Positive Health Online

Several articles in this June 2011 Issue 183 of Positive Health PH Online describe how natural functions such as our breathing and voice have far-reaching effects upon our physical, emotional and psychological [spiritual] health.

This may be a clichéd notion; however we so often take our natural health for granted until something goes awry. Breathing is a primary prerequisite for life, not only for breathing and intake of oxygen, but also for maintaining equilibrium in our lives.

Three very separate feature articles in this issue: The Alchemy of Voice – Transform and Enrich your Life, Mindfulness and the Breath and Every Child Can Grow an Attractive Face, or Mouth Breathing Causes Crooked Teeth all approach breathing, breath and voice from separate disciplines; however the overwhelming conclusion demonstrates how powerful is this so-called natural function of breath and breathing. Here are a few extracts illustrating the commonality as well as the divergence:

The Alchemy of Voice – Transform and Enrich your Life

“When our bodies are out of balance from stress and illness they are literally torn from their harmony. The practice and healing of Voice Alchemy professes to identify the 'holding point' of the disease, and measures the disharmony through the Chakras that are struck out of tune. Our Chakras are the body's bio-computers, and as such function like databases for the whole of our force. Therefore, creating harmonic resonance throughout the physical body brings the Chakras system back into alignment with the vibrations of sound, and so we experience a transmutation of the negative into positive, and we experience the passion of all that is vital once again.”

Mindfulness and the Breath

“For most of the time we are not conscious of how we breathe at all. It is only when we become ‘breathless with excitement’ or stop before a beautiful view and in amazement  perhaps ‘hold our breath’ that we become consciously aware of our breath breathing us.

Creating a breathing space in the midst of stress is a central plank of mindfulness based cognitive behavioural therapy. Eight 2 hourly sessions have been shown to be a very effective vehicle for recovery after three or more severe episodes of depression. [3] The persistence of unchallenged  negative thought, creates a mind-body groove in the brain’s neural pathways; the breathing space ‘lifts the energy and impact of the negative emotion from the neural pathways at the contact point’ thereby allowing new circuitry to develop.

Recent research at King’s College London reported in Science review has shown how antidepressant drugs activate a key protein involved in the brain’s response to stress called the glucocorticoid receptor. The drugs stimulate new brain cells a process called neurogenesis.[5] A similar mechanism may be the reason that meditation and cognitive behavioural therapy are effective in depression. The approaches taught allow new pathways within the brain to re-activate. They are made permanent by new behaviours associated with positive emotional states. [4]

Every Child Can Grow an Attractive Face, or Mouth Breathing Causes Crooked Teeth

“Allergic rhinitis is an extremely common health problem affecting up to 40 million in the United States and between 10-25% of the World's population[1] with the actual prevalence varying within and among countries.[2,3,4,5] The British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology estimate that rhinitis affects one in four in the UK.[6] Typical symptoms of rhinitis include nasal congestion, runny and itchy nose, and sneezing. The eyes, ears, sinuses, and throat can also be involved.

There is no doubt that a seemingly innocuous 'stuffy nose' wreaks havoc on the health of children and adults. Here, we examine the literature to determine whether rhinitis and sleeping with the mouth open is a causal factor for snoring, sleep apnoea and ADHD.

After reviewing texts and articles on Medline, the centre for research disorders in Cincinnati, Ohio concluded that obstructive sleep apnoea, sleep fragmentation, and disturbed sleep often result from nasal obstruction.[10] The authors of the paper observed that "since breathing through the nose appears to be the preferred route during sleep, nasal obstruction frequently leads to nocturnal mouth breathing, snoring, and ultimately to obstructive sleep apnoea."[10] The paper advised that allergic rhinitis and other upper respiratory disorders should be treated more aggressively.[10]

…A Polish study noted that children with sleep respiratory disorders wake up tired, with blocked noses, were breathing through their mouth, tire easily, have concentration problems, are irritated, and demonstrate hyperactivity that may resemble ADHD symptoms. The paper further states that "long-term disease leads to exacerbation of all-systemic symptoms, results in cardiovascular complications, induces developmental inhibition and cognitive dysfunction, and is responsible for school/social failures and reduced life quality."[14]

In a paper entitled A practical approach to allergic rhinitis and sleep disturbance management,[15] Davies et al comments that "sleep quality can be significantly impacted by nasal congestion. This may lead to decreased learning ability, productivity at work or school, and a reduced quality of life."[15]

This is further summed up by Ferguson who states that allergic rhinitis "can lead to impaired nocturnal sleep, and this impairment results in daytime fatigue and somnolence, reducing both learning and work efficiency and decreasing quality of life."[16]”

Other prominent article features discuss relationships, Homeopathy and New Homeopathy, Iodine the Mineral, Devil’s Claw for Arthritis, Aloe Vera and the Trager approach.

A new book review featured is Mistletoe Therapy for Cancer, Letters pages report on issues relating to Mobile Phones and Brain Cancer and Research updates report on published work on a wide variety of topics, ranging from AIDS, Alzheimers, Cancer, Heart Disease, Nutrition, through to Smoking.

I exhort all PH Online readers to keep up the pressure to retain availability of nutritional and herbal medicine supplements. Here is a good place to start:

www.anh-europe.org/news/high-profile-for-eu-herb-law-at-natural-organic-products-europe