THE SCIENCE BEHIND
Slow-paced breathing: proven by science and centuries of human experience
pneemo® Atemtakter was developed based on decades of research, which itself was inspired by a simple technique that has been used by humankind for self-healing for centuries.
pneemo®‘s gentle pattern of vibrations was precisely programmed to optimise your breathing rhythm for better breathing and better living.
A centuries-old technique with a multitude of benefits
Relaxation is as important to our health – both mental and physical – as activity, but modern society has us placing too much emphasis on the latter and not enough on the former.
This is where slow paced breathing comes in. It is a practice that has been used for centuries, and in particular, for the treatment of respiratory problems in Hindu cultures16.
One of the most noteworthy techniques is Pranayama, which is still used in modern Yoga today. Pranayama is said to clear energy blocks within the body in order to calm the mind by entering into a meditative state.
Those who practice Pranayama and similar breathing techniques have reported beneficial mental and physiological effects7. This includes alleviation of the symptoms associated with stress and anxiety disorders, enhancement of mood and sharpening of focus7.
Inspiring pneemo
We were inspired by the work of Professor Thomas H. Loew, a well-known German specialist in psychiatry, psychotherapy and psychosomatics, who studied at the universities of Florence, Ulm and Erlangen-Nuremberg and is a specialist in psychotherapeutic medicine (1995) and psychiatry (1999), and has been teaching and researching at the University of Regensburg since 2000.
Professor Loew has additional qualifications in medical informatics and psychoanalysis. His scientific interest is in functional relaxation, for which he is also active as a lecturer and researcher.
When we breathe, not only do our lungs take in air, but our cells perform detoxification processes to optimise cellular function. When we sleep, this detoxification happens on a deeper level, allowing our bodies to repair and recuperate from the stressors of the day.
“Relaxation is as important as activity, as it is a time in which we repair ourselves.
Nowadays, however, too much emphasis is placed on activity, and not enough on relaxation.
As a result, we find ourselves getting increasingly stressed, and allowing ourselves little time to recover.”
Slow paced breathing is a practice that has been used for centuries to stimulate this regenerative state, as it signals to the body that we’re sleeping. Physiologically, this results in improved heart rate variability and lower blood pressure. This understanding led to the development of pneemo as a tool to help people trigger repair and regeneration via guided slow paced breathing.
However, this is not just a gadget to help you relax, it can be a non-medicated therapy for a range of mental and physical conditions and situations. Promising results have been reported by patients with stress, anxiety, fear, mild hypertension, asthma, concentration, and many more. It’s really so versatile, as it unlocks the self-healing power that any human already has within them, lessening dependence on medication.
References
Reticular Activating System: Definition & Function Video (2021). Reticular Activating System: Definition & Function – Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com. [online] Study.com. Available at: https://study.com/academy/lesson/reticular-activating-system-definition-function.html [Accessed 25 Mar. 2021].
www.omicsonline.org. (n.d.). Patients with Special Needs (PSNs) and Slow Paced Breathing | OMICS International | Abstract. [online] Available at: https://www.omicsonline.org/peer-reviewed/patients-with-special-needs-psns-and-slow-paced-breathing-112989.html [Accessed 20 Jul. 2021].
www.who.int. (2019). Hypertension. [online] Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension#:~:text=An%20estimated%201.13%20billion%20people.
Laborde, S., Hosang, T., Mosley, E. and Dosseville, F. (2019). Influence of a 30-Day Slow-Paced Breathing Intervention Compared to Social Media Use on Subjective Sleep Quality and Cardiac Vagal Activity. Journal of Clinical Medicine, [online] 8(2). Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6406675/ [Accessed 25 Mar. 2020].
Noble, D.J. and Hochman, S. (2019). Hypothesis: Pulmonary Afferent Activity Patterns During Slow, Deep Breathing Contribute to the Neural Induction of Physiological Relaxation. Frontiers in Physiology, 10.
Gerritsen, R.J.S. and Band, G.P.H. (2018). Breath of Life: The Respiratory Vagal Stimulation Model of Contemplative Activity. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, [online] 12. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6189422/.
Russo, M.A., Santarelli, D.M. and O’Rourke, D. (2017). The physiological effects of slow breathing in the healthy human. Breathe, [online] 13(4), pp.298–309. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5709795/.
Prevention, control and cure of respiratory diseases and promotion of respiratory health must be a top priority in global decision-making in the health sector The Global Impact of Respiratory Disease Second Edition Forum of International Respiratory Societies. (n.d.). [online] . Available at: https://www.who.int/gard/publications/The_Global_Impact_of_Respiratory_Disease.pdf.
Lee, P.S. (2017). Theoretical Bases and Technical Application of Breathing Therapy in Stress Management. [online] Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. Available at: https://www.koreamed.org/SearchBasic.php?RID=1006JKAN/1999.29.6.1304&DT=1 [Accessed 02 Mar. 2021].
Gerber, L.M., Sievert, L.L., Warren, K., Pickering, T.G. and Schwartz, J.E. (2007). Hot flashes are associated with increased ambulatory systolic blood pressure. Menopause, 14(2), pp.308–315.
Cicek, S. and Basar, F. (2017). The effects of breathing techniques training on the duration of labor and anxiety levels of pregnant women. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 29, pp.213–219.
Tsai, H.J., Kuo, T.B.J., Lee, G.-S. and Yang, C.C.H. (2014). Efficacy of paced breathing for insomnia: Enhances vagal activity and improves sleep quality. Psychophysiology, 52(3), pp.388–396.
Norweg, A. and Collins (2013). Evidence for cognitive–behavioral strategies improving dyspnea and related distress in COPD. International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, p.439.
Armfield, J. and Heaton, L. (2013). Management of fear and anxiety in the dental clinic: a review. Australian Dental Journal, [online] 58(4), pp.390–407. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/adj.12118.
Sharma, M. (2013). Yoga as an Alternative and Complementary Approach for Stress Management. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 19(1), pp.59–67.
Singh, S., Soni, R., Singh, K.P. and Tandon, O.P. (2012). Effect of yoga practices on pulmonary function tests including transfer factor of lung for carbon monoxide (TLCO) in asthma patients. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, [online] 56(1), pp.63–68. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23029966/.
Bruton, A. and Thomas, M. (2011). The role of breathing training in asthma management. Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 11(1), pp.53–57.
Varvogli, L., Darviri, C. and Liza, V. (2011). HEALTH SCIENCE JOURNAL ® VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2 (2011) Stress Management Techniques: evidence-based procedures that reduce stress and promote health. [online] . Available at: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.851.7680&rep=rep1&type=pdf.
Nardi, A.E., Freire, R.C. and Zin, W.A. (2009). Panic disorder and control of breathing. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, [online] 167(1), pp.133–143. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1569904808001997.
Amon, K.L. and Campbell, A. (2008). Can Children with AD/HD Learn Relaxation and Breathing Techniques through Biofeedback Video Games? Australian Journal of Educational & Developmental Psychology, [online] 8, pp.72–84. Available at: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ815662 [Accessed 25 Mar. 2021].
Joseph, C.N., Porta, C., Casucci, G., Casiraghi, N., Maffeis, M., Rossi, M. and Bernardi, L. (2005). Slow Breathing Improves Arterial Baroreflex Sensitivity and Decreases Blood Pressure in Essential Hypertension. Hypertension, 46(4), pp.714–718.
Buist, A.S. (2003). Similarities and differences between asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: treatment and early outcomes. European Respiratory Journal, 21(Supplement 39), pp.30S35s.
Steimer, T. (2002). The biology of fear- and anxiety-related behaviors. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, [online] 4(3), pp.231–49. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181681/.
Scribd. (n.d.). Yoga Breathing Techniques – Implications For Stress Management, Health, and Psychophysiological Research | Exhalation | Breathing. [online] Available at: https://www.scribd.com/document/155081126/Yoga-Breathing-Techniques-Implications-for-Stress-Management-Health-And-Psychophysiological-Research [Accessed 23 Mar. 2021].
StudyMode. (n.d.). Why We Sleep. [online] Available at: https://www.studymode.com/essays/Why-We-Sleep-1276343.html.
Nagarathna, R. and Nagendra, H.R. (1985). Yoga for bronchial asthma: a controlled study. BMJ, [online] 291(6502), pp.1077–1079. Available at: https://www.bmj.com/content/291/6502/1077.
Rapee, R.M. (1985). A case of panic disorder treated with breathing retraining. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 16(1), pp.63–65.
Clark, D.M., Salkovskis, P.M. and Chalkley, A.J. (1985). Respiratory control as a treatment for panic attacks. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 16(1), pp.23–30.