30. I Heal My Own Body ： Nurturing Life Through the Mind : Deep and Long Breathing

Human life is sustained by food harvested from the earth and air that comes from the sky. One can survive for three weeks without food and three days without water, but it is difficult to live beyond three minutes without breathing. Yet, while we tend to place great importance on food and water, we often neglect the significance of breathing. Whereas food and water primarily provide the fluids and nutrients necessary to maintain the body, breathing plays an absolutely vital role in cultivating not only the body but also the mind.

Breathing consists of inhalation and exhalation. Inhalation absorbs oxygen through the lungs, which is delivered to the cells via the bloodstream. Exhalation releases carbon dioxide produced in the cells, which travels back through the bloodstream and is expelled through the lungs. A single deep and slow breath delivers more oxygen to the body than two shallow breaths. Cancer cells are anaerobic mutants that dislike oxygen, while normal cells are aerobic and require oxygen urgently. This is why most natural cancer treatment centers are located in the mountains or countryside, where oxygen is more abundant than in cities, and why cancer patients are trained to practice deep breathing regularly.

All living beings breathe as a fundamental act of life. Therefore, simply focusing on your breath allows you to experience oneness with nature, fostering a more generous, compassionate, and peaceful version of yourself. At the very moment you awaken each morning, taking deep and slow breaths alongside a prayer of gratitude for the new day is, in my view, one of the best habits for both physical and mental well-being.

Dr. Jin-man Kim, director of Peace Oriental Clinic