In Natural Hygiene, we understand that the body heals itself when the right conditions are provided. One of the most essential of these conditions is oxygen. Yet in the modern world, many people are under-oxygenated due to stress, poor posture, sedentary lifestyles, and dysfunctional breathing patterns. This state of hypoxia (low oxygen) contributes to poor elimination, impaired energy production, chronic fatigue, and disease.
When supporting a client through a detox or healing journey, it is not enough to focus only on fasting and diet. Breathwork must be introduced as a core practice—because it provides the oxygen the body desperately needs to cleanse, repair, and regenerate.
Oxygen: The Foundation of Cellular Detox
Oxygen is used in nearly every metabolic process, including the breakdown of waste products, regeneration of tissue, and elimination of toxins through the lungs. Every cell depends on oxygen to generate ATP (adenosine triphosphate) through aerobic respiration. This energy is required to power the organs of elimination (lungs, skin, kidneys, and bowels), to neutralise acidic waste, and to maintain internal balance.
Without sufficient oxygen:
- The liver becomes sluggish
- The kidneys are overworked
- The lymphatic system becomes stagnant
- The blood becomes more acidic
- Healing slows or halts entirely
The Autonomic Nervous System and the Role of Breath
Breath is unique: it is both involuntary and voluntary. It is the bridge between the body and mind, and between the two branches of the autonomic nervous system:
1. Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) – “Fight or Flight”
- Increases heart rate and blood pressure
- Suppresses digestion and detox
- Shuts down immune response
- Promotes shallow, rapid breathing from the chest
2. Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) – “Rest, Digest and Repair”
- Lowers heart rate and blood pressure
- Encourages digestive activity and elimination
- Enhances immune function
- Promotes deep, slow, diaphragmatic breathing
Breathwork helps restore parasympathetic dominance, which is essential for healing, especially during detoxification. A stressed client will not heal well, even if fasting. Breath is our main tool to shift them into a state of calm and repair.
Understanding Breathing Physiology
- Normal Breathing Rate: 12–20 breaths per minute. During rest and healing, aim for 6–10 breaths per minute to support the parasympathetic state.
- Tidal Volume: The amount of air moved in and out with each breath. Optimal tidal volume is 500–600ml. Shallow breathers may take in only 200ml, leading to chronic under-oxygenation.
- Hypoventilation: Breathing too little. May lead to CO₂ retention and acidic blood.
- Hyperventilation: Breathing too much or too rapidly. Causes excessive CO₂ loss, dizziness, anxiety, tingling. Often mistaken as “deep breathing,” but it’s not efficient.
- Hypoxia: A state of insufficient oxygen in the tissues. Can result from poor breathing habits, anaemia, or toxins interfering with oxygen transport.
Common Breathing Patterns and Corrections
1. Paradoxical Breathing
- The chest rises and the belly pulls in during inhalation (the opposite of what should happen).
- Indicates a chronic stress pattern.
- Correct with belly breathing and slow exhalations.
2. Mouth Breathing
- Leads to over-breathing, reduced nitric oxide levels, dry mouth, and higher susceptibility to pathogens.
- Encourage nasal breathing for all breathwork.
3. Chest Breathing
- Shallow, high in the lungs.
- Reduces oxygen uptake and promotes anxiety.
- Replace with diaphragmatic (belly) breathing.
Breathwork Techniques to Teach
Here are safe, effective, Natural Hygiene-aligned techniques that support detoxification and nervous system regulation:
1. Coherent Breathing
- Breathing at a rate of 5–6 breaths per minute.
- Equal inhale and exhale (e.g. 5s in, 5s out).
- Balances heart rate variability and supports calm energy.
2. Box Breathing
- Inhale 4s → Hold 4s → Exhale 4s → Hold 4s.
- Enhances focus, calms anxiety, strengthens breath control.
3. Step Breathing
- Inhale → Hold → Exhale → Hold.
- Each phase may increase gradually (e.g. 4-4-4-4 to 5-5-5-5).
- Increases CO₂ tolerance and reduces breathlessness over time.
4. Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana)
- Balances left/right brain and PNS/SNS.
- Great before sleep or to calm a racing mind.
5. Skull Shining Breath (Kapalabhati)
- Short, sharp exhalations through the nose with passive inhales.
- Stimulates lymphatic flow and oxygenation.
- Not recommended during fasting or with adrenal fatigue.
Contraindications and Cautions
- Avoid intense breathwork (like rapid breathing or Kapalabhati) during extended fasting or in clients with weak constitutions.
- Never force the breath. Breathwork should be gentle, progressive, and guided by the body’s signals.
- Watch for signs of dizziness, tingling, or anxiety—these may indicate over-breathing or hyperventilation.
- Always return to nasal, slow, belly breathing as the foundation.
In Summary
Breath is not just life—it is healing. In Natural Hygiene, we aim to create the conditions for the body to thrive. Oxygen is a non-negotiable part of this process. Teaching clients how to breathe consciously and correctly allows the nervous system to shift into a parasympathetic, regenerative state, supports toxin elimination, and empowers them with a tool they carry everywhere.