Breathing and its effect on the nervous system.
Now that you are aware of the breath, we can start to investigate what effects it has on our body more importantly the central nervous system. While doing research I found something very interesting about deep breathing and specific belly breathing which creates a cleansing effect that pumps and moves cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) through the spine and brain. This is important to know.
Let's take a look at the science, I am highlighting the main points for clarity and attaching the source at the end.
Cerebral spinal fluid and its 3 main functions:
Cushions the brain and spinal cord when they’re struck with mechanical force.
Provide basic immunological protection to the CNS.
Removes metabolic waste as well as transports neuromodulators and neurotransmitters.
Break down with resources:
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a clear fluid bathing the central nervous system (CNS), undergoes pulsatile movements. Together with interstitial fluid, CSF plays a critical role in the removal of waste products from the brain, and maintenance of CNS health.
In examinations of 18 healthy participants (eight females, ten males; mean age 34.9 ± 14 (SD) years; age range: 18-61 years), we observed immediate increase in cranially-directed velocities of instantaneous-CSF 16-28% and respiratory-CSF 60-118% during four breathing patterns compared to spontaneous breathing, with the greatest changes during deep abdominal breathing (28%, p = 0.0008, and 118%, p = 0.0001, respectively).
Suggesting respiration can be the primary regulator of CSF depending on the individual differences in breathing techniques.
In contrast to normal breathing, forced respiration leads to pronounced increases and a prompt synchronization of flow dynamics in CSF and venous systems. The lumbar canal and epidural venous upward surge during free breathing abates with the onset of forced inspiration and rises during ensuing exhalation—a pattern opposite to that of venous flow in the upper body part. Spinal and intracranial CSF, on the other hand, move uniformly upwards during forced inhalation as previously described. Our results provide evidence that deep respiration couples interdependent venous and brain fluid flow—most likely mediated by intrathoracic and intraabdominal pressure changes.
Best results seen at T8-L3:
The quantitative results for spinal CSF flow rates and volumes confirm previous findings of an upward movement during forced inspiration and reversed downward flow during subsequent exhalation—for both breathing types. However, the effects were more pronounced for abdominal than for thoracic breathing, in particular at spinal levels Th8 and L3.
Spinal CSF dynamics are highly sensitive to respiratory performance and instantaneously reflect intraabdominal and intrathoracic volume and associated pressure changes. Forced inspiration and expiration therefore lead to upward and downward CSF flow in the spinal canal, respectively. Respective flow rates and volumes are much more pronounced for abdominal than for thoracic breathing,
Here is an in-depth study for those who would like to cover the whole respiratory system.
Important to understand...
Breathing cannot be overlooked, it is an entirely different kind of exercise that works different structures and systems in the body. Don't ignore it... It's of utmost importance and should be at the top of your daily things to do.
More to come on meditation resources.
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