Festivals are dirty. Festivals are dusty. Stomping around with our friends without a care in the world is part of why we love them so dearly. But prancing and frolicking on those dusty dance floors can wreak havoc on our lungs. We all know the feeling at a festival, when you lose your voice and/or can’t breathe. As I type this, I am suffering from what is referred to as the “Desert Hearts black lung.” After writing this piece, I hope to heed my own advice.

Bandanas

The simplest way to keep dust from your lungs is to always have a bandana on hand. Keep it over your mouth and nose during those dirt storms. Paring it with a glamorous mask can be a fabulous look! Many fabulous festival vendors have amazing bandanas such as Larva Designs, Jumbie Art, and Amanda Sage but my personal favorite are the ones from Access Our Eyes. They are printed with crystal-infused ink and available in all basic colors with gold or silver ink. The fabric is super soft and comfortable. I purchased my first one five years ago at Lightning in a Bottle and it still looks brand new.

Pro-Tip from Shamanessa Godessa: Douse it in peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil to clean the sinuses and lungs as you breathe in.

Change and/or Limit Your Smoking

Everyone loves a dance floor joint but try and smoke away from all that dirt whirling around. Inhaling the dust as you smoke can make things way worse. So, take a break and find a zone clear from the dirt to enjoy your medicine.

Pro-Tip from Shamanessa Godessa: You can drink Mullein tea to fight respiratory infection and inflammation.

Eat Lung-Clearing Foods and Ingredients

Photo by: Art Gimbel and Friends

According to Global Healing Center, “plantain leaves can be helpful in suppressing mucous, cayenne can help relieve irritation from sore throats and pistachios contain a type of vitamin E that is believed to reduce risk of lung cancer.” You can also take a 500-milligram rosemary capsule to help clear your lungs of harmful toxins, according to this article.

Use Boom Boom!

Boom Boom inhalers are all-natural alternatives to the Vicks vapor inhalers you remember from your raver days. They come in three scents, Tropical Rush, Berry Breeze and Cinna Mint. They help clear out any dirt you might have collected in your nose, helping you breathe easier.

Wear a BMX Dust Mask

OK, so these pro-masks won’t go with every outfit, but your post-apocalyptic nighttime ninja look will get a major upgrade. Masks used for BMX are serious about keeping dust out. Some are even attached to goggles, giving you a two-birds-one-stone situation. This is something good to have on hand, even if you only wear it one night.