In studying Peat it becomes apparent that he puts great value on the healing and restorative properties of CO2. I have come from a background where CO2 is regarded as a metabolic waste and poison. This is such a shame because countless times I have witnessed people suffer and even die when their CO2 was rapidly and artificially lowered by inappropriate medical interventions. I suppose that is one reason I embraced Peat's views on this topic so wholeheartedly.
Our bodies tightly regulate CO2 within a narrow range unless we do something to increase the natural set point. I have seen much suffering in relation to decreased CO2 while I've never seen that with increased CO2. In fact, if you talk with any decent hospice nurse they will tell you it is a very comfortable way to die. I do not think this is the cause of death but an adaptive response of the body as a protective mechanism. What I feel is meant by this is that when a person nears the end and the breathing is dramatically slowed down and it is quite relaxing plus CO2 narcosis gives a feeling of peace.
When Peat advocates various measures to increase the CO2 I think this is to elevate our set point and allow us to retain more of this regenerative substance. I do believe each session of bag breathing or buteyko is helpful but I also think the cumulative effect of regular practice readjusts our internal setting. When I bring up bag breathing it is because I think it is easy to forget this or take it for granted. Our breathing is under both our conscious and unconscious control so by consciously getting more CO2 I feel we can influence what happens when we aren't paying attention to our breathing.
Our bodies tightly regulate CO2 within a narrow range unless we do something to increase the natural set point. I have seen much suffering in relation to decreased CO2 while I've never seen that with increased CO2. In fact, if you talk with any decent hospice nurse they will tell you it is a very comfortable way to die. I do not think this is the cause of death but an adaptive response of the body as a protective mechanism. What I feel is meant by this is that when a person nears the end and the breathing is dramatically slowed down and it is quite relaxing plus CO2 narcosis gives a feeling of peace.
When Peat advocates various measures to increase the CO2 I think this is to elevate our set point and allow us to retain more of this regenerative substance. I do believe each session of bag breathing or buteyko is helpful but I also think the cumulative effect of regular practice readjusts our internal setting. When I bring up bag breathing it is because I think it is easy to forget this or take it for granted. Our breathing is under both our conscious and unconscious control so by consciously getting more CO2 I feel we can influence what happens when we aren't paying attention to our breathing.