A man is born gentle and pliant.At his death he is hard and stiff.Green plants are tender and filled with sap.At their death they are brittle and dry.Therefore the stiff and unbending is the disciple of death.The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life.An inflexible force meets with defeat.A tree that is unbending is easily broken.The hard and rigid will fall.The soft and supple will overcome.-Lao Tzu Everyone has some familiarity with the interaction between physical posture and emotional / psychic state, tension carried in the body is related to mental / emotional tension, each of us develop unique character armours as defensive strategies as we develop through life, this insight is not unique to hatha yoga, Wilhelm Reich also observed this tendency, Reich believed that if this character armour could be eliminated an individuals psychological rigidity would also be remedied. Manfred Clyne (pianist and computer engineer) noted that people will make characteristic gestures when listening to the work of particular composers, suggesting a unity ofMind and Tissue.Within Yoga the practice of asana (posture) is a means of working through the grossest crystallisations of our psychic structure, whilst for many this will focus on opening and releasing long held tension and rigidity, others may find that their challenge is developing the strength and courage to face the world, rather than adopting an attitude of almost pathological passivity, for these types who may be able to place their legs behind their head from day one of practice the challenge will be balancing their flexibility with strength, as they do this they will find greater confidence to live from their heart. Flexibility is desirable, but for some the ability to yield becomes maladaptive when it results in collapse when faced with an obstacle rather than dynamic flow around the obstacle.The different asanas of hatha yoga, which are without number, could be seen as representing different psychic attitudes as manifested through the body (though obviously somewhat unusual attitudes), a typical techno-industrial human being may adopt a relatively limited number of different bodily positions during their day to day lives, lying down, sitting, slouching, hunched over desk, standing, walking. If not used the bodys muscles tendons and ligaments gradually atrophy and shorten, with this limitation of physical mobility comes a limit in psychic freedom, some will not wish to admit this to themselves, but generally it is so, a young child has a naturally open mind and a naturally flexible body, as people age they tend to become physically and mentally less flexible, often their psychic ossification representing the crystallisation of their cultures perceived limits of possibility, and when we grow up in a culture that is utterly deranged, fetishizing machines and mechanical metaphors, living in rigid grid-work cities, disconnected from nature, lacking in the most basic vision and imagination, escaping these mind forgd manaclescan be difficult, especially as those who do attempt to step outside of the cultures established borders will quickly find that others, themselves damaged by the culture react with accusations of insanity, telling the explorer that they are mentally challenged, a kook, or accusing them of religious fanaticism. Another world is possible.Asana practice and stretching in general may be able to increase synthesis of ATP, this appears to be a due direct physical effect on the cell structure, suggesting that conventional ideas about ATP synthesis and physiology as a whole are mistaken (Ulbrich and Ruegg 1971). Further the highly energised state of the cell is associated with the capacity to relax, one of the indications of hypothyroidism (chronic low energy state), is the Achilles reflex test, which if someone is hypothyroid will show as an Achilles tendon that is slow to relax after stimulation. Asana practice is likely to be able to assist in helping stressed de-energised cells to return to a relaxed resting state, especially when combined with pranayama, as the increased CO2is known to improve muscle relaxation, this is no doubt due to its capacity to restore the cell to healthy oxidative metabolism, resulting in decreased intracellular pressure, shifting redox balance towards a more oxidized state, accompanied by increased ATP synthesis, increased water structure and resulting higher level of energy. This decreased intracellular pressure in Viktor Schaubergers terms may be a result of a biological vacuum and a resulting inflow of ethericies increasing cellular energy and structure (more on potential connections between Schauberger and Peat in a later post).That physical flexibility and energetic flexibility are intertwined is natural, as Szent-Gyorgyi discusses in Bioenergetics (1957) there is a close relationship between molecular conformation and electromagnetic forces, for example haemoglobin and the Bohr effect, also see Lings Association-Induction hypothesis, what is found at the molecular level also manifests at other levels.Energy and structure are interdependent at every level. -Ray PeatThere are some associations between general physical flexibility and heart disease, individuals with low general physical flexibility were found to have increased arterial stiffness, a known risk factor for heart disease (Yamamoto et al. 2009), a separate study also found that stretching but not strength training, could improve central arterial compliance (Cortez-Cooper et al. 2008), another study suggests that resistance training worsens arterial compliance (Miyachi et al. 2004), so if you do lots of strength training make sure you stretch as well. What is going on here, why should this be so?One possible factor is the involvement of the cortex of the brain which is known to have a tonic inhibitory effect on muscles and nerves, if some one can learn to relax one area it may facilitate the inhibitory action of the cortex on other areas. Vascular tone is also regulated through sympathetic nervous activity, explaining all of this through mechanical, binary all or nothing nervous activity seems not only difficult, but contrary to the sensitivity of living experience.It seems possible that what is seen here is an electromagnetic phenomenon, if energy can be freed to move in one part of the body then they resulting increase in flow will make energetic stagnation in any area less likely, the body here can be seen as a coherent interconnected flowing electromagnetic emulsion. When there is stiffness and energetic stagnation in one part it will effect the whole.A healthy heart beat has some variability (though patterned fractally), an unhealthy heart has a highly regular beat (decreased heart rate variability). The heart produces the strongest electromagnetic field of any organ in the body and it seems likely that it is involved in some key way with regulating overall electromagnetic coherence of the whole being including its connection to the larger environment.Gilbert Lings work suggests that muscular contraction is a state tending to be more electronically saturated (reduced) than the relaxed resting state, that stretching can increase ATP, which in Lings model serves to restore the relaxed high energy resting state, by changing the electron cloud of proteins withdrawing electrons from them, this seems to support the idea that muscular rigidity / pliancy is an electromagnetic phenomenon. This state of greater electron density gives the cells a negative charge causing them to accumulate calcium (Ca2+), increased intracellular calcium is associated with multiple diseases including heart disease, cancer, Alzheimers and others.Supporting metabolic efficiency will also work towards improving flexibility, as the high energy state, with abundant ATP is the relaxed resting state, so eliminate anti-metabolic factors such as PUFA, excess tryptophan, cysteine and methionine, keep CO2high, practice pranayama / qigong etc. Again that stretching could improve arterial compliance, and that arterial stiffening is associated with Ca2+accumulation, which occurs in the low energy state, all of this suggests thatenergy and structure are intimately interwoven at all levels.This appears to support the work of Wilhelm Reich, who saw many diseases as resulting from the inhibition of energy flow, whilst Reich called this energyOrgoneit seems that he was simply observing electromagnetic phenomena as they occur in the human being. This inhibited energy flow tends to go along with at least some rigidity in outlook. Energetic stagnation is essential to the maintenance of a fascist culture, hence rigid posture, and goose-stepping troops. A free energetically uninhibited human is beautifully dangerous to such deranged cultures, although they usually get crushed, as history shows us (although it seems that sometimes one manages to slip seemingly unnoticed through the black iron bars).The association between disease and energetic stagnation is of course found in many traditional healing and human development systems, it is a seemingly universal insight, only considered unusual and odd by the utterly deranged, irresponsible, rigid, and mechanical reductionists.Asana practice is not only exercise for the body, but also for the psyche, all traditional cultures and healing modalities have recognised the interdependence of body and mind, associating different bodily organs with different emotional states, for example the association of the heart with love, the sense of heartache or having a broken heart, or the common association between the liver and gall bladder and the feeling of anger, we talk about people who are chronically angry as having a lot of bile. The different postures affect the internal organs in different ways sometimes compressing them and other times opening them, intense emotional reactions are possible. Obviously yoga is not the only system to work through and with the body, Qigong and internal martial arts present a similar understanding of the mind-body continuum, any form of conscious physical activity can be used similarly, whether it be dance, acrobatics or exploratory natural movement.It seems increasingly obvious that the ancient traditions and cultures have understood Living-reality in much greater depth than the mechanically minded reductionists, much of this understanding has been expressed in poetic sounding language but this makes it no less accurate than complex chemical formulae or mathematic equations.ReferencesCortez-Cooper MY, Anton MM, Devan AE, Neidre DB, Cook JN, Tanaka H, (2008),The effects of strength training on central arterial compliance in middle-aged and older adults, Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil, 15(2), pp. 149-155.Ho M-W, (2007),The Heartbeat of Health,http://www.i-sis.org.uk/HeartbeatofHealth.phpMiyachi M, Kawano H, Sugawara J, Takahashi K, Hayashi K, Yamazaki K, Tabata I, Tanaka H, (2004),Unfavourable effects of resistance training on central arterial compliance: a randomized intervention study, Circulation, 110(18), pp. 2858-2863.Szent-Gyorgyi A, (1957),Bioenergetics, Academic Press Inc, New York.Ulbrich M, and Ruegg JC, (1971),Stretch induced formation of ATP-32P in glycerinated fibres of insect flight muscle, Experientia, 27(1), pp. 45-46.Yamamoto K, Kawano H, Gando Y, Iemitsu M, Murakami H, Sanada K, Tanimoto M, Ohmori Y, Higuchi M, Tabata I, Miyachi M, (2009),Poor trunk flexibility is associated with arterial stiffening, Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, 297(4), pp. 1314-1318.Heart Hormones, Inversions, andImmortalityDECEMBER 9, 2014/PRANARUPAMarshalling the information needed to optimize our own development runs counter to the program of our technical-scientific culture, which prefers to believe that degeneration is programmed, while emergent evolution is unforeseeable. But, if an optimization project is presented as a way to forestall the programmed degeneration, it might succeed in becoming part of the culture.-Ray Peatalphro yadi bhavedaghnirdahati tat-khat |adha-irchordhva-pda khaa sytprathame dine || 81 ||khachcha kichidadhikamabhyasechcha dine dine |valita palita chaiva hamsordhva na dyate |yma-mtra tu yo nityamabhyasetsa tu klajit || 82 ||If he stints his diet, the fire quickly consumes [the body]. On the first day he should stand for a moment on his head, with his feet above.After six months, the wrinkles and grey hair are not seen. He who practises it daily, for one yama (3 hours), conquers death.-from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Swatmarama (in reference to the Headstand / Viparita karani Mudra).

Dharma Mittra in headstandSo yet again those degenerate Hatha Yogis obsessed by the body and materiality are making outlandish and absurdly inflated claims for their circus tricks, before we saw how they claimed pranayama can cure all disease, now they expect prudent and reasonable human beings to believe that standing on your head will make you immortal, whatever next, yoga can turn you into an Elf?If you believe in a biology crafted out of the random chance errors of a clockwork horror story red in tooth and claw then the claims made by some Hatha Yogis as well as other devils might appear insane, however taking another perspective on biology the picture is very different. In an organismic model where the liquid crystalline structure is generated and supported by the controlled coherent fire of the respiratory whirlwind, where processes are interconnected across all scales, then it might be possible to make creative use of local effects to generate systemic changes which further modify local processes. A range of relatively simple techniques for generating creative constructive adaptation that is capable of overcoming the organisms assimilated inertia might make themselves available.I believe that Hatha Yoga is an art that has discovered such creative techniques, and increasingly the evidence exists to make this case.The Natriuretic peptides are a class of hormones secreted by the heart, while they are named for the observation that they can increase the urinary elimination of sodium they have a range of much more interesting effects. A major stimulus for their release is the stretching of the chambers (atria and ventricles) of the heart (Espiner etal.1995).There is some evidence that inversions (turning upside down) cause an increased stretch in the chambers of the heart, as might be expected. A study examining the circulatory effects of the head down position showed increases in stroke volume, and cardiac output and a decrease in pulse rate (Wilkins et al. 1950). A study looking specifically at the yoga postures Sirshasana (headstand) and Sarvangasana (shoulderstand) found a significant increase in early left ventricle filling, a shortening of the isovolumetric relaxation time and an increase in heart rate (Minvaleev et al. 1995). If inversions are stretching the hearts chambers then they should be stimulating the release of the Natriuretic peptides, as far as I am aware no studies have looked at this possibility so there is some speculation here.The Cardiac natriuretic peptides include six hormones stored as three separate prohormones, Atrial Natriuretic peptide (ANP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP). ANP contains: long-acting natriuretic peptide (LANP), vessel dilator, kaliuretic peptide, and ANP (Vesely 2006).The Natriuretic peptides have a wide range of effects, they have been shown to be anti-inflammatory, ANP reduced the secretion of inflammatory mediators produced in response to bacterial endotoxin /lipopolysaccharide (Kiemer and Vollmar 2001). Both ANP and CNP reduced the expression of COX-2 and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) in response to lipolysaccharide (Kiemer et al. 2001). Anti-fibrotic , mice lacking BNP develop multiple fibrotic lesions (Tamura et al. 2000), BNP also appears to inhibit the profibrotic TGF- and increased collagen 1 and fibronectin proteins (Kapoun et al. 2004). ANP appears to have a tissue stabilising effect that prevents leakiness, ANP inhibited VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), protected the integrity of the blood-retinal-barrier of rats, ANP also significantly reduced the damage done by laser injury (being a lab rat sucks) ( Lara-Castillo et al. 2009). ANP has been found to defend the endothelial barrier from histamine induced permeability (Frst et al. 2008).These cardiac peptides appear to have some significant anti-cancer activity, in 24 hours, Vessel dilator, LANP, Kaliuretic peptide and ANP decreased the number of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells in culture by 65%, 47%, 37% and 34% respectively. Vessel dilator completely stopped the growth of human pancreatic adenocarcinomas in mice, further decreasing the size of even palpable large tumors, after 1 week vessel dilator decreased the size by 49%, LANP by 28%, and kaliuretic by 11%, in placebo treated mice the tumor had increased in size by 20 fold.These hormones also decreased the number of breast adenocarcinoma cells by 60%(vessel dilator), 31%(LANP), 27% (kaliuretic), 40% (ANP). Other cancers; decreased cell numbers of small cell lung cancer, squamous lung cancers, and malignant tumors of the heart (Vesely 2005).A study examining the effects of CNP on proliferating smooth muscle cells found that CNP induced growth inhibition and promoted re-differentiation into highly differentiated smooth muscle cells rather than the less differentiated proliferative phase, CNP improved healing accelerating re-endotheliazation preventing neointima formation (Doi et al. 2001).The cardiac peptides also decrease some hormones associated with stress, perhaps most interestingly prolactin (Samson et al. 1998), but also ACTH which contributes to cortisol (a catabolic hormone released by stress) release (Fink et al. 1991). Swatmarama states that headstand can reverse greying of hair, and prolactin has been implicated in hair loss (Foitzik et al. 2006).These effects of the cardiac peptides, anti-inflammatory, tissue stabilising and anti-cancer suggest that it might be appropriate to view these hormones as in some sense bioenergetic kosmotropes that increase the coherence of the organism, asEnergy and structure are interdependent, at every level*then substances that increase structural coherence should in some way increase energy as an increase in structure should allow for an increase in energy flow which would in-turn allow for structural complexification.ANP and BNP have been found to induce mitochondriogenesis (making new mitochondria) , and to increase uncoupled respiration, that is to increase respiration without producing ATP, instead increasing heat production, and increasing energy expenditure. White adipose tissue appeared to become more like brown fat tissue, brown fat contains more mitochondria than white, and is especially abundant in infants, increased levels and activity of brown fat has been linked to resistance to metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity (Bordicchia et al. 2012). A separate study found that BNP protected against diet induced obesity and insulin resistance and increased muscle mitochondrial content (Miyashita et al. 2009).With the prevalence of mechanical thinking in biology some people might think that increased metabolism means increased wear and tear on the lumbering bio-robot that is piloted by their consciousness (probably an illusion generated by those selfish genes), if the organism is generated by the metabolic flow of energy, the increased metabolism would be expected to result in increased renewal and rejuvenation. In mice individuals with higher metabolisms and greater mitochondrial uncoupling lived longer (Speakman et al. 2004). Somewhat obviously disuse of a tissue results in atrophy, and mitochondria demonstrate increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased respiratory enzymes.Given the evidence for the role of intensified metabolism in evolutionary progress it seems especially difficult to take seriously any attempt to market torpor as a preferable biological state. Mammals have more intense metabolisms than reptiles from 2 to 5 times more, possibly even greater in the case of some humans, mammals also have greater thyroid activity than reptiles (Hulbert and Else 1981). This increased metabolic activity in mammals has required adaptative complexification of the cardiopulmonary system to support it, this is one of the clearest examples of aromorphosis (a raising of the shape making a higher level of function available), an increased metabolism and increased oxygen use required a development and complexification of the Heart and circulatory system, the generation of a four chambered heart made it possible to operate at a higher, more generous energy level. Generally, fish have a two chambered heart, amphibians three chambers, two atria and one ventricle, from here things get a little more complicated as many species of reptile have varying degrees of ventricular septation, meaning that blood flow can complexify and increase in efficiency but not to the degree of birds, and mammals which have four chambered hearts (Jensen et al. 2013).

Morphology of the heart of various animals (Jensen et al. 2013)I think the case can be made that the cardiac peptides are sorts of morphogen, substances that are involved in biological structure generation and regulation, which would be dependent on available energy, decreased energy tends to result in a sort of organismic shrinking, and poor circulation, the effects of an energy surplus can be felt after a large meal, a sort of pleasant expansive, metabolic flush, an increase in circulation, pranayama also can produce such an effect, which should result in increased stretch being experienced in the heart. It seems reasonable to suggest the heart as sort of morphogenic regulator.These Cardiac peptides are higher in the foetal circulation than adults, and the foetal heart expresses higher levels of these hormones than the adult heart. Peaks of ANP and BNP during gestation coincide with significant moments during cardiac morphogenesis (Cameron and Ellmers 2003).These peptides also appear to play a role in bone remodelling, CNP is a potent stimulator of osteoclast activity demonstrating a role in bone remodelling (Holliday et al. 1995). CNP also stimulates chondrocyte proliferation, cartilage matrix production and long bone growth in foetal rats (Mericq et al. 2000).If these cardiac peptides are sorts of morphogen then they might be expected to be increased by other signs of increased energy availability, such as increased thyroid activity and steroid hormones this appears to be the case, thyroid hormones T3 and T4 (T3 being more active) and testosterone dose dependently stimulated ANP (Matsubara et al. 1987). ANP at least in some studies stimulates testosterone production (Pereira et al. 2008), I think this points to the possibility of some self-intensifying positive feedback loops at least when energy is available to nurture them. Life appears to desire to be ever more.Energy is the only Life

Pranayama, carbon dioxide, mitochondria, coherent energy flow, regeneration andindividuationDECEMBER 7, 2012/PRANARUPAyvadvyu sthito dehe tvajjvanamuchyate |maraa tasya nihkrntistato vyu nirodhayet ||So long as the (breathing) air stays in the body, it is called life. Death consists in the passing out of the (breathing) air. It is, therefore, necessary to restrain the breath.Hatha Yoga PradipikaSome terms:Bohr effect:haemoglobins oxygen binding capacity is inversely related to carbon dioxide concentrations, meaning that without CO2oxygen cannot be released into tissues, as it cannot be released from the haemoglobin molecule.Haldane effect:deoxygenation of the blood increases its capacity for carbon dioxide.Mitochondria: cellular organelle, often considered the energy factory / power plant of the cell.What could be more important to understand than biological energy? Thought, growth, movement, every philosophical and practical issue involves the nature of biological energy.-Ray Peat.It is often claimed in Hatha yoga that pranayama is capable of curing all diseases (though improper practice may cause disease), to a supposedly rational and sceptical westerner believing in such things as viral diseases, autoimmune diseases, and genetic diseases, this may seem an outrageous claim however there are reasons to believe that this claim is actually quite sound and entirely within the realms of scientific explanation, admittedly much of the science required to explain it draws on the work of scientists whose work has been marginalised by the corporate pseudoscience which has become the norm in todays civilisation.Many studies demonstrate an association between chronic hyperventilation / increased respiratory volumes and multiple diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, epilepsy (see the sitehttp://www.normalbreathing.com). This hyperventilation increases the loss of carbon dioxide, which is far from being a waste product of respiration, the human organism in health maintains a carbon dioxide level of around 7%, atmospheric carbon dioxide is at 0.036-0.039%, an enormous difference.One of the most easily identified mechanisms underlying these observations is inhibition of the Bohr effect, whereby haemoglobins oxygen binding capacity is inversely related to carbon dioxide concentrations, so high carbon dioxide concentrations produced as a result of efficient oxidative metabolism allows for oxygen release where it is needed, at least when the system is functioning in an organised manner. When someone hyperventilates they breathe out large amounts of carbon dioxide and inhibit the Bohr effect, paradoxically over breathing results in decreased cellular respiration, even though the blood may be carrying significant quantities of oxygen. This results in increased rates of glycolysis, an inefficient form of energy (ATP) production, resulting in the formation of lactic acid, this further exacerbates the situation as lactic acid appears to compete with carbon dioxide in the blood resulting in increased losses of carbon dioxide, whereas carbon dioxide inhibits lactate production, some of these effects are likely mediated through acid-base homeostasis (Cohen et al 1990). This is in many respects the respiratory pathology that Otto Warburg noted as the defining feature of cancer, aerobic glycolysis, the production of lactate in presence of oxygen.This aerobic glycolysis is a fundamental respiratory defect, and occurs whenever the mitochondrial oxidation of pyruvate is inhibited, and there are multiple agents capable of inhibiting this efficient energy production, however they all appear to function in fairly common manner, that is they stimulate inflammation, or cellular swelling and oedema. These agents include estrogen, histamine, bacterial endotoxin, polyunsaturated fatty acids, serotonin, and lactate itself. Anaerobic glycolysis occurring as a result of intense physical exertion is adaptive with those actions of lactate that could be considered pathological in other circumstances acting to assist in the organisms adaptation to the stress, for example lactates stimulation of angiogenesis (Hunt et al 2008) can be seen as a functional signal assisting in bring increased blood to an area undergoing adaptive growth, of course in other circumstances the signals involved, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and hypoxia-inducible factor (hif-1alpha) are all associated with such pathological conditions as cancer. However that represents a fundamentally out of control situation, in a state of health these signals of inflammation and dedifferentiation are inevitably calmed by the overall coherence of the organism and its environment, the fact that so many chronic inflammatory conditions have become so common today, should, if people were paying attention serve as a warning that our civilization is dangerously incoherent.Ok, so how does this swelling inhibit mitochondrial respiration and what does this have to do with pranayama?To explain that we are going to have to look at some alternate models of cell physiology. Models such as those proposed in Mae Wan Hos The Rainbow and the Worm (2008), Gerald Pollacks Cells, Gels and the Engines of Life (2001), and yes, of course the work of Ray Peat. They present a view of physiology and the organism that is oddly enough Living, massively interconnected doing away with deranged ideas such as the interactions of enzymes and substrates through processes of random diffusion, and models of ion partitioning that require fatty bi-layer membranes with ever increasing membrane channels and pumps, powered by infinite ATP Androids dancing (robot style, obviously) on receptor heads. Estimates suggest, despite the efforts of funky androids, these imaginary pumps and channels simply cannot be provided with enough energy to function as they are claimed to based on current popular models. Instead of the bizarre infernally complex mechanistic biological models currently popular with interactions mediated through specific lock and key mechanisms, diseases often being seen as defects in very specific mechanisms. An alternative presents a model wherein intracellular (and extracellular) water is structured by its electronic interactions with proteins into gel-like liquid-crystalline arrays.When the cell swells inappropriately this liquid crystalline matrix is disrupted, and communication and energy flow through the cell is also disrupted, mitochondria are left unable to function and the cell is left with no choice but to produce ATP (typically thought of as the energy molecule) via glycolysis. Within this model a commonality in disease origin is this disruption of structure and coherence and the concomitant inhibition of energy flow.One area where the liquid crystalline nature of the living substance is readily apparent is the lens of the eye, where coherent structure is absolutely essential to its biological function, evidence for the interaction of coherence and metabolically efficient energy flow can be seen in studies demonstrating increased lactate in cataracts (areas of opacity within the lens), suggesting that interference in energy flow disrupts structure and / or disrupted structure inhibits energy flow resulting in the more primitive glycolytic metabolism, the disrupted structure decreases transparency, further cataracts are less common at higher altitudes suggesting the possible involvement of the Haldane effect and increased retention of carbon dioxide caused by the decreased oxygen at high altitude (Brandt et al 1982).Ray Peat suggests that the effect carbon dioxide has on haemoglobin, the conformation change that allows for the release of oxygen into tissues is a general electronic effect, and that carbon dioxide is capable of acting similarly on other proteins, that in the words of Gilbert Ling carbon dioxide is a cardinal adsorbent, that is a substance exerting a powerful controlling influence on the protein conformation and the associated water structure, acting to structure water in the cell eliminating swelling and oedema, restoring order and coherence to the excited cell.Evidence for carbon dioxides capacity to act in way that restores order and coherence to the cellular structure can be seen in its capacity to protect the brain from hypoxia (Vannucci et al. 1995), inhibit formation of ROS (Kogan et al. 1997), stabilise mast cells inhibiting histamine release (Strider et al. 2010), stabilising nerve cells (Krnjevic et al. 1965), its inhibition of lactate formation (Cohen et al. 1990). These attributes (especially the inhibition of ROS and lactate) suggest that carbon dioxide is acting to optimize energy production, preventing electron leakage during redox reactions, favoring efficient coherent mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. The use of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors in reducing tumor growth supports the importance of carbon dioxide as a fundamental regulator of metabolism (Supuran and Scozzafava 2000).Carbon dioxide has many other physiological actions including, vasodilation (Fox and Ryder 1979), given this it is obvious then that hyperventilation would lead to hypertension and other circulatory diseases, as well as playing a role in the aetiology of neurodegenerative diseases, both through its promotion of circulation, and optimizing mitochondrial function, both of which will be inhibited by hyperventilation. CO2is also involved in broncodilation (van den Elshout et al. 1991), and muscle relaxation (Hoyle 1960). Carbon dioxide appears to play a role in bone mineralization, and whilst metabolic acidosis has some associations with bone loss, respiratory acidosis (high CO2) does not show the same associations and may be protective (Bushinsky et al. 1993). Perhaps this would explain the stories of yogis and internal martial artists having strong bones. Carbon dioxide seems to play a key role in the secretion of hydrochloric acid by the stomach (Davies 1951), this supports the assertion that pranayama increases the digestive fire. Carbon dioxide protects against lung injury both prophylactically and therapeutically (Laffey et al. 2003, Salmon and Hotchkiss 2007).Yandell Henderson (1940) saw that:Carbon dioxide is the chief hormone of the entire body; it is the only one that is produced by every tissue and that probably acts on every organ.However I suspect even this is massively understating things, carbon dioxide is something truly miraculous, Henderson also called carbon dioxide the breath of life, this phrase represents a much clearer and more accurate understanding of CO2, and its importance to biology. For carbon dioxide to have so many effects on physiology it must be interacting with our physiology in a fundamental way, the suggestion that it is a cardinal adsorbent or perhaps a kosmotrope seems reasonable.Given this central importance of CO2in biology, as well as the increased respiratory rates reported in many chronic diseases it should be becoming apparent how pranayama may very well be a panacea.If the cancer cell is used as a paradigmatic example of a cell in a disordered chaotic condition, wherein the swelling characteristic of this disorder is produced by its overly reduced state (having an excess of electrons, and hence being alkaline), carbon dioxide is capable of acting as a Lewis acid and withdrawing electrons from the excited proteins, the oxygen delivery facilitated by carbon dioxide further resolves this condition by restoring healthy oxidative metabolism.Further evidence for the centrality of carbon dioxide as a fundamental mediator of the life force can be seen in its essentiality for organisms that can survive without oxygen, but who become incapable of multiplication when deprived of carbon dioxide (Rahn 1941), this suggests that carbon dioxide may be more fundamental to life than oxygen.Ray Peat in the articleMitochondria and Mortalitysuggests that carbon dioxide acts in some way to call mitochondria into existence, suggesting the possibility that carbon dioxide through its alteration of the shape and electrical affinities of haemoglobin and other proteins, increases the stability of the mitiochondrial coacervate, causing it to recruit additional proteins from its environment and its own synthetic machinery to grow or multiply. To support this proposition Dr. Peat points to the effects of increased thyroid hormone and the effects of high altitude on increasing mitochondria, thyroid acting to increase metabolism and hence increasing carbon dioxide production and high altitude acting via the Haldane effect whereby deoxygenation of the blood increases its capacity for carbon dioxide.If Ray is right and carbon dioxide does act to call mitochondria into existence then the implications for understanding the practice of pranayama are profound, whilst some hyperventilatory pranayamas exist (bhastrika and kapalabhati) in all the traditional texts of Hatha Yoga the emphasis is placed on hypoventilation:yvadvyu sthito dehe tvajjvanamuchyate |maraa tasya nihkrntistato vyu nirodhayet ||So long as the (breathing) air stays in the body, it is called life. Death consists in the passing out of the (breathing) air. It is, therefore, necessary to restrain the breath.Hatha Yoga PradipikaThen let the intelligent student close with his right thumb the pingala (the right nostril), inspire air through the Ida (the left nostril), and keep the air confinedsuspend his breathingas long as he can; and afterwards let him breathe out slowly, and not forcibly, through the right nostril.Shiva SamhitaMany of the pranayamas used in hatha yoga share a common factor they work in some way to slow and reduce standard unconscious breathing, for example nadi shodanna, alternates the breathing between each nostril and whilst this may produce additional subtle effects it acts to reduce airway size so slowing the rate at which air can be inhaled and exhaled, the gentle contraction of the base of the throat used in Ujayi also serves to restrict airway size, breath retention in general will obviously reduce breathing.This hypoventilation will induce a mild hypercapnic condition (increased Carbon dioxide), this increased carbon dioxide will improve oxygen delivery throughout the body, through the Bohr effect as well as through carbon dioxides vasodilatory effects, stabilise nerve cells, decrease inflammation through a number of mechanisms including stabilising mast cells inhibiting histamine and serotonin release. Further if Ray Peat is correct potentially increasing mitochondria and hence increasing the Generative Energy available to an individual, this increased metabolic energy is available both physically and mentally, with greater energy available an individual is capable of a higher level of function. This increase in mitochondrial activity is capable of increasing production of various protective steroid hormones including the foundational hormones that are also neuroactive, pregnenolone, progesterone and DHEA as all of these are produced within the mitochondria. High levels of these hormones are associated with the fluid resiliency of youth, optimising mitochondrial function through pranayama should keep their production high.Warning, things are about to getSuper-Kooky!!There is reason to believe that when metabolism is truly optimum, and the whole organism is in state of deep harmonic coherence, it is capable of setting up mutually reinforcing positive feedback loops, for example increased retention of CO2through pranayama increases blood flow and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, increased mitochondrial metabolism means greater production of progesterone and pregnenolone which can improve thyroid function, thyroid increases CO2, increasing mitochondrial efficiency, blood flow and further stimulates production of pregnenolone, progesterone and DHEA, massively increasing Generative Energy available that spontaneously heals disease and increases the overall coherence and energy available for realisation of ones dharma.The possibility of such feedback loops suggests that we are capable of becoming (if we arent already to at least some extent) over-unity beings, and lends support to stories of yogis living hundreds or even thousands of years needing little or no food.Further it is possible that carbon dioxide is the key agent involved in the opening of the nadis that can be experienced during pranayama, these are streaming bio-plasmic currents running through the body, there are often said to be 72,000 of them, with three emphasized, Ida and Pingala, and most important Sushumna. Ray Peat talks about CO2as greasing the energy pathways in the cell and mitochondria, I suspect given its affinity for forming carbamino groups it is capable of performing a similar function throughout the body, and that it is this, that when CO2levels are high enough and the yogi has entered a state of kevala kumbhaka, opens the channels, of course this is speculation, and is a jump that I am making, I may be mistaken.If things are so then even the seemingly extreme case of Chaurangi, who is said to have regenerated his hands and feet (they were chopped off by a wicked step mother) after 12 years of pranayama practice, appears within the realms of possibility. This no doubt sounds crazy to many as it is so far outside the realm of our typical experience, but many animals are capable of regenerating limbs, including, axolotls and salamanders, why should this be so for some and not others? LV Polezhaev (1972) a biologist who studied regeneration notes theories that regenerative failure was a result of weakening of morphogenetic fields, evidence can also be found suggesting significant bioelectrical current and field effects in influencing regeneration (Borgens et al. 1979). If CO2acts as a kosmotrope, increasing coherent energy flow then it is inevitably also strengthening the energetic field phenomena that undoubtedly play a key role in life processes. The possibilities are totally awesome!Thyroid plays an essential role in stimulating oxidative metabolism and hence increasing C02, thyroid is capable of increasing mitochondria, hypothyroidism is associated with decreased mitochondria and biochemical and structural differences in mitochondria (Jakovcic et al. 1978). Hypothyroidism results in physical and mental fatigue, compensatory increases in stress hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol.In our present environment we have been exposed to numerous anti-metabolic agents that inhibit thyroid function, including estrogens (via pollution of water supplies from birth control pills as well as industrial xenoestrogens), fluoride, polyunsaturated fats (both omega 3 and 6, avoid them both), and radioactive pollution.Thyroid appears to play a key role in differentiation, maturation and individuation, this may be due in part to the increase in CO2levels that increased oxidative metabolism brings about, evidence for this can be seen in an experiment where tadpoles treated with T4 and T3 prematurely metamorphose into tiny frogs, whilst those that have been made hypothyroid simply become oversized tadpoles (Gudernatsch 1912).

Intestinal cleansing, endotoxin, and metabolicenergyDECEMBER 22, 2012/PRANARUPAAging and stress increase some of the inflammatory mediators, tending to reduce the barrier function of the bowel, letting larger amounts of bacterial toxins enter the bloodstream, interfering with energy metabolism, creating inflammatory vicious circles of increasing leakiness and inflammation.-Ray PeatMany of the shatkarmas (bodily purification techniques) of Hatha Yoga focus on cleansing of the Gastro-intestinal tract, these practices are often neglected by modern aspirants, who perhaps find them odd, embarrassing and lacking in the glamour of crazy-awesome asanas. There are however some very metabolically pragmatic reasons for these practices, chief amongst them is reducing the metabolically suppressive and inflammatory actions of bacterial endotoxin.So just what is bacterial endotoxin?Bacterial endotoxin is a lipopolysaccharide (a long-chain sugar molecule with a lipid / fat molecule joined to it), found in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, including those that reside in our intestinal tract. Exposure to it triggers an immune response, exposure to large amounts of it can result in endotoxic shock.Whilst we have adapted to exposure to a certain amount of endotoxin produced by intestinal bacteria, overgrowth of bacteria, or constipation / increased transit time, can lead to excessive exposure resulting in an inflammatory immune challenge.The mechanism involved in endotoxins toxicity is according to Ray Peat a direct biophysical action on cells causing them to take up water, this results in inflammation and swelling and leaky-gut alongside mitochondrial inhibition. The leaky-gut resulting from such intestinal endotoxin leads to endotoxin gaining access to the blood stream and being able to exert its actions throughout the body, one of the first sites where endotoxin is capable of interfering with healthy function is the liver, here it acts to overburden the livers detoxification systems (in this case the glucuronidatiuon sytem) resulting in increased exposure to other anti-metabolic toxins such as estrogen. Endotoxin can act as an excitotoxin (Wang and White 1999), cause heart dysfunction (Suffredini et al. 1989) and damage the lungs (Brigham and Meyrick 1986). Multiple studies demonstrate that endotoxin damages mitochondrial function and ultrastructure, (Crouser et al. 2002). Endotoxins (and estrogens) ability to stimulate swelling and hypo-osmolarity of cells inhibits the oxidative metabolism of mitochondria, resulting in decreased energy production and increased lactate production (Bundgaard et al. 2003), lactate has a number of pro-inflammatory anti-metabolic effects further exacerbating an already bad situation, Lactic acid contributes to excitotoxicity and neuronal loss (Xiang et al. 2004), the presence of lactic acid makes cells more susceptible to transformation into cancer cells (Mothersill et al. 1983), Lactic acid stimulates the release of the inflammatory Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), an eicosanoid (hormone like substance) derived from the polyunsaturated fatty acid arachidinoic acid (Dawes and Rushton 1994), PGE2 further activates aromatase and the production of estrogen, estrogen induces PGE2 production establishing a vicious cycle (Bulunn et al. 2000).The above cascade of proinflammatory factors, endotoxin, estrogen and lactate push the cell away from individuated differentiated function towards a defensive survival response to stress, characterised by a swelling of the cytoskeletal protein matrix of the cell and uptake of water. As mentioned above this swelling increases intestinal permeability, allowing for the systemic spread of these anti-metabolic factors, and the maladaptive processes that ensue when the situation becomes chronic. This swelling, inflammation and metabolic impairment is of course characteristic of cancer, endotoxin is a tumour promoter (Yu et al. 2010). Evidence also suggests that endotoxin increases the risk of diabetes (Pussinen et al. 2011). There are also some indicators that endotoxin can cause behavioural and emotional problems (Renault and Aubert 2006). This swelling is an inflammatory condition, and inflammation is increasingly being recognized as a causative factor in multiple diseases, it seems that at the level of the cell there is one key pathology that manifests differently at the level of the tissues and organs, but fundamentally similar processes underlie these conditions.The shatkarmas such as the various forms of Dhauti, including Shankaprakshalana (technique of cleansing the entire gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus with warm salty water), Agnisar kriya, and Nauli all help to cleanse and tone the gastrointestinal tract decreasing the metabolic burden of bacterial endotoxin.Shankaprakshalana, you drink a whole lot of warm salty water whilst performing a series of postures to move the water through the GI system, make sure youre near a toilet, its kind of an orally administered colonic (sounds lovely doesnt it?). As well as flushing the entire digestive tract, and so reducing endotoxic burden it may also be therapeutic where the lining of the intestine is inflamed as if the water has an appropriate amount of salt added it may help to ameliorate swelling induced by various stresses, including endotoxin that all act to cause inflammation, leaving cells oedematous. By exerting an osmotic pull the salt water should remove excess water from these inflamed, leaky cells, helping to return them to a more functional state.Shankaprakshalana should be carried out rarely (no more than twice a year) as drinking a large amount of relatively hypertonic salt water will breakdown the stomachs protective mucus lining, typically the practice was followed by a meal of kitchari (a mix of rice and lentils/ mung beans) cooked with a liberal amount of ghee, the ghee likely being therapeutic due to its short and medium chain fatty acid content, around 5% of which is butyric acid, providing an easily assimilated fuel for the enterocytes, a further 10% of ghee is made up of other short and medium chain fatty acids, which are metabolically stimulating and have been shown to improve intestinal permeability, cell differentiation, and be anti-inflammatory (Bai et al. 2010, Suzuki et al. 2008, St-Onge and Jones 2002, Di Sabatino et al. 2005). These multiple actions of the short and medium chain fatty acids suggest the possibility that these actions are produced through a common pathway, that is they optimise / facilitate metabolism and in so doing improve the cellular swelling / inflammation that is concomitant with metabolic impairment, evidence suggestive of this can be seen in the capacity for ketones (SCTs and MCTs favour ketone formation) to reduce Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), and increase the NAD+/NADH ratio favouring the oxidised state (Maalouf et al. 2007). These properties are likely the key factors that make ketones (and coconut oil) therapeutic in Alzheimers and other neurodegenerative conditions as well as in epilepsy. Restore energy flow and structure follows, restore structure and energy flows.Additional techniques that may be easier for some one who is unsupervised to undertake include the careful use of herbs especially those containing anthraquinones to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract, these herbs include yellow dock (Rumex crispus),Cascara sagrada, variousAloespecies (in this case many preparations of aloe gel will be useless as anthraquinones are present in the periphery of the leaf, and are not included in many commercialAloegel products),Senna, and Turkey rhubarb (Rheum palmatum). Start with a low dose and work up if needed (high doses can cause spasmic pain), someone with a regular yoga practice should not need much if any to have an effect. Further anthraquinones appear as catalogued by Ray Peat in the articleCascara, energy, cancer and the FDAs laxative abuse, to be able to act in way that directly opposes the biophysical effects of endotoxin.Emodin(an anthraquinone)inhibits the formation of nitric oxide, increases mitochondrial respiration, inhibits angiogenesis and invasiveness, inhibits fatty acid synthase (Zhang, et al., 2002), inhibits HER-2 neu and tyrosine phosphorylases (Zhang, et al., 1995, 1999), and promotes cellular differentiation in cancer cells (Zhang, et al., 1995). The anthraquinones, like other antiinflammatory substances, reduce leakage from blood vessels, but they also reduce the absorption of water from the intestine. Reduced water absorption can be seen in a slight shrinkage of cells in certain circumsstances, and is probably related to their promotion of cellular differentiation.These herbs should only be used on a short term basis, long term use may result in a discolouration of the intestinal epithelium (melanosis coli) produced as a result of increased apoptosis, and the deposit of lipofuscin in macrophage lysosomes, this is likely no real issue as the discolouration resolves with time and may represent a clean up of disordered cells, further if long term use of anthraquinone laxatives is needed then you should really start asking why and looking for other means to resolve the condition.The pro-differentiated structure / function biophysical effect of anthraquinones is obviously not unique to them, and is shared by other substances, chiefly CO2so pranayama, should with time also result in normalisation / optimisation of intestinal function, but in the interests of expediency other techniques may be helpful. Nauli should be especially beneficial as during the churning of the rectus abdominus, which acts to massage the abdominal organs, the breath is held so increasing CO2.By reducing the endotoxic burden the traditional yogic cleanses, and other herbal and naturopathic strategies optimise metabolism, when the metabolism is functioning well energy production is high and the organism is able to function at increasingly higher states of health and consciousness, as the metabolic flow of energy is when unimpeded able to fully nurture, guide and teach the individual, this flow of energy is intelligent and has been given various names in different cultures including the vis medicatrix naturae (the healing power of nature).Oh and dont try shankaprakshalana on your own if youre inexperienced, find a teacher / guru / guide to help you out, for safe, gentle daily intestinal hygiene a raw carrot salad should be helpful as the fibre contains antibacterial agents, the fibre will also help eliminate estrogens preventing their reabsorption, a little coconut oil with it would also be helpful, as the MCTs (Medium Chain Triglycerides) have been shown to significantly reduce lipopolysaccharide toxicity (Kono et al. 2003) as well as having multiple other benefits mentioned above.