XVII. Nostril Breathing vs.Mouth Breathing
One of the first
lessons in the Yogi Science of Breath, is
to learn how to breathe through the nostrils, and to overcome the common
practice of mouth-breathing.
The breathing mechanism of man is so constructed that
he may breathe either through the mouth or nasal tubes, but it is a matter of
vital importance to him which method he
follows, as one brings health and strength and the other disease and
weakness.
It should not be
necessary to state to the student that the
proper method of breathing is to take the breath through the nostrils, but
alas! the ignorance among civilized
people regarding this simple matter is astounding. We find people in all walks of life habitually
breathing through their mouths, and
allowing their children to follow
their horrible and disgusting example.
Many
of the diseases to which civilized man is subject are
undoubtedly caused by this common habit of mouth-breathing. Children
permitted to breathe in this way grow up
with impaired vitality and weakened constitutions,
and in manhood and womanhood break down and become chronic invalids. The
mother of the savage race does better,
being evidently guided by her
intuition. She seems to instinctively recognize that the nostrils are the proper channels for the
conveyal of air to the lungs, and she trains her infant to close its little lips and breathe through the nose.
She tips its head
forward when it is asleep, which attitude closes the lips and makes
nostril-breathing imperative. If our
civilized mothers were to adopt the same plan, it would work a great
good for the race.
Many
contagious diseases are contracted by the disgusting
habit of mouth-breathing, and many cases of cold and
catarrhal affections are also attributable to the same
cause. Many persons who, for the sake of appearances,
keep their mouth closed during the day, persist
in mouth-breathing at night and often contract disease
in this way. Carefully conducted scientific experiments have shown that
soldiers and sailors who sleep with their
mouths open are much more liable to contract contagious diseases than those who
breathe properly through the nostrils. An instance is related in which small-pox became epidemic on a
man-of-war in foreign parts, and
every death which resulted was that
of some sailor or marine who was a mouth-breather, not a single nostril-breather succumbing.
The organs of respiration have their only protective apparatus,
filter, or dust-catcher, in the nostrils. When the breath is taken through the
mouth, there is nothing from mouth to lungs to strain the air, or to catch the
dust and other foreign matter in the air. From mouth to lungs the dirt or impure substance has a clear track, and the entire respiratory system is unprotected.
And, moreover, such incorrect
breathing admits cold air to the organs, thereby injuring them.
Inflammation of the respiratory organs
often results from the inhalation of cold air through the mouth. The man who
breathes through the mouth at night,
always awakens with a parched feeling in the mouth and a
dryness in the throat. He is violating one of
nature's laws, and is sowing the seeds of disease.
Once more, remember that the mouth affords no protection to the respiratory organs, and cold air, dust and impurities and
germs readily enter by that door. On the
other hand, the nostrils and nasal passages show evidence of the careful design of nature in this respect. The nostrils are two narrow, tortuous channels,
containing numerous bristly hairs
which serve the purpose of a filter or sieve to strain the air of its
impurities, etc., which are expelled when the breath is exhaled. Not only do the nostrils serve this important purpose,
but they also perform an important function in warming the air inhaled.
The long narrow winding nostrils are filled
with warm mucous membrane, which coming in contact with the inhaled air warms it so that it can do no damage to the delicate organs of the
throat, or to the lungs.
No
animal, excepting man, sleeps with the mouth open or
breathes through the mouth, and in fact it is believed
that it is only civilized man who so perverts nature's
functions, as the savage and barbarian races almost invariably breathe
correctly. It is probable that this
unnatural habit among civilized men has been acquired through unnatural methods of living, enervating
luxuries and excessive warmth.
The refining, filtering and straining apparatus of the nostrils renders the air fit to reach the delicate organs of the throat and the lungs, and the air is not fit to so reach these
organs until it has passed through nature's refining process. The
impurities which are stopped and retained
by the sieves and mucous membrane of the nostrils, are thrown out again
by the expelled breath, in exhalation, and in case they have accumulated too rapidly or have
managed to escape through the sieves and
have penetrated forbidden regions, nature protects us by producing a sneeze which violently ejects the
intruder.
The air, when it enters the lungs is as different from the outside air,
as is distilled water different from the water of the cistern. The intricate
purifying organization of the nostrils, arresting and holding the
impure particles
in the air, is as important as is the action of the mouth in stopping cherry stones and fish bones and preventing them from being carried on to the
stomach. Man should no more breathe
through his mouth than he would
attempt to take food through his nose.
Another
feature of mouth-breathing is that the nasal passages,
being thus comparatively unused, consequently fail
to keep themselves clean and clear, and become clogged up and unclean, and are
apt to contract local diseases. Like abandoned roads that soon become filled with weeds and rubbish, unused nostrils
become filled with impurities and foul matter.
One
who habitually breathes through the nostrils is not
likely to be troubled with clogged or stuffy nostrils, but for
the benefit of those who have been more or less addicted
to the unnatural mouth-breathing, and who wish to acquire the natural
and rational method, it may perhaps be well
to add a few words regarding the way
to keep their nostrils clean and free from impurities.
A favorite Oriental method is to snuff a little water up
the nostrils allowing it to run down the passage into the throat, from thence
it may be ejected through the mouth. Some
Hindu Yogis immerse the face in a bowl of
water, but this latter method requires considerable
practice, and the first mentioned method is equally efficacious,
and much more easily performed.
Another good plan is to open the window and breathe
freely, closing one nostril with the finger or thumb,
sniffing up the air through the open nostril. Then
repeat the process on the other nostril. Repeat several
times, changing nostrils. This method will usually
clear the nostrils of obstructions.
We urge upon the student the necessity of acquiring this method of breathing if he has it not, and caution him against dismissing this phase of the subject as unimportant.
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