Harnessing Breath: A Simple Technique to Boost Immunity Against Allergies and Autoimmune Conditions

This simple exercise using the breath has amazing effects on relieving allergy symptoms, improving the immune response to both colds/flus, and for many auto-immune conditions.

In Chinese Medicine, these conditions are referred to as “wind”. There are two kinds of wind conditions. External and Internal.  Wind is characterized by symptoms associated with pathogenic factors such as germs, microbes, pollen, etc, that cause symptoms that come and go. You can think of it like things that are transported in the air, and like the wind, they come and go.

External wind refers to conditions such as colds/flus, allergies, and some kinds of muscle aches or spasms, that occur suddenly. You may have experienced such muscle aches accompanied with the early signs of a cold or flu.

Internal wind refers to more chronic conditions that come and go, such as some types of auto-immune conditions, where inflammatory immune responses result in “flare ups”.  These flare-ups can be seasonal, or seem entirely random. 

This particular breathing exercise increases levels of Nitric Oxide. Nitric Oxide is a type of gasotransmitter that is generated by phagocytes (monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils). These are the cells associated with the immune system that protect the body by ingesting harmful foreign particles, bacteria, and dead or dying cells. Nitric Oxide is toxic to bacteria, and intracellular parasites.

Gasotransmitters consist of 3 types of gaseous signaling molecules, Nitric Oxide, Carbon Monoxide, and Hydrogen Sulfide, that all rely on oxygen to perform their functions.  These molecules bind with gasoreceptors and trigger signaling in cells.

In simplified terms, gasotransmitters are how cells communicate; regulating protein synthesis, and all the various systems in the body, such as the Immune, Cardiovascular, Nervous, and Gastrointestinal systems. It is also what some researchers believe can be directly translated as “Qi” 氣 in Chinese Medicine, and what is regulated by acupuncture and herbal medicine. The literal translation from Chinese to English of Qi/氣 is gas, air vapor.

Recent research has shown elevated levels of Nitric Oxide in the skin and subcutaneous tissue of acupoints, and acupuncture channels in rats. This elevation is associated with an enhanced expression of Nitric Oxide synthase. Additionally, studies have demonstrated significantly higher concentrations in some specific acupoints, compared to non-acupuncture channel control areas in humans. These findings suggest that Nitric Oxide signaling molecules contribute to the specificity of acupoints, and may play a role in the mechanisms of acupuncture, including pain relief via Nitric Oxide causing vasodilation, increasing blood flow, and carrying natural analgesic substances in the blood.

Additionally, gasotransmitters are produced by gut microbiota. The gasotransmitters produced by the gut microbiota can influence immune system regulation, respiratory conditions, the nervous system, and various neurological conditions. Chinese herbal medicine modulates the gut environment, which like acupuncture may have an effect on gasotransmitters, and may be an important aspect of the medicine.

Certain breathing techniques can influence the regulation of gasotransmitters in the body, effecting different systems. The particular one I am showing you now, regulates the immune system. Other techniques can be used to help to regulate the nervous system, and hormones. Breathing techniques that regulate gasotransmitters are powerful tools that anyone can use to help manage stress and anxiety, and hormonal imbalances. I will share other techniques for different purposes in future articles.

Out of the three known gasotransmitters, two are emphasized in breathing techniques to elicit a response in the body, Nitric Oxide, and Hydrogen Sulfide. The amounts of these gaseous molecules vary in the body. Low amounts are considered beneficial, while absence of, or excessive amounts are toxic. Balance is the key, and is important to consider when choosing particular breathing techniques to manipulate dosage of these molecules. Both Nitric Oxide and Hydrogen Sulfide cause smooth muscle to relax, resulting in vasodilation and increased blood flow.

However, Nitric Oxide causes a heating response in the body, whereas Hydrogen Sulfide causes a cooling response. Nitric Oxide effects large blood vessels more, while Hydrogen Sulfide effects smaller blood vessels. Higher doses of Nitric Oxide stimulate the Sympathetic Nervous System, which is responsible for the body’s fight or flight response. This response prepares the body for immediate action, and triggers the release of stress hormones, increased blood glucose levels, and heightened alertness. Whereas higher doses of Hydrogen Sulfide stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes rest and digestion.

The breathing technique featured here, increases Nitric Oxide; regulates the immune system, warms the body, and opens the pores to stimulate sweating. Use it when you have early symptoms of a cold or flu, sinus allergies, post-nasal drip, or are suffering from an auto-immune condition.

For acute conditions, you can do this technique as many times as you would like.

For Chronic conditions, do it two times per day.

The breathing technique consists of the following:

1). Sit upright, inhale as deeply as possible and hold for a minimum of 30 seconds (go longer, if this is too easy).

2). Exhale through the nose, and make a humming sound, trying to make a vibrational sensation in your nose. When you completely exhale, go directly into inhaling as deeply as you can again.

3). Repeat this at least 8 times.

By the 8th time you should be feeling hot, especially in the face and neck; ideally with some perspiration. Please note, that some people (especially those with autoimmune conditions), do not sweat easily, and it may take several sessions before sweating eventually occurs.

Please try this powerful gasotransmitter therapy for the immune system. I hope your find it extremely useful!

References:

Ma SX. Neurobiology of acupuncture: Toward CAM. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2004;1:41–47. doi: 10.1093/ecam/neh017. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

MA SX. Nitric Oxide Signaling Molecules in Acupuncture Points: Toward Mechanisms of Acupuncture* Chin J Integr Med. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Jan 10. Published in final edited form as: Chin J Integr Med. 2017 Oct 28;23(11):812–815. doi: 10.1007/s11655-017-2789-x

Hoffmann A, Gloe T, Pohl U, Zahler S. Nitric oxide enhances de novo formation of endothelial gap junctions. Cardiovasc Res. 2003;60:421–430. doi: 10.1016/j.cardiores.2003.04.001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Cayabyab FS, Daniel EE. K+ channel opening mediates hyperpolarizations by nitric oxide donors and IJPs in opossum esophagus. Am J Physiol. 1995;268(5 Pt 1):G831–G842. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.1995.268.5.G831. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Javid PJ, Watts SW, Webb RC. Inhibition of nitric oxide-induced vasodilation by gap junction inhibitors: a potential role for a cGMP-independent nitric oxide pathway. J Vasc Res. 1996;33:395–404. doi: 10.1159/000159168. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Ma SX. Enhanced nitric oxide concentrations and expression of nitric oxide synthase in acupuncture points/meridians. J Alter Comp Med. 2003;9:207–215. doi: 10.1089/10755530360623329. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Weitzberg E, Lundberg JO. Nonenzymatic nitric oxide production in humans. Nitric Oxide. 1998;2:1–7. doi: 10.1006/niox.1997.0162. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Ma SX, Li XY, Sakurai T, Pandjaitan M. Evidence of enhanced non-enzymatic nitric oxide generation on the skin surface of acupuncture points: An innovative approach in humans. Nitric Oxide: Biol Chem. 2007;17:60–68. doi: 10.1016/j.niox.2007.05.004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Ma SX, Li XY, Smith BT, Lim N. Changes in nitric oxide, cGMP, and nitrotyrosine concentrations over skin along the meridians in obese subjects. Obesity. 2011;19:1560–1567. doi: 10.1038/oby.2010.294. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]