An Important Breathing Exercise

[RAINBOWLIZY333]

Dear Dr. Mercola,

What radical, alternative medicine and/or nutritioinal supplements would you suggest and/or take if you had the progressive, fatal neurodegerative muscle atrophy disease: Amyotrophic Lateral Esclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, where patients die of respiratory problems and pneumonia after 2 to 3 years>

Riluzole (Rilutek) is the only FDA approved treatment to improve survival by several months, but does not reverse the damage already done to motor neurons.

[49sybil]

The 5-10-20 count is way too much for people just learning to deep breathe. The 4-7-8 is really good for new people just starting to do deep breathing. I've been doing this for a few years and it really works. It does take awhile to keep the tongue behind the upper teeth but once you get the hang of it, it's even better. And it really relaxes you esp. at work.

[lnr08f]

I think he speeds this up in the video for time purposes because if you have the time bar up while he does this he inhales and then starts to exhale 7 seconds later, when he should exhale 11 seconds later,.and only seems to exhale for about 5 seconds each time.

[sara46762]

but when exhaling you can not keep your tongue behind your upper teeth...I tried it did not work..

[vocalist1952]

Excellent. Breathing to a pattern is the only way to harness any life force, and this method over time supersedes all my expectations.

[trakkaton]

4. The point is that Datarelater tells us - without any irony - that he is too afraid to breathe in and out just because someone says "it helps and you'll notice".

That's just nonsense, recreancy. "Oh, I need a power point presentation with some bullets explaining the backround to gather enough courage to breath in and out". Ridiculous.

[menderfire9]

The technique I learned from a yogi is to inhale deeply through your nose on the count of 5, hold it 10, and with tongue placed as Mercola says exhale to the count of 20 like a slowly leaking car tire, making a little whistling sound. It supposedly cleanses the lymph system, gives the heart a break. I have done this many times a day for the past 4 years & it has strengthened my lungs, reduced asthma and I can even speak and sing better. Believe what you want...

Respect and love

[moonwarrior5]

I learned this somewhere else and boy does it make you feel so much better. I do it a .east 6x a day. Go do it for you!!

[fredfour]

I committed to this for the past year and believe me, this technique really works. The first month or so, I didn't feel much. But you SURELY feel affects as you practice. Just like how you lift weights and don't gain any noticeable muscle gains initially, it's the same thing with this technique; you'll see results after doing this for some time

[DataRelater]

I'd like some more-scientific info on WHY—scientifically, mechanically, molecularly, bio-electronically, or neurologically—this pattern and method supposedly works.

I don't love things you have to take on faith or someone's say-so.

[MoroccanSword]

Do not mix science with health, health is faith ! only faith.

[OpenComments]

@DataRelater

In Scientology, asking for proof is outlawed. The first thing any normal person would do, when presented with fantastic claims about some subject is to ask for proof. "Show me the data!" "Do you have pictures?" "Can I talk to them?" "Let's go look!" This is normal. This is healthy. This is good, logical thinking.

Well, Hubbard condemned it. Demanding proof was bad, it was "suppressive". He devoted one entire lecture (Flows: Basic Agreement and Prove It!) to it.

[tamles77]

Looks similar to Bramha Vidya and Pranayama. Both increase Life force energy.

[kaiser0soze]

Good issue. Thanks again Doc

[GeneticBlend]

This is excellent. A similar type of breathing is used in the healing art of Jing Qi Shen.

One thing he doesn't mention here but I think it's important, is to breath from your diaphragm, not your chest.

[peetred]

wow a great stress reliever, that's good for anyone's health!

[IvanSKMK]

feels nice but i have a question. do i close my throat at the pause? does anyone know?

[liz1060]

What is the purpose for placing the tongue behind the front teeth?

[quantanglement]

My guess is it has to do with the energy flow in the body. (perhaps meridians)

[NewKreature517]

Couldn't it just be called 4,12. Breath in for four seconds, and exhale at 12 seconds..

[mercola]

7 plus 8 equals 15 not 12

[TatarInExile]

@mercola On the exhale, my tongue cannot maintain contact with the spot behind my front teeth, if I exhale through the mouth like you are doing on the video.

[Ilikepeaches1]

i had a surgery on my turbinates and i suffer everyday. Look up empty nose syndrome and atrophic rhinitis. I have suffered severly since the surgery, the doctor messed up my breathing. I found out after the surgery that there is a group of people with the exact same symptoms. Some people end up committing suicide or are in psychiatric institutions. the ent physicians ignore the problem because turbinate surgery is there industry.

[sloppymantis]

I use similar techniques to share with others. I tend to use exercises that will strengthen the muscles used for breathing (haha almost ALL of them) it also promotes lymphatic movement (which will make y ou feel good AND kicks cancers ass).. if it matters I do 7 seconds in 7 seconds hold and 7 seconds out.. all through the nose and all soft. I teach this for use while meditating and kung fu practice. However I am no doctor I just study the body and like to help it out

[k0kan3]

good post. thank you for sharing.

[sloppymantis]

Thanks :) Well since someone actually read this I feel inclined to point out that when i say "hold" it is not the same as when people close their mouth and fillit up with air to hold their breath.. when I say "hold" it is simply a pause at the pinnacle of breathing.. you in hale.. and when you are full you stop in haling but DO NOT close off the air ways.. that is what I meant by "hold" I also teach physical movement with it.. for some other benefits ilke posture and balance. :)

[sealharvey]

This type of breathing does not work,

It freezes the energy that you are trying to release.

In identifying with control you take away the automatic

response of pleasure and substitute the fantasy of health.

[ChristianArmorOfGod]

What type works

[liz1060]

I have occassional episodes of arrhythmia and/or tachycardia which this breathing pattern interrupts within two breathing cycles, so I know it works for that.

[trumpet12345]

holly smokes, this is ... very enjoyable

[xxxCharlieSparklexxx]

Thank-you!

[matrixm777]

I feel dizzy...

[lordbahari]

I would like to thank you for taking an interest in our health. It feels really to have some specialists actually care about the real important things. Thank you :)

[melaniestevens]

Cardio exercise and gratitude are excellent also. I actually learned that from Tony Robbins.

I plan to do it, but I am curious why the tip of the tongue on the roof of the mouth?

[farquezy]

gay :)

[ikkeveldigvicky]

Thank you, this is great!