Breathing Anatomy

Learning a little about how our body's breathing system will help you understand the importance of proper breathing.

Introduction

This page encourages you to breathe through your nose, it explains how full breathing improves the performance of your lungs and the added benefits of using your diaphragm fully by proper breathing.

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Nose Breathing

It is vitally important to breathe through the nose. Nose breathing brings health and strength but mouth breathing brings disease and weakness.

The refining, filtering and straining apparatus of the nostrils makes the air fit to reach the delicate organs of the throat and the lungs. Impurities are stopped and retained by the sieves and mucous membrane of the nostrils.

Many diseases are caused by the habit of mouth-breathing as the respiratory system is weakened making it easer for illness to take hold and germs, bacteria and other micro organism are more likely to enter the respiratory system unchecked. Nose breathing leads to a healthier respiratory systems and filter out many organism.

Mouth breathing allows cold air to enter into the respiratory organs injuring them, often causing inflammation. During nose breathing air comes into contact with the mucous membrane, which is richly supplied with blood, this warms the air before passing into the respiratory system.

Many people habitually breathe through the mouth but the mouth provides no protection as it does not condition the air before it goes to the lungs. Breathing through the mouth allows cold air, dust, impurities and germs to enter the lungs.

Spiritual occult teachers consider proper breathing as a fundamental requirement of health, vitality and success in occult training and development. Breathing through the nose is a fundamental requirement for proper breathing.

Lungs

Air passes through the nose or mouth to the larynx, and then into the trachea or windpipe. The trachea subdivides into numerous tubes called bronchial tubes which in turn subdivide into minute tubes to all the small air cells in the lungs. The lungs are spongy and porous and contain millions of lung cells where blood becomes exposed to air.

When oxygen comes into contact with blood it removes impurities and unites with the haemoglobin in the blood to be carried to every cell, muscle and organ of the body. Unless sufficient fresh air reaches the lungs, the process of oxygenating and cleansing the blood cannot take place adequately. The blood is robbed of its nourishment and waste matter remains, which has a negative effect on the whole body.






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Lung Cells

There are millions of lung cells, tiny air spaces, in the lungs. Air is inhaled and oxygen comes into contact with the impure blood through the thin walls of the lung cells. A form of combustion takes place, the blood takes up oxygen and releases carbonic acid gas generated from the waste and poisonous matter. The combustion arising from the change of waste products in the blood generates heat and equalises the temperature of the body.

Blood leaves the lungs, bright red and full of life giving properties. By the time it returns the oxygen and nutrients have been absorbed by the body and replaced by waste matter.