AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

External Breath (bahya Pranayama)

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

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 External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)

Level: Intermediate This technique is contraindicated in instances of: pregnancy, migraine, heart conditions, respiratory conditions, and high BP.
  • Inhale deeply through your nose. 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.
  • Exhale forcefully. Use your stomach and diaphragm to push the air from your body. "Forced" exhalation means that the contraction of your stomach muscles helps push the air out of your body. It does not mean that the exhalation should be uncomfortable for you in any way.
  • Touch your chin to your chest and suck in your stomach completely. The goal is to leave a hollow below your ribcage, making it look like the front muscle wall of your abdomen is pressed against the back. Hold this position -- and your breath -- for as long as is comfortable.
  • Lift your chin and breathe in slowly. Allow your lungs to completely fill with air.
  • Repeat 3 to 5 times.

SUGGESTED USE

Please follow label or as directed by your practitioner.

Metabolic Nature of External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Guna Help

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

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

Learn 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
Dosha Help

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

Learn More

PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating Vata aggravating
HAS THE FOLLOWING
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: Digestion,
Energy Vitality

ENERGY-VITALITY

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

SEE ALL 'ENERGY-VITALITY' FOODS / HERBS

, Heart Circulation Blood
HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)
Help
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.

Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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

Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

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

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

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

,
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

,
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

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

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

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

Promotes Virility

PROMOTES-VIRILITY

Encourages virility and potency.

SEE ALL 'PROMOTES-VIRILITY' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)

Mint

Mint has these Actions in Common

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

LEARN MORE

Mustard

Mustard has these Actions in Common

Promotes-virility, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-front-of-brain

LEARN MORE

Ginger (Fresh)

Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Refreshing, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Adrenal-tonic, Nervine

LEARN MORE

Mustard Powder

Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

Promotes-virility, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-front-of-brain

LEARN MORE

Orange Zest

Orange Zest has these Actions in Common

Digestive, Refreshing, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Nervine, Wakes-you-up

LEARN MORE

Ajwain

Ajwain has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Nervine, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Refreshing

LEARN MORE

Lime

Lime has these Actions in Common

Digestive, Refreshing, General-laxative, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Lemon

Lemon has these Actions in Common

Refreshing, General-laxative, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Internal-detoxicant, Digestive

LEARN MORE

Green Tea

Green Tea has these Actions in Common

Refreshing, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Stimulates-crown, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Stimulates-energy

LEARN MORE

Mustard Seed

Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

Promotes-virility, Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-front-of-brain

LEARN MORE

Lemon Zest

Lemon Zest has these Actions in Common

Nervine, Digestive, Refreshing, Internal-detoxicant, Wakes-you-up

LEARN MORE

Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)

Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

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

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

LEARN MORE

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

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

LEARN MORE

Breathing Exercises

Breathing Exercises has these Actions in Common

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

LEARN MORE

Belly breathing

Belly breathing has these Actions in Common

General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Adaptogen, Nervine, Adrenal-tonic, Promotes-virility, Alterative, Stimulates-energy, Anxiolytic, Builds-stamina, Digestive

LEARN MORE

Eleuthero Ginseng

Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

Adrenal-tonic, Anxiolytic, Builds-stamina, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine, Stimulates-energy, Adaptogen, Wakes-you-up

LEARN MORE

Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common

Stimulates-energy, Adaptogen, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Digestive, General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Promotes-virility, Refreshing

LEARN MORE

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

Nervine, Refreshing, Stimulates-crown, Stimulates-energy, Adaptogen, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Adrenal-tonic, Anxiolytic, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam

Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam has these Actions in Common

Adrenal-tonic, Alterative, Digestive, General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Promotes-virility, Stimulates-energy, Adaptogen

LEARN MORE

Shilajit Tonic

Shilajit Tonic has these Actions in Common

Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Builds-stamina, Internal-detoxicant, Promotes-virility

LEARN MORE

Punarnava

Punarnava has these Actions in Common

Builds-stamina, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Promotes-virility, Stimulates-energy, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Alterative

LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

External Breath (Bahya 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

External Breath (Bahya 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. Please see your health care provider for more information.
  • Alterative: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs mroe quickly, requiring a higher dose.

Look for similar items by category

Digestion, Energy-Vitality, Heart-Circulation-Blood

Reviews for External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)

blank start reviewblank start reviewblank start reviewblank start reviewblank start reviewSign in to rate this remedy
Satisfaction Guarantee

Join Joyful Belly.

Want our top Ayurvedic recipes and health tips?
Subscribe to our free newsletter!
If you are already a member please sign in here. Forgot your password?
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

© 2024 Joyful Belly Ayurveda Inc., All rights reserved.
[email protected] +1 828-307-3281
Asheville, North Carolina
1