HATHA YOGA/PART 17
CHAPTER 17.
NOSTRIL-BREATHING VS. MOUTHBREATHING
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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