Page 185 - Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring

a d m i ni s t er ing s acr e d n u r s in g ac t s
• In addition to Carative Factor 9: assisting with human needs, other
CF/Caritas Processes related to this specific need include CF/CP
numbers 4: helping-trusting-caring relationship; 5: promotion and
acceptance of the expression of positive and negative feelings; and
8: create a healing environment for preserving human dignity.

Human need for ventilation: “BreatHing”
This need is full of symbolic meanings associated with breath and
breathing, as well as the flow of energy throughout the body. Breathing
is basic to survival, but more than just survival; our breath is the very
source of life, of spirit. Through our breathing out and breathing in,
breathing in and breathing out, the breath of life, we are connecting
with the rhythm of the universe and the universal law of imperma-
nence—that is, everything in the world is expanding and contracting,
rising up and falling away, just like the inhalation, exhalation of the
breath. We breathe in air, spirit, the breath of life. This need is associ-
ated with the heart, in that the heart, circulatory system, lungs, and
diaphragm are included in the respiratory-cardiac energetic system.
The heart-lung system is associated with numerous pathological
diseases—heart attacks, allergies, stress—as well as emotional condi-
tions such as grief, anxiety, sighing, hyperventilation, and conditions
such as asthma, bronchial disturbances, and other respiratory con-
ditions. Caroline Myss (1996:99) identified “congestive heart failure,
mitral valve prolapse, cardiomegaly, lung cancer, bronchial pneumo-
nia, upper back, and shoulder and breast cancer” as physical dysfunc-
tion manifestations of the energetic anatomy of the heart area.
This basic human need includes the need for healthy air, a fresh
ventilation system in one’s surroundings, freedom from noxious sub-
stances and pollution, basic oxygen, and purity of the environment to
ensure that the respiratory and circulatory systems are functioning.
But caring for someone with this presenting need also includes pre-
ventive and ongoing practices such as relaxation, breath-work exer-
cises, emotional release (ventilation of feelings/emotions), breathing
in, and releasing.
As a natural reaction to certain circumstances, we tend to forget to
breathe; we forget to exhale, holding our breath almost unconsciously.

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