Nasal Breathing and Humming:The Power of Nitric Oxide:

What Is Nitric Oxide?

Nitric oxide (NO) is a vital, naturally occurring gas in the human body that serves as a critical signaling molecule, deeply involved in regulating blood flow, supporting immune function, and enabling proper lung and respiratory performance. It works by helping blood vessels relax and widen a process known as vasodilation which improves circulation and oxygen delivery throughout the body.

What started as research into how nitroglycerin relaxes smooth muscle eventually led scientists to a stunning realization: nitric oxide (NO) was the mysterious "endothelium-derived relaxing factor" (EDRF) responsible for signaling blood vessel relaxation. This breakthrough discovery reshaped our understanding of cardiovascular biology and laid the foundation for new treatments for conditions like hypertension, heart disease, and more. The immense impact of this work was recognized with the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, awarded to Robert F. Furchgott, et al.

Nasal breathing supports how your lungs function. Most people breathe through their mouth without realizing it. It happens when you're focused on something else or just going through your day. Breathing through your nose does something your mouth can't, it produces nitric oxide, a compound that helps your immune system work better and keeps inflammation in check. Your nasal passages actually have the highest concentration of nitric oxide anywhere in your body.

Humming changes things even more.

When you hum, the vibrations move air between your sinuses and nasal cavity. This pushes nitric oxide levels way up. Research shows levels can jump 15 times higher during humming compared to just breathing out quietly. The vibrations get circulation moving and help your sinuses drain better.

Humming shifts your nervous system into what people call "rest and digest" mode. Your heart rate drops. Blood pressure comes down. You think more clearly because stress hormones aren't running the show. The effect gets stronger when you hum with a long, slow exhale and pay attention to what you're doing.

Yoga practitioners have used this for a long time.

Humming quiets the part of your brain that handles fear, anger, and intense reactions. That's your limbic system. Practices like chanting "OM" work the same way because of how the sound resonates. People dealing with sinus problems, ongoing stress, or even tinnitus sometimes find relief this way.

Your body already knows how to do this. You just have to breathe through your nose and hum a little.

Gestalt Movement & Myotherapy

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