Question about pipe breathing

[Straycat]

I've had one nagging question in mind about pipe breathing. What happens if you can't inhale through your nose? The anatomic structure of my nose prevents adequate inhalation at most times. Is it acceptable to reverse the procedure? That is, inhale through the mouth, exhale through the nose? I can probably manage that. Otherwise, my only other option would require reconstructive surgery and I'm terribly eager to go through that.

Thoughts?

 

[Straycat]

...Make that, NOT terribly eager to go through that...

(I blame hypocaffeinemia.)

 

[shellycheval]

If you haven't already done so, often changing your diet to eliminate all grains, sugars, and dairy, except for butter, will reduce inflammation in the whole body, including the head and nasal cavities. My nose is structurally very narrow and I used to have difficulty breathing through the nose alone. Now, after making these diet changes, I can breath normally.

Creating the vibration that stimulates the Vagal nerve system come from narrowing the opening at the back of the throat and can happen both on air intake and out breath. Try getting as much air in through the nose and mouth on the intake and then breathing out through the mouth, creating the vibration both ways, and see if this helps.
Good luck,
shellycheval

 

[lilyalic]

Yeah I agree with shellycheval, be sure to cut down on caffeine too!

I had physical problems with my lower back for years! I went to physiotherapy and got told that I had a curved spine.. I was literally in pain everyday for about 3 years until I started the diet and it has almost completely subsided and I thought it would never happen. :)
The diet really helps!

Hope you solve the issue :)

 

[Carl]

I've had one nagging question in mind about pipe breathing. What happens if you can't inhale through your nose? The anatomic structure of my nose prevents adequate inhalation at most times. Is it acceptable to reverse the procedure? That is, inhale through the mouth, exhale through the nose? I can probably manage that. Otherwise, my only other option would require reconstructive surgery and I'm terribly eager to go through that.

Thoughts?

I have had a very close relationship with this problem for years, having a super narrow post-agricultural nose and jaw, and it really became apparent when I started the EE program. Even on the paleo diet I used to get this, and I'm only beginning to grok what is exactly going on.

Food sensitivities seem to be the biggest culprit, especially sugar, chocolate, coffee, coconut, and almonds. Eggs and butter may also cause problems for some people. Keeping protein low and saturated fat high also helps my sinuses stay clear.

There are a few short term remedies which seem to help, such as burning eucalyptus oil, a 10 minute stretching session, caffeine, or moderate exercise. Also NAC helps, big time. And smoking.

There is also the technique of breathing to consider. If you breathe in from the throat - keeping the mouth closed - instead of directly from the nose, the air just seems to flow more easily with less turbulence (that's the best way I can describe it, sorry).

 

[Yas]

I've had one nagging question in mind about pipe breathing. What happens if you can't inhale through your nose? The anatomic structure of my nose prevents adequate inhalation at most times. Is it acceptable to reverse the procedure? That is, inhale through the mouth, exhale through the nose? I can probably manage that. Otherwise, my only other option would require reconstructive surgery and I'm terribly eager to go through that.

Thoughts?

Food sensitivities seem to be the biggest culprit, especially sugar, chocolate, coffee, coconut, and almonds. Eggs and butter may also cause problems for some people. Keeping protein low and saturated fat high also helps my sinuses stay clear.

I'm very familiar with this. I could never breath properly through the nose until I quitted gluten and dairy, and then I noticed I have other food sensitivities as well... And my reaction usually is sinus inflammation, this means that my eyes, my ears and my nose get inflammed. :/

So I will second the advice to try the diet changes and see if you get some improvement with that... if you haven't tried it yet, of course.

 

[Straycat]

Thank you all for the suggestions about diet. :)

I'm still curious about whether reversing the inhale/exhale of pipe breathing would work, so I guess in the meantime I'll just have to try it and see what happens, eh?

 

[Gawan]

Thank you all for the suggestions about diet. :)

I'm still curious about whether reversing the inhale/exhale of pipe breathing would work, so I guess in the meantime I'll just have to try it and see what happens, eh?

I do agree give it a test and report back how it went. Eventually vary it too, do both inhaling and exhaling through your mouth and shorten the timing for example, but if you feel uncomfortable don't force yourself and take it slowly, since I don't know if you already practiced it. One of the main important things of pipebreathing is that you should longer exhaling than inhaling.

 

[Rich]

Thank you all for the suggestions about diet. :)

I'm still curious about whether reversing the inhale/exhale of pipe breathing would work, so I guess in the meantime I'll just have to try it and see what happens, eh?

No harm in trying. I was just experimenting to see what it must be like for you and I think you'll find it easier doing both inhale/exhale through the mouth but will be interested to hear how you get on.

 

[herondancer]

Hi Straycat,

One of the reasons for breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth is that it activates a very old part of the nervous system. Smell is considered the oldest sense in evolutionary terms, and nerve endings that are part of the brain structure that detects odors are found in the sinuses. When they are 'stroked' inward by the air flow in one direction only (breathing in) it contributes to the calming effect of pipe breathing. Supposedly it syncs up your brain hemispheres too, but I'm not sure about that. Nice side benefit if true!

In any case, I can vouch for the diet changes making a huge difference in my ability to breathe through my nose. If you are really having a problem, your best bet would be doing all the breathing through the mouth as Pob recommends, rather than trying to reverse what would be the natural pattern. It's easier to hold the proper muscles to make the haaaaaah sound. Keep some water around though. Breathing this way would probably make your throat very dry.

As you become more practiced in pipe breathing, try nasal breathing now and again. You may eventually find it easier. One of the big things I discovered was how much tension I held in my face, which contributed to the problem of breathing through my nose. The more the tension released, the easier nasal breathing became.

Hope that helps. :)