Bhramari Pranayama

If your mind is overactive, you are constantly worrying and anxious, your nerves
are buzzing, then it is time to turn to this exercise.  This technique will calm your
mind down, sooth your nerves and give you a great sense of peace and tranquility
within.  Due to these pacifying powers, Bhramari Pranayama is also great to do
prior to meditation, to prepare the mind for going deeper.

The very first step in spiritual evolution is to learn to relax and be at ease, so
having such relaxation techniques tucked away in your tool box are really very
useful.

Benefits:

 Helps promote deep relaxation

 Calms and quiets the mind
 Releases cerebral tension
 Stimulates the pineal and pituitary glands, supporting their proper
functioning
 Soothes the nerves
 Relieves stress and anxiety
 Dissipates anger and irritation
 Lowers blood pressure
 Bolsters the health of the throat
 Strengthens and improves the voice
 Supports the healing of bodily tissues
 Induces sound sleep
 Helps open the Third Eye to bestow intuition and psychic powers.

Contraindications: Bhramari should not be practiced by pregnant or

menstruating women. It is also contraindicated for individuals with extremely
high blood pressure, epilepsy, chest pain, or an active ear
infection. Bhramari should not be practiced in a supine position (lying down).
When to Practice: As with most pranayamas, Brahmari pranayama is best
practised on an empty stomach. While it can be practiced at any time of
day, bhramari is particularly potent in the early morning and late at night—when
there are fewer distracting noises and our inner perception is most acute.

Duration:

As with all yoga breathing exercises you should start out gently and slowly build up
from there. 

Begin with seven repetitions. You may either continue with seven repetitions, or
you may add one repetition per week, slowly building up to a total of 17 repetitions.

Step by step Instructions:

Bhramari means bee, and this pranayama uses the humming sound of a bee to
work it’s magic.

 Sit up straight then elongate your spine upwards, lengthen your neck and
subtly bring your chin back and in like a soldier at attention.  This will
align the spine with the back of your head.

 Now close your eyes and relax yourself deeply.  Specially relax all the
muscles of the face and forehead.

 Take 5 long deep breaths through the nose to relax and calm you further.
Now close the flaps of your ears with your index fingers and bring your
awareness to the center of your forehead.  This is the location of the Ajna
Chakra or Third Eye.

 Next inhale deeply and then make a slow humming sound like that of a
bee (exhalation will occur naturally as a result of the sound).
 Keep the sound soft and consistent and feel the vibrations created
reverberate in your forehead region. Let the sound fill the head and
spread to the body. Merge with the sound and allow the vibration to
permeate your entire being.

 Once you have exhaled completely, inhale again deeply through the nose
and repeat the process.  Continue on with the pattern for the duration of
the meditation.

After the final exhalation, allow your breath to return to normal and observe any
changes that have occurred.

 How do you feel physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually?

 What energetic shifts do you notice as a result of this practice?
 Where do you notice sensation in your body and how is it different from
when you started?

When you are ready, gently open your eyes, continuing to direct some of your
awareness within. If it is morning, slowly stand and offer your full attention to the
rest of your day; if it is evening, notice the vibrational calm that this practice has
initiated in your body and try to maintain it as you prepare to retire for the night.

The above instructions are meant to provide a safe and general introduction to the
practice of bhramari. Advanced practitioners sometimes add variations such as
breath retention (khumbaka), muscular locks (bandhas), and may also hum on the
inhalation—as in ujjayi pranayama. These additional techniques are best learned in
person from a qualified teacher.


Modified Bhramari Pranayama in Covid 19 Infection

M. K. Taneja

Abstract

The Coronavirus (2019-Cov) infection Covid-19 is highly contagious caused by

single stranded RNA virus (+ssRNA) with nucleocapsid and spreading widely all
across the world and responsible for more than 3.6 million morbidity and 0.25
million mortality (COV) is a crown like appearance as the name derives from latin
“Coronam” termed crown, due to presence of spikes glycoprotein on the envelope.
No specific treatment is available till date and even etiopathology is a matter of
research. The clinical symptoms are mainly upper respiratory leading to diffuse viral
pneumonia and multiple organ failure involving. Kidney, Liver and Heart along with
coagulopathies. Reported fatality is around 32.0 /million—while mortality in ICU
patients has reached upto 63%. During 2004 (SARS-CoV) pandemic role of nitric
oxide in its management is well demonstrated [1]. Nitric Oxide (NO) reversed
pulmonary hypertension. Improved severe hypoxia and shortened the stay in ICU
and ventilatory support. Nitric Oxide increased the survival rate. The genetic
composition of Corona Virus (SARS-CoV) is almost similar to Covid-19, thus
indicates good chances of effectiveness or enhancement in results by Nitric Oxide
along with other modes in treatment of Covid-19 [2].

As discussed earlier nitric oxide inhibits viral protein and RNA. It has been observed
that Nitric Oxide Synthase reduces the yield of progeny virus by 82% thus by virtue
of its anti viral effect reduces the replication of corona virus [3].

Nitric Oxide may also stimulate ciliary motility [4] inhaled NO therapy is clinically
approved in new born children with persistent pulmonary hypertension [5].

It has been proved by studies by serendipity humming increases NO Expression

dramatically [6]. This is as a consequence of oscillating sound wave and affecting
air exchange in the sinus. The gas exchanges in the sinus by humming in every
single exhalation while it takes 5 min to 30 min in quite breathing for exchange of
air in sinuses. We can conclude that NO acts like aaerocrine hormone to enhance
pulmonary vascular resistance.

Nitric oxide is a gas molecule which has become an exceptionally important

molecule in biophysics. It is a key biological messenger playing an important role in
various biological processes at the cellular level. Nitric oxide is known as
endothelium-derived relaxing factor and is biosynthesized endogenously from semi-
essential amino acid, L-argenine, molecular oxygen, and various nitric oxide
synthase enzymes [7]. Nitric oxide is anti inflammatory and contributes to
nonspecific host defence against bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic infections, hence
takes care of infection in the body. Nitric oxide improves ventilation–perfusion ratio
in the lung along with relaxation of bronchial tree smooth muscles, hence oxygen
uptake is increased and provides relief in bronchial asthma.

Humming increases the production of nitric oxide. Eby explained humming as a

sonic cleanser, cures the infection of respiratory tract. Humming exercise also
increases the vital capacity. It is estimated that humming increases the endogenous
generation of nitric oxide level by 15-fold as compared with the quite exhalation
[8]. Hypoxia in ARD Syndrome leads to blood coagulation by depression of body
defence anticoagulatory and fibrolytic properties along with metabolic acidosis. If
we go into hypoxic hypercapnic state no hyper coagulation takes place. The
metabolic acidosis/acidic pH enhances the clot formation by 168% just by lowering
the pH to 6.8 and further aggravate the coagulopathies.

Hence Bhramari by enhancing the expression of Nitric Oxide and increased Carbon
dioxide by extended exhalation and alkaline pH prevents coagulopathies and
morbidity due to Covid-19.

Alkaline diet

Honey /dates/pine apple juice /sprout and raw leafy green vegetables added to diet
boost the immune system.

Foods to enhance Nitric Oxide expression (rich in dietary nitrates, which body can
convert to nitric oxide).
1. Beets. 2. Garlic. 3. Meat. 4. Dark Chocolate. 5. Leafy Greens. 6. Citrus Fruits. 7.
Pomegranate. 8. Nuts and Seeds. 9. watermalon. 10 Redwine. Addition of beet root
in non-diabetics and neem in diabetics may be considered in selective cases. All
patients on anti hypertensive may be supplemented with rock salt and relaxation
therapy.

Antiviral herbs Ginger, Liquorice, Cinnamon garlic may be added if project permits.
The structure of coronavirus is composed of RNA based protein that contains amino
(–NH2) and Carboxyl (–COOH) it includes nucleocapsid protein (N-Protein) spike
protein (S-Protein) and affects the gastrointestinal tract and damage other organs.
It has been observed plant extract of hydroxyl group (–OH) chemically deactivate
the active component of virus by esterification process. Licorice (Glycerrhiza globra)
can be added as supplement in holistic management [9].

Ginger

Zingiber Officinale contains gingerols, paradols, sesquiterpenes, shogaols having

anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and have shown to be protective in
human respiratory syncytial virus (CHRVS). Thus ginger as herbel food can be
considered to enhance immune power [10]. All the patients should be checked for
deficiency of Vit D and corrected [11].

Technique

Patient is instructed to take a slow deep abdominal breath, lift the tongue and press
on hard palate in Khechari Mudra, hold the breath in, blow the cheek for better
echo, close both ears with thumbs of both hands keeping them on concha
simultaneously blocking the ears, and both eyes are gently closed by index finger.
The tip of index finger should rest on the lateral wall of nose. Both middle fingers
are put on base of ala of nose. Mouth is closed on both sides, upper lip by ring
fingers and lower lip by little fingers. Both eyes are focused in Shambhavi drishti at
the Ajna Chakra in between both eyebrows. A constant rhythmic uninterrupted
specific frequency sound (mouth closed jaw relaxed) is generated. Spiritual
concentration is focused on DwarikaDhish (Deity). During humming command is
given that whole body is getting charged and you are full of energy. Visualise and
feel the energy. After complete exhalation, hold the breath out; Vahya Kumbhak is
enforced and spiritual focus on Lord Shiva (Deity). Keep holding the breath out as
long as possible, simultaneously give a command to brain that my whole body is
revitalizing. I am relaxed, I am healthy, I am happy and feel the happiness and
wellness along with increase vitality. The exercise can be performed sitting
comfortably in calm place, eyes closed, relaxed mood with a smile on face, A high
pitch sound gives better results. For better result, whole body, mind and soul
should be relaxed eyes are gently closed. You should be able to visualise a faint
dusty brown light at solar plexes (Ajna Chakra) matching with the colour of pineal
gland. After completing the bhramari hold the breath out for maximum comfortable
duration. This optimizes the CO2 level in blood, tissue and cellular level enhancing
HCO3 anion leading to apoptosis and revitalization [12, 13].

Conclusion

The proposed hypothesis is based on the principal of physiology of Nitric Oxide,

Carbon dioxide and pH of body. Giving a command and its visualization in relaxed
phase (alpha brain wave state leads) to release of feel good hormones lowers the
cortisol level. It leads to enhance immune response, physiological healing and over
all wellness.

Acknowledgement

I accept to undertake all the responsibility for authorship during the submission and review
stages of the manuscript. No financial support was received in the preparation of this article.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by
any of the authors.
Footnotes
Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and
institutional affiliations.

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