Black Clothing and the Question of Toxicity

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:

  1. Separate yourself from your cell phone. Do not position yourself directly under a ceiling light fixture.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

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Pure Diaphragm Breathing Exercise

The diaphragm is the primary breathing muscle and this exercise targets the diaphragm in a special way to strengthen this muscle. During the exercise, as pointed out earlier, you may notice the left side of the diaphragm working harder than the right side.

According to online MedicalNet: “The right hemidiaphragm is protected by the liver and is stronger than the left. The left hemidiaphragm is more often subject to rupture and hernia than the right. This may also reflect weaknesses at the points of embryologic fusion of the left hemidiaphragm.” The two sides of the diaphragm work together in coordinated, complicated ways and can even function independently of each other as seen in the fact that if one side is paralyzed due to injury the other side can continue to function normally. But the right side of the diaphragm must be considered dominant for breathing, and while the exercise targets both sides, the right side will always be dominant for healthy individuals.

As the diaphragm weakens with aging or inadequate exercise, it begins to recruit muscles in the middle core and lower core to assist with breathing. It also spreads up to the chest wall and it actually makes it harder for the lungs to inflate, and worse yet, it puts mind-slowing stress on the beating heart. The key to preventing extra tensing in adjacent muscle systems during quiet breathing is to isolate and target the diaphragm for strengthening. By forcing the diaphragm to work harder to move air, the diaphragm gets stronger on both sides and will naturally stop recruiting nearby muscles for help.

It is now easy to believe that all our discussions of intelligence need to factor in the physical condition of the diaphragm, because when it is weak it leads to excess tension in the upper body that depresses mental function. When the diaphragm is strong it promotes the highest possible level of mental performance. This is especially noticeable in our verbal skills: speech, singing, silent reading, thinking, writing, and even math calculating.

The exercise relies to some extent on a breathing position designed a long time ago to make breathing easier for those with difficult breathing. It was a widespread hospital practice. My research shows this position isolates and targets the diaphragm for improvement but it must be done a certain way. 

Pure Diaphragm Breathing

  1. Lie on on your back on a comfortable surface with a bed pillow or two under your knees which elevates the knees. This relaxes the thighs which is an important condition of the exercise. There can be a pillow under your head. The head must face straight ahead. Tilting the head a little right or left tightens the breathing muscles from neck to core. Shoes off. Quiet atmosphere. 
  2. Breathe this way as naturally as you can for 20-30 minutes. Do not force the breathing. Stop if this becomes necessary. Pay attention to your breathing.
  3. The exercise can be done daily for a few weeks until no more improvement is possible and then it can occasionally be done to maintain optimal performance. It should not take long for you to start experiencing faster and higher quality reading along with many other rewarding upgrades in cognitive function. 

The Journey Begins

My uncle has always been a colorful character. He has been a teacher, a tennis player, a non-credentialed cicerone, but maybe most importantly, an observer of the human condition. In focusing on how we function, he’s devised and tested improvements that anyone can implement. I went into this project unsure of the content, but now believe that this book is full of helpful, useful exercises. At a minimum, if followed, they improve mindfulness. At maximum, the sky’s the limit.

And so, I’m excited to be involved. This site is in place to help bring attention to the book. Jim plans to add content and exercises here as he refines newer information, too. Don’t hesitate to contact him – click here to get in touch.

~Chris B.

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

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