an ancient breathing technique for stress control, healing, and rejuvenation

8/2/2019 An Ancient Breathing Technique for Stress Control, Healing, And Rejuvenation

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The Eri-Eolas Quick Guide

Disclaimer

Bio-energetic Breathing (round breathing) is contra-indicated in pregnancy, epilepsy, bi-polar

disorders or other chemical imbalances. All other portions of the Eri-Eolas Breathing and

Meditation system may be utilized with these conditions.

Introduction

Welcome to the Eri-Eolas Breathing and Meditation System. By utilizing this 21st century

revival of an ancient breathing and meditation technique, you are now embarking on an

exciting journey of discovery. Eri-Eolas is the premiere tool of the age to help you relax

and gently work through emotional and psychological trauma, releasing the repressedemotions and mental blocks that stand between you and a successful, fulfilling life.

It is important to perform the warm-up exercises as given on Disc 2. They increase lung

capacity, circulation and will greatly enhance your Eri-Eolas experience. If you are already

following a system of physical activity that incorporates stretching and flexibility, such as

yoga, this portion may be modified to suit or can be skipped.

Pipe Breath

Pipe Breath is used to stimulate the vagus nerve and is performed in three stages to utilize

your entire lungs. Stimulating the vagus nerve is like hitting the off switch for your stress

response. The constricting of the glottis (voice box) almost yet not quite to the point of

producing sound causes stimulation of the portion of the vagus nerve which passes between

the trachea and esophagus. Practice so you can hold that glottal constriction while inhaling to

achieve greater relaxation. The major stimulation of the vagus nerve occurs during exhalation

and this is why Eri-Eolas Pipe Breath calls for an extended exhalation.

Warrior BreathThe Warrior Breath is intended to clear the lungs of old, stale air. It strengthens the muscles

involved in making a good exhalation as preparation for the next part of the program. You

may find your sides a little sore the first time you perform this exercise. The muscles will

strengthen quickly and this will pass. Vocalizing Ha! helps make the exhalation more

complete. It is also good for getting out frustration. Children love doing Warrior Breath!


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Bio-energetic Breath

Bio-energetic Breathing, or round breathing, is used at the physical level for oxygenating

your body to better process physical toxins. At the emotional level, it begins the process of

gently releasing layers of emotional toxicity. As these layers clear, you will find yourself able

to think more clearly and remain calm in stressful situations, allowing you to respond in anefficient and harmonious manner.

Meditation (Prayer of the Soul)

The breathing exercises are intended as preparation for the meditation, which is the heart of

the Eri-Eolas system. The meditation is performed with seed, which means it is neither

mindless nor without aim. The seed, entitled Prayer of the Soul, has been carefully

composed to be unlimited in its application to life and to create a subconscious ground of

positive, life-affirming thoughts in your quieted mind. The prayer addresses the DivineCosmic Mind, which is existence in and of itself. If you wish to address the Divine Cosmic

Mind in terms more familiar such as Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Krishna etc. that is also fine.

Should a divine personification not be part of your outlook, you may even look to your own

best self as being addressed. The Prayer of the Soul is intended to be universally applicable

to all personal philosophies.

Its best to first practice exercising your diaphragm and perform Pipe Breath. Then add more

to the program as you feel comfortable. Keep in mind that you breathe in through the nose

and out through the mouth. This applies to the entire program!

Common Questions

Q: How often should I practice Eri-Eolas?

A: Generally it is recommended you complete the entire program twice per week and the

meditation daily, preferably before sleeping. This allows your subconscious to process while

you rest. Also, you may perform Pipe Breath daily, as desired.

The worldwide Eri-Eolas community has chosen Monday and Thursday evenings for

completing the whole program, each in their own time zone. If you are ill or dealing with a

specific problem, you might want to complete the entire program daily for a while.

Q: I cant keep up with the counting, what should I do?

A: If the count is too long or too short for you, adjust to what is comfortable. As you become

more proficient you will find it easier to keep to the count. The important thing when doing

Pipe Breath is to make the exhalation longer than the inhalation, and to empty your lungs as

completely as possible. The brief pauses between inhaling and exhaling are also important

because they allow for full gas exchange within the lungs.


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Q: Can I lay down for the breathing exercise?

A: Laying down is fine. The point is to be as comfortable as possible.

Q: Can three-stage breathing be done without the arm positions?A: The three arm positions for Pipe Breath allow you to progressively use the whole of the

lungs.

Q: Ive mainly had issues with sitting cross-legged for a long period of time. My legs fall

asleep and start bothering me. Can I do the program in another position?

A: Sure. You can try sitting in a chair, for example. The important thing is to find a position

that is comfortable for you. The girls in the video practice yoga and even they sometimes do

the program on a chair or lying down.

Q: I have difficulty breathing with my stomach and it does not rise properly. Any advice?

A: Check that you are moving your diaphragm correctly. It needs to push downwards when

you breathe in while your ribs rise, then relax back up into a dome shape when you breathe

out to expel old air. It should come naturally once you have practiced the breathing for a

while and you have become used to the movement. View the images of the diaphragm on the

introductory DVD and try to get the feeling of the position, action, and feel of your

diaphragm. After a little practice, you should be able to feel your diaphragm press down and

flatten out as you breathe in.

Another issue might be your posture. Try doing some simple breathing exercises while

standing up. Remember to keep your shoulders relaxed.

If you feel overly tense in your ribcage, neck, back or other area while doing the breathing,

this means you are doing more than your body can currently handle. If you have not done this

sort of breathing before, you should take care and gently ease yourself into it.

Q: I am having trouble breathing in for the full count. Do I need to do this?

A: If the count is not impossibly long for you then yes, try to breathe in for the full count.

Otherwise do the best you can so that over time you can gradually work your way to the full

count. Children, for example, have smaller lung capacity and may not be able to breathe in

for the full count.


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Q: Why is it important to breathe through the nose and out through the mouth for the whole

program?

A: There are nerve endings at the top of the pharyngeal passage that, when stroked with air

that travels in the same direction, will synchronize both halves of the brain. If you then

breathe out and the air reverses through these nerve endings, it disrupts the synchrony. This isa technique used in hypnotherapy to calm and quiet the brain.

Q: Nothing seems to be happening. Am I doing it correctly?

A: The benefits and effects of the Eri-Eolas system can be taking place under the surface

for some time before things are processed, with or without your awareness. If you try to have

intent other than assimilating the concepts of the prayer (which are designed not to

constrain activity of the subconscious) or if you try to add bells and whistles, you could be

circumventing the positive benefits of the Eri-Eolas breathing and meditation system.

Common symptoms and experiences

- Lessening of joint pain- Lessening of muscle spasticity- Refreshing and/or deep sleep- Feeling energized- Increased relaxation- Experiencing sensation of heat- Experiencing sensation of white light surrounding oneself- Decreased heartbeat- Intense and detailed dreams (see later for details)- Zoning out, difficulty staying awake during breathing exercises and meditation (see

later for details)

- Sensation in the solar plexus- Ringing ears- Tickling or numbness in arms, legs, lips (common side-effects of hyper-ventilation)- Feelings of joy and elation- Change in appetite (reduced desire for foods that are incompatible with your body)- Hunger after the breathing and meditation- Bursts of unanticipated laughter- Abdominal pain, sharp pains in body (symptomatic of organs becoming more

functional again)

- Increased heart rate- External and internal interruptions during breathing and meditation- Sweating- Watery eyes- Desire to cry (see later for details)- Depression (can last a couple of weeks, only temporary)- Anger, disproportionate to situations (see later for details)


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- Feelings of disconnection from the world (temporary)- Confusion, irritation (temporary)- Perceiving images during meditation (try not to be too distracted by this, it is your

mind symbolically expressing what was suppressed in your subconscious)

-

Sharper awareness, senses, thoughts; perception of actually being in the present.

Questions about symptoms and experiences

Q: Why am I so hungry?

A: Pipe Breathing stimulates the vagus nerve, which in turn affects your hunger.

How the brain knows when eating must stop vagus nerve responds

differently to each nutrient to decode what and how much has been eaten :

The vagus nerve, which carries two-way communication between the gut and

the brain, transmits distinctly different patterns of electric signals in response

to carbohydrates and to protein in the gut, finds Gary J. Schwartz of Johns

Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore.

There's another component of the vagus nerve's reaction to protein. Schwartz

suspects that hormone-like peptides produced by the gut in response to food

are responsible for amplifying the signals triggered by the motions of the

stomach and small intestine.

How the brain knows when eating must stop, Janet Raloff, Science News,

1996

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_n22_v150/ai_18947098/

Q: During the breathing and meditation, I snap into a dream state where I no longer hear the

audio. As soon as I realize this, I snap myself out of it. Should I restart the program when this

happens?

A: You dont need to restart the program. This is called zoning. It is perfectly normal and

a good sign that something is happening. It is a positive sign that your subconscious is

beginning to process and heal.

Q: I am experiencing cold and flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, aches, pains, fatigue) as a

result of practicing the program. Why is this happening?

A: The program detoxes not just emotionally but physically. When you kick-start the vagus

nerve and start putting things back in motion after years of the physical cesspool backing up,

it can be like a hole in the dyke that gets very large very fast. If you are suffering physical

symptoms it is likely to be a Herxheimer reaction. This occurs when your body is dislodging

toxins at a faster rate than your body can eliminate them.


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If you are experiencing symptoms that are too much for you to bear, then we recommend you

undergo the program no more than twice per week and perform only the Pipe Breathing and

meditation for now, omitting Warriors Breath and Bio-energetic Breath.

As your diet and supplement intake will help with this process, we highly recommend the

following Diet and Health books:

- The Ultra Mind Solution, Mark Hyman- The Ultra Simple Diet, Mark Hyman- Detoxify or Die, Sherry Rogers- What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Autoimmune Disorders , Stephen B. Edelson

and Deborah Mitchell

- Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Rodger MurphreeQ: Why am I experiencing so much anger and sadness?

A: This is quite normal and is a sign that the program is working. If you are experiencing

anger, keep a pillow nearby while doing the program so you can punch it when you feel like

it. Remember, you are bringing up and processing old emotions that are stuck in your

subconscious and body tissues. Once they are released, they will no longer control your

thinking and/or your life choices. Also, keep in mind that the Eri-Eolas breathing and

meditation system is the most efficient, effective, and least painful way to deal with these

things by retroactively utilizing the bodys own stress coping mechanism. You could spend

years in psychotherapy and never have the same results that you can achieve with just a few

months of practicing the Eri-Eolas system.

Q: How do I continue with the system when I start crying? My normal reaction is to hold my

breath.

A: You can cry as much as you need to, then resume the program once you have finished

crying.

Q: Why do I experience scary dreams after doing the program?

A: It is your emotional center that dreams. Unpleasant or scary dreams are in fact yoursuppressed negative emotions rising to the surface. Quite often you will process this just by

dreaming it away, but this is one of several ways in which it may be processed. What works

best for one individual may differ from what works best for another. Everyone is different

and has different stuff buried inside them.


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Long term benefits

As you continue practicing the Eri-Eolas system, you will embrace a new quality of energy,

range and initiative. You will become strong in areas where you were once weak. You will

experience the constant guidance of your higher self. This guidance will be active in the work

of your hands and the words of your mouth. You will feel this guidance in the form ofprotection, as you will also have the ability to perceive danger in greater capacity than

before. Your higher self will guide you to acquire the knowledge you need on a practical

level to protect yourself from unnecessary harm.

***************************************************************************

You are welcome to visit the Eri-Eolas website to access the discussion forum, where you

can meet and interact with others on this same exciting path. Eri-Eolas teachers are always

available to answer your questions either in your local community, or online.

www.eiriu-eolas.org


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ReviewsReviewsReviewsReviews

People from all walks of life and from all over the world are alreadypracticing iri Eolas with amazing results. The following are a few of the

testimonials weve received about the positively amazing results that can beachieved by anyone with this incredible new program:

Ive been doing EE for over 6 months now and Ive had some great results! Leading amodern lifestyle rapidly left me totally stressed a busy work environment with longhours and short deadlines, three teenage children and generally trying to get ahead inlife. I was overweight and not able to sleep for more than 4 hours at a go. Afterpracticing EE for a short period of time, I found I was more relaxed and calm. It wasmuch easier for me to put life in perspective so to speak. I found the will to get on theUltra-Mind diet and rapidly lost 6 Kilos! My sleep is now much better and I now amable to sleep for 6-7 hours without waking up. Recently while talking with a group of

new friends, I asked them to guess my age. I was surprised when the nearest guess putme 5 years younger. I figure that must be rejuvenation!!

By far the best benefit from EE has been the ability to put my life in perspective. I feelIm now back on track and better equipped to figure out whats really important in life.Id like to thank all those who developed and are helping to share this amazingprogram.

- Kinyash, Kenya

Ive been working with the program since June 2010. Before diving into any specifichealth experiences, I would first like to affectionately commend my instructors as theyhave been primary in assisting me in the rewarding and grueling process of changing mymental, physical and emotional outlook on life and being. Together, Ingrid and Elan area formidable team and are building E.E. New York into an oasis of learning, growingand evolving.

One of my obvious and ongoing results has been a loss of over twenty pounds of excessweight and not just any type of weight either. It seemed the weight I was carrying was

literally loaded with toxins and spiritual heaviness courtesy of an already unhealthymodern lifestyle, persistent childhood emotional issues and having the noxious fumes ofthe World Trade Center waft over my apartment in downtown Brooklyn for severalmonths. After the WTC I developed various severe immune problems within sixmonths and have become increasingly frustrated at the methods Ive employed toattempt to cope with my health issues. Fortunately, I now know I dont have to give upand can honestly work with a group of people who are similarly inclined towards betterhealth and existence.

Another important result has been a marked reduction in addictive thought patterns andanxiety produced by unhealthy lifestyle decisions. The siren call of sugar and unhealthy

food choices is not as alluring or necessary now. Oh, and this is a somewhatembarrassing one, but I have quit biting my fingernails. Since childhood I have alwayschewed my fingernails but now I dont.


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Unlike other programs, Eiriu Eolas has no predetermined goals based on guilt,metaphorical shame based weigh ins or unrealistic expectations yet numerable positivechanges come in short order. As Gore Vidal wrote, and Ill place in the entirely differentcontext of Eiriu Eolas, There are no ends Joe, only means.

- Joe, NYC

I cant tell you how grateful I am for this. Its amazing I really cant describe it. WhatIm holding here is a miracle!

-Jim, with the iri Eolas DVD set in hand, UK

There have been many improvements in my life since I began the programme: For thefirst time in my life, I dont wish I was somewhere else, doing something else. I feel sostrong and optimistic, thats a wonderful feeling. Heres a great slogan: Does your soulneed a holiday? Then our EE program might just be the solution!

-Aude, Health Kinesiology practitioner, Belgium

Ive practised yoga and breathing meditations over the years but there was absolutely

no comparing that to this experience.

- Elaine, Executive Assistant,Arizona

The introductory video is so nicely made. All those 3D explanations are just stuck inmy mind now. Every time I breathe the wrong way I am reminded by the animation.

The info coupled with the visuals just stays with me.

- Frank, Computer Consultant, California

The EE program has helped me experience and release much emotional baggage.

- Brent, Genetic Research Technician, New York

My anger has abated A LOT. YAY! My hearing seems to have gotten better, too. My

appetite has increased with no weight gain (another YAY).

- Margaret, Administrative Assistant,Texas


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Its like feeling cleaner, this is the closest word I could find to this sensation.

-Amokrane, Astronomer, Chile

Today the process included cleansing tears as I recalled patterns of loss and abandonmentin my life. Everything about the experience was utterly gracious. I feel so blessed to havebeen given the gift of iri Eolas.

- Elizabeth, Student, Missouri

The breathing technique is a great tool for the kids because they can do it anywhere and

it does seem to really work.

- Second Grade School Teacher, North Carolina

I am both alert and relaxed most of the time.

- Mike, Filmmaker,Armenia

My experience doing EE is always blissful, the round breathing especially, so that Iam in a deep meditative state I used to lead group meditations and kirtans(devotional chanting) for many years. EE produces results in just a few minutes, doingit solo, that I have only experienced in group meditations after an hour or more. Itssuch a beautiful experience.

- Chris, Computer Programmer, New Jersey

The most deeply healing practice Ive ever encountered. No other practice has had sucha positive and lasting effect on my mind, body and soul.

-Tom, UK

Ive tried a little of Yoga before but it simply missed the mark since it just didnt havethat power to relax me the way the EE program does. The vagus nerve stimulation andthe very effective, no nonsense breathing techniques really make the difference!

- Ken, USA


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Having explored many different breathing and meditation techniques over the years,Henry See was not prepared for the gentle power of iri Eolas. Other techniques hadleft him feeling grounded, but nothing came close to producing the emotional releaseand detoxification he experienced right from the start of his daily EE practice. Heknew it was something he wished to share with others.

It is such a remarkable programme, so gentle yet powerful, and it is so easy tointegrate into a busy life. When I was raising a family, I found it difficult to do regularlythe zen meditation I was practising at the time. It is hard to find a half an hourmorning and night to sit on your mat with young kids. But with iri Eolas,it can bebroken up into shorter periods during the day, and the pipe breathing is available

whenever you need it, whenever you feel those stress chemicals shooting into yourgut.

He is also impressed with the scientific grounding of the techniques provided for thestudents. The work that is being done by the research team at EE is remarkable. It is

reassuring for the students to know that there is a clear scientific basis to theprogramme. The forum is a valuable resource as well.

The health benefits are also impressive.

Other types of meditation left me feeling energetic after going to weekend retreats,but that energy got lost quickly when I returned to daily life. With EE, that energy isalways there. But energy with a sore, achey body isnt much help. With the changes tomy diet recommended by the EE programme, I have completely eliminated all theaches and pains associated with growing old. If I can help just one otherpersonachieve those benefits, it is worth it.

Henry has been teaching EE for almost a year in the northern British Columbiacommunity of Fort St. John where he runs a bookstore. There is an active musiccommunity up here in FSJ. I used to have all sorts of blocks about getting up andperforming. I noticed that with the EE, I have more confidence. I can get up andperform just for the sheer pleasure of it without being hounded by that negative voicein my head telling me that I am an idiot and am makinga fool of myself, he sayslaughing.

- Henry See, Canada


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Great program with good instruction, April 17, 2010

This review is from: iri Eolas (DVD)I got this video at the New Life Expo after seeing the lecture there. I have done

meditation before, but it was difficult for me to achieve effects and keep focused. This breathing and meditation program makes it so simple, yet the positiveeffects come fast! This video explains the science behind the breathingtechniques. It also explains how to do it step by step. There's also a CD includedthat is great to play on my mp3 player before I go to sleep that guides youthrough the exercises and meditation. So far my mind has felt clearer and I feellike stress just rolls off of me. Highly recommended, even if you have donemeditation before.

I have this one -- great for stress relief

This review is from: iri Eolas (DVD)Just saw this listed on Amazon. I already own a copy. The title is Irish Gaelic andpronounced "airu olas." It's a deep-breathing technique that systematicallyoxygenates the body and relieves stress at the same time. Interestingly, you canuse it either to relax and get to sleep, or to energize yourself for the day. Thedifference in the way you feel is obvious after the first session, and it changesover time. Deep breathing is really important, good stuff for general health and

mental well-being, too.


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NEWNEWNEWNEW UNDERSTANDING OF VAGUSUNDERSTANDING OF VAGUSUNDERSTANDING OF VAGUSUNDERSTANDING OF VAGUS NERVENERVENERVENERVESSSS ROLE INROLE INROLE INROLE IN

REGULATINGREGULATINGREGULATINGREGULATING INFLAMMATIONINFLAMMATIONINFLAMMATIONINFLAMMATION

http://www.news-medical.net/news/2007/10/24/31690.aspx?page=1

It used to be dogma that the brain was shut away from the actions of the immunesystem, shielded from the outside forces of nature.

But thats not how it is at all. In fact, thanks to the scientific detective work ofKevin Tracey, MD, it turns out that the brain talks directly to the immune system,sending commands that control the bodys inflammatory response to infection andautoimmune diseases.

Understanding the intimate relationship is leading to a novel way to treat diseasestriggered by a dangerous inflammatory response.

Dr. Tracey, director and chief executive of The Feinstein Institute for MedicalResearch, will be giving the 2007 Stetten Lecture on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at theNational Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. His talk Physiology andImmunology of the Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway will highlight thediscoveries made in his laboratory and the clinical trials underway to test the theorythat stimulation of the vagus nerve could block a rogue inflammatory response andtreat a number of diseases, including life-threatening sepsis.

With this new understanding of the vagus nerves role in regulating inflammation,scientists believe that they can tap into the bodys natural healing defenses and calmthe sepsis storm before it wipes out its victims. Each year, 750,000 people in theUnited States develop severe sepsis, and 215,000 will die no matter how harddoctors fight to save them. Sepsis is triggered by the bodys own overpoweringimmune response to a systemic infection, and hospitals are the battlegrounds forthese potentially lethal conditions.

The vagus nerve is located in the brainstem and snakes down from the brain to the

heart and on through to the abdomen. Dr. Tracey and others are now studyingways of altering the brains response or targeting the immune system itself as a wayto control diseases.

Dr. Tracey is a neurosurgeon who came into research through the back door of theoperating room. More than two decades ago, he was treating a young girl whosebody had been accidentally scorched by boiling water and she was fighting for herlife to overcome sepsis. She didnt make it. Dr. Tracey headed into the laboratoryto figure out why the body makes its own cells that can do fatal damage. Dr. Tracey

discovered that the vagus nerve speaks directly to the immune system through aneurochemical called acetylcholine. And stimulating the vagus nerve sentcommands to the immune system to stop pumping out toxic inflammatory


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markers. This was so surprising to us, said Dr. Tracey, who immediately saw thepotential to use vagus stimulation as a way to shut off abnormal immune systemresponses. He calls this network the inflammatory reflex.

Research is now underway to see whether tweaking the brains acetylcholine systemcould be a natural way to control the inflammatory response. Inflammation is keyto many diseases from autoimmune conditions like Crohns disease andrheumatoid arthritis to Alzheimers, where scientists have identified a stronginflammatory component.

Dr. Tracey has presented his work to the Dalai Lama, who has shown a greatinterest in the neurosciences and the mind-body connection. He has also written abook called Fatal Sequence, about the double-edge sword of the immune system.

Headquartered in Manhasset, NY, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research ishome to international scientific leaders in Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers disease,psychiatric disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, sepsis, inflammatory boweldisease, diabetes, human genetics, leukemia, lymphoma, neuroimmunology, andmedicinal chemistry. The Feinstein Institute, part of the North Shore-LIJ HealthSystem, ranks in the top 6th percentile of all National Institutes of Health grantsawarded to research centers. Feinstein researchers are developing new drugs anddrug targets, and producing results where science meets the patient. For moreinformation, please visit:

http://www.FeinsteinInstitute.orgor http://feinsteininstitute.typepad.com/feinsteinweblog/

VAGUS NERVE CONTROLS VAGUS NERVE CONTROLS VAGUS NERVE CONTROLS VAGUS NERVE CONTROLS INTESTINALINTESTINALINTESTINALINTESTINAL

INFLAMMATIONINFLAMMATIONINFLAMMATIONINFLAMMATION

http://coolinginflammation.blogspot.com/2008/09/vagus-nerve-controls-intestinal.htmlMacrophages release inflammatory signals (TNF, IL-1, IL-6, IL-18) that result intissue inflammation. Nicotine is anti-inflammatory by acting on the acetylcholinereceptors normally responsive to acetylcholine released by the vagus nerve.

Acupuncture is anti-inflammatory by stimulating the vagus nerve-mediated effectson macrophages.

The relationship between the nervous and immune systems has been accepted as areality, but has been elusive. Numerous examples in alternative medicine appear to

show that a variety of treatments have immunological impacts, but explanationsbased on cellular biology have been slow to materialize. Here I will discuss some ofthe recent experiments that reveal obvious connections between nerves and


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macrophages that may explain in medical terms at least part of the efficacy ofacupuncture.

Dilation of blood vessels that causes reddening, swelling and warmth of tissueinflammation results from changes at the cellular level. If the sentinel cells of atissue, macrophages, are exposed to a bacterium, for example, receptors on thesurface of the macrophages bind fragments of the bacterial cell wall, i.e.lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or endotoxin, and signal the expression of five dozengenes. Among these genes are inflammatory mediators, TNF, IL-1, IL-6, IL-18,that are released from the macrophages and trigger behavioral changes in thesurrounding cells of the tissue, which are observed as inflammation.

Expression of the inflammatory genes is controlled by a master transcription

factor, NFkB. Thus, LPS will signal a macrophage, NFkB is activated,inflammatory genes are expressed, mediators are secreted and tissue inflammationis observed. Dozens of different inputs determine if NFkB will be activated orquieted. Nicotine for example has been observed to block inflammation by LPS.

It has been shown that macrophages also have receptors for the neurotransmitteracetylcholine that is released by branches of the vagus nerve in the intestines. It hasalso been recently shown that excitation of the vagus nerve releases acetylcholineand blocks the response of intestinal macrophages to LPS. Thus, vagus stimulation

is anti-inflammatory and blocks NFkB activation through a competingtranscription factor, STAT3. Nicotine acts by binding to the acetylcholine receptorsof the macrophages and is similarly anti-inflammatory.

Acupuncture appears to work by needle stimulation of the vagus nerve that sendssignals to the brain. Returning nerve impulses via the vagus nerve subsequentlyrelease acetylcholine back into the surrounding tissue and block inflammation. Inthis context, acupuncture would be exploiting an existing inflammation dampeningsystem, that would serve to localize spreading inflammatory signaling andemphasize the source of inflammation for action by the circulating elements of theimmune system.


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INFLAMMATORYINFLAMMATORYINFLAMMATORYINFLAMMATORY MAST CELLSMAST CELLSMAST CELLSMAST CELLS SILENCEDSILENCEDSILENCEDSILENCED

http://coolinginflammation.blogspot.com/2009/09/vagus-nerve-controls-gut-inflammation.html

In a previous article, I outlined the role of the vagus nerve in responding toinfection/damage signals by producing signals that inhibit inflammation. In arecent article (ref. below), the role of the vagus nerve in gut inflammation wasexamined using real-time biophotonic labeling. Basically that means that a videocamera sensitive to infrared can be used to detect infrared dyes produced whenNFkB is activated -- the camera is able to visualize regions of inflammation inliving mice. Using this technique, researchers were able to demonstrate that cuttingthe vagus nerve produced heightened inflammation in gut treated with an irritant.

The vagus nerve appears to stimulate regulatory T cells that lower the activity of

inflammatory cells.

Inflammation/NFkB Activation Visualized in Live Mice

The studies were performed in a mouse line constructed to express an infraredfluorescent protein in cells in which the inflammation transcription factor, NFkB, isactivated. Mice of this strain were prepared with and without the vagus nerve intactleading to the intestines. The mice were then exposed to sodium dextran sulfate(DSS) to simulate inflammatory bowel disease symptoms.

Cutting the Vagus Nerve Permits Inflammation

Mice with intact vagus nerves exhibited much less inflammation in their gut thanthose without vagus innervation. The cut vagus experiments demonstrated that the

vagus nerve was responsible for suppressing inflammation. Further experimentswere performed to determine if the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory reactionscould be transferred to other mice by transferring cells from the treated mice.


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Regulatory T Cells (CD4+, CD25+) Block Inflammation

Transfer experiments showed that inflammatory T cells (CD4+, CD25-) from cutvagus, DSS mice would cause bowel inflammation in other mice, but that did nothappen with the same type of cells from mice with intact vagus nerves. Furthertests showed that either cutting the vagus or adding inflammatory T cells from amouse with a cut vagus, reduced the population of regulatory T cells (CD4+,CD25+) in control mice treated with DSS. So, without the vagus stimulation, the

regulatory T cell population declined in the presence of inflammatory signals.Absence of Regulatory T Cells Can Explain Many Inflammatory Diseases

In many inflammatory diseases, e.g. celiac, Crohns disease, rosacea, there appearsto be a deficiency of regulatory T cells. In the absence regulatory T cells, signalsfrom vagus nerves will no longer produce anti-inflammatory suppression. In factthe same nerve signals may become inflammatory. This would explain whyrosaceans will become inflamed by hot or cold stimulation that would normallylead to anti-inflammatory stimulation of regulatory T cells. Similarly, capsaicin,

castor oil and menthol, which normally produce an anti-inflammatory response,produce inflammation in rosaceans.

Reference: OMahony C, van der Kleij HP, Bienenstock J, Shanahan F, OMahony L. 2009. Loss of vagalanti-inflammatory effect in vivo visualization and adoptive transfer.Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol.Aug 12. [Epub ahead of print]


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THE ART OF BIOENERGETICTHE ART OF BIOENERGETICTHE ART OF BIOENERGETICTHE ART OF BIOENERGETIC BREATHINGBREATHINGBREATHINGBREATHING: A: A: A: A

POWERFUL TOOL FORPOWERFUL TOOL FORPOWERFUL TOOL FORPOWERFUL TOOL FOR PERSONAL GROTHPERSONAL GROTHPERSONAL GROTHPERSONAL GROTH ANDANDANDAND

TRANSFORMATIONTRANSFORMATIONTRANSFORMATIONTRANSFORMATION

by Paul Ingraham

http://saveyourself.ca/articles/breathing.php

The shoulders of giants

Someone tells you to take a deep breath. Theres more to it than you think. Itsthe tip of an iceberg most people have never seen or heard of.

Having difficulty breathing?

If you are having difficulty breathing, please see below for possible causes inAppendix: Difficulty Breathing.

For more than a decade now, I have been practicing, teaching and exploring an

unusual form of therapeutic breathing. It is known as bioenergetic breathing, andhas its origins in the bodywork philosophies that emerged originally from Alexander Lowens interpretations of Reich and Jung.1 Interestingly, the samebreathing style is called round breathing by the Chinese in the context of qigong,and has deep roots in that culture, although in a much different way.

So when I teach this kind of breathing, I stand on the shoulders of giants. I learnedabout bioenergetic breathing from Joanne Peterson and Drs. Jock McKeen andBennet Wong at Gabriola Islands renowned Haven Institute [www.haven.ca] forProfessional Training. What I teach today is an adaptation of what I am still

learning whenever I visit Gabriola.


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No therapy at all

What I enjoy most about this form of therapy is that it is no therapy at all, butsimply a kind of education. I do not have the conceit of the healer when I do this

work. I am more of a coach. And its easy.

Although I offer many suggestions while coaching a breathing session, this is notbecause anyone ever breathes incorrectly. Every kind of breathing is intrinsicallyexpressive of the individual, and potentially useful. My job is to encourage new andunfamiliar breathing to stimulate altered states, and to use deep breath to revealpersonal habits, limitations and resistance to full experience of life.

Breathing with your body

Bioenergetic breathing is basically just fast, deep breathing. It emphasizesinhalation, which is assertive and full. It does not pause at the top or the bottom ofthe breath, forming a smooth sine wave. The mouth and throat are open wide,removed from the path of the breath, never shaping or controlling the movementof air. Most people attempt to breathe predominantly with their mouth, nose andthroat. In fact, it is the body that breathes, and the upper respiratory tract is simplyan obstacle course.

In a typical bioenergetic breathing session, you might work up to a vigorous paceof breathing in the space of a minute or two, continue for five to ten minutes, and

then wind down again.

How fast is fast? Fast is roughly double to triple your normal resting respiratoryrate about the same as if youd just been exercising. Depth is more importantthan speed. Go as fast as you reasonably can while still actually taking and expellinga good chest-full of air. Dont cut corners off the amplitude of the breath just toget greater speed. The overall effect is pretty vigorous, but it doesnt have to beridiculous. If you were to breathe like this in front of someone, but act otherwisenormal, they would say, Wow, hey, whats up? You been running or something?

Doing some kind of deep breathing exercise? Its an eyebrow-raising pace, not acall 911 pace.

And whats the point of all this breathing?

Breathing is stimulating. It induces heightened and altered states of awareness andsensation. For more information about the deeper philosophy of breathing, readThe Anatomy of Vitality [http://saveyourself.ca/articles/anatomy-of-vitality.php]. But I suggestthat you just try it first I think that youll like it.


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The surprising challenges of deep breathing

For something so simple, bioenergetic breathing proves to be a surprising challengefor nearly everyone. Most struggle, experiencing fear, frustration or apathy.Obviously, the challenge isnt technical its just heavy breathing. So what is itthat gives people such trouble?

The challenge is emotional. Shallow breathing is the norm in our society. In fact, itis typical of most aging biological organisms. Shallow breath constitutes a comfortzone that we are reluctant to leave. Breathing hard stirs up interesting and alarmingsensations, and we humans have an enormous repertoire of tactics for controllingand limiting the experience so that it is a little less boat-rocking.

Some common avoidance behaviours that Ive observed over the years include

chain yawning, squirming, blowing and hissing, wheezing, dry throat, aches andpains that magically pop out of nowhere, an attack of silliness, giggles orticklishness, and so on. As they attempt to proceed, most people will experienceanxiety, frustration or (most problematic) a suspiciously intense apathy. As a coach,the fade is the most difficult of all avoidance tactics to navigate, and it happensto be my own favourite reaction to breathing: when the going gets tough, I getsleepy and tune out.

Shallow breath constitutes a comfort zone that we are reluctant to leave.

Getting past these defenses is so surprisingly difficult that most people needcoaching. As a breathing coach, I can spot all your tricks, keep you breathingclearly, and encourage you to actually experience all of the new sensations insteadof developing a sudden, intense interest in something else.

Parasthesia, tetanus and tremors, oh my! Transient physiologicalconsequences of deep breathing

The challenge is complicated by the fact that bioenergetic breathing tends to causethree harmless but potentially alarming side-effects: parasthesia, tetanus, andtremors.

Sounds dramatic, doesnt it? Well, it is kind of exciting. This is powerful stuff. Butthese experiences really are harmless, and they tend to go away with practice. Imyself went through them and came out the other side many years ago.

Parasthesia simply means altered sensation, usually in the form of tingling thatstarts around the mouth, at the fingertips and in the toes. As it advances andspreads, it is usually accompanied by tetanus sustained but mild contraction of

muscles. The hands and feet tend to claw up, and your lips will feel like youvejust been to the dentist! This is different than spasm, and it is more stiff thanpainful. It wears off quickly. Finally, tremors may sweep through the body


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erratically, perhaps favouring a specific limb or side, but this too passes rapidly and should actually be indulged when it occurs. Let yourself shake. Be free!

Martial arts and yoga practitioners may study their entire lives without knowing thesensation of qi.

These symptoms are produced by an altered mind-body state, both physiologicaland psychological. The tetanus is a consequence of some changes in bloodchemistry. The tingling is the sensation of qi when your hands are tinglingfiercely with qi, it feels like you are holding balls of fire. Its a very distinctivesensation, and a privilege to experience. I often explain to people that martial artsand yoga practitioners may study for their entire lives without knowing thesensation of qi, simply because they dont breathe enough.

The tendency to tremor is a letting go. We are all hanging on tightly to so verymuch, including out own bodies. The breathing shakes us loose. I advise you not totry to stop it.

I must emphasize again that all of these side-effects are temporary. Bioenergeticbreathing is not hyperventilation.2 It is not dangerous in any way. Any sensationyou experience during breathing will go away as you slow down and stop.

Soul diving!

You might become emotional during bioenergetic breathing.

Most people feel like crying. Feeling sad and frustrated are the most commonreactions to breathing. But many also feel like they want to hit something (hint: trya pillow!), and virtually any other kind of emotional experience is possible fordifferent people, or for the same person in different sessions.

Sadness and anger are the two great unexpressed emotions in our society. Most ofus have deep wells of them. Bioenergetic breathing can be a handy way todeliberately induce cathartic crying jags. Indeed, some people notice that they cryevery time they breathe like this, prompting the question, What else is there?

When will I be done crying?

The answer is, When youre done. If youve been holding back sadness for thirtyyears, expect it to take a while. But trust me: there is something beyond all thecrying. And that is what this work is all about. Its soul diving.


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Possibilities

Go to it. Slow down and stop if you get alarmed. Call me if you have questions or

you want a coach. There are no rules, but many possibilities. Ill leave you with afew of those

Try breathing like mad for a five minutes and then holding your breath for awhile. Youll be amazed at how long you can do it.

Try breathing in different positions. Some classic positions are: draped overan exercise ball (face up or face down), touching your toes, leaningbackwards, flat on your back with the knees up, squatting, childs pose, whiledoing virtually any stretch

Try breathing in different patterns: three sharp breaths in, one out.

Try breathing by filling different parts of your body: the deep belly, thesolar plexus, the upper chest. For a real challenge, fill the less flexible partsof yourself.

Try adding movement to the breathing, either rhythmically and repetitively,or randomly.

Try visualizations. The possibilities in this category alone are virtuallylimitless. Two examples: pull energy in through your head with the intakeand flush it out your toes on the exhalation; or visualize yourself like a coalthat swells with heat and light when you blow on it! I like that one

Try breathing with music that you love. Try adding sound to breathing. Start with noisy exhalations, like you are

groaning with satisfaction and weariness at the end of the week. Thats agood place to start. But you can work up to all kinds of noisy nonsense. Ifyou have the privacy, do not hesitate to be emotionally noisy.

And on and on


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BREATHBREATHBREATHBREATH RETRAININGRETRAININGRETRAININGRETRAINING,,,, THE VAGUS NERVETHE VAGUS NERVETHE VAGUS NERVETHE VAGUS NERVE,,,, ANDANDANDAND

DEPDEPDEPDEPRESSIONRESSIONRESSIONRESSION WITHWITHWITHWITH DDDDRRRR.... FREDFREDFREDFRED MUENCHMUENCHMUENCHMUENCH

http://www.perfectbreathing.com/breath-retraining-vagus-nerve-and-depression-dr-fred-muench

Dr. Fred Muench is a clinical psychologist who served on the team that developed the Helicor StressEraser bio-feedbackdevice for breath-based stress reduction, as well as the Breath Pacer application for the iPhone. Dr. Muench offers a unique perspective into the science and application of conscious breathing, with some startling revelations on the profound effectsbreathing has on depression, anxiety and hypertension.

Perfect Breath: What was it that initially sparked your interest in the breath and itsapplications to health and wellness?

Fred Muench: I went to school for clinical psychology and during my training Irealized that every patient intervention uses a stress management technique even ifit is just as an adjunct. Whether it was a chronic population on an in-patient ward,

schizophrenics, depressives, anxiety cases, it didnt matter, there was always someform of stress management that was a part of the treatment.

There was also the mindfulness revolution of the early nineties which occurredwhile I was in grad school. So we started hearing more and more about it. And Icame to realize that in every one of these interventions the common or evenprimary mechanism was breath control and although there were differenttechniques and forms alternate nostril breathing, different counts and ratios - it

was ultimately about slow deep breathing.

After I graduated I was working at Columbia doing process research into themechanisms of change in people. We were looking at social support, stimuluscontrol techniques, and at people changing their environments, and it became clear


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that stress reduction was a key part of how people changed their behavior. Whetherit was engaging in physical activity, stress reduction methods like meditation orbreath retraining - stress reduction techniques were an excellent predictor ofoutcome. So I started focusing on breathwork more and more as time went on.

At that time Helicor was looking for a director of clinical research, focused onpsycho-physiology and what happens to the body as people are breathing. That ledme full force into this entire world of biofeedback, breath retraining, and stressreduction.

Since leaving Helicor, Ive been working on applications like the Breath Pacer forthe iPhone, as well as other applications and phones as well.

PB: During the research, studies, and investigations that youve conducted, what

has surprised you the most?FM: My perception, and I think that of the general public as well, was thatbreathing techniques help with stress arousal and anxiety and stress-relatedconditions, which is all true. What shocked me was the powerful effect of breathretraining on the symptoms of depression!

What I found so interesting was that when you have an anxious or hyper-tensepopulation, what you are dealing with is sympathetic nervous system (the fight orflight system) over-arousal. Breath retraining reduces sympathetic nervous system

over arousal and increases para-sympathetic nervous system activity the relax,recuperate, regenerate system which calms you down.

With depressives the problem seems to be under arousal. Low skin conductance,low heart-rate variability (HRV), and reduced low-frequency HRV. These are allindicators of depression. The whole body is under-aroused it cant get moving.Proper breathing seems to bring balance to the body. It is not a one wayintervention, but brings the body into to equilibrium so it can work. Breathretraining increases skin conductance and increases low-frequency HRV. Typically

people think these are not great outcomes. But in depressives that is exactly whatyou want.

Perhaps one of the most important outcomes is increased vagal nerve tone. Thevagus nerve is the primary pacifying nerve in the body. Increased vagus nerve toneactivates parts of the body that need activating and quells the parts that need to berelaxed. That was what really took me by surprise - the powerful effects ondepressives. The effects are so significant they make any drug look like a placebo.

The effect sizes are either large or very large and that is compared to activetreatment not placebo. Compared to active relaxation treatments that dont utilize

breath retraining as an active component, it is extremely powerful. Unfortunatelythese outcomes have not been widely publicized which is a shame.


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PB: What is the connection between the breath and the vagus nerve? How doesthe breath impact vagus function?

FM: The breaths effects on the vagus occur primarily during exhalation. Duringexhalation your heart rate decelerates and during that period of deceleration the

vagus becomes active. Shallow, rapid breathing patterns inhibit the vagus becausethe period of vagal activity is too short and the nerve does not have time to pacifythe other nerves that it touches. It really is a simple mechanism. By slowing downyour breathing you create more vagal activity, accentuating its relaxing andregenerating effects. With bio-feedback devices (such as StressEraser) you can trainyourself to keep the heart-rate deceleration for as long as possible, maximizing itsbenefits.

PB:What do you see as the main benefits of using biofeedback technologies likeStressEraser, and Breath Pacer?

FM: There is a difference in the function and value between StressEraser andBreath Pacer. The Breath Pacer is a simple metronome, while the StressEraser isactually a biofeedback device. Both of these devices make breath retrainingaccessible to those who dont know about it or have difficulty performing the

activity.

Ive been quite surprised at how many people are oblivious to the effects of theirbreath - who dont understand the concept of slowing down their breath, or arechest breathers. These technologies provide them with a window into the power ofbreath.

I personally found that I was easily distracted doing breathwork and discoveredthat the external focus provided by the device was very helpful, especially on thesubway. Ill just close my eyes and use the audio component to guide my breathingand do 20 minutes of breathwork on the way to the office. It does help you to stayfocused, and when your mind wanders, StressEraser has the added benefit showingyou the breaks in the waves so you can see what is happening. The down side isthat some people are very anxious and get even more stressed out seeing theirphysiology being tracked on the device. For those people the simple metronomefunction of the Breath Pacer might be a better place to start.

The ultimate goal however is to encourage people to practice focusing on theirbreath. Where they take it from there is up to them. The physiological effects of

just focusing on breath are so powerful, that alone would be sufficient, but if theygraduate into integrating other practices such as mindfulness, yoga, or meditation,that is even better.


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PB: What are the benefits of specific practices, such as alternate nostril breathing?How do these practices differ from simple slow, deep breathing?

FM: In terms of research, there is currently much more anecdotal evidence. Studiesthat have been done dont seem to have good control groups. However, thereseems to be the suggestion that alternate nostril breathing, for example, helps tolateralize the brain (emphasize one hemisphere over the other), activate certainregions of the brain, and perhaps affect visual acuity as well. But as I said there isnot enough solid research yet to know the specific impacts of these different typesof breathing.

It is the same with breath holding. A lot of practices use it. Clearly you see heart-

rate deceleration during breath holding and I think taking slow inhales with longholding before the exhale helps - particularly in situations where you are dealingwith anxiety in the moment. But I dont know of specific research regarding breathholding.

That is why I focused on autonomic balance where breathing is in synchronicitywith your heart rate.. That is what weve done with Breath Pacer. People enter theirheight which indicates how the blood flows through body, which helps determinethe proper breath rate to create that autonomic balance.

That is my focus because we can see it happening. As a researcher, I just want tolook at the empirical information. We know that around 6 breaths per minute, youget the autonomic balance.

PB: What do you recommend for people wanting to get started with breathwork?

FM: There are two things: The technology can help them get started focusing ontheir breathing and help guide them, but I would recommend that they take 2 hoursout of their life to either join a yoga class, or a qi gong class - anything with theexperience of guided training.

What Ive learned it that it is a lot harder than I thought it was to teach properbreathing.

Some people are chest breathers and no amount of technology will change that.Get some sort of professional help, a video, a book, anything that will help youunderstand the fundamentals of the practice. You can breate 6 breaths per minutefrom your chest, but youll probably hyperventilating after 3 minutes and decidethat it is a bunch of garbage. Some people get it right away, but some people need

help. If you are having difficulty, get help.


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PB: How has this knowledge, how have these techniques changed your life? Howare you using them?

FM: That is a great question - especially now that I have kids. I have lots ofopportunities! It has made a huge impact in terms of my personal emotionalreactivity. I can come to work much more balanced, and I always know that I haveit up my sleeve.

As I was learning and integrating it into my life, I found that I was using it as acrutch rather than a preventative measure. For example Id get into a situation - likegoing to a last-minute meeting where I was feeling anxious and using thebreathing and feeling like it wasnt working. Now it is a part of daily routine. I use itmostly on the train for 20 minutes on my way in to the office and also on the wayhome and I feel much more even-keeled. I can walk in the door and my kids will

jump on me and I dont need that 5 minutes or so to decompress and get settled. Ican go right to engaging with my family because Ive had that time to myself.Where everyone else on the subway just seems annoyed, I seem to have found ameasure of peace, and finding peace on a NY subway - in and of itself - is morethan anyone can ask!

PB: That is a quite an accomplishment!

FM: In terms of clinical practice, Im not seeing patients any more, but I integratedit into my practice by showing patients how to use the techniques preventatively,trying to get them to realize that it is a very important tool - not your only tool -but a very important tool that can help you function throughout the day. Its toolthat Ive integrated into my life and recommend that other do as well.

The best thing though is people calling the company and telling us that this haschanged their life. Im a better, nicer person. I cant tell you what youve donefor my life. Im more mellow, I dont react to situations. It is a glorious feeling

and it really makes your day.

Don Campbell and Al Lee are the authors ofPerfect Breathing: Transform Your Life One Breath At ATime (Sterling Publishing/2008) and write, speak, train, and blog tirelessly on the subject.Discover more ways you can improve your health, performance, and wellbeing at

www.perfectbreathing.com. Reach them at [email protected]


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CAN VAGUS NERVECAN VAGUS NERVECAN VAGUS NERVECAN VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION HALTSTIMULATION HALTSTIMULATION HALTSTIMULATION HALT OROROROR

AMELIORATEAMELIORATEAMELIORATEAMELIORATE RHEUMATOIDRHEUMATOIDRHEUMATOIDRHEUMATOID ARTHRITISARTHRITISARTHRITISARTHRITIS AND LUPUSAND LUPUSAND LUPUSAND LUPUS????

http://7thspace.com/headlines/370612/can_vagus_nerve_stimulation_halt_or_ameliorate_rheu

matoid_arthritis_and_lupus.html

Acetylcholine, the principal vagus neurotransmitter, inhibits inflammation bysuppressing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines through a mechanismdependent on the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit (alpha7nAChR)that explains why vagus nerve stimulation is anti-inflammatory in nature. Strongexpression of alpha7nAChR in the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriaticarthritis patients was detected.

Peripheral macrophages and synovial fibroblasts respond in vitro to specificalpha7nAChR cholinergic stimulation with potent inhibition of proinflammatorycytokines. Fibroblasts balance inflammatory mechanisms and arthritis developmentthrough feedback cholinergic stimulation by nearby immune cells.

Collagen induced arthritis in alpha7nAChR(-/-) mice was significantly severe andshowed increased synovial inflammation and joint destruction compared to the

wild-type mice. Similar to vagal nerve stimulation and alpha7nAChR agonists,polyunsaturated fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) also suppress inflammation.

In view of their similar anti-inflammatory actions, it is proposed that vagal nervestimulation, alpha7nAChR agonists and EPA and DHA may augment theformation of anti-inflammatory lipid molecules: lipoxins, resolvins, protectins andmaresins. This implies that therapies directed at regulation of the cholinergic andalpha7nAChR mediated mechanisms and enhancing the formation of lipoxins,resolvins, protectins and maresins may halt and/or ameliorate rheumatoid arthritis,

lupus and other rheumatolo


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VAGUS NERVEVAGUS NERVEVAGUS NERVEVAGUS NERVE,,,, EPILEPSYEPILEPSYEPILEPSYEPILEPSY AND DRUGAND DRUGAND DRUGAND DRUG ADDICTIONADDICTIONADDICTIONADDICTION

http://answers.drugaddiction.ca/drug-addiction/vagus-nerve-epilepsy-drug-addiction/

Holistic support for the vagus nerve, that is part of our parasympatheticnervous systemcould bring about an end to epilepsy and drug addiction. Chronic stress causes thesympathetic nervous systemto gear up the body in a defensive way, not optimal to goodhealth, more a survival function. In an effort to compensate for stress factors, andbring the body back to homeostasis, the vagus nerveis activated, boosting the immunesystemand trying to restore equilibrium.

The vagus nerve means wandering and indeed the vagus (10th cranial) nerveextends direct from our brain throughout the body, reaching the heart, ourdigestive system and peripheral organs, our muscles and our skin.

Epilepsy is precisely caused byexcessive discharge of electrical activity in the brainresultingin loss of consciousness, and very often tonic-clonic spasms and convulsions.

There is also a wide range ofnon-epileptic seizures, tics, tremors and spasms that havethe appearance of epilepsy but without the cerebral discharge. Focal epilepsy

would appear to be connected with brain function. There is evidence ofglial functionin the brain trying to compensate for stress where epilepsy is involved. Nonepileptic seizures seem to be associated with somatic aberrations, and sometimeshavepsychosomaticcauses.

Both epilepsy and drug addiction are still considered by some to have congenital, genetic origin in both cases no genetic cause has in fact been located, with


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increasingly strong indications that for both disorders it is trauma and an abusivechildhoodthat is causal of these symptoms. A holistic approach has no difficulty withtreating both epilepsy and drug addiction as symptoms of distress each being thebest way that the individual concerned learnt to defend against and tried to deal

with particular stressors in their life.Both epilepsy and drug addiction can be a result of chronic over stimulation of thesympathetic nervous system, and a hyperactive vagus nerve, trying to conquer thestress. Apart from physical toxic stressors, modern day life abounds with traumatic,toxic emotional conflictsand stress.

Causes of epilepsy are known to be sources of intense stimulation, such as flickeringlights, or binaural sound entrainment. The epileptic response would appear to be anatural type of ECTdevised by the body to rid itself of both physical and emotional

tensions generated by overwhelminglytoxic stress. A similar effect is achieved whenpeople compulsivelyturn to drug and substance abuse.

Sadly, much of the stress that we suffer from today comes from the necessity ofhaving to deal with toxic human relationships from a position ofrelative powerlessness.

We dont get catharsis by negotiation, we have no choice, no option toemotionally survive the situation we have to take drastic action. For some it is theepileptic dischargeof mental and physical tension for others it might be taking refugein alcohol use, or shooting up with a needle.

In a holistic sense, virtually all psychosomatic, auto immune and compulsive,impulsive disorders can be explained in terms ofconflictbetween the mind-activatedsympathetic nervous system, and parasympathetic attempts by the vagus nerve, theglilia, and other body regulators to try and down regulate the stress.

Holistic methods and treatments provide parasympathetic support, helping to bring thebody into balance and harmony using methods that are natural and 100% drug

free. When emotional conflicts are resolved, using holistic therapy people canachieve recoveryfrom drug addiction and epileptic symptoms.


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ON VAGUS NERVEON VAGUS NERVEON VAGUS NERVEON VAGUS NERVE,,,, MEDITAIONMEDITAIONMEDITAIONMEDITAION &&&& HEALTHHEALTHHEALTHHEALTH

http://drhyman.com/

The mind has great influence over the body, and maladies often have their origin there. Moliere

What were Dean Ornish, Mehmet Oz, Dan Brown, the Dalai Lama, and I all doingin Woodstock, New York, last week?

We along with an assortment of Tibetan monks and doctors, Buddhist scholars,meditation researchers, and prize-winning biomedical scientists in the field of aging,the immune system, stem cells, genetics, brain aging, stress physiology, and more

from MIT, Yale, Harvard, Columbia, Duke, and UCSF were all part of a specialconference at the Menla Center.

The subject of this conference: Longevity and Tibetan medicine.

If that seems intriguing, it was!

The goal of the conference might sound complex but it was quite simple.

We were there to investigate the relationship between the science of longevity and

wellness and the ancient Indo-Tibetan practices of meditation and training themind.

The point wasnt to learn how to treat disease, but to learn what we know aboutregeneration of the body, protection from illness, and optimization of our functionand wellbeing.

The convergence of post-modern biology the new science of systemsthinking and medicine and the ancient wisdom and practices of Tibetan

medicine and Buddhism was startling.So what did we talk about?


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Well, for one thing, we explored the relationship between the nervous system andhealth and aging, and the connection between the immune system and health.

As you get older, your immune system produces more inflammatory molecules, andyour nervous system turns on the stress response, promoting system breakdownand aging.

Thats not just talk. Its backed by scientific studies.

For example, Kevin Tracey, the director of the Feinstein Institute for MedicalResearch, discovered how the brain controls the immune system through a directnerve-based connection.

He describes this as the inflammatory reflex (i). Simply put, it is the way the

immune system responds to the mind.Let me explain.

Your immune system is controlled by a nerve call the vagus nerve.

But this isnt just any nerve.

It is the most important nerve coming from the brain and travels to all themajor organs.

And you can activate this nerve through relaxation, meditation, and otherancient practices.

Whats the benefit of that?

Well, by activating the vagus nerve, you can control your immune cells,reduce inflammation, and even prevent disease and aging!

Its true. By creating positive brain states as meditation masters have done for

centuries you can switch on the vagus nerve and control inflammation.

You can actually control your gene function by this method. Activate the vagus nerve, and you can switch on the genes that help controlinflammation.

And, as you know from my books Ultrapreventionand UltraMetabolism, inflammationis one of the central factors of disease and aging.

But thats not all we learned at the conference.

Even more fascinating was the discovery that our bodies can regenerate at anyage.


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Diane Krause, MD, PhD, from Yale University discovered that our own innateadult stem cells (cells that can turn into any cell in the body from our bonemarrow) could be transformed into liver, bowel, lung, and skin cells. (ii)

This is a phenomenal breakthrough.

Heres why.

It means that we have the power to create new cells and renew our ownorgans and tissues at any age.

And how are these stem cells controlled?

You guessed it: the vagus nerve.

So relaxation a state of calm, peace, and stillness can activate thevagus nerve.

And the vagus nerve, in turn, activates your stem cells to regenerate andrenew your tissues and organs.

Scientists have even shown howmeditation makes the brain bigger and better.

Theyve mapped out the brain function of professional meditators by bringing

Tibetan lamas trained in concentration and mental control into the laboratory. The result? They found higher levels of gamma brain waves and thicker braincortexes (the areas associated with higher brain function) in meditators. (iii)

Relaxation can have other powerful effects on our biology.

In biology, being a complex system that can adapt to its environment and that isresilient and flexible is critical to health.

The same is true for us.The more complex and resilient we are, the healthier we are.

Take, for example, our heartbeat.

Its complexity is called heart rate variability (HRV) or beat-to-beat variability. Themore complex your HRV, the healthier you are. The least complex heart rate is the

worst a flat line.

So what does this have to do with relaxation?

The HRV is also controlled by the vagus nerve.


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As you can see, turning on the relaxation response and activating that vagusnerve is critical to health.

Let me review what we learned at the conference.

By learning to create positive brain states through deep relaxation or meditation,you can:

* Reduce inflammation* Help regenerate your organs and cells by activating stem cells* Increase your heart rate variability* Thicken your brain (which normally shrinks with aging).* Boost immune function* Modulate your nervous system

* Reduce depression and stress* Enhance performance* Improve your quality of life

Not bad for just learning to chill out!

Think youre too stressed out to relax?

Not so fast. We learned that its not always outside stressors that are the mostimportant, but our responses to those stressors.

In fact, the Dalai Lama told a story of a Tibetan monk he met who had been in aChinese gulag, where he was tortured, placed in solitary confinement, andprohibited from practicing his traditions for more than 20 years.

The Dalai Lama asked him what his greatest stress was.

The monk replied that it was his fear that he would lose compassion for hisChinese jailers!

I have met a number of these old monks, who spent the better part of their livesimprisoned and tortured. What is remarkable is that they didnt suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome that they emerged intact, peaceful, happy, smiling,and giving back to the world.

Perhaps stress is more about the stories we tell ourselves about our lives.

On the other hand, the damaging effects of stress are clear.

As we learned at the conference, one of the leading theories of aging is that theprotective ends of our DNA (called telomeres) shorten as we age.


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Elizabeth Blackburn, PhD, who discovered telomeres, explained that, ultimately,they become so short that the end of our DNA unravels and we can no longerreplicate our cells, so they die.

Remarkably, mental stress produces a more rapid shortening of the telomeres and leads to faster aging.

Whats even more remarkable?

In a study of caregivers of sick patients, the health of the caregiverstelomeres was determined by their attitude!

It sounds impossible, but its true.

The caregivers who felt the care to be a burden had shorter telomeres, while thosewho saw their work as an opportunity to be compassionate had no shortening. (iv)

In closing, the Dalai Lama said that the seat of compassion is actually biologicaland necessary for survival.

Perhaps the development of compassion and wisdom in coping withunfavorable life conditions is the true key to longevity.

It just may be that working to understand our true nature through the cultivation of

our minds and hearts with positive practices like meditation or similar techniques iscritical to health and longevity. The ways we can change our bodies throughchanging our minds is not longer a theory.

There is a new scientific language to understand how the qualities of the mindcontrol the body through effects on the vagus nerve, immune cells, stem cells,telomeres, DNA, and more. Remember, your body has all the resources andinfinitely adaptable systems to self-regulate, repair, regenerate, and thrive.

You simply have to learn how to work with your body, rather than against it. Then

you can have a healthy, thriving life and live out your full lifespan, which can beas high as 120+ years!

So here are a few tips to activate your vagus nerve and prevent aging:

1) Learn to meditate.

Find a teacher or check out tapes or CDs [Practice the iri Eolas Program!]

2) Stretch it out.

Try a yoga class in your area. Yoga can be a great way to release tension and deeplyrelax.


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3) Get some energy.

Learn qi gong, a relaxing ancient system of energy treatment and balancing.

4) Get rubbed the right way.

Massage has been proven to boost immunity and relaxes the body deeply.

5) Make love.

The only way you can do it is if you are not stressed!

6) Get back to nature.

Climb a mountain and watch a sunrise, which will calm your nervous system.

7) Express yourself.

Write in your journal about your inner experience this has been shown to boostimmunity and reduce inflammation. Now Id like to hear from you

Have you noticed how stress affects you? Have you noticed people looking olderafter significant life stressors? Have you noticed how people who seem to have ahappy disposition or compassionate attitude toward life dont seem to age as

quickly as people who are angry and miserable? Do you have any other suggestionsfor how to reduce stress, or better yet, how to better your manage your ownresponse to stressful events?

To your good health,

Mark Hyman, MD

Notes

i Kevin J. Tracey, The inflammatory reflex,Nature420, 853 859 (19 Dec 2002)

ii Krause DS. Plasticity of marrow-derived stem cells. Gene Ther. 2002 Jun;9(11):754-8. Review.

iii Lazar SW, Kerr CE, Wasserman RH, Gray JR, Greve DN, Treadway MT, McGarvey M, Quinn BT,Dusek JA, Benson H, Rauch SL, Moore CI, Fischl B. Meditation experience is associated with increasedcortical thickness.Neuroreport. 2005 Nov 28;16(17):1893-7.

iv Epel ES, Blackburn EH, Lin J, Dhabhar FS, Adler NE, Morrow JD, Cawthon RM. Acceleratedtelomere shortening in response to life stress. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Dec 7;101(49):17312-5.Epub 2004 Dec 1.


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http://www.mattasons.com/tag/vagus-nerve-stimulation/

NIH-funded researchers were able to eliminate tinnitus in a group of rats bystimulating a nerve in the neck while simultaneously playing a variety of soundtones over an extended period of time, says a study published today in the advanceonline publication of the journal Nature. The hallmark of tinnitus is often apersistent ringing in the ears that is annoying for some, debilitating for others, andcurrently incurable. Similar to pressing a reset button in the brain, this new therapy

was found to help retrain the part of the brain that interprets sound so that errantneurons reverted back to their original state and the ringing disappeared. Theresearch was conducted by scientists from the University of Texas at Dallas andMicroTransponder Inc., in Dallas.

Current treatments for tinnitus generally involve masking the sound or learning toignore it, said James F. Battey, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Instituteon Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), which funded a large

part of the research. If we can find a way to turn off the noise, well be able toimprove life substantially for the nearly 23 million American adults who sufferfrom this disorder.

Tinnitus is a symptom some people experience as a result of hearing loss. Whensensory cells in the inner ear are damaged, such as from loud noise, the resultinghearing loss changes some of the signals sent from the ear to the brain. For reasonsthat are not fully understood, some people will develop tinnitus as a result.

We believe the part of the brain that processes soundsthe auditory cortex

delegates too many neurons to some frequencies, and things begin to go awry,said Michael Kilgard, Ph.D., associate professor of behavior and brain sciences atUT-Dallas, and a co-principal investigator on the study. Because there are too


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many neurons processing the same frequencies, they are firing much stronger thanthey should be.

In addition, the neurons fire in sync with one another and they also fire morefrequently when it is quiet. According to Dr. Kilgard, its these changing brainpatterns that produce tinnitus, which is usually a high-pitched tone in one or bothears, but it may also be heard as clicking, roaring, or a whooshing sound.

Dr. Kilgard, along with co-principal investigator Navzer Engineer, M.D., Ph.D., ofMicroTransponder, Inc., and others on the research team first sought to inducechanges in the auditory cortex of a group of rats by pairing stimulation of the vagusnerve, a large nerve that runs from the head and neck to the abdomen, with theplaying of a single tone. When the vagus nerve is stimulated, it releasesacetylcholine, norepinephrine, and other chemicals that help encourage changes in

the brain. They wanted to find out if they could induce more brain cells to becomeresponsive to that tone over a period of time.

For 20 days, 300 times a day, researchers played a high-pitched tone, at 9 kilohertz(kHz), to eight rats. At the same time that the tone was played, an electrodedelivered a very small electrical pulse to the vagus nerve. The researchers foundthat the number of neurons tuned to the 9 kHz frequency had jumped by 79percent in comparison to the control rats.

In a second group of rats, they randomly played two different tonesone at 4 kHzand the other at 19 kHzbut stimulated the vagus nerve only for the higher tone.Neurons tuned to the higher frequency increased by 70 percent while neuronstuned to the 4 kHz tone actually decreased in number, indicating that the tonealone was not enough to initiate the change. It had to be accompanied by vagusnerve stimulation (VNS).

Next, the researchers tested whether tinnitus could be reversed in noise-exposedrats by increasing the numbers of neurons tuned to frequencies other than thetinnitus frequency. A group of the noise-exposed rats with tinnitus received VNS

that was paired with different tones surrounding the tinnitus frequency 300 times aday for about three weeks. Rats in the control group received VNS with no tones,tones with no VNS, or no therapy. For both groups, measurements were takenfour weeks after noise exposure, then 10 days after therapy began, and one day, one

week, and three weeks after therapy ended.

Rats that received the VNS paired with tones showed promising results for eachtime point after therapy began, including midway through therapy, indicating thatthe ringing had stopped for the treated rats. Conversely, the data from control ratsindicated their tinnitus had continued throughout the testing period. Whats more,

the researchers followed two treated and two control rats for an additional twomonths and found that the treated rats maintained this benefit for 3.5 months afternoise exposure, while the controls continued to be impaired.


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The researchers also evaluated neural responses in the auditory cortex in thesesame rats and found that neurons in the treated rats had returned to their normallevels, where they remained. This indicated that the tinnitus had disappeared.However, the control group levels continued to be distorted, indicating that the

tinnitus persisted. Overall, the researchers found that the VNS treatment paired with tones had not only reorganized the neurons to respond to their originalfrequencies, but it also made the brain responses sharper, decreased excitability,and decreased synchronization of auditory cortex neurons.

The key is that, unlike previous treatments, were not masking the tinnitus, werenot hiding the tinnitus. We are retuning the brain from a state where it generatestinnitus to a state that does not generate tinnitus. We are eliminating the source ofthe tinnitus, said Dr. Kilgard.

VNS is currently being used to treat roughly 50,000 people with epilepsy ordepression, and MicroTransponder hopes to conduct clinical studies using VNS

with paired tones in tinnitus patients.

The clinical protocol is being finalized now and a pilot study in tinnitus patientswill be conducted in Europe in the near future, said Dr. Engineer, vice presidentof preclinical affairs at MicroTransponder. The support of the NIDCD has beenessential to allow our research team to continue our work in this important area oftinnitus research. MicroTransponder is a neuroscience-based medical devicecompany that is working to develop treatments for a variety of neurologicaldiseases, including tinnitus, chronic pain, and anxiety.

In the meantime, the researchers are currently working to fine-tune the procedureto better understand such details as the most effective number of pairedfrequencies to use for treatment; how long the treatment should last; and whetherthe treatment would work equally well for new tinnitus cases in comparison tolong-term cases.


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It used to be dogma that the brain was shut away from the actions of the immunesystem, shielded from the outside forces of nature.

But thats not how it is at all. In fact, thanks to the scientific detective work ofKevin Tracey, MD, it turns out that the brain talks directly to the immune system,sending commands that control the bodys inflammatory response to infection andautoimmune diseases.

Understanding the intimate relationship is leading to a novel way to treat diseasestriggered by a dangerous inflammatory response.

Dr. Tracey, director and chief executive of The Feinstein Institute for MedicalResearch, will be giving the 2007 Stetten Lecture on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at theNational Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. His talk Physiology andImmunology of the Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway will highlight thediscoveries made in his laboratory and the clinical trials underway to test the theorythat stimulation of the vagus nerve could block a rogue inflammatory response andtreat a number of diseases, including life-threatening sepsis.

With this new understanding of the vagus nerves role in regulating inflammation,scientists believe that they can tap into the bodys natural healing defenses and calmthe sepsis storm before it wipes out its victims. Each year, 750,000 people in theUnited States develop severe sepsis, and 215,000 will die no matter how harddoctors fight to save them. Sepsis is triggered by the bodys own overpoweringimmune response to a systemic infection, and hospitals are the battlegrounds forthese potentially lethal conditions.

The vagus nerve is located in the brainstem and snakes down from the brain to theheart and on through to the abdomen. Dr. Tracey and others are now studying


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ways of altering the brains response or targeting the immune system itself as a wayto control diseases.

Dr. Tracey is a neurosurgeon who came into research through the back door of theoperating room. More than two decades ago, he was treating a young girl whosebody had been accidentally scorched by boiling water and she was fighting for herlife to overcome sepsis. She didnt make it. Dr. Tracey headed into the laboratoryto figure out why the body makes its own cells that can do fatal damage. Dr. Traceydiscovered that the vagus nerve speaks directly to the immune

an ancient breathing technique for stress control, healing, and rejuvenation

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