A research paper by Kox et al., 2014, exploring the Wim Hof method states: вЂњHealthy volunteers practicing the learned techniques exhibited profound increases in the release of epinephrine, which in turn led to increased production of anti-inflammatory mediators and subsequent dampening of the proinflammatory cytokine responseвЂ¦ This study could have important implications for the treatment of a variety of conditions associated with excessive or persistent inflammation, especially autoimmune diseases in which therapies that antagonize proinflammatory cytokines have shown great benefit.вЂќ 1 These types of breath-hold exercises have proven very effective for respiratory conditions including asthma. Just to give some context to those figures, an SaO 2 of 85 percent represents severe hypoxia and syncope hypoxia (fainting) can occur when SaO 2 is less than 60 percent. By the third cycle, blood oxygen saturation can drop to as low as 45 percent and carbon dioxide can fall from the normal concentration of 40mmHg to just 13mmHg.

It generates an intermittent hypoxic/hypocapnic response вЂ“ low oxygen and low carbon dioxide. This exercise is completed three times in succession. In Wim HofвЂ™s breathing technique, the instruction is to take 30В big breaths through the mouth before holding the breath.

Intermittent hypoxic / hypocapnic training.

At the same time, arterial carbon dioxide will increase from the normal concentration of 40mmHg to 50mmHg or more. During breath-hold exercises, blood oxygen saturation (SaO 2) typically drops to about 85 percent. This generates an intermittent hypoxic/hypercapnic response, producing low oxygen and high carbon dioxide. In the Simulate High Altitude TrainingВ exercises from the Oxygen Advantage В®В the objective is to breathe normally and then perform a breath-hold after an exhalation.

Intermittent hypoxic / hypercapnic training.

The breath hold exercises in both disturb homeostasis вЂ“ the bodyвЂ™s internal balance mechanism вЂ“ and both stress the body, causing it to make adaptations that may improve immune system function. Both methods provide substantial benefits in terms of health, and both produce improvements in sports performance.

There are actually many similarities between the breathing exercises in the two techniques. вЂњWhat are the differences between the breathing techniques in The Oxygen Advantage by Patrick McKeown and Wim HofвЂ™s Becoming the Iceman?вЂќ This article was written in response to the hundreds of emails I have received asking the question:

Wim hof breathing method joe rogan