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, and by a sort of suction draw in quite a quantity 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.
In case the trouble is caused by catarrh it is well to apply a little
vaseline or camphor ice or similar preparation. Or sniff up a little
witch-hazel extract once in a while, and you will notice a marked
improvement. A little care and attention will result in the nostrils
becoming clean and remaining so.
We have given considerable space to this subject of nostril-breathing,
not only because of its great importance in its reference to health,
but because nostril-breathing is a prerequisite to the practice of the
breathing exercises to be given later in this book, and because
nostril-breathing is one of the basic principles underlying the Yogi
Science of Breath.
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.