Breathing-mind science is a relatively new field of study but already it is suggesting that we need to take a closer look at black dyes in clothing to see if they are toxic and depress brain function. All the dyes in our clothing appear to be nontoxic but as far as breathing-mind science goes there are questions about black dyes that need to be studied. Using new testing tools based on central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) responses is something anybody can do with no special equipment or expertise and it only takes a few minutes. Everybody should do this testing to learn if black dyes in any way depress their central nervous system (CNS). This is a shortened version of one of the possible tests:
- Separate yourself from your cell phone. Do not position yourself directly under a ceiling light fixture.
- Put on some black clothing, or clothing with a lot of black in it, preferably on the upper half of the body. Hold up one hand with fingers spread a little. With just the dominant eye open (the eye you use to look through a telescope), count each finger as quickly as you can, then return to the first finger and count 6 to 10, and continue to follow this pattern until you reach 30. Repeat a few times.
- Repeat the testing with just the nondominant eye open. Brain speed for both steps should be about the same with the ND eye a little slower because the nervous system that serves the ND eye, as well as ND leg and arm, is not as well developed as on the D side. If there is a dramatic downturn in brain speed and eye movement with the ND eye open it could mean your body is treating something in black clothing as toxic.
For those with a negative reaction, why does this happen? Our olfactory system can detect toxic molecules in the air off-gassing from our clothing, even when the number of molecules is exceedingly low and we can’t consciously smell anything. The bronchial tubes in the lungs are hyper-reactive to such chemical invasions and constrict to prevent bad air from getting too deep into the lungs. This is known as the broncoconstriction stress response. It puts stress into the respiratory system which prevents optimal breathing. Every bodily function is adversely affected. There is also a sharp decline in cognitive function though you will not feel this. Everything will seem normal to you. But various quickie cognitive tests will show serious downturns in the speed and quality of speech, singing, silent reading, thinking, writing, math computing, memory, visual processing, reaction time, etc.
Breathing-mind science has established the fact that at any minute of the day you can only be as good as your breathe. Anything with increases respiratory function a little boosts both mental and physical performance; anything that depresses respiratory function just a little depresses mental function. In short it lowers IQ. It make you “dumber.”
It is well-recognized that when we drink alcohol that little by little all our mental and physical functions suffer loss of proficiency but what is little known is that the loss is greater in our ND system. This is in accord with what physiologist Walter Cannon called “the wisdom of the body.” This wisdom preserves the highest possible function in the D parts of our body where preservation can do the most good in keeping us safe, while the huge loss in the ND system has less of a negative effect on us. However a decline in function of the ND side drags down the D side resulting in overall reduced body and mind performance to some extent.
The same thing happens during other toxic responses. If black appears to be toxic for you there could be serious health consequences as the years pass and stress is a frequent component in your neurological system. It has been shown that people under serious stress often don’t realize it. Chronic stress is responsible for promoting many kinds of cognitive, psychological and physical pathologies. Black is one of the most popular colors in clothing today. It can be seen everywhere. For those who get a toxic response when they wear it there is a big price to pay in reduced mental and physical capacity that occurs as long as the clothing is on. If black clothing is only toxic to a few of us the FDA must still consider banning it. I for one will not wear black clothing unless it is certified as nontoxic.
Addendum 1: Years ago the black ink used in ball point pens was toxic and many people were concerned that children who used these pens would get ink on themselves which could adversely effect health. Toxins can get into the body orally, through the nose, and through the skin by contact. How fast can contact with a toxin get from the skin to the bloodstream? Nicotine, a toxic substance in nicotine patches, which are worn on the skin is thought to get into the blood stream very fast. Ink chemists came up with a nontoxic ink which is now used in ball point pens. Can toxins from clothing touching the skin pass through the skin into the bloodstream? This is an urgent question that needs to be answered soon!
Addendum 2: Many people have trouble accepting the fact that changes in mental performance can’t be detected by the conscious mind unless testing occurs. When you put on traditional sunglasses inside a building have you ever noticed a huge drop in mental function? Nobody ever has! With sunglasses off do the eye-finger test used above and then repeat with sunglasses on. You should notice a huge downturn in what can be called basic brain speed. We greatly turn down our brainpower in all our mental activities with sunglasses on. But nobody ever noticed. Now such downturns are easy to detect. Despite this sunglasses must be worn when there is the possibility of sunlight damaging the eyes.
James Protsman is the author of The Breathing-Mind Connection. He taught English on the high school and college levels and served 12 years on the Manitowoc School Board. He is a longtime researcher in the field of breathing-mind science and has taught many classes in this emerging science as part of UW outreach programs.
The Breathing-Mind Connection 