Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)
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Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)
#2Wim Hof "Iceman" definitely gives me "cult leader" vibes but cool to see this research get published in a very reputable scientific journal.
Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)
#3Thank you for posting this! I rely on an IL-6 inhibitor currently, and used to rely on a TNF-a inhibitor which became less effective over time. Seeing these influenced through breathing, meditation, and cold exposure is really interesting.
It would be nice to know if the changes primarily stemmed from one of the interventions they explored. Could I achieve the same results with one of the three methods for example?
Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)
#4Wim Hof is everywhere right now!
This paper tests his method, discussing his performance in a citation, and was conducted by a dutch team.
outside online has a profile of him right now, for example: https://www.outsideonline.com/2417379/wim-hof-method
I wonder what the press is about. PNAS is the real deal, anyway, but Wim Hof makes me update my priors a bit in favor of "this might be woo, watch out!"
Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)
#5Wim Hof "Iceman" definitely gives me "cult leader" vibes but cool to see this research get published in a very reputable scientific journal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaMjhwFE1Zw
I get the same vibes! But I think he is almost weirdly legit.
Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)
#6The videos are hilarious. The guys brought plastic sleds with them up the mountain so that they can slide down. In their shorts
Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)
#7I see the article was published in 2014. Does anyone know if much more has come out of this since then?
Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)
#8For those wondering about the "breathing technique", figure 2 has a link to a movie.
Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)
#9It must have taken a lot of effort to get IRB approval for a study that tested the immune modulation effects of meditation by intravenously injecting E. coli toxin. At least I hope it did!
Re: Wim Hof breathing technique can modulate immune response to pathogens (2014)
#10Folks expecting a simple lifestyle tweak be warned, the original training is by Wim Hof and in addition to the (fairly intense) breathing exercises involves lying in snow for 30min and hiking a snowy mountain, both partially naked.
While participants replaced the cold exposure element with a cold shower after they went home from the training, the techniques still took 2-3 hours per day. Also on the day of the data collection, they performed the techniques right before being exposed to E coli, so they had "advance warning" as it were.
Still very cool to see the immune system changes observed, since that's rare, but definitely requires a commitment to produce it in its current format.