We have become a society of “mouth breathers”! This has unfortunately resulted in a population of shallow mouth breathers who have diminished Forced Vital Capacities (low oxygen volume exchange). Recent research completed in 2018 demonstrated that the reason nose breathing is so important is that “even when there is no odor, mammalian olfactory sensory neurons detect the mechanical pressure caused by airflow in the nostril and send this information to the olfactory bulb that normally codes odor information. The olfactory bulb then sends this information to the hippocampus, which is important for memory functions,” Artin Arshamian, Ph.D., of the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Additional research conducted in 2020 demonstrated that 1/2 hour of circular breathing daily (in through the nose and out through the mouth) consolidates memory. Memory consolidation consists of converting short-term memory to long-term memory in the hippocampus. The study included lower mammals and primates along with humans which significantly changed the scientific community’s thought process about whether or not cognitive function can be restored once diminished. The answer was a definitive YES!!!
At Cenk Integrated Health we use Enhanced Air by way of Oxygen Concentrators. This allows us to create a flow of 5 liters per minute at 97% oxygen. Whereas, the typical air we breathe is 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen, and 1% all other gases at a flow rate of 1 liter per minute from normal breathing. The 5 liters per minute dramatically increases the speed of healing and allows for Oxygen through a nasal cannula to directly enter the nasal passages and stimulate the olfactory bulb which then accelerates hippocampus consolidation of memory. In other words…. more Oxygen — better memory.
So, practice breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth for at least a half-hour daily (circular breathing). This consolidates memory and improves cognition accumulatively for a lifetime!!!!