Functions of the Nose
Making the change from mouth to Buteyko nasal breathing
All new born babies - and the vast majority of animals - nasal breathe. Dogs pant through their mouths to regulate their body temperature but for the most part their mouth is closed.
Many humans sleep, walk, rest and work with their mouth open. It seems that their nose is nothing more than an ornament.
Your nose plays an important role in conditioning incoming air before it enters your lungs. My experience is that by making the switch from mouth to Buteyko nasal breathing on a permanent basis, you will help your asthma by about 30%. I would also like to add that;
Unless you make the switch to Buteyko nasal breathing, you will never reverse your asthma.
YOUR NOSE:
Filters: Your nose is lined with a mucus membrane.
"It has been estimated that three quarters of the bacteria entering the nose are deposited on the mucus blanket and are thus eliminated. In fact, the mucus has its own antibacterial action". 1
Your nose also filters larger particles, which are common triggers for asthma. (It often dismays me that parents of asthmatic children spend considerable sums of money on changing carpets, curtains and bedding and installing high-tech vacuum systems to reduce the inhalation of dust mites, but seldom is the child encouraged to breathe through their nose.)
Warms: Your nose brings air to a better temperature and therefore reduces the likelihood of airway cooling.
"Air swirling through turbinates is warmed rapidly: entering the nose at 6 degrees (43 degrees F) for instance will be warmed to 30 degrees (86 degrees F) by the time it reaches the back of the nose, and to body temperature as it passes the trachea." 2
Moistens: Your nose contains a moist mucous blanket that slightly moistens air thereby reducing the dehydration affect.
Regulates volume: Your nostrils are a smaller entry than your mouth. This in turn creates resistance and results in a more quiet, calm and better breathing volume. Mouth breathing results in a dry mouth, which creates an ideal environment to harbour bacteria. This contributes to gum disease and teeth decay. In addition, all children who habitually breathe through their mouths have a far greater likelihood of developing crooked teeth. 3
"Over the years I have noticed an increasing tendency for children to show evidence of chronic or habitual mouth breathing. This has a negative effect not only on the development of the jaws, the shape of the developing cranium and the occlusion, but also on the general health of the child. There is plenty of evidence in the literature that mouth-breathing has an adverse effect on the growth and development of the face and jaws. All children who are habitual mouth-breathers will have a malocclusion." 3 A malocclusion is a misalignment of teeth and/or incorrect relation between the teeth of the two dental arches.)
Mouth breathing looks dreadful. "Buteyko nasal breathing in public is considered to be more socially acceptable and attractive than mouth breathing". 4
To confirm this, take a look at yourself in the mirror. If you wish to look attractive shut your mouth!!
Rhinitis is very common amongst asthmatics. Symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy nose, throat, eyes and ears. To date, the vast majority of my patients have been able to make the switch from mouth to Buteyko nasal breathing. In addition, I have received considerable feedback from patients of their nasal polyps shrinking within a number of months after they make a permanent change to Buteyko nasal breathing.
Like here for example!
"When I have seen a poor Indian woman in the wilderness, lowering her infant from the breast, and pressing its lips together as it falls asleep… I have said to myself, 'Glorious education! Such a mother deserves to be the nurse of Emperors’. And when I have seen the careful, tender mothers in civilised life, covering the faces of their infants sleeping in overheated rooms, with their little mouths open and gasping for breath; and afterwards looked into the multitude, I have been struck with the evident evil and lasting results of this incipient," he wrote in his ‘Notes of Travels Amongst the North American Indians’ published in 1870.