Unlocking the Power of Nasal Breathing: Nature's Blueprint for Health

In the intricate tapestry of human anatomy, nature endowed us with a nose tailored for the delicate art of breathing and a mouth finely crafted for the essential act of nourishment. Each feature is meticulously designed to fulfil its unique role with unparalleled precision. Nature always knows best.

I notice a lot of confusion in breathing exercises and would like to clarify the difference between nasal breathing and mouth breathing.

When you go back in time to the ancient yogis, you'll see that probably about 90% of breathing exercises (pranayama) are done through the nose. Science has also caught up and given us evidence for why this is the case.

Our nose is equipped with a built-in thermostat, gently warming the air before it reaches our lungs. Have you ever noticed how a brisk walk on a chilly day leaves you coughing when you breathe through your mouth? That's because the air hits your lungs like an icy blast. But the nose, with its clever thermostat, ensures a cosy journey for each breath.

Nature's ingenuity extends to the nasal cavity, where tiny hairs stand guard, capturing dust and particles before infiltrating our lungs. And if that's not foolproof enough, there's a sticky lining ready to snag any intruders that slip past the hairs. Nothing escapes Mother Nature's meticulous attention to detail.

But the importance of nasal breathing doesn't end there. It slows down your breathing.

With each leisurely inhale and exhale, the lungs have ample time to perform their oxygen-transfer magic. Slow breathing isn't just about physical comfort—it's a soothing balm for the nervous system, calming the mind and body.

Try this fascinating experiment:

Take a deep breath with an open mouth.

Notice where the expansion happens? It's probably concentrated in the upper thoracic cavity, leaving the lower lobes of the lungs yearning for oxygen.

Now, try the same in breath with your nose. There will be a more holistic, three-dimensional expansion, and air will flood the lower lobes, paving the way for optimal oxygen absorption.

The benefits are not just visibly physical, there's the question of nitric oxide. This tiny molecule, produced when you breathe through your nose, holds the key to a treasure trove of benefits. From widening the airways to enhancing oxygen uptake in tissues and the brain, nitric oxide is nature's gift for optimal health.

This is why you'll feel a slow nasal inhale gives you an experience of feeling more calm and a mouth breath, even if it's slow, will not give you the same calming sensation as the nasal breath.

Eighteenth Century discovery

In George Catlin's book' Shut Your Mouth and Save Your Life, ' published in 1870, he outlines his travels in Native America. He watched with interest how the Native American mothers paid close attention to their babies' breathing.

He noticed how they would gently press the baby’s lips together to ensure their child was nasal breathing after feeding.? He noticed particularly that the babies of European settlers slept with their mouths open as they gasped for air in poorly ventilated rooms.

He saw that sickness rates were far lower in Native America than among European settlers, concluding that there is a definitive link between health and nose and mouth breathing.