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Breath is the first medicine we ever receive—and the most overlooked.

In this episode of the Everyday Medicine Podcast, Dr. Michael Blahut explores how breath is far more than oxygen intake. Drawing from ancient healing traditions and modern science, this episode reveals how the way we breathe directly shapes the nervous system, immune function, mitochondrial energy production, and long-term health.

You’ll learn why breath sits at the center of the Everyday Medicine philosophy, how nasal versus mouth breathing changes physiology, why carbon dioxide is just as important as oxygen, and how breath influences cellular energy through electron transfer and quantum biology.

This episode also offers practical, accessible ways to begin using breath as daily medicine—and a glimpse into how breath is practiced in a high-oxygen, nature-rich environment at the Everyday Medicine Renew Yourself Retreat in Costa Rica this May.

If you’ve ever felt that healing is less about adding more and more about returning to rhythm, this episode is for you.

Show Notes

In this episode, you’ll discover:

* Why breath has been considered sacred medicine across ancient cultures

* How breath uniquely bridges the conscious and autonomic nervous systems

* The role of the vagus nerve and parasympathetic activation in healing

* Why nasal breathing supports immunity, circulation, and nervous system safety

* The misunderstood importance of carbon dioxide and the Bohr effect

* How breath influences mitochondrial function, electron flow, and cellular energy

* The connection between breath, coherence, and quantum biology

* Simple, practical breathing rhythms you can integrate into daily life

* How breath is practiced as lived medicine at the Everyday Medicine retreat in Costa Rica

Key Takeaways

Breath is not just air—it is information.The nervous system listens to rhythm.Healing begins when the body feels safe enough to exhale.

Resources & Links

Everyday Medicine: Ancient Secrets to Awaken Our Innate Healing AbilitiesBuy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Medicine-Ancient-Secrets-Abilities/dp/B0FKBSTTK7

Read the accompanying Substack article (free + paid sections):

https://drmichaelblahut.substack.com/p/the-medicine-in-every-breath

Everyday Medicine Renew Yourself Retreat | Costa Rica (May)Learn more and apply here: https://everyday-medicine.com/retreats/

About the Host

Dr. Michael Blahut, DO, is a holistic family physician and author of Everyday Medicine: Ancient Secrets to Awaken Our Innate Healing Abilities. He offers functional and integrative medicine consultations through HolisticFamilyCarePA.com and shares resources for natural healing, retreats, and everyday practices at Everyday-Medicine.com.

Get full access to Everyday Medicine: Awaken Your Innate Healing Abilities at drmichaelblahut.substack.com/subscribe