Emphysema

Key Takeaways to Start with: 

1. Sovereign Silver in a nebulizer once daily or multiple times daily until symptoms are gone 

2. No dairy, it can agitate and create mucus on the lungs. Dairy can be heavy on the lungs more than any other organ. Or at least cut back on dairy if you love it. 

3. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)

4. Drink bentonite clay daily to purify the body including the lungs 

5. Anti-inflammatory foods (full list below) 

6. Cut the top worst foods for emphysema (see below) 

What is Emphysema? 

Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) where the tiny air sacs in the lungs (alveoli) become damaged and lose their elasticity. 

Common Symptoms:

• Shortness of Breath: Usually starts during physical activity and gets worse over time.

• Chronic Cough: Often with mucus.

• Wheezing and Chest Tightness: Feeling unable to take a deep breath.

• Fatigue: Feeling very tired because the body lacks enough oxygen. 

• Reduced exercise tolerance
  
  

Causes and Risk Factors:

• Tobacco Smoke: Cigarette, pipe, and cigar smoke cause most cases. Toxins destroy the elastic fibers in the lungs.

• Air Pollution: Long-term exposure to chemical fumes, dust, or secondhand smoke contributes to the damage.

• Genetics: A rare inherited condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency causes low levels of a protective lung protein, leading to emphysema. 

• Parasites in the lungs 
  
  

Emphysema is a specific type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is an umbrella term for progressive lung diseases that block airflow and cause breathing difficulties. [1, 2]

Relationship Between Emphysema and COPD:

• COPD acts as the overarching category.

• Emphysema damages the tiny air sacs (alveoli) inside the lungs, making it hard to exhale.

• Chronic bronchitis is the other main type of COPD, characterized by inflamed bronchial tubes and heavy mucus.

• Many people diagnosed with COPD have a combination of both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. 
  
  

Key Comparisons:

1. Emphysema: Focuses on the destruction of the alveolar walls and loss of lung elasticity.

2. Chronic Bronchitis: Focuses on airway inflammation and excessive mucus production.

3. Overlap: A person with emphysema officially has COPD, but not every patient with general COPD experiences identical structural changes.

Treatment and Management: 

1. Sovereign silver in the nebulizer 

2. Lung health foods, see below 

3. Supplements 

4. Oxygen Therapy

5. Quitting Smoking: The most important step to stop further lung damage.

6. Steamer of tea tree and eucalyptus 

7. Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Breathing exercises and fitness training to improve daily function.

8. Cut the worst foods for emphysema 

Nebulized Silver & Lung Health

A Testimony from Robert Scott Bell:

Robert Scott Bell, D.A. Hom., has discussed the use of silver hydrosol delivered through a nebulizer as part of his approach to respiratory health.

In Good Loving for Your Lungs, Bell shares the testimony of Joe D., a Vietnam veteran who had experienced pneumonia for approximately a year and had gone through multiple antibiotic treatments without improvement. Joe told Bell live on The Robert Scott Bell Show that he had heard Bell discuss using silver hydrosol in a nebulizer for lung issues. According to Joe’s testimony, he placed one teaspoon of silver hydrosol into a nebulizer, breathed deeply through the treatment, repeated the process several times over the following 24 hours, and reported that his lungs subsequently cleared.

Dr Bell describes silver as having antimicrobial properties and discusses its use in respiratory health. He also states that the silver hydrosol he was referring to was already prepared in purified water and describes using it in a nebulizer.

What About Emphysema?

Bell specifically discusses respiratory health recovery in connection with COPD and emphysema later in the same chapter, although the emphysema discussion he provides is about lobelia rather than nebulized silver.

Important Safety Note

Nebulizing a substance puts it directly into the respiratory tract, so the product, concentration, sterility, particle characteristics, and device all matter. Do not put a product into a nebulizer unless it is specifically intended and appropriately prepared for inhalation and you have discussed its use with a qualified healthcare professional.

Recommended product: Sovereign Silver (Use code LIANA20SAVE) 

Source: Robert Scott Bell, D.A. Hom., Good Loving for Your Lungs. The testimony above is attributed to Robert Scott Bell and Joe D. as presented in the source.

What Is Colloidal Silver?

Colloidal silver is a liquid preparation containing very small particles of elemental silver suspended in water. Silver is a naturally occurring element found throughout the environment, including in soil and water. Trace amounts can also be found in certain foods; for example, mushrooms can accumulate silver from the soil in which they grow, and trace amounts of silver have also been detected in human breast milk. God is so good that babies naturally get a huge immunity boost from their mothers breast milk from the colloidal silver. 

Silver has long been studied for its antimicrobial properties, which is why silver-containing products have been used in certain medical and wound-care applications.

In complementary and integrative health, some practitioners have explored colloidal silver or silver hydrosol for respiratory and immune support, including delivery through a nebulizer. Dr Robert Scott Bell, for example, describes a personal testimony involving silver hydrosol delivered by nebulizer for a serious pneumonia case.

Top Foods To Eat

1. Leafy Greens 

Leafy greens like kale, spinach, arugula, collard greens and other dark green vegetables are some of the most nutrient-dense foods you can put on your plate. They are packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, folate, carotenoids, minerals and fiber — all nutrients that can support the body’s natural defenses against oxidative stress and inflammation.

This becomes especially interesting when we look at lung health and emphysema, which is a form of COPD. Research suggests that diet can play an important role in lung health. A systematic review looking at nutrition and COPD found that higher intake of fruits, vegetables, dietary fiber, vitamins C and E, polyphenols and beta-carotene were associated with a lower risk of COPD. The researchers also found that an unhealthy Western-style diet was associated with increased COPD risk and accelerated decline in pulmonary function.

Study: Nutrition as a modifiable factor in the onset and progression of pulmonary function impairment in COPD — Systematic Review

Another meta-analysis looked specifically at fruit and vegetable consumption and COPD. It included more than 244,000 participants and found that people with higher fruit and vegetable intake had a lower risk of developing COPD compared with those consuming the least.

Study: Fruit and Vegetable Intake and the Risk of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease — Dose-Response Meta-Analysis

Another systematic review and meta-analysis found that following a healthy dietary pattern was associated with a lower risk of COPD.

Study: Relationship Between Dietary Patterns and COPD — Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

So when it comes to emphysema and lung health, I believe getting plenty of colorful, plant-rich foods, especially leafy greens, is an important part of supporting the body. Leafy greens provide an abundance of nutrients and plant compounds that can support the body’s antioxidant defenses and overall health.

And this is one reason I love liquid chlorophyll. I recommend taking liquid chlorophyll daily in water as an easy way to get more greens into your day. I love making greens a daily habit, rather than something you only eat occasionally. Get chlorophyll here: (Use code LIANA for a discount and it also blesses my business to keep creating free Healing Library Articles like this one). 

There is also something beautiful about the biblical connection to leaves and healing. Ezekiel 47:12 says:

“Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”

And Revelation 22:2 describes the tree of life:

“The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”

I love that picture — God created plants with purpose, and throughout Scripture we see fruit, trees and leaves connected with nourishment and healing.

2. Garlic

Garlic is rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that may help protect the lungs from oxidative stress and inflammation. Research has also found associations between garlic consumption and respiratory health, although more human research is needed specifically in people with COPD or emphysema - Study.

3. Ginger

Ginger contains compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may help protect lung tissue. In an animal study, ginger reduced lung damage, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers following severe lung inflammation - Study

Research has also examined ginger-containing botanical preparations in people with COPD, with preliminary findings suggesting potential benefits for respiratory symptoms - Study

4. Turmeric

Turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound that has been studied specifically in relation to COPD and lung inflammation. A 2024 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that nanocurcumin supplementation improved several measures of lung function and lowered IL-6 levels in people with severe COPD - Study

Other research has found that curcumin may help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress involved in COPD, although more research is needed before it can be considered a treatment for emphysema itself - Study.

5. Apples 

Apples are one of those simple foods I love including when we’re talking about supporting healthy lungs. They contain vitamin C and a variety of plant compounds with antioxidant properties that can help the body manage oxidative stress.

There’s also some interesting research behind this. A study published in the European Respiratory Journal followed 680 adults for 10 years and found that higher apple intake was associated with a slower decline in certain measures of lung function. The association was particularly noticeable among people who had previously smoked.

For someone concerned about lung health or conditions such as emphysema, I think apples are a great food to regularly include as part of an overall nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet. They aren’t a treatment for emphysema, but their antioxidants and other plant compounds make them a smart addition to a diet focused on supporting the lungs and protecting overall health.

Study: Garcia-Larsen V, et al. Dietary antioxidants and 10-year lung function decline in adults from the ECRHS survey. European Respiratory Journal. 2017.  

6. Salmon

Salmon is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties. Research in people with COPD has found that higher dietary intake of certain omega-3 fatty acids was associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers - Study.

A clinical trial of omega-3 supplementation also included people with COPD, with most participants having emphysema on CT scans, making omega-3-rich foods such as salmon an especially interesting area of research for lung health - Study. 

Supplements:

       1. Sovereign Silver for the nebulizer: (use code LIANA20SAVE) 

       
       2.Liquid Chlorophyll: (use code LIANA)

       3. Quercetin by Global Healing: (use code LIANA)

Quercetin: Quercetin is a flavonoid found naturally in foods such as onions, apples, and berries. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may be relevant to lung health because oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are important contributors to COPD and emphysema. Research suggests quercetin may help modulate inflammatory pathways and oxidative stress in lung tissue, although human evidence specifically showing that it treats or reverses emphysema is still limited.

        4. NAD by Global Healing: (use code LIANA)

NAD+: NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a molecule essential for cellular energy production, mitochondrial function, and DNA repair. Because lung cells are exposed to significant oxidative stress, researchers are investigating NAD+ metabolism and NAD+-boosting approaches in aging and lung disease. Early laboratory and animal research suggests supporting NAD+ pathways may help cellular resilience and repair. 

       5. Probiotics for Global Healing: (use code LIANA)

Special note: Please use my links and code Liana whenever possible, as you get a discount and it also blesses my business to keep creating free Healing Library Articles like this one. Thank you for your support. 

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Emphysema: What the Research Shows

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a treatment in which a person breathes high-concentration oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. Because the increased pressure allows substantially more oxygen to dissolve into the blood plasma, HBOT can increase oxygen availability throughout the body.

For people with emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), this raises an important question: Can increasing oxygen delivery help the lungs function better or support the body when oxygenation is impaired?

The answer is promising in some areas, but the research needs to be understood carefully. HBOT is not currently proven to reverse the structural destruction of lung tissue caused by emphysema. However, research suggests that oxygen therapy can reduce breathlessness in some people with COPD, while studies of modern HBOT protocols suggest that repeated treatment does not necessarily cause deterioration in pulmonary function.

How Oxygen May Help Someone With Emphysema

Emphysema damages the walls of the alveoli—the tiny air sacs responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide. As the disease progresses, the lungs can become less efficient at transferring oxygen into the bloodstream. Providing additional oxygen can increase the amount of oxygen available to the body’s tissues.

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Thorax examined 18 randomized controlled trials involving 431 people with COPD. Researchers found that oxygen therapy reduced breathlessness compared with medical air, particularly when oxygen was used continuously during exercise. 

Study: Uronis et al., Thorax (2014)

This is important, but there is a distinction: this study investigated supplemental oxygen, not specifically hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

What About the Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber?

HBOT is different from ordinary supplemental oxygen because the person breathes oxygen while inside a chamber at increased atmospheric pressure.

One prospective cohort study investigated the effects of repeated HBOT on pulmonary function. Participants underwent 60 sessions, with each session consisting of 90 minutes of 100% oxygen at 2 ATA.

Researchers measured FEV1, FVC and peak expiratory flow before and after treatment. They found no significant deterioration in FEV1 or the FEV1/FVC ratio after the 60 treatments. 

The researchers concluded that repeated exposure using the modern HBOT protocol appeared to be safe from a pulmonary-function standpoint.

Study: Hadanny et al., BMC Pulmonary Medicine (2019)
Full study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6693142/

An even newer study is particularly interesting:

A 2023 longitudinal observational study examined pulmonary function in people undergoing serial HBOT.

Patients received HBOT at 2.0–2.4 ATA for 90 minutes, five times per week, with pulmonary testing performed before treatment and after 20, 40 and 60 treatments.

Researchers found no significant changes in FEV1, FVC or FEF25–75 after 20, 40 or 60 treatments. Importantly, their subgroup analysis included people with pre-existing respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive lung disease, and they did not find significant deterioration in pulmonary function. 

Study: Brenna et al., PLOS ONE (2023)
Full study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10231819/

What About Safety?

HBOT is not completely risk-free. A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis examined 24 randomized controlled trials involving 1,497 participants. The researchers found adverse effects were more common in the HBOT groups than in controls. Ear discomfort was the most frequently reported adverse effect. The analysis also found that adverse effects were more frequent with treatment courses longer than 10 sessions and pressures above 2.0 ATA. 

Study: Zhang et al., Frontiers in Medicine (2023)

Full study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10232961/

This is especially important for someone with significant lung disease because HBOT should be evaluated and supervised by an appropriately qualified medical professional.

The Bottom Line:

The research gives us two important takeaways:

1. Oxygen can help symptoms in COPD.

 A systematic review of 18 randomized trials found that oxygen reduced breathlessness in people with COPD.

2. Modern HBOT protocols have not been shown to significantly worsen pulmonary function.

Studies from 2019 and 2023 found no significant deterioration in important measures such as FEV1 following repeated HBOT. The 2023 study included people with pre-existing chronic obstructive lung disease.

The Worst Foods for Emphysema 

First of all, cut these 7 foods.

I recommend this to everyone to eliminate because these are the culprit for every single health issue that exists. 

1. Refined sugar

White sugar, brown sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, candy, desserts and sugary drinks.

2. Seed Oils

This includes highly refined vegetable oils such as soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower and canola oil, along with packaged and fried foods made with them. Avoid hydrogenated oils and trans fats especially.

3. Conventional gluten-based processed foods

Rather than gluten itself, the bigger concern is refined, highly processed foods made with conventional flour—such as white bread, pastries, crackers and many packaged baked goods.

4. Conventional dairy

For people who notice that dairy increases mucus, congestion or digestive symptoms, it may be worth eliminating it and seeing how they feel.

5. Highly processed and artificial foods

Foods loaded with preservatives, artificial colors, artificial flavors and other additives should be minimized. I prefer whole, recognizable foods over foods engineered to have a long shelf life.

6. Microwaved and heavily processed foods

I prefer fresh, minimally processed foods whenever possible rather than relying on packaged meals that are repeatedly heated and heavily processed.

7. Processed meats

Bacon, sausage, hot dogs, salami, ham and other cured or smoked meats are some of the foods I would be most careful with. Research has linked higher processed-meat intake with poorer lung function and increased COPD risk - Study.

Other Foods to Avoid With Emphysema/COPD

8. Fried and greasy foods

French fries, fried chicken, chips and other deep-fried foods can contribute to an overall inflammatory, low-quality dietary pattern. Research on COPD has associated Western-style diets high in fried foods, desserts and processed meats with greater COPD risk - Study.

9. Sugary drinks and excess sweets

Soda, sweetened juices, energy drinks, candy, cakes and other foods high in added sugar are best minimized. The American Lung Association specifically recommends limiting simple carbohydrates such as table sugar, candy, cake and regular soft drinks for people with COPD - Research.

10. Ultra-processed foods

Packaged snacks, frozen meals, fast food, processed cereals and other foods with long ingredient lists are worth minimizing. A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis found that higher ultra-processed food intake was associated with increased risk of chronic respiratory disease - Study.

11. Excess sodium

Very salty packaged foods, canned soups, processed meats, chips and fast food can be problematic, particularly when COPD is accompanied by swelling or high blood pressure. The American Lung Association recommends limiting sodium in these situations - Research:

12. Refined grains

White bread, white pasta, pastries, crackers and other refined carbohydrates are part of the Western dietary pattern that has been associated with greater COPD risk. Whole-food carbohydrate sources such as vegetables, fruit, legumes and intact whole grains are preferable - Study.

Additional resources: 

Dr Josh Axe https://draxe.com/nutrition/best-foods-for-your-lungs/

Dr Robert Scott Bell book Unlock The Power To Heal - on page 101 chapter titled Good Lovin’ for Your Lungs - with protocols for all lung diseases, including emphysema. 

Pastor Corey Erman podcast “Healing Proofs Part 1” https://open.spotify.com/episode/4VBqR04kLiUKhPSoUeEixP?si=PSbxzyNHT4OduWR69tJqvg&utm_source=copy-link 

Dr Jon Group co-founder of Global Healing 

This free healing library article is dedicated to my brother Russell.