Constipation is correlated with diminished cognitive function, revealing a possible rectum-brain connection. In this counter-balanced crossover trial, 13 elite triathletes underwent a Stroop test to ...assess cognitive function and executive control. The Stroop test was conducted both with and without magnesium oxide intake, with a 1-week washout period between sessions. Oxygenation and blood distribution during the cognitive challenge were measured using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS). Measurements were taken in both the prefrontal brain and the sub-navel region, where the highest glucose uptake was detected under the 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan. A significant reduction in completion time for the Stroop test was observed after defecation compared to the non-defecated condition (non-defecation: 27.1 ± 1.1 s; non-magnesium defecation: 24.4 ± 0.9 s; magnesium defecation: 23.4 ± 0.8 s, p < 0.05). Stroop test performance was improved in all (100%, 13/13) of the participants after magnesium-induced defecation and most (69%, 9/13) of the participants after non-magnesium-induced defecation. While no alterations in oxygenation and blood distribution were observed in the prefrontal brain during the Stroop test, decreased oxygenation levels were observed in the sub-navel region under both defecated conditions, without significant changes in blood distribution (p < 0.05). This data suggests an acute increase in oxygen consumption at this specific region. The result of this study suggests an unexplored causal link between the state of the rectum and cognitive performance. Magnesium supplementation to improved rectal emptying presents a novel application for optimizing cognitive function in athletes navigating intricate racing conditions.
Rectal distension increases regulatory burden to autonomic nervous system in the brain.
To determine the effect of rectal defecation on endurance performance and blood supply to the prefrontal brain ...and sub-navel regions of elite triathletes.
Thirteen elite triathletes completed a cycling time trial (80% VO
) under defecated and non-defecated conditions, using a counterbalanced crossover design. Oxygenation and blood distribution in prefrontal brain and sub-navel regions were monitored by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during cycling.
Defecation moderately decreased systolic blood pressure (-4 mmHg,
< 0.05, d = 0.71), suggesting an alleviation of autonomic nervous activity. During the exercise trials, fatigue (cycling time to exhaustion) occurred when cerebral oxygenation decreased to ~ 5 % below baseline regardless of treatment conditions, suggesting a critical deoxygenation point for sustaining voluntary exertions. Cerebral blood (estimated by total hemoglobin) increased progressively throughout the entire exercise period. Defecation decreased sub-navel oxygenation levels below the non-defecated level, suggesting an increased sub-navel oxygen consumption. Exercise also decreased sub-navel blood distribution, with minimal difference between non-defecated and defecated conditions. Defecation improved blood pooling in the prefrontal brain during exercise (
< 0.05) and enhanced cycling performance in triathletes (Non-defecated: 1624 ± 138 s vs. defecated: 1902 ± 163 s, d = 0.51,
< 0.05).
Our results suggest that improved exercise performance after defecation is associated with greater blood availability to compensate deoxygenation in the prefrontal brain region during exercise. Further investigation is needed to examine the role of increasing sub-navel oxygen consumption in the performance improvement after defecation.
Professor Li Ding studied his family knowledge of health preservation with Qigong (气功). And, in his early years, he consulted Mr. Jiang Weiqiao (蒋维乔) on this topic. This article explained the theory ...of meridian points related to Qigong's theory, such as the location of the Dantian (丹田), the concepts of upper Dantian (上丹田) and lower Dantian (下丹田), the relation between the minor circulation (Xiao Zhou Tian, 小周天) and the conception/governor vessels, as well as the relation between Yin/Yang heel vessels and Qigong. The article also collected one self-composed version health preservation, consisting of four parts of walking, sitting, lying, and rising, which is fit for practical use.
Beyond life as a biochemical system, endogenous and exogenous energy fields play an important role in the living state. The biofield, the energy field associated with life, consists of low intensity ...electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields that may be key to health and healing. Here we measured one component of the biofield, the ultraweak light emitted from the body--biophotons--and explored the influence of intention, extraordinary mind-body states, and human interaction on biophoton emission. Three pilot studies were conducted to investigate whether biophoton emission is a biomarker correlated with intention. Results showed that (1) biophoton emission from healers' hands diminished significantly by 11% post-healing; (2) biophoton emission during energy healing showed a unique pattern for each treatment session; (3) changes in biophoton emission from the forehead, heart, and abdominal regions of patients pre-post energy healing showed no discernible pattern for a small number of diverse patients; (4) subjects who engaged in bioenergetic practices emitted more biophotons from specific bodily regions, some in alignment with their intent. Biophoton emission was found to be modulated by intention, energy healing, and bioenergetic mind-body practices. Biophotons might potentially be involved in quantum or quantum-like entanglement between humans, and may play a role in energy healing, biocommunication, and altered mind-body states. KEYWORDS: Biophoton; Ultraweak light emission; Biofield; Subtle energy; Energy healing; Spiritual healing; Bioenergy; Volition; Intention; Consciousness; Mind-body; Dantian; Oriental medicine; DMILS (direct mental intention on living systems)
이 논문은 『동의보감』의 생명관을 살펴보고 그러한 생명관에 기초한 의학이 어떻게 전통 사회에서 실현되고 있었는지를 밝히는데 그 목적이 있다. 이를 위한 일환으로 먼저 『동의보감』의 내경편 을 중심으로 생명관의 연원을 밝혀보았다. 그리고 이어서 『동의보감』에서 생명 탄생과 성장 그리고 신체의 구조, 생명활동 등을 어떻게 이해하고 있는지를 살펴보았다.
...『동의보감』에서는 인간생명의 기원을 太易, 太初, 太始, 太素로 진화하는 과정으로 보고 태역을 道·無의 자리에 두고 이를 일종의 정신적인 것으로 보았으며 태초, 태시, 태소를 有의 자리에 두면서 氣·形·質의 전개 과정으로 보았다. 이에 따라서 허준은 생명을 일종의 정신과 몸의 결합으로 보고 이들을 매개하는 고리를 ‘기’라고 보았으며, 생명의 기본 구성요소인 정·기·신의 3요소가 생명활동의 근본동력이 된다고 하였다. 여기서 精은 남녀의 교합으로서 남자의 陽精(정자)과 여자의 陰精(난자)이 서로 결합된 수정체를 말하는 것이다. 그리고 이는 天氣와 地氣에 의 해 성장한다. 또한 이 精은 단순한 물질만이 아닌 부모의 ‘神氣’가 들어 있는 유전정보물질이다. 따라서 精에는 현상, 물질, 기능이라는 3요소가 포함되어 있으며 이들이 상호의존과 제약관계에서 생명현상을 나타내게 된다. 수정체(精·氣·神)인 精은 모태 속에서 10개월 간 발육한 뒤 출생하게 되는데 바로 여기에는 우주적 진화의 과정이 축적되어 있으며 또한 수많은 정보가 입력되어 있다. 그리고 『동의보감』의 양생론인 연단론에 있어서는 무엇보다도 保精을 강조하였다. 즉 정이 충만하면 기가 활발해지고 기가 활발하면 신이 왕성해지며 신이 왕성하면 신체가 건강하여 일체의 병이 없다고 하였다. 신체가 건강하다는 것은 곧 생명활동이 원활하다는 것으로 정·기·신의 활동이 잘 유지되고 있다는 뜻이다. 『동의보감』에서는 정·기·신의 활동을 유기적 관계로 보았는데 여기에는 ‘기’가 연결 고리가 됨으로, 단전호흡을 통하여 상단전, 중단전, 하단전을 쉼 없이 작동시켜 척추의 三關을 거쳐 뇌의 니환궁에 도달하여 그곳에 자리하고 있는 상단전을 양생시킨다고 하였다.
The motive of this paper is to excavate the “View of Life” of Donguibogam and look for the unique characteristics of Korean medicine (Eastern Medicine). Therefore, as a part of the thesis, this paper will first trace the origin of Donguibogam's outlook on life, and then explore the way Donguibogam understands the birth, growth and activities of life.
In Donguibogam, Heo Jun regards the origin of human beings as an evolutionary process of being too easy, too early, too primitive and too vegetarian. He regards it as a spiritual entity which is too easy to be placed in the Tao and has no place. He puts the primitive, too primitive and too vegetable in their place, and regards it as a process of qi, shape and quality. So Xu Jun regards life as the combination of spirit and body, and regards “Qi” as the medium connecting them. The three elements of life - essence, Qi and spirit are the motive force of life activities. The term sperm here refers to a fertilized body formed by the combination of male and female penis sperm (sperm) and female penis sperm (eggs) during sexual intercourse. The fertilized body grows in the weather and the atmosphere. The essence here is not pure substance, but a genetic information material containing parents' spirit. Therefore, the essence contains three elements: material, function and phenomenon. They are interdependent and mutually constrained, and life phenomena arise. Physical health means that life moves smoothly, that is to say, the activities of spirit, Qi and spirit go on smoothly. Donguibogam believes that there is an organic link between the activities of essence, Qi and spirit, where “qi” is the intermediary, through Dantian breathing so that the center of vitality of Shangdan, Zhongdantian, Xiadandan continues to run, through the three vertebral barriers, to the cerebrum of the Mud Pill Palace, maintenance is located in the head of Shangdan. Therefore, Qi keeps pace with all kinds of organs and passages that are proficient in the body.
