have not helped. Feels like it starts with GERD bloating my stomach then my lungs get congested and I can’t breathe except with help of oxygen.
Forgot……….also think i have unresolved issues that I hold onto…………..parents died of murder-suicide in front of me at age 11.
Dear Beverly,
Good grief, that is certainly a huge trauma there! And yes, the MIR-Method can help you with it. If it doesn’t progress quickly enough, you can always consult a MIR-Method coach to speed up your healing process. My heart is with you!
Greetings, Mireille Mettes
it seems annually i get an intense case of bronchitis…..i am 73 yrs and feel this situation is not helping my lungs in my old age…..suggestions please…..i swim, try to daily, am conscious of nutritional intakes, am arthritic…..have anger….try to calm daily
Dear Liz,
Something is really bothering you. There must be a situation in your past that caused a lot of grief that happened in autumn, around this time of the year. Once you are aware of that, you can heal the grief and calm your lungs down.
Good luck and I wish you good recovery!
Greetings, Mireille
I am 72 and I also have had bronchitis, usually worse in the fall. I have been working with a chiropractor for years and get support. It gets better and than worse again, usually in the fall. We had a trauma in March and both my husband and I got sick. He was so sick with sneezing and a barking coughing that I was afraid he would need medical care. Coincidentally, I had begun to research high dose Vit C and began giving both of us increasing ascorbic acid powder until we got to bowel tolerance. When that happened our symptoms disappeared. My lungs are so much better, I rarely cough. The test will be this fall and if the coughing begins again. If you are interested, research youtube and the medical doctors who recommend Vit C.
I have been doing the MIR Method faithfully since last December. It is profound and subtle. I have gotten clearer on what I want to accomplish. I have been clear and definite with boundaries. I notice that behaviors I repeated from patterns I had learned in my parents home were disappearing. It is a beautiful thing. I am interested in what Mirelle said about something happening in the autumn that may be affecting me AND I look forward to no symptoms this fall.
Thank you Mirelle, you and the MIR Method is a blessing to the world. I am spreading the word.
Joanne
Dear Joanne,
Thank you about sharing about Vitamine C. I have been studying several treatments with high doses of vitamin C and it looks really promising. Besides that, I love it when people take care of their emotional issues, so that their body cells open up again to the intake of nutrients. That way, vitamins would be taken in so much better!
For you I hope, keep my fingers crossed, that you will have no coughing this fall. Keep in touch and good luck to you and your partner!
Greetings, Mireille Mettes
Hi,
Started the MIR-Method about and from the first time was already feeling more compassionate towards myself. My boundaries are extending which is a great thing after sexual abuse. Was curious about the article about lungs because since
my grandfather died ’02 have been a heavy smoker. Now- at 31 am tired all the time…
is it possible to completely heal the lungs? Have noticed more mucous coming up which is
GREAT, in my opinion… Thanks Mireille for developing this!
Dear Thea,
How wonderful that you feel so much more compassionate towards yourself! Especially since you experienced sexual abuse… I am sorry to read that. But great that you really are kinder to yourself! And yes, all tissues can totally heal again. It is a matter of letting go of the old stuff, old emotions, old pain, old memories, and the body can restore according to its original blueprint. There are many testimonials worldwide about these kinds of ‘miracles’. Good sign that your lungs are letting go of the mucous! You may be coughing up quite a lot for a week or so. Quite normal and really a good signal, because your lungs are cleaning up! Make sure you drink enough water to support your lungs!
Good luck!
Mireille Mettes
Hi Inge I have been challenged with chronic mucous in the throat for a number of years and lately it has been really impacting on my sleep With the result I am chronically sleep deprived and becoming increasingly exhausted and distressed
I recognized I most likely have unresolved grief so I have acupuncture and kinieseology regularly to work on my grief and have been diligently practicing MIR-Method for nearly 3 weeks, but my symptoms are becoming even more distressing Can you please reassure me that it is only a matter of time or do you have other suggestions
Thank you very much Julie
Dear Julie,
Symptoms can get worse at the beginning and your body obviously needs to get rid of a lot of mucus. It’s such a good thing that you work on your grief! I hope you keep it up and try to remain as trusting as possible. Every now and then just visit your physician so he can have a look to to reassure you. You’re doing great and the nights are quite heavy on you, so take extra care of yourself in the daytime.
Good luck and I hope to hear from you again!
Greetings, Mireille
I have had chronic mucous in the throat for the past few years. I have found a recipe on line that truly works for me: a clove of finely chopped or minced garlic; the same amount of finely chopped or minced onion; cover with 3 tablespoons of honey. Let marinate overnight. take a small amount (1/4 tsp) several times a day. Does not need to be refrigerated. This has been very helpful to me. I have learned it could be caused by gerd or an allergy. I truly hope this helps you as well.
i appreciate you very much for all your efforts to discover this method and share free to the people to help them to reduce their suffering and to live in full health happynnes and blissfuull evolution of new epoch. congratulation.
humbly yours in full faith
Guru Seva ky and alternative
methoda practicioner
Dear Guru Seva,
Thank you for your kind words! I hope you and your loved ones benefit from it! Let me know how the MIR-Method helps you.
Greetings, Mireille Mettes
I have Asthma and chronic bronchitis I use the MIR-Method two to three times a day. I have been coughing up a lot of old mucus , and having night mares, I feel I am steadily getting better. I would like to know how to release my allergies, especially to pets, Thank you for all your information. I really appreciate what you are doing.
Sincerely
Millie
Dear Millie,
How wonderful that your body started to clean up by making you cough! Two times a day is enough with the MIR-Method. Your body can not work faster than that. Am SO glad that you are slowly but surely getting better!
You can release allergies by just continuing the MIR-Method. It strengthens your immune system and will in the end deal with the allergies. I wrote an article about it: ‘Allergies, whatever happened?’
Good luck and thank you for your kind words!
Mireille Mettes
My father died of cancer 10 days after my 6th birthday. I am 69 years old with breast cancer and I will be fine I know. However, I sucked my thumb for years–well into my teens to sleep. I found this article so interesting. I was ashamed of doing that, but my family never ridiculed me. MIR-Method continues to help me in my cancer recovery. I have told my MDANDERSON people of this method. Thank you for the letters and emails, always a learning experience!
Dear Nancy,
Thank you for letting the MIR-Method support you! We have several ladies in the Netherlands who were diagnosed with breast cancer and who have cured. The MIR-Method supports them in their recovery and to stay close to themselves and get rid of the old emotions that are bothering them.
Thank you for sharing it with the people of the MD Anderson Cancer Center! If they would like to learn from me about it, they are very welcome!
Thank you for sharing your experiences and I am very glad that you feel really good!
With love,
Mireille Mettes
I have been doing this method for 4 weeks now no difference I m 289 pounds of weight highly obese pls help can it help in weight loss
Dear Pooja,
Yes, it can really help you, but it takes time. If you are obese, please do the MIR-Method for at least 4 months! You will go through a lot of stages. You may feel sad or frustrated and these are often old emotions. People who are obese have gone through a lot of unhappy moments: sadness in childhood, lots of humiliation and rejection. It takes time to get it out of your system. Please take a look at this video every day: seeding your self love, if you can, to make yourself feel supported.
You will get there! Have faith!
Good luck,
Mireille Mettes
i love this x thank you,can i buy this book in dutch
Dear Inge,
Thank you! Yes, you can go to our Dutch website and there you’ll find the Dutch book.
Good luck!
Greetings, Mireille Mettes