Breathwork Therapy, The Whole Body Perspective

By Nancy Gardner


Throughout the Seventies and Eighties, doctors largely ignored the rise of interest in and experts on the holistic medical approach to disease. These days many people are seeking a balanced approach, and many lack the insurance necessary to see traditional doctors. With such changes in attitude, the medical field has been forced to take a closer look at techniques such as breathwork therapy.

For a patient and their physician to appreciate why and how many holistic methods can be effective, they must first acknowledge that there is a connection between the mind and the body. This can be difficult for a doctor trained only in pharmaceutical treatments to accept. However, how we feel about our lives, our illness, and ourselves can impact whether or not we get well.

Many individuals who follow occult-type spiritual practices, also known as the New Age Movement, strongly believe in the mind and body connection. Some will take it so far that they fake being cheerful, actually afraid that any negative thoughts may make them sick. Being afraid to think negative thoughts certainly takes the notion too far in the other direction; however, it has been documented in the treatment of cancer patients that one who suffers depression is less likely to win their battle than one with a more cheery disposition.

Because a deep-breathing exercise routine promotes relaxation and calm, it is being utilized by psychologists now for patients seeking a non-pharmaceutical treatment for anxiety or panic attacks. It takes practice to control the rate of breathing one is using, and this can prevent the hyperventilation often seen by those who suffer anxiety disorders. For many, these exercises have helped them get through stress without making their emotions a public display.

Individuals who live with Asperger Syndrome have utilized this method to great success. By controlling their breath, they can control the way they handle an attack of anxiety in social situations. This ability helps to lessen the stress for those who care for them, and it gives them a greater sense of control over their own reality when they do not melt down in public.

For anyone undergoing treatment for breathing-related ailments such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, controlling the breathing is very important to maintaining oxygenated blood. In order to maintain a healthy and functioning body, one must have the proper oxygen saturation, and this is tested every time such a patient sees their doctor. Deep breathing helps bring more oxygen into the blood, and this helps clear the mind and heal the body.

The average person, when breathing, only fills their lungs with normal aspiration. However, there are times when the body needs more O2, and will force us to inhale all the way through the diaphragm in what we call yawning. The body demands this of us whenever our oxygen saturation is low because there are more shallow blood vessels in the diaphragm.

For many facing serious illness, finding the right treatment means a balance between traditional medicine and a holistic approach. There are a few holistic MDs out there, but they are few and hard to find. When facing life-threatening illness, one must become their own case manager in order to find the treatments that will best work for them.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment