Breathwork and the potential to offset Covid 19 infection/Covid vaccine side effects.
Disclaimer: Before practicing any form of breathwork, make sure to clear it with your doctor or healthcare provider first. Breathwork and covid is still in the beginning stages of studies and outcomes, and should not be used as a primary source of treatment. Again, make sure to clear it with your doctor or healthcare provider first.
This blog is not about being anti vaccine. The covid vax has its place for a lot of people. However, like many other vaccines and pharmaceuticals, it can come along with a lot of unwanted side effects. Two of the main side effects at play are: Thrombosis (The development of Blood clots in our blood vessels), and Venous Thromboembolism (The development of bloods clotting in our veins). These two potential health risks are the current biggest concerns.
So how does “Breathwork” have the potential to help reduce the risks of these two horrible side effects of covid infection/covid vaccines?
We now will take a look at the following Pubmed study:
“Effect of breathing intervention in patients with COVID and healthcare workers”
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9561424/#SM1
In this study, two breathwork variations were used. A short form breathing technique, and a long form breathing technique.
An example of short form breathwork can be attributed with box breathing, which is practiced seated or laying down, hands by the side, and breathing in to a count of 4, and breathing out to a count of 4, or for more intermediate and advance variations, breathing in to a count of 4, holding to a count of 4, breathing out to a count of 8, and then holding for a count of 4, before repeating the process for 5 to 10 minutes.
An example of Long form breathwork can also be attributed to box breathing, however, the practice would last any where from 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Some of the benefits of Box breathing outside of the study at hand are; increased activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, also know as the rest and digest, a reduction in sympathetic behaviour (fight or flight), reduced stress, reduced inflammation, promotes homeostasis (A state of balance in our body), and also increased blood flow. This last potential positive is the main basis for the offset of subsiding covid infection/vaccine side effects.
Key in D-Dimer.
What is D-Dimer?
D-Dimer is a small protein fragment produced when a blood clot is broken down by enzyme plasmin which is created by the fibrinolytic system of the body. (This systems main function is to remove blood clots from the body).
Think of it this way, although the process and outcome is different of course, Enzyme Plasmin breaks down blood clots like digestive enzymes break down the food we eat, although Enzyme Plasmin isn’t digesting the blood clot, but simply breaks it down and disperses it to be removed from the body.
D- Dimer is a marker of blood clotting activity, which shows that the body's clotting system has been switched on. Normally, D-dimer isn’t detectable in the blood, and it's produced only after a blood clot has formed and is in the process of being broken down.
So how does this pertain to breathwork?
Breathwork has the capability to increase blood flow through the body, due to deeper, and more rhythmic breathing. So in this process, the greater the blood flow we have, the faster the blood clots we have in our body are broken down, and disposed of out of the body to the point where it can offset them from becoming greater and more life threatening hazards.
Things to keep in mind:
Whilst this study shows that breathwork has the potential to offset blood clotting and covid vaccine side effects, its main test subjects were people with mild and moderate symptoms of covid infection/ covid vaccine side effects. This was of course due to the more serious cases, patients often were being mechanically supported for breathing and weren’t able to utilize the breathing techniques.
So what can we learn from this study and outcome?
Whilst breathwork is not the miracle drug in the case of covid infection/covid vaccine side effects, this study proves that breathwork has the capability to help offset blood clot formation, and helps to promote the breakdown, and disposal of blood clots in our body caused by covid and covid vaccines.
A little more on box breathing.
Traditionally know as Samavritti in the yoga world, Box breathing has been around for thousands of years. Recently made popular by Navy seals as a form of calming the nervous system and promoting quick avenues to sleep. Box breathing is an amazing technique that is super easy to do with very few contraindications. It can be utilized with breathing through the nose, or mouth. The Beauty of breathwork, is that there isn’t a dogma. Every different technique and method can be used for different benefits in the body.
One thing I’m excited for, is for the day where Breathwork becomes a much more scientifically studied subject, to the point where doctors begin prescribing it. A lot of our health issues stem from not breathing properly, and from operating the majority of our daily lives out of our sympathetic nervous system. Take some time to slow your breath my friends, and witness the power we have within.
Until next time.
Breathe in, Breathe out.
Joshua
Disclaimer: Before practicing any form of breathwork, make sure to clear it with your doctor or healthcare provider first.
Pubmed study link:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9561424/#SM1
Ready to harness the power of your breath? Start your breathwork journey with me today and discover how small shifts in your breathing can lead to big changes in your life! Reach out now!