Fruit of the Contemplative Life
Fruit of the contemplative life: => Health, healing and fitness => : Jhanananda March 15, 2020, 02:41:25 AM
-
It has been a reasonable hypothesis that air polution might just be one of the primary factors in ill-health. A friend recently sent me a link to a very good article in support of this hypothesis. The article is Loss of life expectancy from air pollution compared to other risk factors: a worldwide perspective (https://academic.oup.com/cardiovascres/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cvr/cvaa025/5770885). It was published in Cardiovascular Research this month.
Since my health has gone down steadily for the last 10 years, but I have had considerable recovery simply by filtering most of the air that I breath, then it seems reasonable that until we can get the world to stop burning fossil fuels, we can filter the air we breath. Doing so has improved my health, so it seems like others would benifit equally doing so.
Abstract
Aims
Long-term exposure of humans to air pollution enhances the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. A novel Global Exposure Mortality Model (GEMM) has been derived from many cohort studies, providing much-improved coverage of the exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). We applied the GEMM to assess excess mortality attributable to ambient air pollution on a global scale and compare to other risk factors.
Methods and results
We used a data-informed atmospheric model to calculate worldwide exposure to PM2.5 and ozone pollution, which was combined with the GEMM to estimate disease-specific excess mortality and loss of life expectancy (LLE) in 2015. Using this model, we investigated the effects of different pollution sources, distinguishing between natural (wildfires, aeolian dust) and anthropogenic emissions, including fossil fuel use. Global excess mortality from all ambient air pollution is estimated at 8.8 (7.11–10.41) million/year, with an LLE of 2.9 (2.3–3.5) years, being a factor of two higher than earlier estimates, and exceeding that of tobacco smoking. The global mean mortality rate of about 120 per 100 000 people/year is much exceeded in East Asia (196 per 100 000/year) and Europe (133 per 100 000/year). Without fossil fuel emissions, the global mean life expectancy would increase by 1.1 (0.9–1.2) years and 1.7 (1.4–2.0) years by removing all potentially controllable anthropogenic emissions. Because aeolian dust and wildfire emission control is impracticable, significant LLE is unavoidable.
Conclusion
Ambient air pollution is one of the main global health risks, causing significant excess mortality and LLE, especially through cardiovascular diseases. It causes an LLE that rivals that of tobacco smoking. The global mean LLE from air pollution strongly exceeds that by violence (all forms together), i.e. by an order of magnitude (LLE being 2.9 and 0.3 years, respectively).
-
From the beginning of the current pandemic it has been my hypothesis that air pollution might just be one of the underlying causes of it. Evidence is beginning to show up as Air Pollution Vanishes Across China’s Industrial Heartland (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-01/air-pollution-vanishes-across-china-s-industrial-heartland), at the same time the Wuhan epidemic declines.
China’s lockdown measures to minimize further coronavirus infections have created one unexpected benefit -- a dramatic improvement to the nation’s air quality.
Satellites operated by NASA and the European Space Agency have detected significant drops of major airborne pollutants above vast swathes of the country.
Before-and-after images show how nitrogen dioxide levels plummeted in February compared to pre-lockdown January of this year. Nitrogen dioxide is a noxious gas emitted by factories, motor vehicles and fossil fuel-powered electricity generation stations.
The data were collected by ESA’s Sentinel-5 satellite. Ozone measurements from NASA’s Aura spacecraft showed similar results.
China Claims Peak of Coronavirus Epidemic Has Passed As New Cases Decline and More Than 60,000 Have Recovered (https://www.newsweek.com/china-says-passed-peak-coronavirus-epidemic-covid-19-1491863)
I find it reasonable to consider that the declines in new cases of the coronavirus-epidemic-covid-19 happens to be coincident with declines in local air-pollution due to the lock-down causing radical declines in tansportation related air-polution, as well as the shut down of local coal-fired power plants. However, arguably there is also obviously an influence from isolation efforts as well.
-
That is actually really awesome to notice. It really does seem to make sense, I am curious if researchers will come to any similar conclusion.
-
That is actually really awesome to notice. It really does seem to make sense, I am curious if researchers will come to any similar conclusion.
I'm really done waiting for medical reseearch to figure out why I am dying.
Jhanananda I had finally gotten the funds together about 2 weeks ago and bought an air purifier and an additional HEPA charcoal filter. This was purely from your posts here. I have had a significant decrease in a lot of congestive respiratory symptoms. I no longer feel the need to take an allergy medication every day to combat dander, dust, mold, pollution etc. in my room. My lungs dont feel as inflammed as usual and i rarely need to clear my throat or cough throughout the day. I am finally going to be able to see a doctor this week and will probably move forward towards a diagnosis on the autoimmune disorder i have been outright suffering the past few years. Ill update on what I find out and other health changes in the coming weeks. Praying i dont catch anything at the doctors office x_x.
Rougeleader
It is good to receive your record of success with using an air-purifier. It is what keeps me alive now. I only wish I had realized its significance back when I was in my 20s. Up until 6 months ago I found all I needed to do on most days was simply sleep with an air-purifier running, and I would feel much healthier throughout the day. Now days I can only breath unfiltered air for about 5 minutes before I start feeling extemely ill.
-
If we examine the Wiki listing for Air Pollution (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollution) we find the following:
Air pollution occurs when harmful or excessive quantities of substances are introduced into Earth's atmosphere. Sources of air pollution include gases (such as ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane and chlorofluorocarbons), particulates (both organic and inorganic), and biological molecules. It may cause diseases, allergies and even death to humans; it may also cause harm to other living organisms such as animals and food crops, and may damage the natural or built environment. Both human activity and natural processes can generate air pollution.
Air pollution is a significant risk factor for a number of pollution-related diseases, including respiratory infections, heart disease, COPD, stroke and lung cancer.[1] The human health effects of poor air quality are far reaching, but principally affect the body's respiratory system and the cardiovascular system. Individual reactions to air pollutants depend on the type of pollutant a person is exposed to, the degree of exposure, and the individual's health status and genetics.[2] Indoor air pollution and poor urban air quality are listed as two of the world's worst toxic pollution problems in the 2008 Blacksmith Institute World's Worst Polluted Places report.[3] Outdoor air pollution alone causes 2.1[4][5] to 4.21 million deaths annually.[1][6] Overall, air pollution causes the deaths of around 7 million people worldwide each year, and is the world's largest single environmental health risk.[1][7][8]
Productivity losses and degraded quality of life caused by air pollution are estimated to cost the world economy $5 trillion per year.[9][10][11] Various pollution control technologies and strategies are available to reduce air pollution.[12][13]
Pollutants
Main articles: Pollutant and Greenhouse gas
An air pollutant is a material in the air that can have adverse effects on humans and the ecosystem. The substance can be solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases. A pollutant can be of natural origin or man-made. Pollutants are classified as primary or secondary. Primary pollutants are usually produced by processes such as ash from a volcanic eruption. Other examples include carbon monoxide gas from motor vehicle exhausts or sulfur dioxide released from factories. Secondary pollutants are not emitted directly. Rather, they form in the air when primary pollutants react or interact. Ground level ozone is a prominent example of a secondary pollutant. Some pollutants may be both primary and secondary: they are both emitted directly and formed from other primary pollutants.
Pollutants emitted into the atmosphere by human activity include:
Carbon dioxide (CO
2) – Because of its role as a greenhouse gas it has been described as "the leading pollutant"[14] and "the worst climate pollutant".[15] Carbon dioxide is a natural component of the atmosphere, essential for plant life and given off by the human respiratory system.[16]
Sulfur oxides (SOx) – particularly sulfur dioxide, a chemical compound with the formula SO2. SO2 is produced by volcanoes and in various industrial processes. Coal and petroleum often contain sulfur compounds, and their combustion generates sulfur dioxide. Further oxidation of SO2, usually in the presence of a catalyst such as NO2, forms H2SO4, and thus acid rain is formed.[2] This is one of the causes for concern over the environmental impact of the use of these fuels as power sources.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) – Nitrogen oxides, particularly nitrogen dioxide, are expelled from high temperature combustion, and are also produced during thunderstorms by electric discharge. They can be seen as a brown haze dome above or a plume downwind of cities. Nitrogen dioxide is a chemical compound with the formula NO2. It is one of several nitrogen oxides. One of the most prominent air pollutants, this reddish-brown toxic gas has a characteristic sharp, biting odor.
Carbon monoxide (CO) – CO is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas.[21] It is a product of combustion of fuel such as natural gas, coal or wood. Vehicular exhaust contributes to the majority of carbon monoxide let into our atmosphere. It creates a smog type formation in the air that has been linked to many lung diseases and disruptions to the natural environment and animals.
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) – VOCs are a well-known outdoor air pollutant. They are categorized as either methane (CH4) or non-methane (NMVOCs). Methane is an extremely efficient greenhouse gas which contributes to enhanced global warming. Other hydrocarbon VOCs are also significant greenhouse gases because of their role in creating ozone and prolonging the life of methane in the atmosphere. This effect varies depending on local air quality. The aromatic NMVOCs benzene, toluene and xylene are suspected carcinogens and may lead to leukemia with prolonged exposure. 1,3-butadiene is another dangerous compound often associated with industrial use.
Particulate matter / particles, alternatively referred to as particulate matter (PM), atmospheric particulate matter, or fine particles, are tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas. In contrast, aerosol refers to combined particles and gas. Some particulates occur naturally, originating from volcanoes, dust storms, forest and grassland fires, living vegetation, and sea spray. Human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels in vehicles, power plants and various industrial processes also generate significant amounts of aerosols. Averaged worldwide, anthropogenic aerosols—those made by human activities—currently account for approximately 10 percent of our atmosphere. Increased levels of fine particles in the air are linked to health hazards such as heart disease,[22] altered lung function and lung cancer. Particulates are related to respiratory infections and can be particularly harmful to those already suffering from conditions like asthma.[23]
Persistent free radicals connected to airborne fine particles are linked to cardiopulmonary disease.[24][25]
Toxic metals, such as lead and mercury, especially their compounds.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) – harmful to the ozone layer; emitted from products are currently banned from use. These are gases which are released from air conditioners, refrigerators, aerosol sprays, etc. On release into the air, CFCs rise to the stratosphere. Here they come in contact with other gases and damage the ozone layer. This allows harmful ultraviolet rays to reach the earth's surface. This can lead to skin cancer, eye disease and can even cause damage to plants.
Ammonia – emitted mainly by agricultural waste. Ammonia is a compound with the formula NH3. It is normally encountered as a gas with a characteristic pungent odor. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to foodstuffs and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or indirectly, is also a building block for the synthesis of many pharmaceuticals. Although in wide use, ammonia is both caustic and hazardous. In the atmosphere, ammonia reacts with oxides of nitrogen and sulfur to form secondary particles.[26]
Odors — such as from garbage, sewage, and industrial processes
Radioactive pollutants – produced by nuclear explosions, nuclear events, war explosives, and natural processes such as the radioactive decay of radon. (It should also be added that the burning of coal releases Radioactive pollutants.)
Secondary pollutants include:
Particulates created from gaseous primary pollutants and compounds in photochemical smog. Smog is a kind of air pollution. Classic smog results from large amounts of coal burning in an area caused by a mixture of smoke and sulfur dioxide. Modern smog does not usually come from coal but from vehicular and industrial emissions that are acted on in the atmosphere by ultraviolet light from the sun to form secondary pollutants that also combine with the primary emissions to form photochemical smog.
Ground level ozone (O3) formed from NOx and VOCs. Ozone (O3) is a key constituent of the troposphere. It is also an important constituent of certain regions of the stratosphere commonly known as the Ozone layer. Photochemical and chemical reactions involving it drive many of the chemical processes that occur in the atmosphere by day and by night. At abnormally high concentrations brought about by human activities (largely the combustion of fossil fuel), it is a pollutant and a constituent of smog.
Peroxyacetyl nitrate (C2H3NO5) – similarly formed from NOx and VOCs.
Minor air pollutants include:
A large number of minor hazardous air pollutants. Some of these are regulated in USA under the Clean Air Act and in Europe under the Air Framework Directive
A variety of persistent organic pollutants, which can attach to particulates
-
As soome of you know I have made significant progress in health by using air purifiers that included both HEPA and activated charcoal filters. Since December I had been hearing anecdotes from people with allergies that they had some significant success with using humidifiers, especially with salt added. I reasoned that if adding salt to a humidifier works then it must be while water is extracting air-borne acids out of the air, then the salt must neutralizes those acids.
So, I started experimenting with water as an exchange medium for air-purification, as well as adding salt. After many experiments I have had increasing success, and I have come to use a portable evaporative cooler with salt added to the water at 1/4 cup per gallon (4L). I also found it works best if I drain the water every 8 hours.
-
Its a great news, to know you have mostly recovered. Due to my own health issues, i thought of discussing stuff with you, dont you stay in sub urbs area with less pollution? Cause im dreaded to know that even surrounded by trees and all which im assuming u will be, such an adverse effect of pollution, i cudnt help but think that maybe my own nausea is because of highly toxic air of this bustling city im living in..
I came to know of benefits of basil leaves, neem leaves and turmeric they detox the body and have you tried paranayama and asana?? It seems pranayama also keeps many cardiovascular and respiratory diseases away, it is kindof sitting cardio exercise, as we grow old, running etc can be taxing on joints but even old yogis used to stay fit cause we do need to increase the heart rate to detox..
Also the vitamin D, sunshine is extremely important.
Of course the food as well. Eating plant based diet, raw is better i came to know is able to cure so many health conditions including some auto immune diseases. Animal protien is not meant for human body it seems.
I wud love to know your thoughts on each of these remedies.
-
I have been experimenting with health aides and suppliments for over 4 decades. The thing that has done the most for my health was using an air purifier which includes HEPA, activated charcoal, an aqueous exchange mediu, and a catalyst to convert ozone to O2.
I moved to Prescott, AZ for my health 10 years ago, but found my health got worse and continued to get worse until I started using air purifiers. It turns out that even though Prescott, AZ is in the mountains and has only light industry; nonetheless, it is only 50 miles from Phoenix, AZ which is the 7th worst city in the USA for air pollution; and surface winds blow air polliuton from Phoenix to Prescott. My conclusio is to move further away from Phoenix, such as Flag Staff, which is 100 miles north. I have recently camped their for a week, and found I needed to use my air purifiers less.
-
I bet these toxins are the major cause. I m planning to move soon have had enough of it.
Phoenix is showing 70 aqi, Prescott 35
Can u imagine on a regular day before Lockdown, aqi of bangalore where i live used to get as bad as 140/160
Im going to take your suggestions seriously and gonna do smthg abt it get purifier meanwhile
-
I bet these toxins are the major cause. I m planning to move soon have had enough of it.
Phoenix is showing 70 aqi, Prescott 35
Can u imagine on a regular day before Lockdown, aqi of bangalore where i live used to get as bad as 140/160
Im going to take your suggestions seriously and gonna do smthg abt it get purifier meanwhile
Oh its interesting that u mentioned vertigo, i have been feeling it myself from past 2 years. I think yes it is becasue of toxins from air n food. Also im avoiding food that imcreases heat in body. Oil spices, etc
I have seen an AQI here in Prescott, AZ of 120 and 180, so it is time to leave; however, with AQIs so high I was able to feel fine as long as I breathed purified air.
Are you familier with something we call here a "swamp cooler" or "evaporative cooler?" Evaporative coolers pump water through a filter medium which has air pulled through it. In a dry climate this can significantly reduce the temperature. I grew up with these on the roof of my parent's house.
What I have come to realize is swamp coolers also extract particulate out of the air, as well as extract NOX and SOX, which are common respiratory irritants. However, the problem with swamp coolers is people almost never drain the water from them, so after months of recerculating the water it becomes like mud, which can lead to ill-health.
I recently discovered that if the sump on the swamp cooler were drained daily, then the swamp cooler can be a very effective air-purifier; whereas, if the water is never changed then it can cause disease.
-
120-180 is pretty high. Yes im aware of those coolers we call them desert cooler here and we use it commonly. Its interesting to know, i can imagine water abosrbing the particulate cause the filter isnt so fine, as u mentioned earlier about humidifier.
So do you take portable air purifier mask or smthng when you go out?
-
120-180 is pretty high. Yes im aware of those coolers we call them desert cooler here and we use it commonly. Its interesting to know, i can imagine water abosrbing the particulate cause the filter isnt so fine, as u mentioned earlier about humidifier.
Yes, the cooler does remove particulate, but even more useful since it uses water for cooling, which it blows air through, then if the air contains any NOX (nitrogen oxides) or SOX (sulfur oxide), and it turns out that NOX and SOX are highly attracted to water, so the water pulls the NOX and SOX out of the air that is passing through the swamp cooler, and thus purifies it.
And, it is necessary to note that NOX and SOX are highly corosive, and are recognized as respiratory irritants at extremely low levels, so you want something to remove it from the air you breath, and thus a swamp cooler works really well at it.
So do you take portable air purifier mask or smthng when you go out?
Yes, I bought a Gearson respirator and replaced the replaceable paper filter with a damp spunge that was cut to the shape of the paper filter so it would fit the intake portion of the mask filter.
-
Aah yes, I get it. Thankyou for sharing your findings.
I was wondering, what you do nowadays throughout the day? Earlier, i believe you used to meditate only during night time right? Now do you meditate most of the day? And what u used to do when the body was suffering much, wud you get out of body then also?
-
I was wondering, what you do nowadays throughout the day? Earlier, i believe you used to meditate only during night time right? Now do you meditate most of the day? And what u used to do when the body was suffering much, wud you get out of body then also?
For most of my contemplative life I began and ended every day with meditation with the intention of depth. For most of the last 20 years I have meditated at least 3 times a day to depth of the 4th jhana, or beyond. For the last 2.5 years of severe illness I spend almost 24/7 in isolation with my respiratory equipment. Most days I spend most of the day in meditation. My eye sight is so poor that I only read what has to be read. Lately, health permitting, I work about half the day packing and preparing to move from Prescott, where my health has been in decline. I frequently have to take breaks with my respiratory equipment, at which time I meditate.
-
Alright, I hope it gets all better for your body. I remember your comment from one of the video, that experienced yogi cann get to great depths really quickly, so once you get to 8th jhana which is believe must be happening fairly quickly how long you stay there? and what actually brings us back? can we decide the amount of time we stay in it?
I had something to discuss, about thought and calmness of second jhana, there are 2 layers of mind as i had observed, one is of conscious thinking, which is like a voice we intentionally generate in our head, second is sub-conscious, in which mind randomly brings up thoughts based on memory (it can be visual image or a less louder conversation going on). what i have observed is for most part in second jhana conscious thought is put to rest and this leads to cutting of randomly generated thoughts from the subconscious mind as well. In my experience, total mental activity only stops when we are very deep in 4th jhana, since breath and mind are related so unless breath stops subtle thoughts keep popping up. But to be honest, your breath cant be stopped for long even in 4th jhana, (that may be possible when we go obe perhaps), so some mental activity always remains through out the session, and we may keeping circling between different jhanas and different level of mental stillness.
Do you agree with this observation or do you think that i never ever crossed second jhana :D cause i dont find total cessation of mind (no subtle images etc popping up) unless breath is very very slow and almost stopping(i.e. 4th jhana as per what i understand).
-
Alright, I hope it gets all better for your body. I remember your comment from one of the video, that experienced yogi cann get to great depths really quickly, so once you get to 8th jhana which is believe must be happening fairly quickly how long you stay there? and what actually brings us back? can we decide the amount of time we stay in it?
Thank-you for expressing your concern for the health of this body. The things that I realized early in my contemplative life after ascending to the 7th stage of samadhi are:
1) We are not the body. We are spirit encapsulated in a biological form.
2} Biology is inherently cruel, because it requires the weak and the sick, and old to be removed from competition for resources, and reproduction as quickly as possible, which is why predators exist.
3} So, my conclusion then was life is preparation for death. thus, to prepare for death properly, then one must spend one's life developing the contemplative arts, and the fruit there of.
In answer to your question regarding consistent depth in meditation. I arrived in the 8th stage of samadhi sometime after I deepened my daily meditation practice which was around 2000. Later that year I let go of all attachments to life and merged into the all pervasive awareness domain of divine consciousness. That experience persisted with me 24/7 for a number of years. While I do not have that experience 24/7 these days; nonetheless, i experience it at times. Mostly I experience the 4th stage of jhana/samadhi and drop into it as soon as I sit in meditation. When my body enters sleep, and being ill, I take many naps these days, so when I do I leave the body and enter one of the 4 ayatans.
My experience of the 4 ayatanas is they are not linear, like the 4 stages of jhana. Instead one can enter anyone one of them upon laving the body. The more time one spends in the 4th jhana the more facility one has with the 4 ayatanas.
As I age, and my illness progresses the contemplative arts, and the fruit there of have become my constant companions which I take refuge and comfort in. Meditation has stopped being formal and is more continuous. All along in my meditation practice I meditated until the session came to completion. When I deepened my meditation practice I took more to meditating for longer periods, and beyond the feeling of completion in the session. I often found that the session would then go to greater depth, if I remained longer.
I have found ultimately what brings us back to the body is the body has its lifespan. We will simply keep coming back to it until it is dead.
I had something to discuss, about thought and calmness of second jhana, there are 2 layers of mind as i had observed, one is of conscious thinking, which is like a voice we intentionally generate in our head, second is sub-conscious, in which mind randomly brings up thoughts based on memory (it can be visual image or a less louder conversation going on). what i have observed is for most part in second jhana conscious thought is put to rest and this leads to cutting of randomly generated thoughts from the subconscious mind as well. In my experience, total mental activity only stops when we are very deep in 4th jhana, since breath and mind are related so unless breath stops subtle thoughts keep popping up. But to be honest, your breath cant be stopped for long even in 4th jhana, (that may be possible when we go obe perhaps), so some mental activity always remains through out the session, and we may keeping circling between different jhanas and different level of mental stillness.
On stilling the mind. The second jhana is characterized by the stilling of the mind, so until the mind is still one has not gone deeper than the 1st jhana. I am not clear on your use of the term "mental activity." I can apply that term to cognition. Cognition refers to a number of cognitive activities, such as sensing, and interpretation. When the mind is still in the 2nd jhana, one can still experience sensing and interpretation without labeling. I find the deeper I go the less cognitive functions exist. For instance a sense of body persists through the 4th jhana; however, it becomes reduced at each stage of depth, but once one goes out of body, then of course the sense of a body is gone. Nonetheless, as one progresses deeper in the ayatanas the sense of body and cognition becomes reduced until at the 7th stage of samadhi one become simply a point of awareness, and the other entities one interacts with are also just points of awareness.
The breath only appears to stop during the 4th jhana and beyond. It is doubtful to me that the breath stops at these depths. We simply lose awareness of the breath and the body.
Do you agree with this observation or do you think that i never ever crossed second jhana :D cause i dont find total cessation of mind (no subtle images etc popping up) unless breath is very very slow and almost stopping(i.e. 4th jhana as per what i understand).
So, from your questions it seems reasonable to me that you have stilled your mind at times, but it might be less frequent than you believe. So, keep meditating consistently. Every time you meditate endeavor to meditate to depth. When not in meditation endeavor to remain the present moment, which will encourage your mind to remain still throughout the day. This will help you meditate to depth when you meditate. Live a contemplative life throughout your life.
-
It is amazing to know the depths of meditation you abide in daily. Thankyou for sharing that.
I remebr the video abput second jhana, where you discuss about " how still the mind is in second jhana?" and when you talk of "relatively still"
were you talking about the intensity of stillness in terms of " absolutely no thought for a length of time and more the length of time, intense is the stillness or
does it mean that there are "relatively" less thoughts and mind isnt totally silent?
because for me when mind becomes totally silent, Im in the 4th jhana, which i gauge through breath, breath is almost stopping and im very deep. I had experienced once directly effacing into total bliss state which i think is 8th jhana, when i was abiding in 4th jhana sitting up, my consciousness go pulled from the body and i merged into heart area and there was a surge of bliss in that nothingness, just i existed with immense bliss. I did experience it once, where i merged into third eye center that time i was lying down on the bed.
so for me I always thought 2nd jhana is relative stillness in the sense that mind is silent but not fully.
-
I am very sorry friends for having been off-list for a while. For my health, I have been working on moving out of Prescott where my health has declined so much. I am retreating to the mountains near Flag Staff, AZ where the air is cleaner, but I am an hour and half drive from town, so I plan to come to town every week for now to get food, and ice, and water, and I plan to check in here each time. It is good to see there has been some activity here.
It is amazing to know the depths of meditation you abide in daily. Thankyou for sharing that.
I remebr the video abput second jhana, where you discuss about " how still the mind is in second jhana?" and when you talk of "relatively still"
were you talking about the intensity of stillness in terms of " absolutely no thought for a length of time and more the length of time, intense is the stillness or
does it mean that there are "relatively" less thoughts and mind isnt totally silent?
so for me I always thought 2nd jhana is relative stillness in the sense that mind is silent but not fully.
We have discussed the 8 stages of samadhi here many times. For reference, you can go to the GWV web site at this link: Jhana as defined in the Buddha's Discourses (http://www.greatwesternvehicle.org/jhana.html). Essentially when the mind is still then one is at least in the second jhana.
because for me when mind becomes totally silent, Im in the 4th jhana, which i gauge through breath, breath is almost stopping and im very deep. I had experienced once directly effacing into total bliss state which i think is 8th jhana, when i was abiding in 4th jhana sitting up, my consciousness go pulled from the body and i merged into heart area and there was a surge of bliss in that nothingness, just i existed with immense bliss. I did experience it once, where i merged into third eye center that time i was lying down on the bed.
We recognize the 4th jhana by an absence of suffering and discomfort, as well as a loss of the sense of breath.
When one enters the upper four stages of samadhi one has no sense of a physical body, which means it is an out-of-body experience.
-
Jhanananda I had finally gotten the funds together about 2 weeks ago and bought an air purifier and an additional HEPA charcoal filter. This was purely from your posts here. I have had a significant decrease in a lot of congestive respiratory symptoms. I no longer feel the need to take an allergy medication every day to combat dander, dust, mold, pollution etc. in my room. My lungs dont feel as inflammed as usual and i rarely need to clear my throat or cough throughout the day. I am finally going to be able to see a doctor this week and will probably move forward towards a diagnosis on the autoimmune disorder i have been outright suffering the past few years. Ill update on what I find out and other health changes in the coming weeks. Praying i dont catch anything at the doctors office x_x.
Rougeleader
I thought it best to reply to you, Rougeleader, here. It is good to know that you have acquired an air purifier and to know that it is helping you. I am still developing my air-purification methods, and have come to realize that HEPA is great, adding activated charcoal is even better, but they are incomplete. There are 2 other classes of air-pollution that neither HEPA nor activated charcoal do much to reduce. They are: NOX, SOX and ozone.
Both NOX and SOX are oxides, which are highly reactive and bond readily with water, this explains why people with autoimmune disorders find results using a humidifier. And, they find even better results from adding water to an ultrasonic humidifier.
I tried the ultrasonic humidifier with salt, and did have significant results. After some experimenting, I found an evaporative cooler (swamp cooler) with salt added to it, and draining the water at least every day, worked even better. So, if you are interested you may find additional relief from using such a device in the manner I described.
Removing ozone requires a catalyst to convert it into O2. I am still working on that and will report back when I have sufficient results to do so.
-
Here is more interesting research on the benefit of air purifiers.
Air Filters Used In LA Schools Linked To Higher Test Scores (https://cleantechnica.com/2020/01/14/air-filters-used-in-la-schools-linked-to-higher-test-scores/)
-
Here are some more useful resources for studying air quality:
Air quality in the world (https://www.iqair.com/us/world-air-quality)
AccuWeather Air Quality (https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/prescott/86303/air-quality-index/331809)
3D Animated Air Pollution Map (https://www.iqair.com/earth?nav)
-
Having found that air quality has more to do with my health than anything else, then I have taken to closely monitoring the air quality wherever I am, even several times a day, and I often check multiple sources. Currently I find the dashboards for AccuWeather (https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/flagstaff/86001/air-quality-index/326854)dashboard, and the Weather Channel (https://weather.com/forecast/air-quality/l/4f6173f1ac00bb6541404ce33f25c9179476e19c7f8235263a2a30e39cd4e013) most useful.
However, I have noticed a number of problems with the data I acquire on these dashboards.
1] Most air-quality dashboards do not report anything other than the dominant pollutant, such as ozone (03) is almost always the dominant pollutant in Prescott, AZ. However, I have found from examining the full spectrum of air pollutants I have found my health responds to the full spectrum of air pollution, and different organs respond differently to different air-pollutants.
2] I have also noticed that my health responds fairly dramatically to very low levels of NOX, SOX and CO. Where even if there is an AQI of only 1 or 2 for these three respiratory irritants; nonetheless, my body responds at these levels and when they get to 4, then I am having a severe health issue, if I am not using my advanced air-purification system. So, I believe the EPA needs to raise the AQI values for these 3 air-pollutants a factor of 10.
3]I have also noticed that I get different values from one dashboard to the other. I happen to know that there are often more than one air quality monitoring station in any given area, so I assumed the dashboards were getting their data from different stations. This difference is explained in this paper, and it turns out I was only partially correct.
Understanding PurpleAir vs. AirNow.gov Measurements of Smoke Pollution (http://Understanding PurpleAir vs. AirNow.gov Measurements of Smoke Pollution)
-
Here is more research supporting my hypothesis that air pollution might just be the primary cause of disease.
Even 'Safe' Levels of Air Pollution Tied to Brain Shrinkage (https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/941461?nlid=138422_2051&src=WNL_mdplsnews_201127_mscpedit_psyc&uac=400169PV&spon=12&impID=2702907&faf=1) Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW November 23, 2020
Areas where there are high levels of fine-particle air pollution may increase Alzheimer's-like brain shrinkage, new research suggests.
Results of a large longitudinal study show that women who lived in areas in which there were microscopic particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters <2.5 μg (PM2.5) per cubic meter of air had a significantly increased risk for brain shrinkage on imaging.
Researchers studied more than 700 women (mean age, 78 years) who were free of dementia at baseline. Participants underwent MRI at baseline and again 5 years later.
Each 3-μm increase in air pollution exposure was associated with an increase of .03 points in brain shrinkage scores at the end of the 5-year period. These scores were in turn associated with a 24% increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
"Our findings add to the literature showing that air pollution may increase risk of Alzheimer's disease,"
"However, air pollution is a modifiable risk factor, and even those living in areas with high air pollution can make concerted efforts to reduce their exposure to these pollutants, for example, monitor air quality daily...
"Compelling evidence has demonstrated that ambient pollution" — especially particulate matter of PM2.5 — "is an environmental risk factor for brain aging" and is associated with an increased risk for dementia and AD, but the underlying mechanism of this association is not clear, the authors write.
They don't mention you can buy an air purifier for home, car and office; and they don't get that pm2.5 is only one of many aspects of air pollution, which is possibly why they didn't understand the underlying mechanism of air pollution and its effect on the body.
-
Jeff if I recall correctly, Gurdjieff had an interest in this topic as well towards the end of his life. It's been 10 years since I read it so I can't remember precisely. But I believe he was researching higher qualities of air and the effects they had. Might be something out there on it.
-
Thanks, Alexander, I will have to dig into it to find more info. I found another article that so far provides the most compelling evidence of a link between air pollution, health and this pandemic.
The United States May Have Set Itself Up for the Spread of a Pandemic Without Even Knowing It (https://scitechdaily.com/the-united-states-may-have-set-itself-up-for-the-spread-of-a-pandemic-without-even-knowing-it/) by Rajan K. Chakrabarty, Payton Beeler, Pai Liu, Spondita Goswami, Richard D. Harvey, Shamsh Pervez, Aaronvan Donkelaar and Randall V. Martin, 9 November 2020, Science of The Total Environment.
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143391
The reproduction ratio R0 of COVID-19 associates directly with the long-term ambient PM2.5 exposure levels. And the presence of secondary inorganic components in PM2.5 only makes things worse, according to Chakrabarty.
“We checked for more than 40 confounding factors,” Chakrabarty said. Of all of those factors, “There was a strong, linear association between long-term PM2.5 exposure and R0.”
Modeling revealed an increase of almost 0.25 in R0 corresponding to a 10% increase in sulfate, nitrogen dioxide and ammonium, or SNA composition and an increase of 1 μg/m3 in PM2.5 mass concentrations, respectively.
They found these linear correlations to be strongest in places where pollution levels were well below National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), the levels of air pollutants that are considered safe for humans.
“Annual mean PM2.5 national standards are set at or below 12 micrograms per cubic meter, below that you are supposed to be safe,” Chakrabarty said. “What we saw, the correlation we’re seeing is well below that standard.” In fact, they saw a rapid increase in R0 when PM2.5 exposure levels were below 6 micrograms per cubic meter.
“We found black carbon acts as a kind of catalyst. When there is soot present, PM2.5 has more of an acute effect on lung health, and therefore on R0.”
The mediation/moderation study was not superfluous — one of the common ways people are exposed to SNA is through pollution emitted from cars and coal-fired power plants. Both of which also emit soot.
“Although decades of strict air quality regulations in the U.S. have resulted in significant reductions of nitrogen dioxide levels,” the authors wrote in the paper’s conclusion, “recent reversal of environmental regulations which weaken limits on gaseous emissions from power plants and vehicles threaten the country’s future air quality scenario.”
“Instead of working to resolve this issue, these reversals may be setting us up for another pandemic,” Chakrabarty said.
-
Here is more research showing air pollution has a causal relationship with Alzheimer’s disease. The study found locations with high levels of PM2.5 compared to those locations with low levels, they found dementia risk increased by 24%.
Air pollution may contribute to Alzheimer’s and dementia risk – here’s what we’re learning from brain scans (https://theconversation.com/air-pollution-may-contribute-to-alzheimers-and-dementia-risk-heres-what-were-learning-from-brain-scans-148776?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20January%205%202021%20-%201826217762&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20January%205%202021%20-%201826217762+CID_7806df0c572d98fee19c9400330f46e5&utm_source=campaign_monitor_us&utm_term=Air%20pollution%20may%20contribute%20to%20Alzheimers%20and%20dementia%20risk%20%20heres%20what%20were%20learning%20from%20brain%20scans)
The problem I have with these studies that only look at pm 2.5 is an unfortunate conclusion can be made that all one needs is a HEPA filter to remove them. However, there are gasses that are part of the air pollution stream that will pass right through a HEPA filter, which can be removed with activated charcoal and a humidifier.
-
Here is an interesting study that shows allergies can cause Chronic Bladder Pain in Some People. An animal study has shown prolonged high levels of histamine in the bladder can make the bladder's nerves hypersensitive. And histamines in urine appear to remain elevated for longer than in our blood as our bodies use this exit pathway to remove them. And, people suffering from Chronic Bladder Pain find antihistamines relieve their symptoms. However, the study assumes a link to pollen and does not consider the cause might just be air pollution.
High Pollen May Trigger Mysterious Flares of Chronic Bladder Pain in Some People (https://www.sciencealert.com/high-pollen-may-trigger-mysterious-flares-of-chronic-bladder-pain-in-some-people)
-
Here is one of the best articles that I have read so far on the damage to public health caused by air pollution.
'Invisible killer': fossil fuels caused 8.7m deaths globally in 2018, research finds (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/09/fossil-fuels-pollution-deaths-research?fbclid=IwAR0nDTR_nF5ePQpiDuGBYfCbvTqGp2luuBGYEJzNiXkWSNwQYkIczNv6M-c)
Pollution from power plants, vehicles and other sources accounted for one in five of all deaths that year, more detailed analysis reveals
The article recognized that air pollution is not just particles that can be filtered out with a HEPA filter, but also gasses, which pass right through filters and need other methods such as activated charcoal and a humidifier. But, the best part of this article is the recognition that it is the burning of fossil fuels that is producing the pollution, and it is the recognition that ir pollution is a global problem, and air pollution is the primary cause of the decline of public health.
-
Here is more research showing the health degradation due to wildfires. Study Finds Wildfire Smoke More Harmful To Humans Than Pollution From Cars (https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/03/05/973848360/study-finds-wildfire-smoke-more-harmful-to-humans-than-pollution-from-cars?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR2t9xZLxFFW4R6jrUIJNsGSwwiXXB4Dm84V_YFjnIq8Fskxtd4KU_b9Hrs)
-
Recently I stumbled upon Salt Inhalation Therapy. It is what I have been doing for 14 months, which has dramatically improved my health and kept me out of the ER since I started using it. I started adding a humidifier to my air purification methods when I was last in the ER. There the EKG tech told me while he was hooking me up that both he and his wife had chronic respiratory illnesses and he had found using a humidifier helped them both, and he said adding salt to the humidifier water improved it effectiveness significantly. At the time he said he thought the reason why a humidifier worked better with salt in it was because the salt made the water denser. Right away I knew his explanation was lame. I figured if salt worked it would be because salt is a universal acid neutralizer.
Salt Inhalation Therapy or Halotherapy (https://www.healthline.com/health/halotherapy)
Halotherapy is an alternative treatment that involves breathing salty air. Some claim that it can treat respiratory conditions, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and allergies. Others suggest it can also:
ease smoking-related symptoms, such as a cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing
treat depression and anxiety
cure some skin conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema, and acne
The origins of halotherapy date back to the medieval era. But researchers only recently started studying its potential benefits.
Halotherapy methods
Halotherapy is usually broken down into dry and wet methods, depending on how the salt is administered.
Dry methods
The dry method of halotherapy is usually done in a man-made “salt cave” that’s free of humidity. The temperature is cool, set to 68°F (20°C) or lower. Sessions usually last for about 30 to 45 minutes.
A device called a halogenerator grinds salt into microscopic particles and releases them into the air of the room. Once inhaled, these salt particles are claimed to absorb irritants, including allergens and toxins, from the respiratory system. Advocates say this process breaks up mucus and reduces inflammation, resulting in clear airways.
Wet methods
Halotherapy is also done using a mixture of salt and water. Wet methods of halotherapy include:
gargling salt water
drinking salt water
bathing in salt water
using salt water for nasal irrigation
flotation tanks filled with salt water
What do studies on halotherapy say?
Science hasn’t caught up with the halotherapy hype yet. There are few studies on the topic. Some studies have shown promise, but most research is inconclusive or conflicting.
Promising or Placebo? Halo Salt Therapy: Resurgence of a Salt Cave Spa Treatment (https://www.lung.org/blog/promising-placebo-salt-halotherapy)
A new trend increasingly found at modern spas is halotherapy, or salt therapy—breathable salt particles intended to improve breathing. There has been news buzzing with the supposed benefits of salt therapy or halotherapy for lung conditions like COPD and asthma.
Turns out, salt therapy isn't new at all. Back in 1843, a Polish physician by the name of Feliks Boczkowski noticed that salt mine workers did not experience respiratory issues or lung disease vs other miners. Almost a hundred years later, a German named Karl Hermann Spannagel noticed that his patients' health improved after hiding out in the salt caves while avoiding heavy bombing during WWII. The news of the benefits of salt therapy spread across Eastern Europe where you can find many locations offering these giant salt rooms today, from Poland to Germany to the UK. It's even catching on in the States at Korean bathhouses where you can sit back, relax and breathe in the salty air while in a room made entirely out of giant slabs of Himalayan sea salt.
Dr. Norman Edelman, Senior Scientific Advisor to the American Lung Association, suggests that potentially, it could be more than just a placebo effect. Most people with obstructive lung disease such as asthma or COPD cough sputum (a thick mixture of saliva and mucus), and trying to bring it up can be distressing. (Think about the last time you had bronchitis, for instance.) Dr. Edelman suggests that it's possible that salt therapy offers relief to these symptoms.
"When fine salt particles are inhaled, they will fall on the airway linings and draw water into the airway, thinning the mucus and making it easier to raise, thus making people feel better," said Dr. Edelman. "Also, these environments are allergen-free and thus good for people with allergies affecting their lungs."
At this point, there are no evidence-based findings to create guidelines for patients and clinicians about treatments such as salt therapy, which begs the question—should people be using a therapy without current medical guidance? There is also the question of how well maintained the rooms are since warm rooms could provide ideal conditions for the growth of bacteria. The bottom line: salt therapy should definitely be discussed with your doctor.
What none of these people get is air pollution has been around for ever due to using coal as a fuel for the last 2 centuries to burning wood as fuel all the way back to hominid evolution millions of years ago. And, burning these fuels releases substances in the air that can accumulate over time and cause chronic respiratory illness.
Ancient literature and Archaeology shows people have been going to the sea side to treat their chronic respiratory illnesses far into prehistory.
So, how does it work? Air pollution has a number of things about it that are respiratory irritants from the the PM 10 ad 2.5 particles which can build up in the lungs, to corrosive gasses that burn the lungs in very small amounts as little as parts per billion concentrations in the air we breath. Some of these gasses are classified in NOX and SOX, which are oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, which are chemicals that are hungry for water and since the airways are moist then NOX and SOX attach to the water in our airways and turn into acids, nitrous and sulfuric acids.
Understanding salt is a universal neutralizer of acids we can now understand the primary mechanism of Salt Inhalation Therapy. The salt neutralizes the air-borne acids. This means 30 minutes treatment a day is not likely to be particularly effective even though people do report benefit form it. I add salt to my humidifier at 1 tsp per quart (liter) of water and I run it all day and night long when I am in my home. I have found almost complete recovery doing this.
If you search the web you will find there are now products that are sold specifically for salt inhalation therapy, but I find a humidifier with salt in the water works great.
-
Due to my own health i have been researching health topic from ayurveda point of view. I have come to know of following:
there are essentially three "types" of body people have, bodies dominated by one of three "doshas" vata (air) pitta (fire) and kapha (mucus) . everyone have each one of them cause body is driven by those three "elements".
vata type people are usually lean and they have more anxiety, fast paced and high heart rate etc.
Pitta type are more aggresive, hot headed and such.
more interesting for us meditators is kapha , they have sluggish body vitals (heart beat is slowest for these type of people out of three), behaviour like elephants. when this dosha is high you have respiratory system disorders. Aparentaly meditators build "kapha" on cellular level like athelets , they have much less resting heart rate. But if u r doing this thru exercises your body also expels more of toxins but in meditation u end up slowing down the process of toxin removal, resulting in extreme immune system response (congestion in chest maybe ,arthritis possibly etc)
Thats why in India they always teach Asana(body postures), pranayama (breathing exercises) as precursor to meditation (part of eight folds of yoga) and every master keeps practicing this thruout their life. I think there is a definite requirement of those two "grosser" elements before meditation for physical well being.
cud this posssibly be the cause of Jeff's condition? cause there is no active removal of toxins through physical workout. I believe Jeff isnt much physically active (if im right) so am i btw. This has caused me digestive disorders.
also when kapha dosha is high you shouldnt consume kapha aggravting food like cold, stale food with less or no water content. Fruits and veggies which create more mucus like apple, banana, jackfruit some leafy greens like spinach,cucumber, milk, curd, cheese, cold water, lemon, coconut water, ice creams etc.
warm food items are preferable like black pepper, cinnamon, neem (Indian lilac).
Main take away is meditation increases kapha in body, asana & pranayamas helps increasing vata and pitta in body so as to balance the sluggishness caused by meditation & shud be practiced in proportions.
Any comments guys?
-
Very interesting Naman, it reminds me of the 'sattvic' (benevolent / pure), 'rajasic' (ambitious / extroverted), and 'tamasic' (indolent / shiftless) temperaments from the Gita.
I do agree with Sri Krishna's division of those temperaments in real life... I certainly see them in many people.
I think you are also right the asanas were made for a reason... though they took off into a whole other direction in today's time. I cannot say I practice the asanas myself, though my mother was a yoga teacher ("asana" teacher) for many years.
-
Oh yes. Those three are the characterstics of mind, everymind have all three.. One or two will dominate each mind.
On the other hand, vata, pitta and kapha are characterstics of body.. Likewise Everyone have all , dominated by one of it. The body characterstic also effects mind and behaviour.
Im glad to find that u already know this stuff!
Therez no harm if we do asana and pranayama cause it is actually desirable to keep body healthy before dealing with mind. Im trying to that myself.
However once u have mastered mind, body takes a side seat.. Like in case of Jeff, masters dont care what happens to body but untill we reach that state we must take the middle/balanced path.
-
Thank you, Naman and Alexander for posting your comments regarding the traditional Indian medical practice known as ayurveda. Ayurveda is one of the ethnic medical systems I studied in pursuit of solving the problem of my autoimmune condition. My findings; however, have come to understand that air pollution is the primary cause of not just my health issues, but those of many people around the world, including the high death rate due to pandemics. And, therefore the solution to my health problems was not doing more asanas (yoga postures), or doing pranayama (breathing exercises), but in filtering the air pollution out of the air I breathe, doing so has improved my health significantly, so I am inclined to believe that air purification might just help many others who are sick to become well.
-
This research paper supports my primary hypothesis that Environmental Diseases are behind my chronic illnesses
Causes, Mechanisms and Prevention of Environmental Diseases (https://dual-diagnosis.imedpub.com/causes-mechanisms-and-prevention-ofenvironmental-diseases.php?aid=8516)
The onset of non-communicable disease has been attributed in large part to environmental exposure to toxic chemicals, including persistent organic pollutants, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds and transition metals. This review summarizes recent research into the causes and mechanisms of environmental disease onset and examines the role of oxidative stress as well as steps that can be taken to predict and lower the incidences of environmental diseases.
-
Air purifier grant proposal
A few days ago, while still camped 25 miles from Flagstaff I had another low blood O2 level of 84%. Fortunately I had my air purifier mask handy and just put it on. After a few minutes my blood O2 concentration rose to 95%. So, I have a solution handy, but an equipment failure would kill me, so I have to make sure I always have charged batteries, and replacement filters on hand.
This article, Causes mechanisms and prevention of environmental diseases (https://dual-diagnosis.imedpub.com/causes-mechanisms-and-prevention-ofenvironmental-diseases.php?aid=8516), shows "The onset of non-communicable disease has been attributed in large part to environmental exposure to toxic chemicals, including persistent organic pollutants, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds and transition metals."
This article, Atmospheric Lead Emissions from Coal-Fired Power Plants (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b02188), shows the primary source of environmental exposure to toxic chemicals is the burning of coal, which is primarily done in coal-fired power plants which is mostly done these days throughout Asia. It has been known for decades that toxic heavy metals: arsenic, lead and mercury come from coal-fired power plants.
Wildfires have been shown to also emit toxic heavy metals which are absorbed by plants from air pollution from coal fired power plants, then they are reemitted during a wild fire. This article shows, "wildfire smoke now makes up nearly half the air pollution measured annually."
What's in wildfire smoke? A toxicologist explains the health risks and which masks can help (https://theconversation.com/whats-in-wildfire-smoke-a-toxicologist-explains-the-health-risks-and-which-masks-can-help-164597)
If you scroll down on this page (https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/flagstaff/86001/air-quality-index/326854)you will see a satellite generated map of air pollution. And, if you zoom out so that you can see the entire planet then you will be able to see that air pollution is a global problem and wildfires and volcanic eruptions dwarf human-caused air pollution; however, components of wildfire smoke re-emit human produced air pollution.
According to this article, Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers (https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/lung-cancer-in-nonsmokers) "According to the American Cancer Society, as many as 20 percent of people in the United States who died from lung cancer in 2018—a total of roughly 30,000 people—never smoked.”
The American Cancer Society lists the following environmental risk factors that may contribute to a diagnosis of lung cancer in a nonsmoker: Radon gas, Cancer-causing agents at work: This is a special concern for those with prolonged and repeated exposure to such carcinogens as asbestos, heavy metals, and diesel exhaust; Air pollution: scientists link indoor and outdoor air pollution to lung cancer in non-smokers.
There is an unfortunately naive perspective created by most research into air pollution in that the researcher almost always only discuss "pm2.5" particulate; however, there are gasses in the air pollution stream that are known respiratory irritants, which are: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), Nitrogen Oxides (NOX), Sulfur Oxides (SOX), radon and Ozone (O3), and no filter removes gasses. So, this naive perspective unnecessarily supports the naive belief that a HEPA filter only will remove all air pollutants, which they do not, because gasses will pass right through a filter.
What is needed to remove these gasses is a combination of molecular sieves and catalysts. The commonly used molecular sieve is activated charcoal, so many air purifier manufacturers often offer an activated charcoal pre-filter, so it is important to have this on any air purifier, but it by no means removes all of the gasses that are respiratory irritants.
Doing research at Chevron Research, and the University of Arizona one of my primary tasks was to remove or modify gasses in a fluid stream that had to be removed or modified. Therefore we commonly used molecular sieves and catalysts to do this. So, I have many years of laboratory research in this practice, and I implemented these methods in the design of my air purifier which has given me almost complete recovery from COPD to the point that I have not been in an ER in over a year and a half, nor have I needed supplemental oxygen, or even an inhaler in that time. I have found all, I need to recover from air-pollution caused respiratory events which produced blood oxygen concentration levels as low as 55% is to put on my air purifying respiratory mask and breathe hyper-purified air for as little as a few minutes for full recovery to a blood oxygen concentration level as high as 98% without supplemental O2.
-
Hello Jeffery.
I hope you are doing good.
Do you think the recent drop in airpollution due to lockdowns helped you? Do you think living in wild can help you live even without the air purifier??
I'm considering myself to move away from cities!
-
Hello, Naman, and thank-you for posting your questions regarding air pollution. Yes, the lockdowns especially in the spring of 2020 really did produce observable improvement in health; however, the world has gone back to producing as much air pollution as it can.
I moved from Philadelphia, where I lived, in 1973 because I became aware that the air pollution there was causing me chronic health problems. I returned to Tucson, AZ where I was born and raised because my parents had allergies and they believed Tucson had cleaner air than other industrial areas. When they moved there in 1953 the population of Tucson was only about 35,000. After that Tucson was rated as the fastest growing city in the USA throughout the 50s, and it continues to grow at a high rate to the present.
In the mid to late 70s I visited southern California several times and found the LA basin was so polluted that I had severe conjunctivitis and respiratory issues the whole time until I left the basin. I moved to San Francisco in the late 70s and moved back to Tucson to get away from the air pollution I experienced in San Francisco.
Throughout most of my life in Tucson I experienced 2 respiratory inflammation events every year I lived there. I spent my 40s studying at the university there. My last year at the university there I turned 53, and I had many inflammatory events. So, I took the degrees I could (4). As soon as I graduated I left Tucson for the Inyo National Forest, where I camped for 2 years.
I found the Inyo National Forest much better for my health. However, even though the Inyo National Forest is remote and has the lowest population density anywhere in the continental USA; nonetheless I found I had to move roughly every 2 months due to the arising of a collection of autoimmune reactions that I have come to recognize as reactions to air pollution. I found to get relief all I needed to do was move changing my elevation by 2,000 feet, and I would continue to rise in elevation through the summer, then decrease my elevation from September on until the deepest part of winter, then begin to rise in elevation again as spring and summer arrived.
I spent most of the next 10 years living in the national forest. In 2010 I moved to Prescott, AZ, USA believing that since Prescott was surrounded by national forest and it had low industrial activity and low population, I reasoned that it should have excellent air quality, and I was tired of running away from my health problems, so I stayed there for 10 years. Nonetheless, 6 months after I moved there I had been in the ER 6 times in my first 6 months there due to a range of inflammatory conditions, and after 6 months I went for a physical and was told I was "Full-on diabetic with a blood sugar level 2.5x normal, and high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels."
It just so happens that my most recent physical was almost exactly a year earlier, and conducted in Tucson, where the doctor told me, “Mr. Brooks you are in excellent health, and you have the cardio vascular system of an athlete.”
So, at that point I had suspected that my recent health issues were due to living in Prescott, but I couldn’t understand why. And, my health continued to decline there year after year. I was confused to understand my decline in health when Prescott seemed to have such good air quality. However, I have since come to realize that air pollution is global, which means no place on the planet has adequately clean air; nonetheless, we can mitigate for global air pollution. The atmosphere mitigates for air pollution, but chemical reactions are temperature dependent, so this explains why I had to reduce my elevation as the ambient temperatures dropped after summer. Also, distance from pollution sources also helps, which explains why I did better the further I got from the major cities. And, examining a map of central Arizona I could see that Prescott is only 50 air miles north of Phoenix, AZ and Phoenix is rated by the American Lung Association as the US city with the 7th worst air quality, and the prevailing surface winds blow north from Phoenix right over Prescott.
After many trips to the ER over the years living in Prescott, I finally decided to start taking antihistamines for my allergies. I discovered the next day after starting taking antihistamines that my blood sugar was consistently lower, so I kept taking antihistamines while living in the Prescott area. Then 3 years and 8 months ago I was diagnosed with COPD, never having been a smoker. That is when I bought an air purifier, which began my recovery from not only COPD, but high blood pressure and diabetes. I even lost 50lbs I had gained when I moved to Prescott with no change in my diet.
So, clearly air pollution can be mitigated for by the use of air purifiers; however, one has to realize that HEPA only air purifiers only remove about 25% of the air pollution. Most air purifiers have an optional activated charcoal pre-filter, which is necessary for removing some of the gasses that are associated with air pollution. Nonetheless, the combination of HEPA plus activated charcoal only removes about ½ the air pollution, because there are other gasses contained in air pollution that are not effectively removed by activated charcoal; however, most of those gasses are highly attracted to water, so using a combination of a humidifier plus a dehumidifier effectively removes those gasses.
So, now that we understand air pollution is a serious problem, and the cities are producing it, and it is a global problem, but humidity is a factor in removing air pollution, and atmospheric chemistry helps mitigate for air pollution, then we could examine global wind patterns to understand the best, and worst places to live. If you examine a satellite map of air pollution you will find that most of the global air pollution is produced in the northern tropics between the Atlantic side of Africa through the Middle East, through Asia to the Pacific Ocean. And, knowing wind patterns in the northern hemisphere move west to east, so living along the west coast of the continents of the northern hemisphere; or, since winds in the southern hemisphere move east to west, then the east coast of the continents of the southern hemisphere is best. Also, volcanoes and wildfires emit far more air pollution than humans do, even globally, so you won’t want to be down wind of either volcanoes or wildfires. Also, the combination of humidity and salt significantly mitigates for some air pollution, therefore living by the ocean helps a great deal. However, having air purifiers powered by solar panels might be critical for your health, as it is for me.
This last spring I moved away from Prescott to Flagstaff, AZ to get further away from the pollution stream from Phoenix, and I found significantly improved health; however, Flagstaff is at the conjunction of 2 major highways, so I moved 25 miles away into the National Forest, where I have found even better health. Nonetheless, living in a national forest in the Southwestern USA during a 3 year drought which has produced record wildfires for the last 3 years has been a significant issue. Nonetheless, my air purifiers powered by solar panels, and the alternator on my engine, and a backup generator have allowed me to survive two summers of record wildfires in Flagstaff.
I know this was a long reply, but I hope it helps you and others.
-
It was long winded but i like to know details so no worries, you helped me understand things. Its really getting increasingly difficult to live on earth, I think best bet is not to live in damp humid weather, but warm and salty or up high in mountain somewhere offthe grid.. cold weather in general aggravates breathing problems. And pollution take it to many folds higher. I'm contemplating not to buy or stay in the place I'm working for longer, cause the weather is damp and cold all round the year. I have observed my body is developing one symptom or the other over time. Some how meditation which reduces the breath, happens to aggravate my symptoms more. Its unfortunate I'm unable to meditate at all. I hope to recover soon possibly shift to some better place so that I can continue my pursuit of spirituality further.
-
I hope you are doing well Naman, and do write (along with Jeff) if you are running into difficulties. The climate will likely continue to worsen in our lifetimes... with many increasing freak weather events, droughts, fires, floods, and forced habitation-changes...
-
Hey Alex. I'm relatively better, but I have seen my health declining consistently over past 5-6 years. I don't knw the reason, I never had any breathing issues up until last year, suddenly that one got added to the list too. So I think this environmental factor is having much impact on meditators more. Maybe cause of the nature of how meditation is, sendatry haha. I'm not sure yet, but everyone else seems to be doing "ok". Health-wise. Yeah I m pretty sure it's all downhill for the environment here on, unless people wake up. I'm hell bent on retiring to wildness though. I don't have the necessary money yet.
How are you btw :) how's your meditation and health. thanks for commenting.
-
Doing OK. I was knocked out by that accident with the chemical (for a year and a 1/2). Things are pretty close to normal again now tho. Nervous system isn't injured like it was. Gotten back to sitting 2 hours a day... nothing to report tho, sadly. I don't experience the fun stuff Jeff and Rougeleader do, but I just keep at it every day. Don't have much to report otherwise... wrote pretty much everything down in that ebook I made, contains about everything. ;D
-
Good to know you are doing better. Keep at it. I'm unable to do anything spiritual at all.
Do leave a link for that ebook, missed it.
-
Good to know you are doing better. Keep at it. I'm unable to do anything spiritual at all.
Do leave a link for that ebook, missed it.
Yes I was in the same boat... when I had neuropathy I literally couldn't lie down at all. They gave me a medication, but then that caused new problems. ;D There is no winning as a human. I believe Jeff has COPD so he may have some suggestions on what brings him relief.
Re: suffering, think of it as a trial perhaps... making the suffering that is inevitable to us all in life into something purposeful I've always felt is the best one can make of it. Certainly that is what the saints like Teresa and John believed. And, do not lose faith in possible improvement... I have been surprised at how things change. I was reading a book last year called "The Changing Brain" which was on neurons rewriting in traumatic brain injury (which they used to think was impossible), restoring function. So, even in that case there is hope.
Re: the book, I think you already have it, you posted in the thread here: http://fruitofthecontemplativelife.org/forum/index.php/topic,1284.0.html It is updated... I have a couple typos I fixed and 1 new dialogue I believe, but not enough to warrant updating it again just now. ;D
-
Oh yea physical well-being is something I have overlooked for spiritual pursuits now I need to work on my body as best as I can. Yes I do believe in body's capability to rebounce back to normal. Ho ever I could seem to find the root of the problem. Infact even doctors can't, any number of times I get checked nothing comes up, even my symptoms change, more I read ABT Jeffrey's health and solution he found, I feel desperate need to give up my job and goto wild lol but then again externally I'm caught up in situations I can't dot that either right away. Even with planning it may take 4-5years.
I feel slowly I'm being taught to live with what I feared most lol physical suffering. Therz no becoming master of life by covering your shortcomings,I think nature doesn't allow that either. We must face everything and be cool with it. Meditation was my recluse I was forced to give up that one last thing. So now I have learnt to live without purpose, long term for sure. I do keep short term doable stuff to keep having something to do thruout the day. Few months back my body was a wreck to even stretch itself was a suffering and pain. Thankyou for listening guys :)
-
It was long winded but i like to know details so no worries, you helped me understand things.
Sorry about this writing was in depth, but I hoped that people would be able to follow my long journey to realizing the cause of my life of illness was air pollution.
Its really getting increasingly difficult to live on earth,
...The climate will likely continue to worsen in our lifetimes... with many increasing freak weather events, droughts, fires, floods, and forced habitation-changes...
While I agree with both of you, and I can see a number of factors including human caused global warming, and I have been an advocate of it for 50 years; nonetheless, I have, due to my study of astronomy, anthropology and archaeology I am nonetheless, aware of the sun's 11 year cycle, and I am aware that it tends to produce weather cycles known as la Nina and el Nino. During la Nina the dry parts of the world go through drought and have more wildfires; whereas, the wet parts of the world have more floods and storms. During the el Nino cycle the reverse happens. Consequently there have been global record wildfires for the last 3 summers.
It is believed that El Niño (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Ni%C3%B1o)has occurred for thousands of years.[11] For example, it is thought that El Niño affected the Moche in modern-day Peru. Scientists have also found chemical signatures of warmer sea surface temperatures and increased rainfall caused by El Niño in coral specimens that are around 13,000 years old.[12] Around 1525, when Francisco Pizarro made landfall in Peru, he noted rainfall in the deserts, the first written record of the impacts of El Niño.[12] Modern day research and reanalysis techniques have managed to find at least 26 El Niño events since 1900, with the 1982–83, 1997–98 and 2014–16 events among the strongest on record.
And, by the way, wildfires release far more air pollution than humans produce, which results in declining air quality, which increases the death rate for all diseases, and becomes fertile ground for pandemics. It just so happens that this can be seen throughout history. However, I will agree that the increasing human population is making it more difficult for all creatures to live well.
I think best bet is not to live in damp humid weather, but warm and salty or up high in mountain somewhere offthe grid.. cold weather in general aggravates breathing problems. And pollution take it to many folds higher. I'm contemplating not to buy or stay in the place I'm working for longer, cause the weather is damp and cold all round the year. I have observed my body is developing one symptom or the other over time.
Weather can have a significant impact on how air pollution is naturally mediated. I find my health is better when the ambient air temperature is 50-75F with humidity at about 90%. And, being by the ocean, and far from pollution sources, such as major cities.
This year I moved from Prescott, AZ, which is only 50 air miles north of Phoenix, a major pollution source. I found in the last 10 years that being only 50 miles and downwind of a pollution source was too close.
So, I moved to Flagstaff, a relatively high altitude city (7,000ft) and another 50 air miles north, and found significantly improved health. But, Flagstaff is at the conjunction of 2 major highways and a major rail line, so it has too much air pollution for me on a normal basis, so I moved 25 miles away into the forest, where most of the time I have much better health. However, there are still regional wildfires raging, which is bringing some smoke to this region, and to me in my remote location.
The long term solution is to invest in air purifiers and to understand how they work. Sadly, it is clear to me that the air purifier manufacturers do not have a full understanding of air purifier technology, but we can correct for their limited understanding with greater understanding.
1) HEPA filters are great at removing the PM2.5 particulate, as long as it is properly sized for the space, and the windows and doors are closed; however, they only solve 25% of the problem. If we add an activated charcoal pre-filter, then we get 50% effectiveness. If we live in a dry place, then we should add a humidifier. If we live in a humid place, then skip the humidifier and add a dehumidifier. It should be noted that air conditioning is a dehumidifier, so in hot humid weather your air conditioner can help.
Salt also mediates for some components of air pollution, which is partly why living by the ocean can help. But, if we cannot just up and move to the sea side, then we can add salt to the humidifier water for the same effect. I have also found that the water in the humidifier should be distilled, or otherwise we are inhaling the dissolved solids in tap water. I have also found the humidifier should never run out of water, and works best if the water is replaced when the reservoir is half full. The reason for this is because the water absorbs ammonia, NOX and SOX, which are components of air pollution, so the water in the humidifier needs to be replaced every 8-12 hours of use.
Some how meditation which reduces the breath, happens to aggravate my symptoms more. Its unfortunate I'm unable to meditate at all. I hope to recover soon possibly shift to some better place so that I can continue my pursuit of spirituality further.
So, I find if we mediate for air pollution we can enjoy better health, and thus better meditations, when our body is not holding us back with chronic autoimmune conditions. So, if you can't move, then buying an air purifier might help improve your health which can improve your meditations.
Hey Alex. I'm relatively better, but I have seen my health declining consistently over past 5-6 years. I don't knw the reason, I never had any breathing issues up until last year, suddenly that one got added to the list too.
So, it is the 11 year global el Nina weather cycle which had produced record wildfires for the last 3 years. The el Nina is over and the deserts of the world are starting to receive more rain, so the wildfires are being put out by rain, so global respiratory health should improve, but investing in an air purifier can help you make it through the next la Nina cycle.
So I think this environmental factor is having much impact on meditators more. Maybe cause of the nature of how meditation is, sendatry haha. I'm not sure yet, but everyone else seems to be doing "ok".
I think you are onto something here, Naman, but I think it is more about people who meditate deeply tend to be more sensitive, and thus exhibit more allergies, so we may all find improved meditations with an air purifier.
-
I'm extremely thankful to you for pointing out all the learnings u had and specifics abt humidifier and activated charcoal. I will try and utilize the air purifiers if I can't manage to move from this city in coming days. Somehow exercising everyday is making me feel better. Let's hope for the best :) for both of us
-
Nama, I am only too glad to be of help to you and others. Good luck with your health and contemplative life.
-
More research showing the health impact of pollution
New study says wildfire smoke linked to increased covid cases, deaths (https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/08/13/this-is-very-dangerous-combination-new-study-says-wildfire-smoke-leads-higher-covid-risks/)
Metal Pollution: If It’s in the Air – and in Our iPhones – It’ll End Up in Our Bones (https://scitechdaily.com/metal-pollution-if-its-in-the-air-and-in-our-iphones-itll-end-up-in-our-bones/)
The problem I have with all health research that refers of pm2.5 only is naive when it ignores the presence of toxic gasses such as NOX, SOX, ammonia, and ozone.
PM 2.5 increases risk of COVID-19, study finds (https://www.healthline.com/health-news/heres-how-toxic-wildfire-smoke-can-be#PM-2.5-increases-risk-of-COVID-19,-study-finds)
Now this link is cool, because I have wanted to sample air quality in real time.
Credit-Card-Sized Badge Detects an Unprecedented Range of Harmful Airborne Compounds (https://scitechdaily.com/credit-card-sized-badge-detects-an-unprecedented-range-of-harmful-airborne-compounds/)
-
While it is good to have more research on the health effects due to air pollution; nonetheless, the article still does not understand that there are gasses in the air pollution stream that are not removed by HEPA filers, and n-95 masks.
Breathing wildfire smoke can affect the brain and sperm, as well as the lungs (https://theconversation.com/breathing-wildfire-smoke-can-affect-the-brain-and-sperm-as-well-as-the-lungs-166548?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Saturday%20Newsletter%20%20September%204%202021%20-%202051320194&utm_content=Saturday%20Newsletter%20%20September%204%202021%20-%202051320194+CID_f164ac9ae8b12802e31b024725bf3b67&utm_source=campaign_monitor_us&utm_term=Breathing%20wildfire%20smoke%20can%20affect%20the%20brain%20and%20sperm%20as%20well%20as%20the%20lungs)
August 30, 2021 8.33am EDT
-
How Wildfire Smoke Raises Infectious Disease Risk (https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/how-wildfire-smoke-raises-infectious-disease-risk-69166?utm_campaign=TS_DAILY_NEWSLETTER_2021&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=157613263&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9NnhI-ARJhZz52RucGnauA2F0oFOsd3aYhCE9Pg46ZMujiUfFOm1GhjG_2S9RAT9R6VLCPwECMnytJyifcI777ZzCdTw&utm_content=157613263&utm_source=hs_email)
-
Here is another article on air quality, Dirty air can be deadly. Here’s how to protect yourself. (https://www.vox.com/22664710/wildfires-air-quality-pollution-aqi-health-app)
-
Poor Air Quality Affects Cognitive Performance in the Office, Study Finds (https://www.verywellmind.com/poor-air-quality-affects-cognitive-performance-in-the-office-study-finds-5202011?utm_campaign=list_stress&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cn_nl&utm_content=25232562&utm_term=list_gl_dt_vh-footer)
-
HEPA Filters May Clean Sars-CoV-2 From the Air: Study (https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/960569?uac=400169PV&faf=1&sso=true&impID=3700440&src=wnl_edit_tpal#vp_1). HEPA filters were developed by the Atomic Energy Commission to prevent nuclear workers becoming contaminated by ultra-small radioactive particles, and they have been used in biological research labs to eliminate the transport of viruses, and other air-borne biologically toxic substances. They have since been used to remove pm10 and 2.5 particulate, which are components of air pollution. So, when this pandemic began I expected the CDC, NIH, and WHO would recommend their extensive use to prevent infection by COVID-19, and also for the treatment of COVID-19 infected people. However, I have been disappointed that there has not been this recommendation by public health services. If these public health services would promote the use of HEPA filters then we might see a higher recovery rate, a lower death rate, and a reduced infection rate.
However, believing that pm2.5 particulate are the only aspects of air pollution that cause disease is a very naïve understanding of air pollution. Air pollution also has gasses which pass right through filter membranes and require molecular sieves, and/or catalysts to remove from the air stream. And, if the CDC, NIH, and WHO understood this, then the ventilators that are used to treat people with acute and chronic respiratory illness would be equipped with HEPA plus molecular sieves and catalysts, and if they were then patients with acute and chronic respiratory illness are likely to have a higher recovery rate, and thus a lower death rate due to COVID-19 and other causes of acute and chronic respiratory illness.
-
This article supports my findings that air pollution is behind my declining health. But, I have come to realize that air pollution is a global problem, so there is no place on earth that is not polluted.
Air and Noise Pollution Linked to Increased Heart Failure (https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/news/20211022/air-noise-pollution-increased-heart-failure?ecd=wnl_day_102221&ctr=wnl-day-102221_rssfeed_link_3&mb=Arl8OlFuX9mD3HO7rgCusvta%2FNjOxTC%2FNrLeVcZof88%3D)
-
I stumbled upon this web page yesterday which provides a great deal of vetted research showing how toxic to public health the burning of coal is, which confirms my hypothesis that air pollution from the burning of coal is not just killing me, but everyone else on the planet.. Heavy metals and coal (https://www.gem.wiki/Heavy_metals_and_coal)
-
Here is another article on the damage to public health due to air pollution. Poison in the Air (https://www.propublica.org/article/toxmap-poison-in-the-air?utm_source=email&utm_medium=knowable-newsletter&utm_campaign=K_newsletter_2021-10-31)
-
For about 10 years I have been speculating that air pollution can be behind social unrest, depression, anxiety, resentment, etc. Now there is research that supports this hypothesis. Why air pollution can trigger depression (https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/air-pollution-can-trigger-depression?utm_campaign=inverse-daily-2021-11-9&utm_medium=inverse&utm_source=newsletter&utm_session=84e471f4-db27-4a59-81a6-72ee3fd30abe)
There's a complex link between mental health and where you choose to live (https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/mental-health-urban-life?utm_campaign=inverse-daily-2021-11-9&utm_medium=inverse&utm_source=newsletter&utm_session=84e471f4-db27-4a59-81a6-72ee3fd30abe)
Heart attacks declined during lockdowns, reduced pollution likely a key factor (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/heart-attacks-declined-during-lockdowns-reduced-pollution-likely-a-key-factor?utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=MNT%20Daily%20News&utm_content=2021-11-09&apid=38343391&rvid=c2db78273d98c5474306434497c1a9c3153f7c274635f4e5ffa26a558af532ac)
-
Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/exposure-to-air-pollutants-may-amplify-risk-for-depression-in-healthy-individuals?utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=MNT%20Daily%20News&utm_content=2021-11-12&apid=38343391&rvid=c2db78273d98c5474306434497c1a9c3153f7c274635f4e5ffa26a558af532ac#Cognition-and-trait-anxiety)
-
The CDC should be aware that increased wildfires can increase motility and morbidity. So, it is no coincidence that the hospitalization and death rate has recently risen in northern AZ and NM
How Wildfire Smoke Raises Infectious Disease Risk (http://utm_campaign=TS_DAILY_NEWSLETTER_2022&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=220483958&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_J__C4o0WT4cK_psoJ6OpaUUkiuieINn39EUvJpj8eErVYmM7stNw7NfGjZpoUPU7xgdKAR_2WZaTQe5JHIcK3TZ40fA&utm_content=220483958&utm_source=hs_email)
-
I recently published my book which I have spent the last almost 7 years researching COPD Recovery (https://www.draft2digital.com/book/2419595) By: Jeffrey Stuart Brooks
Since I have been dealing with an autoimmune condition for 55 years it has brought me into contact with others who have chronic diseases. Since I have had so much success treating my COPD and Reiter's Syndrome using a combination of multi-gas air purifiers and water washer style air purifiers it has caused me to speculate that the combination of air purifiers might work for people suffering from a wide range of chronic illnesses. I am currently working on a companion volume in support of this hypothesis.
-
I’m glad you’ve found relief, I’m sorry you’ve had to suffer so much physically.
-
Thank you