Decreased CO2 saturation during circular breathwork supports emergence of altered states of consciousness
Martha Havenith, Max Leidenberger, Jelena Brasanac, Mafalda Corvacho, Ines Carmo Figueiredo, Leonie Schwarz, Malin Uthaug, Simona Rakusa, Marijan Bernardic, Liliana Vasquez-Mock, Sergio Perez-Rosal, Robin Carhart-Harris, Stefan Gold, Henrik Jungaberle, Andrea Jungaberle
Research Square February 22, 2024 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3976380/v1
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractCircular breathwork, which involves deliberate hyperventilation, can induce altered states of consciousness (ASCs) comparable to those produced by psychedelics, without the legal, medical, or financial barriers. A reduction in end-tidal CO2 pressure due to hyperventilation is instrumental in catalyzing these ASCs. The depth of the ASCs predicted psychological and physiological follow-on effects, including improved well-being and a reduction of depressive symptoms. Two popular forms of breathwork—Holotropic Breathwork® and Consciously-Connected breathwork—produced highly similar physiological, experiential, and psychological outcomes. These findings outline physiological boundary conditions for ASCs in a non-pharmacological context and suggest breathwork's potential as an accessible psychotherapeutic tool.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Holotropic Breathwork Consciously-Connected breathwork |
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness Breathwork |
| Keywords | Circular breathwork Respiration Breathing techniques Profound altered states Unique mental experiences |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key finding | A reduction in end-tidal CO2 pressure due to deliberate hyperventilation is instrumental in catalyzing altered states of consciousness during circular breathwork, and these states are comparable to those produced by psychedelics. |
Abstract
Abstract Altered states of consciousness (ASCs), induced e.g. by psychedelics, show great potential to treat widespread mental health disorders like depression and PTSD. However, access to such treatments is restricted by legal, medical, and financial barriers. Here, we explore the potential of circular breathwork to serve as an accessible, non-pharmacological alternative to engage similar therapeutic processes. Scientific studies investigating the mental health effects of breathwork are only just emerging and the underlying physiological and psychological mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, we address these questions by tracking physiological and experiential dynamics throughout a breathwork session, comparing two popular forms of breathwork: Holotropic Breathwork® and Consciously-Connected breathwork. We show that a reduction in end-tidal CO2 pressure due to deliberate hyperventilation is instrumental in catalyzing ASCs during breathwork. ASCs evoked by breathwork were comparable to those produced by psychedelics, and their depth predicted psychological and physiological follow-on effects, including improved well-being and a reduction of depressive symptoms. Moreover, different breathwork formats produced highly similar physiological, experiential and psychological outcomes. These results outline physiological boundary conditions for ASCs to arise in a non-pharmacological context, shedding light on the functional mechanisms of breathwork as well as its potential as a psychotherapeutic tool.