Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

pnas.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 100 posts

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

#71

Post by thotsBgone »

beervirus wrote: post #70
Lambdanaut wrote: post #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 ide…

The idea that we can exert conscious control over an unexpected part of our bodies doesn’t really provide evidence for astral projection or whatever.

I think there is a distinction to be made between your consciousness leaving your body, and the feeling that your consciousness has left your body. One is clearly impossible, but the other, while less impressive, would still be a transformative experience.

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

#72

Post by noyeast »

I follow a yeast-free diet to control an auto-immune disease. Practicing it is impossible while eating "normal" food in this country. It's mind-boggling to me how it's both "known" that yeast causes systemic inflammation via the innate immune system (dectin1/beta-glucan and many others) and it's not consciously understood by "science" that people are consuming an inflammatory substance in large quantities all the time in many forms. For instance, who knows how to avoid yeast extract, un-distilled alcohol and vinegar, soy sauce, leavening yeast? Yeast is put into vaccines as an adjuvant, yet nobody has put it together that eating it is also another way for it to enter the body.

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

#73

Post by elif »

Lambdanaut wrote: post #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 ide…

I've been practicing for years and consuming a lot of wim's video content, and I've never heard any kind of appeal to metaphysics let alone anything related to supernatural abilities.

Wim Hof believes in the scientifically observable ability of the human body when it is put into a primed oxygenated state. Full stop. That's it.

Your comment only serves to muddy the water and confuse anyone who may be casually interested in WH.

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

#74

Post by drieddust »

Igelau wrote: post #49
drieddust wrote: post #26

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…

It's completely possible he rediscovered it independently, and free from the religious trappings. > Yet he presents it as if he "discovered" it. This is pure intellectual dishonesty. You might want to contemplate your accusatory nature on this topic as part of your practice.

> It's completely possible he rediscovered it independently, and free from the religious trappings.

Yes it is possible but highly unlikely. He himself claims practising yoga for years. How do you justify him never coming across eight parts of Yoga? Moreover on his website he admits similarities with Buddhist meditation but reluctantly[1] and justifies by claiming of "stripping the religious aspects" just like you.

so as far as religious trappings are concerned, Hinduism and Buddhism aren't religions in Abrahmic sense. There is no creed to be followed, there are no prophets, and you don't have to follow commandments to achieve eternal bliss in after life. Buddhism and Jainism don't even have gods per say.

Word Dharma comes from Sanskrit root dhri, which means maintains the stability and harmony of self, society, environment, and universe. This means there are no prohibitions but only principles to be followed to maintain the balance. Depending upon the situation same principle might suggest diametrically opposite actions.

[1] https://www.wimhofmethod.com/tummo-meditation

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

#75

Post by drieddust »

Cytobit wrote: post #60
drieddust wrote: post #26

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.

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

Yoga is all about living in harmony. Some parts of it like Asanas, and Pranayama can be measured as it impacts the physical body. I have no problem with Wim taking a part of it and popularizing it but in not admitting to its sources he is preventing from others making further discoveries of the list of techniques available. What he is teaching is just one of paranayama technique from a list of many.

I do not doubt his achievements and commitment to excellence.

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

#76

Post by Lambdanaut »

elif wrote: post #73
Lambdanaut wrote: post #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 ide…

I've been practicing for years and consuming a lot of wim's video content, and I've never heard any kind of appeal to metaphysics let alone anything related to supernatural abilities. Wim Hof believes in the scientifically observable ability of the human body when it is put into a primed oxygenated state. Full stop. That's it. Your comment only serves to muddy the water and confuse anyone who may be casually interest…

It serves to express my own thoughts. I am the mud in your analogy.

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

#77

Post by swatkat »

Alternative title: Reseller of Pranayama.

I'd suggest to check out Anuloma-Viloma, Kapalbhati, and Bhastrika. All amazing Pranayama methods and breathing exercises.

Anuloma-Viloma is very easy and very powerful, helps reducing anxiety and stress levels.

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

#78

Post by loceng »

throw1234651234 wrote: post #61
boxfoxdox wrote: post #24

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…

Both do nothing whatsoever for me.

Do you consider yourself healthy overall? Health has such a wide spectrum, likewise does a person's self-awareness and orienting oneself when you only subjectively have your previous states to base your current health off of - so it's only when you become healthier that you realize you weren't so healthy before.

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

#79

Post by Igelau »

drieddust wrote: post #74
Igelau wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's completely possible he rediscovered it independently, and free from the religious trappings. > Yet he presents it as if he "discovered" it. This is pure intellectual dishonesty. You might want to contemplate your accusatory nature on this topic as part of your practice.

> It's completely possible he rediscovered it independently, and free from the religious trappings. Yes it is possible but highly unlikely. He himself claims practising yoga for years. How do you justify him never coming across eight parts of Yoga? Moreover on his website he admits similarities with Buddhist meditation but reluctantly[1] and justifies by claiming of "stripping the religious aspects" just like you. so…

You say there are no commandments, but these two concepts pass the duck test for commandments.

> YAMA – Moral disciplines

> NIYAMA – Positive duties

You also say there's no creed, and then talk about "bliss in after life". That's a creed.

I get into this with Catholics sometimes where they think having special vocabulary and a big bag of trivia makes one thing not another. They tell you they don't worship Mary, but if it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck...

Viewed from the outside, Hinduism is just as much a religion as any of the Abrahamic ones.

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

#80

Post by kaetemi »

alfonsodev wrote: post #43
mtalantikite wrote: post #37

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 this since I was young. For me, I can trigger it instantly. It's mostly very relaxing. Triggers a yawning response if I do it repeatedly. I think I actually learned it by forcing myself to yawn back then. Feels mind clearing too.
Post reply on HN