[HN Gopher] Decreased CO2 during breathwork: emergence of altere...
       ___________________________________________________________________
        
       Decreased CO2 during breathwork: emergence of altered states of
       consciousness
        
       Author : bookofjoe
       Score  : 45 points
       Date   : 2025-04-15 16:23 UTC (2 days ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.nature.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.nature.com)
        
       | jkingsman wrote:
       | I've had this described to me as basically the combination of
       | neuro+psychological effects of hyperventilation (respiratory
       | alkalosis) in a peaceful/positive environment (as opposed to
       | anxiety-attack-driven or etc.), plus the meditative effects of
       | deep breathing, plus the meditative/brain-entrainment effects of
       | rhythmic movement of a major central/core muscle (diaphragm).
       | Together, those often cause euphoria, altered states of
       | consciousness, and cognitive shifts not too far off from
       | psychedelics.
       | 
       | Could someone who is more familiar with it affirm, adjust, or
       | deny that as a general (medically-grounded/secular) summary of
       | breathwork?
        
         | hashmap wrote:
         | Put on a five-minute song and start hyperventilating. You can
         | tell pretty quick.
        
       | pedalpete wrote:
       | I've experimented with holotropic breathwork, and was quite
       | amazed at the experience. Unfortunately, as much as I've tried to
       | re-create the experience while not lead, I find my mind just
       | doesn't want to go beyond about 5-10 minutes of breathing, vs the
       | 30 minutes I did in breathwork sessions.
       | 
       | Having said that, I think the design of this study could be much
       | improved. It shouldn't be too difficult to create a double blind
       | group environment using headphones (think like a silent disco)
       | where both participants and researchers don't know who is
       | listening to guided or not.
       | 
       | I'm also not sure if the biomarkers are the best. DMT can
       | apparently be detected in saliva, and I believe the theory is
       | that during holotropic breathwork, the pineal gland releases more
       | DMT than normal.
        
       | bentt wrote:
       | I got into doing this Wim Hof breathing exercise a few years ago
       | and it was definitely intense. Unsure if this is related but
       | sounds similar.
       | 
       | https://youtu.be/0BNejY1e9ik?si=kgBBUhqMe9HWaKCG
        
       ___________________________________________________________________
       (page generated 2025-04-17 23:00 UTC)