Imagine achieving the euphoric, mind-expanding states often linked to psychedelic experiences-- without any drugs. Recent research from Brighton and Sussex Medical School suggests this might be possible through high ventilation breathwork (HVB) combined with music. Published in PLOS One, the study reveals that this rhythmic breathing technique can unlock profound feelings of bliss and emotional relief.
In the study, 42 participants engaged in 20 to 30 minutes of cyclic breathing while immersed in music. Brain scans showed increased blood flow to areas like the right amygdala and anterior hippocampus-- regions deeply involved in processing emotions-- despite an overall dip in cerebral blood flow. These neural shifts corresponded with what scientists call "Oceanic Boundlessness," a state of unity and euphoria often reported during psychedelic trips on substances like psilocybin.
"Ancient practices like high-ventilation breathwork have been used for centuries in spiritual and healing contexts, but the biological mechanisms behind their effects remain under-investigated," one of the study's authors, Amy Amla Kartar, told The Debrief. What makes this discovery particularly exciting is its potential as a legal, drug-free alternative to psychedelic therapy, which faces many regulatory hurdles. Dr. Alessandro Colasanti, another of the study's lead researchers, added that HVB "holds tremendous promise as a transformative therapeutic intervention for conditions that are often both distressing and disabling."
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