The Endogenous Respiration Theory
Maxim Gushchin
Introduction - a History of the Endogenous Model
The endogenous model of human breathing is a new and interesting theory of how the respiratory and circulatory systems interact to provide oxygen to the cells of the body. It began in the 1960’s as an alternate theory of cellular bioenergetics. This was largely a result of Georgy Petrakovich, a Soviet scientist observing some inconsistencies in the already-existing models. He formulated a new theory of what happened inside the cell, and this seemed to account for the inconsistencies of the previous model, but did not fully explain the role of the lungs and blood vessels.
In the late 1990’s the theory was revisited by two other scientists, Frolov and Buteyko. Both later designed their own breathing techniques based on the endogenous process that they claimed improved physiological processes in general, and helped with specific diseases and conditions, such as asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, and some forms of cancer. Clinical trials and witness accounts are given in the various books they published about endogenous breathing.
While some of the aspects of this theory are more on the biochemical side like the endogenous process itself, or more statistical, such as the clinical trials surrounding the Frolov breathing device, this resource will focus on informing readers of the physiological structure of the theory of Endogenous Breathing, and how the circulatory and respiratory systems work together to bring oxygen to cells.
Why does the body need oxygen?
The body needs oxygen primarily to produce energy in the form of ATP through cellular respiration.
The body also needs oxygen to repair and replace the various oxygen-containing lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and other compounds that are found in cells, although much less oxygen is needed for this task than for the process of cellular respiration
This becomes a problem when there are multiple cells, and oxygen cannot easily diffuse into faraway cells. That is why many multicellular organisms, including humans, have a respiratory system to facilitate the propagation of oxygen among the body’s cells and especially the internal organs.
What is the endogenous process?
The endogenous process is a process in which energy ionizes some of a cell’s unsaturated fatty acids. Without getting too far into biochemistry, energy acts on a fatty acid, and the fatty acid releases energy and oxygen atoms. Consequently, endogenous breathing would mean breathing assisted by the endogenous process.
The flaws of the “traditional” model
The current understanding of the circulatory and respiratory system is quite advanced and backed by a lot of proof from experiments and observations. This model will hereinafter be referred to as the “traditional model.” However, Soviet scientist Georgy Petrakovich noticed that there were some factors that the model could not explain.
First of all, cellular respiration takes place inside the mitochondria, and ATP is produced there. ATP cannot cross the cell membrane, and thus can only give energy for processes inside the cell. So, what causes processes outside the cell (intercellular interactions, for example)?
Secondly, Petrakovich found that even when resting or during light exercise, energy produced by cellular respiration only would have accounted for 30-50% of the energy needed. During vigorous exercise, this deficit increases to approximately 90%. So, where does all the extra energy come from? Both Frolov and Petrakovich claim that American scientists have also arrived at a similar conclusion, that the mitochondria’s production of ATP is insufficient to power cells.
So, if there are such significant flaws in the traditional model, what does Petrakovich offer as an alternative?
Petrakovich’s theory with amendments by Frolov and Buteyko
In 1992, Petrakovich published an article outlining his findings and theories. Here is what he proposed:
Cells obtain their energy and oxygen for other purposes through ionization and saturation of fatty acids in their membranes
The activation energy for the aforementioned ionization and saturation reaction is passed onto the cells by erythrocytes because they are electrically charged
Erythrocytes are negatively charged in the lungs by means of a reaction between carbohydrates in the alveoli and the oxygen in the inhaled air. This reaction is similar to a combustion reaction.
Analysis of the revised theory
The first point just restates the endogenous process mentioned earlier. But how does this happen?
The second point is just a general justification that describes the general mechanism. Frolov and Buteyko would discover that this interaction between the charged erythrocyte and the cell’s phospholipids is because the cell itself, most notably the mitochondria, is generating a magnetic field. The interaction between this magnetic field and a negatively charged erythrocyte is what causes the endogenous process.
The final point is the most interesting. It claims that oxygen never actually exits the alveoli, and just reacts with carbohydrates and charges erythrocytes, which then transport this charge to cells all around the body. Petrakovich notes that this reaction is similar to a combustion reaction. The oxygen and the carbohydrates react in the near vicinity of erythrocytes, charging them. Since the erythrocyte has a large surface area and there are a lot of erythrocytes flowing through the alveoli, this process is very efficient. Some of the charge from the erythrocytes is transmitted to white blood cells, giving them energy to function.
Some of the proof for this theory can be seen when looking at the most basic things, like a thermal map of the lungs. The hottest parts on it are the alveoli, hinting at the high-energy combustion-like reaction going on inside.
