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Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)

pnas.org

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Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)

#51
You can ask yourself why something is as it is infinitely until the cycle regresses in on itself. Like the child that keeps asking `why?`. The lie we've accepted is that somewhere beneath this pile of whys is a foundation that makes things as they are for a reason. Something solid. An un-moving axiom.

That's something to consider.

Furthermore we can apply `Why?` to the widely accepted belief in the axiom that our identity begins and ends at the thin layer of air that separates our flesh from the "outside" world. We can see that there is no reason for this belief other than that we have been caught up in the memeplex that we are separate individuals for so long.

What are the repercussions of that? Does that imply, for instance, bending spoons with our mind could be a thing? I mean, if our identity extends beyond this flesh and can be aligned with the will of the universe, then maybe that's a thing. Maybe that's a thought we can entertain.

It's becoming apparent that our consciousness can extend further than we previously believed. We can manipulate systems of our own bodies with our will that we previously thought were 100% in control of us.

When presented with a consensus belief in our limits of awareness and willpower, Wim Hof asks `Why?`, and is able to extend his control further.

I'm excited to see how far we will push our abilities as portals for the universe to see itself through.

Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)

#52

The paper mentions voluntary activation of the sympathetic nervous system and anecdotally from my own meditation and yoga practice I've found that I have some control over a very specific SNS response. I'm able to control piloerection ("goose bump" activation) any time I want, something I wasn't ever able to do before and found to be quite strange when I noticed myself gaining control over it. Not exactly an awesome…

I also gained this ability after meditating for an hour every day for ~4 months. A BUNCH of weird things started happening actually and I kind of backed off of it because of them. It proved to be a lot more than I really signed up for. (Fascinating things happened though...) ...But I have retained the piloerection ability, which I can do on command within 2-5 seconds or so. There's also some weird sensations in my si…

I get this sensation in my sinuses - but only after having had surgery - I think you're feeling the mucus membranes shifting around - they can get larger/smaller based on blood pressure, I believe the membranes are called nasal turbinates. I had some removed. It's a really interesting feeling.

Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)

#53
post #15

> Subjects in the intervention group were trained for 10 d in meditation (third eye meditation), breathing techniques (i.a., cyclic hyperventilation followed by breath retention), and exposure to cold (i.a., immersions in ice cold water)... Subsequently, all subjects underwent experimental endotoxemia (i.v. administration of 2 ng/kg Escherichia coli endotoxin). > In the intervention group, practicing the learned tech…

> Immersion in ice cold water is extremely unpleasant and non-trivial for most people to do regularly.

No kidding, living in Australia as I do, sometimes even our cold water taps are hot. I would have to produce or buy ice for an ice bath every day. With electricity prices as high as they are, it is not viable.

Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)

#55

You can ask yourself why something is as it is infinitely until the cycle regresses in on itself. Like the child that keeps asking `why?`. The lie we've accepted is that somewhere beneath this pile of whys is a foundation that makes things as they are for a reason. Something solid. An un-moving axiom. That's something to consider. Furthermore we can apply `Why?` to the widely accepted belief in the axiom that our ide…

Great comment thanks for putting it out here. I'm excited too. :)

Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)

#56

You can ask yourself why something is as it is infinitely until the cycle regresses in on itself. Like the child that keeps asking `why?`. The lie we've accepted is that somewhere beneath this pile of whys is a foundation that makes things as they are for a reason. Something solid. An un-moving axiom. That's something to consider. Furthermore we can apply `Why?` to the widely accepted belief in the axiom that our ide…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddhi

Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)

#57
Recently a user submitted, 'Make me breathe properly'[1] after watching James Nestor's talk to my problem validation platform. I assumed, upcoming Apple Watch(then) would be able to measure breathing rate (i.e. Number of breaths/minute) with pulse oximeter and EKG (Apple has a patent for this) which should solve this problem as Apple watch already had a breathe app.

Needless to say, Apple Watch Series 6 doesn't seem to have this feature and I assume that the accuracy was an issue as off the shelf pulse-oximeters which claim to measure both SpO2 and breath rate do a bad job at the latter.

[1]https://needgap.com/problems/155-make-me-breathe-properly-he...

Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)

#58

With the risk of sounding esoteric or self-help I have to admit that both cold showers and wim hoff breathing method have at least made me less stressed out and more resistant to cold and sudden change of temperature. It started out of curiosity while in my meditation conscious living mood about a year ago, but ended up something I exercise daily since it just feels good to me. Most notably I noticed that my legs whe…

I agree - both my immunity and energy levels are clearly much better when I do practice Wim Hoff vs when I don't. Though its been only a year and a half or so.

Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)

#59

The paper mentions voluntary activation of the sympathetic nervous system and anecdotally from my own meditation and yoga practice I've found that I have some control over a very specific SNS response. I'm able to control piloerection ("goose bump" activation) any time I want, something I wasn't ever able to do before and found to be quite strange when I noticed myself gaining control over it. Not exactly an awesome…

Very interesting. How quickly can you trigger it? I've experienced something similar but it takes long time to arrive, at least 5-10 minutes, I wonder if with practice you found exactly the state that triggers it and you can do it instantly. Also, have you felt it as in waves going up and down? or just located in same place ? And lastly, does it have any health utility?

I've been able to do it since I was a young child. One method is by activating the tensor tympani muscles and tensing the front of my neck from my jaw (while making a frowning type facial expression - aka make yourself look like a cardassian) - that's the best way I can describe it. There's another way that involves tensing the base of my skull. I can also move my ears, so I wonder if being able to move that muscle plays into this.

Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)

#60

Wim hof have achieved great things practising the ancient practice of pranayama which is actually a part of yoga. Yet he presents it as if he "discovered" it. This is pure intellectual dishonesty. Yoga's actual name is ashtanga yoga which means it has eight limbs[1]. Contrary to popular belief Yoga is not about just twisting your body into weird poses. That aspect is called ASANA and what Wim Hof claims as his discov…

> That aspect is called ASANA and what Wim Hof claims as his discovery is called pranayama which is a fully developed science of breath control practices by Sadhus and monks for centuries.

I'm curious why you called it a "science". It would be very interesting to see yoga developed with a scientific approach.

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