Pranayama has many proven benefits but scientifically poorly understood. Pranayama has proved to have positive effects on blood pressure, heart rate, mind, digestion and many more.
Breathing can be altered voluntarily, by which CO2 washout from the Lungs can be varied voluntarily. It is known in the art, that breathing, washout CO2 from the body and continuously adds O2 to the body through Lungs. Breathing also can be voluntarily controlled to some extent. Hence by doing breathing exercise (pattern) voluntarily (Pranayama), a subject can alter the CO2 tension in the blood (called pCO2) as the subject controls the level of washout of CO2 through Lungs. Level O2 in blood is designed to be in saturation and hence breathing pattern may not vary the O2 tension in the blood (called pO2). Also care must be taken on the pranayama pattern such that O2 level should not be brought below the saturation region.
Scientific Effects of Pranayama
In the process of voluntary breathing exercise, it sets the control over rate of breathing, depth of breathing, time taken for a phase and holding the breath. The following table gives the scientific effect in the body due to various variables in breathing:
Respiratory Variable | Effect in Body | Significance |
Rate Increase (If one voluntarily breaths more than required rate) | Decreases pCO2 – Leads to Hypocapnia if prolonged | May lead to Alkalosis. Not beneficial at all. Should be avoided. |
Rate Decrease (If one voluntarily withhold breaths and breaths at less than required rate) | Increases pCO2 – Leads to Hypercapnia if prolonged | May lead to Acidosis. Beneficial but care to be taken that Acidosis don’t set in. |
Depth of Breath. Increased depth (Tidal Volume) | Can reduce the breath rate as required minute volume is maintained | May be beneficial if Inspiratory and or Expiratory Hold is added |
Depth of Breath. Decreased depth (Tidal Volume) | Can increase the breath rate. | May lead in to Hypocapnia and also Hypoxia. Dangerous to practice. |
Increasing the Inspiration and / or Expiration Phase | Can increase pCO2 Can reduce the Rate | Generally Beneficial |
Adding Inspiratory Hold | Increases the pCO2 – Leads to Hypercapnia if prolonged | Very Beneficial but care to be taken that Acidosis don’t set in. May lead to Acidosis if not properly done. |
Adding Expiratory Hold | Increases pCO2 – Leads to Hypercapnia if prolonged | Very Beneficial but care to be taken that Acidosis don’t set in. May lead to Acidosis if not properly done. |
Various parameters of breathing vary the partial pressure tension of O2 and CO2 in Blood and also set the pH and Bi-carbonate level in the blood, which determines the Acid-Base Balance in the body. Generally, for beginners, types of Pranayama exercises are such that the pH of the blood is maintained within the normal range of 7.35 to 7.45.
pH is derived from the pCO2 and pCO2 is a linear variable determined by the Rate and Depth of breathing. Mostly pO2 do not vary much as it is designed to be in saturation. Mostly all Pranayama exercises are designed to reduce the workload of breathing, or frequency of breathing, which generally keeps the pH at the lower end of the normal range. By voluntarily varying the pH of the Blood (within the normal limits), one can balance and tune the health of the body and mind. The metabolism of tissues (proper functioning of tissues) depends on the pH of the local blood and hence the connection to breathing exercises – Pranayama.
The pCO2 – CO2 tension in blood can directly and indirectly alter the wellbeing of the subject, by varying the tissue metabolism, circulatory force, state of mind, etc., This pCO2 is an single leverage in the body, whose operating (quiescent) point, can be altered voluntarily by Pranayama (pattern of breathing exercise). By varying the quiescent point of CO2 tension (pCO2), one can keep the health state in their hands.
I have developed a device which can administer pranayama as per the needs of the individual.
Benefits of Pranayama :
By increasing the pCO2 in the Blood (within normal limits or uplifting the pCO2 from below limits) by Pranayama, one gets many systemic benefits. The major benefits can be listed as
- Restores Acid-Base balance of the body,
- Increased Blood flow to Brain tissues due to reduced cerebral vascular resistance,
- Increased dopamine and other inhibitory neuro transmitter which calms the mind,
- Increased oxygen uptake by the cellular tissues due to Bohr’s effect,
- Decreases Blood pressure due to decrease in vascular resistance.
Remarks:
I can provide a detailed research paper on enquiry. I welcome you to work with me to validate this theory acceptable and workable practically. As you know this have many valuable beneficial applications for long term health of patients.
