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Bellows Breath (bhastrika Pranayama)

A vigorous breathing exercise designed to stimulate energy, break up stagnation, and improve focus.
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Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Home Remedy Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Breathing exercises can help restore energy and vitality (prana). They clear the respiratory tract, oxygenate the blood, strengthen metabolism, invigorate circulation, and cleanse the lymphatic system. Gentle breathing techniques relax the mind. There are many types of breathing exercises. Some breathing techniques are gentle with few negative side effects, such as belly breathing. Others, such as breath retention, have potential to harm.

Read About Breathing Exercises

How to do Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

Level: Vigorous This vigorous breathing exercise is contraindicated in these instances: high/low BP, pregnancy, heart disease, vertigo, hernia, gastric ulcer, epilepsy, detached retina, recent abdominal surgery, risk of stroke.
  • Breathe in deeply through your nostrils. First, feel the diaphragm move down, allowing the lungs to expand and forcing the abdomen out; then feel your chest expand with your collar bones rising last.
  • Breath out quickly through your nostrils. Feel the collar bones dropping, chest deflating, and abdomen shrinking as the lungs collapse. This process of exhaling should be much faster than the process of inhaling -- almost like a rapid deflation.
  • Repeat the process. When correctly done, your chest will expand when you breathe in and deflate when you breathe out. Continue doing this for 5 minutes.
  • With practice, speed up your breathing. Beginners should always start slowly to avoid hyperventilating, but over time, it will be possible to turn this into a rapid breathing technique.

Metabolic Nature of Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating Vata aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot & moist. Full-blooded, vigorous. Vivacious, social, and epicurean. Bullish.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

Other

Moves Energy:
Outward

OUTWARD

Outward-moving substances stimulate circulation, push heat towards the skin, or are stimulating.

SEE ALL 'OUTWARD' FOODS / HERBS

,
Upward

UPWARD

Upward-moving substances (Urdvha Gati Marga) include anything stimulating or activating, or that move upward in the body.

SEE ALL 'UPWARD' FOODS / HERBS

Affinity:
Anti Aging

ANTI-AGING

Geriatric conditions typically involve low agni / metabolism, poor circulation, weakness & debility, muscle weakening, poor digestion, a drop in sex hormones, and connective tissue degradation in bones & skin.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-AGING' FOODS / HERBS

, Digestion,
Energy Vitality

ENERGY-VITALITY

Includes vitality improving foods, herbs, and exercises by dosha.

SEE ALL 'ENERGY-VITALITY' FOODS / HERBS

, Heart Circulation Blood, Respiratory Health

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Digestion:
Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Bowel Health:
General Laxative

GENERAL-LAXATIVE

Promotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives.

SEE ALL 'GENERAL-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Cleanse & Detox:
Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:
Stimulates Crown

STRONG STIMULATES-CROWN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area at the top of the head.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-CROWN' FOODS / HERBS

,
Wakes You Up

STRONG WAKES-YOU-UP

Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy.

SEE ALL 'WAKES-YOU-UP' FOODS / HERBS

,
Stimulates Front Of Brain

STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area in the forehead. Activates the frontal lobe - the area responsible for motor function, emotional expression, thinking, and decision making.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antidepressant

ANTIDEPRESSANT

Herbs that lift feelings of depression, benefit the mind and improve mental function.

SEE ALL 'ANTIDEPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Anxiolytic

ANXIOLYTIC

Herbs that help people suffering from anxiety or panic. They promote a state of calm and often improve sleep. Most anxiolytic herbs are also nervines.

SEE ALL 'ANXIOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nerve Stimulant

NERVE-STIMULANT

Provide short lived stimulation of the nervous system.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:
Builds Stamina

BUILDS-STAMINA

Promotes strength, endurance and resistance in the body. Rebuilds weak tissues after a time of depletion.

SEE ALL 'BUILDS-STAMINA' FOODS / HERBS

,
Refreshing

REFRESHING

Stimulates and wakes up the body, leaving it feeling cool, fresh, and energized.

SEE ALL 'REFRESHING' FOODS / HERBS

,
Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

,
Adrenal Tonic

ADRENAL-TONIC

Strengthens, supports, or increases output of adrenals.

SEE ALL 'ADRENAL-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Respiratory-Health:
Decongestant

DECONGESTANT

An herb that reduces mucus production often by restricting blood flow to mucus membranes.

SEE ALL 'DECONGESTANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Expectorant

EXPECTORANT

Expectorants help you eliminate mucus from the lungs. These herbs often work by increasing the quantity of mucus, or thinning the mucus. Expectorants are indicated when phlegm congests the lower respiratory tract.

SEE ALL 'EXPECTORANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Lung Tonic

LUNG-TONIC

Strengthens the lungs. Lung tonics include antifibrotic, vessel tonic, or nourishing herbs with an affinity for the lungs. They aid recovery in acute or chronic lung conditions.

SEE ALL 'LUNG-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:
Adaptogen

ADAPTOGEN

Herbs that promote stabilization of physiological processes and homeostasis. Adaptogens increase the body's ability to resist the damaging effects of stress and promote or restore normal physiological functioning.

SEE ALL 'ADAPTOGEN' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:
Cardiac Stimulant

CARDIAC-STIMULANT

Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.

SEE ALL 'CARDIAC-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Alterative

ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Cardiac Tonic

CARDIAC-TONIC

Strengthens and tones the heart (heart-tonic). Cardiac tonics are used to treat a wide range of heart issues from arrhythmia, to cardiac insufficiency.

SEE ALL 'CARDIAC-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Weight Loss:
Lowers Blood Sugar

LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR

An herb that lowers blood sugar.

SEE ALL 'LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR' FOODS / HERBS

,
Raises Thyroid

RAISES-THYROID

An herb that increases thyroid function.

SEE ALL 'RAISES-THYROID' FOODS / HERBS

Reproductive Health:
Promotes Virility

PROMOTES-VIRILITY

Encourages virility and potency.

SEE ALL 'PROMOTES-VIRILITY' FOODS / HERBS

Strength, Muscle Health:
Muscle Relaxant

MUSCLE-RELAXANT

Herbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma.

SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-RELAXANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, heart palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

  • Mustard Powder

    Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

    Decongestant, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Cardiac-tonic, Expectorant, Promotes-virility, Wakes-you-up, Antispasmodic

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Seed

    Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Cardiac-tonic, Expectorant, Promotes-virility, Wakes-you-up, Antispasmodic, Decongestant, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard

    Mustard has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Decongestant, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Cardiac-tonic, Expectorant, Promotes-virility, Wakes-you-up

    LEARN MORE

  • Mint

    Mint has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-crown, Wakes-you-up, Anxiolytic, Nervine, Stimulates-energy, Antidepressant, Digestive, Refreshing, Stimulates-front-of-brain

    LEARN MORE

  • Allspice

    Allspice has these Actions in Common

    Antidepressant, Decongestant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Cardiac-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginger (Fresh)

    Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Digestive, Nervine, Wakes-you-up, Cardiac-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing, Adrenal-tonic, Decongestant, Lung-tonic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Rosemary

    Rosemary has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Decongestant, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Nerve-stimulant, Antidepressant

    LEARN MORE

  • Basil

    Basil has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Decongestant, Lung-tonic, Anxiolytic, Digestive, Nerve-stimulant, Antidepressant, Cardiac-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Fennel Seeds

    Fennel Seeds has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Digestive, Lung-tonic, Cardiac-stimulant, Expectorant, Nervine, Decongestant, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Thyme (fresh)

    Thyme (fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Expectorant, Nervine, Decongestant, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Adaptogen, Digestive, Lung-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Daikon Radish

    Daikon Radish has these Actions in Common

    Decongestant, General-laxative, Stimulates-crown, Digestive, Lung-tonic, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Expectorant, Refreshing

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

  • Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

    Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Expectorant, Promotes-virility, Anxiolytic, General-laxative, Raises-thyroid, Blood-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing, Builds-stamina, Lowers-blood-sugar, Stimulates-crown, Adaptogen, Cardiac-stimulant, Lung-tonic, Stimulates-energy, Adrenal-tonic, Cardiac-tonic, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Alterative, Decongestant, Nerve-stimulant, Wakes-you-up, Antidepressant, Digestive, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Breathing Exercises

    Breathing Exercises has these Actions in Common

    Builds-stamina, Lowers-blood-sugar, Wakes-you-up, Cardiac-stimulant, Lung-tonic, Adaptogen, Cardiac-tonic, Muscle-relaxant, Adrenal-tonic, Decongestant, Nervine, Alterative, Digestive, Promotes-virility, Antispasmodic, Expectorant, Raises-thyroid, Anxiolytic, General-laxative, Refreshing, Blood-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Belly breathing

    Belly breathing has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Digestive, Promotes-virility, Antispasmodic, Expectorant, Raises-thyroid, Anxiolytic, General-laxative, Stimulates-energy, Blood-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Builds-stamina, Lowers-blood-sugar, Cardiac-stimulant, Lung-tonic, Adaptogen, Cardiac-tonic, Muscle-relaxant, Adrenal-tonic, Decongestant, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Lung-tonic, Anxiolytic, Muscle-relaxant, Blood-tonic, Nervine, Cardiac-stimulant, Refreshing, Decongestant, Stimulates-crown, Adaptogen, Expectorant, Stimulates-energy, Adrenal-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Antidepressant, Lowers-blood-sugar

    LEARN MORE

  • Eleuthero Ginseng

    Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Wakes-you-up, Adaptogen, Expectorant, Adrenal-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Antidepressant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antispasmodic, Muscle-relaxant, Anxiolytic, Nerve-stimulant, Blood-tonic, Nervine, Builds-stamina, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)

    External Breath (Bahya Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

    Internal-detoxicant, Adaptogen, Nervine, Adrenal-tonic, Promotes-virility, Alterative, Refreshing, Anxiolytic, Stimulates-crown, Builds-stamina, Stimulates-energy, Digestive, Stimulates-front-of-brain, General-laxative, Wakes-you-up

    LEARN MORE

  • Punarnava

    Punarnava has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Lung-tonic, Blood-tonic, Promotes-virility, Builds-stamina, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Cardiac-tonic, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Lowers-blood-sugar

    LEARN MORE

  • Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam

    Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Promotes-virility, Blood-tonic, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Cardiac-tonic, Digestive, Expectorant, Adaptogen, General-laxative, Adrenal-tonic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Amalaki

    Amalaki has these Actions in Common

    Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Adaptogen, Promotes-virility, Alterative, Refreshing, Blood-tonic, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-tonic, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, General-laxative

    LEARN MORE

  • Shilajit Tonic

    Shilajit Tonic has these Actions in Common

    Promotes-virility, Raises-thyroid, Alterative, Refreshing, Builds-stamina, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Wakes-you-up, Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Nerve-stimulant

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama). Please see your health care provider for more information.

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