The Way of the Iceman by Wim Hof & Koen de Jong, (05) Science, Notes

Post date: Oct 26, 2017 1:15:50 PM

The Way of the Ice Man

Chapter 5. Science - “I am a scientist. My body is my laboratory.”--Wim Hof

• • The autonomic nervous system - the body is active every second of life without conscious thought. The intestines are active, the pupils dilate or constrict, the heart beats, the body remains at a constant temperature and billions of cells are constantly in motion. All those bodily functions work automatically. There are two elements, the parasympathetic (the brakes) and the sympathetic (the gas pedal.)

  • The natural immune system - the WHM method allows one to consciously influence the autonomic nervous system by driving up adrenaline levels. Adrenaline suppresses the inflammatory process. Chronic stress is unhealthy, but controlled and acute stress is one of the body’s own medicines. The anti inflammatory medicine produced by the body is a natural and healthy alternative to pharmaceuticals. Meditation and cold training bring about genuine improvements in these important systems of our bodies previously thought to be beyond our influence. Our immune reactions change and we become capable of greater feats.

    • “Our bodies continually combat and destroy infections. It should be in balance but it isn’t, we live with permanent low levels of infection, chronically infected, but the level is so low we don’t even feel it. It is possible to repress the inflammatory response.” -- Fritz Muskiet

    • The family of temperature receptors known as, “transient receptor potential” (TRP) Respond to a variety of stimuli, including temperature changes and trigger a variety of processes in the body. There are even special TRP for individual temperature changes. They are linked to pain receptors

  • How pain receptors work and what pain is - A receptor becomes more sensitive when three proteins called ASIC form a single complex to trigger a pain stimulus.Pain stimulus also depends on the degree of acidity (pH value of 7.4 is normal) If the pH falls, pain increases. If it rises, then pain nearly disappears. Using breathing exercises, we can raise the pH (as high as 7.7), and pain receptors become inactive. Getting into cold water brings no pain, panic or stress when accompanied with the breathing exercises.

  • The same DNA is in every cell - Besides the specific genes that always remain on or off (so that a kidney cell is a kidney cell and not a liver cell) there are also genes that are switched on and off in response to external environmental circumstances and things such as social contact, eating or exercising. Engaging happily in sports or other physical activities sends different signals to our genes than does sitting grumpily lying on the couch.

    • One transcription factor is of special interest: the nuclear factor Kappa (NF-KB.) This factor underlies many important biological processes, including how our immune system functions and how cancer develops. Inflammation factors lie at the root of many diseases. NF-KB is a recurring determinant factor in exhausting inflammatory reactions. Through medication, breathing exercises and cold training’ NF-KB activity can be inhibited.

    • A large number of diseases are directly related to NF-KB activity. By practicing breathing, meditation and cold training before stressful events, stress can impact us positively instead of negatively. Stress reducing methods bring NF-KB activity down to a healthy level. Meditation can penetrate deeply into the core of our cells and influence how our DNA functions. Meditation increases the length of the telomeres.

  • The combo of breathing, meditation and cold training changes the normal stress response to cold - Normal stress response comprises the immediate release of adrenaline, followed by the production of stress hormones from the pituitary gland in the brain. These stress hormones trigger the production of cortisol. Cortisol has a strong impact on the body and also controls many functions, including the stimulation of NF-KB activity.

    • Those trained in WHM respond differently. The response is due to increased pH levels and the resulting absence of pain and fear. The part of the brain normally stimulated by cold induced pain is not activated. The pituitary gland has a different stress response. Adrenaline is released in response to hypo or hyper circulation. During training, breathing and cold become associated with each other. The high adrenaline production gives the advantages of acute stress, increasing our performance without heightened NF-KB response. The WHM changes the normal stress response to cold.

    • We must explore for ourselves how breathing exercises and the cold might be able to help us, whether ill or in perfect health.