You can get carbon dioxide externally from different sources - thru carbonated water, thru bicarbonate intake (sodium bicarb, potassium bicarb, magnesium bicarbonate, calcium bicarbonate), thru carbogen ventilation, and thru a carbon dioxide bath.
Since I could now make my own carbonated water, I've also making my own magnesium bicarbonate. I've also got Steve's Carbogenetics carbogen breathing machine (discontinued) setup and have used it once. And I've also got his carbon dioxide therapy bath, although I have to get another tank fitted to it to use it.
So, yes, I've got the 4 ways to increase CO2 with me.
I'd like to run a few experiments with these to see how much all these have in common, as well as how much they differ, as to their effects on us. I'll be using myself as a test subject, and although I wish there could be more, it's harder and less practical to do. So, my conclusions would be limited to my own context, but even then, it will still be helpful as a starting point.
What prompted me to think about this experiment is my experience with improving my CO2 retention using Buteyko. When I increased my control pause with Buteyko, which indicated higher CO2 retention, I notice that it increased my blood pressure (again, this is my context. Others in my Buteyko class did not experience what I did). In contrast, when I ingest sodium bicarbonate, my blood pressure went down. Consistently.
It appears that increasing CO2 by controlled breathing and increasing sodium bicarbonate intake does not have the same effect on me, as far as blood pressure is concerned. I wonder, in this instance, if it's because increasing serum CO2 lowers serum pH while increasing bicarbonate increases serum pH. Or it's just because increasing serum CO2 has an immediate effect on increasing tissue oxygenation, and this is causing my body to react in a way that wants to limit the increased tissue oxygenation (again, I have high blood pressure due to lead toxicity, and this is my context).
Nevertheless, the ways we can get CO2 increased differ in method, and I'd like to know if each of these methods would have its own unique effects. With the carbogen breathing machine, it is thru increased respiratory intake of carbon dioxide. With the carbon dioxide therapy bath, it is thru own skin pores. With carbonated water, it is thru our digestive system in the form of dissolved carbon dioxide in water. With sodium bicarbonate, it is thru our digestive system in the form of bicarbonate.
Having a better idea of these different ways would answer questions as to which method is more appropriate for any given situation. One may ask "If I can increase CO2 by simply ingesting bicarbonates, or by intake of carbonated water, why would I need the expense of a breathing machine, or the expense and trouble of a carbon dioxide therapy bath?
A cost-effective way is what I would like to find out. One way may be least costly, but will it be significantly helpful? And another way that is more costly might just be overkill.
If you have any suggestions as to how you'd go about a study like this, would very much appreciate your suggestions.
Since I could now make my own carbonated water, I've also making my own magnesium bicarbonate. I've also got Steve's Carbogenetics carbogen breathing machine (discontinued) setup and have used it once. And I've also got his carbon dioxide therapy bath, although I have to get another tank fitted to it to use it.
So, yes, I've got the 4 ways to increase CO2 with me.
I'd like to run a few experiments with these to see how much all these have in common, as well as how much they differ, as to their effects on us. I'll be using myself as a test subject, and although I wish there could be more, it's harder and less practical to do. So, my conclusions would be limited to my own context, but even then, it will still be helpful as a starting point.
What prompted me to think about this experiment is my experience with improving my CO2 retention using Buteyko. When I increased my control pause with Buteyko, which indicated higher CO2 retention, I notice that it increased my blood pressure (again, this is my context. Others in my Buteyko class did not experience what I did). In contrast, when I ingest sodium bicarbonate, my blood pressure went down. Consistently.
It appears that increasing CO2 by controlled breathing and increasing sodium bicarbonate intake does not have the same effect on me, as far as blood pressure is concerned. I wonder, in this instance, if it's because increasing serum CO2 lowers serum pH while increasing bicarbonate increases serum pH. Or it's just because increasing serum CO2 has an immediate effect on increasing tissue oxygenation, and this is causing my body to react in a way that wants to limit the increased tissue oxygenation (again, I have high blood pressure due to lead toxicity, and this is my context).
Nevertheless, the ways we can get CO2 increased differ in method, and I'd like to know if each of these methods would have its own unique effects. With the carbogen breathing machine, it is thru increased respiratory intake of carbon dioxide. With the carbon dioxide therapy bath, it is thru own skin pores. With carbonated water, it is thru our digestive system in the form of dissolved carbon dioxide in water. With sodium bicarbonate, it is thru our digestive system in the form of bicarbonate.
Having a better idea of these different ways would answer questions as to which method is more appropriate for any given situation. One may ask "If I can increase CO2 by simply ingesting bicarbonates, or by intake of carbonated water, why would I need the expense of a breathing machine, or the expense and trouble of a carbon dioxide therapy bath?
A cost-effective way is what I would like to find out. One way may be least costly, but will it be significantly helpful? And another way that is more costly might just be overkill.
If you have any suggestions as to how you'd go about a study like this, would very much appreciate your suggestions.
