Mechanism
Respiratory Alkalosis and Adrenaline
Blow off carbon dioxide and the body answers with adrenaline.
What it is
The system, explained.
Thirty to forty deep breaths lower blood CO2 and raise pH — respiratory alkalosis. The tingling, the light-headedness and the delayed urge to breathe follow from it.
Breath
What the breath does to it.
The alkalosis is the trigger; adrenaline roughly triples without any fear to cause it.
Cold
What the cold does to it.
Cold adds its own adrenaline and, over time, blunts the panic response.
The study library
The studies that show it.
PNAS 111(20):7379–7384 · 2014
Voluntary activation of the sympathetic nervous system and attenuation of the innate immune response
Can healthy volunteers learn to do what Wim did?
Strong signalPsychosomatic Medicine · 2022Involvement of lactate and pyruvate in the anti-inflammatory effects — and which component is active
Which pillar does the work?
Strong signal
Open
What is still unknown.
Individual variation; the exact pathway from alkalosis to catecholamine release.
Feel it.
The mechanism is measurable; the experience is immediate. Three breaths.
Never in or near waterWim Hof Method breathing, when done intensely for multiple rounds, can in rare cases lead to loss of consciousness. Always practice seated or lying down, in a neutral space such as a living room — never in water, in the shower, while driving, or operating machinery. Read the safety doctrine.