Interestingly, for centuries manipulation of the breath during meditation has been used in all parts of Asia to promote better health, and controlling high blood pressure is one of it's benefits. Meditations which rely on altering breathing patterns from normal are used in most of the major meditative and spiritual and martial arts systems. These include Yoga, T'ai Chi, Zen Buddhism, Akido, Karate and many others.

Manipulation of the breath is known by different names in different countries but it usually involves slowing the breath down and regularizing the breath so that breathing flows evenly and slowly. The health benefits of this breathwork have been attested to by writers and teachers from all over the world; spiritual and scientific. Some in the west are reluctant to try meditation because meditation and using the breath to relax was in the past associated with various spiritual systems. This has now changed and modern science has taken breathwork out of the spiritual realm and has integrated it into modern alternative health methodologies. Measuring the breath and "paced breath training" is a part of all biofeedback practitioner's treatment strategies and will often in the work of psychotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths and physical therapists with their patients.

Until recently it was necessary to receive individual instruction on how to breathe effectively to lower blood pressure by studying with a meditation teacher or seeing an appropriate therapist. and this was not inexpensive.

In the last few years, as computerized devices have become more affordable, a biofeedback device designed for home use has been developed; the resperate blood pressure lowering device works by teaching slow paced breathing, and with an onboard computer it is able to keep track of progress over time. Now, anyone has the benefit, at home, of scientific technology that was only available to a few individuals lucky enough to be referred to body work therapists just a few years ago. Besides the nutritional, exercise and other lifestyle changes one can make to help lower blood pressure, learning how to use paced breathing to lower blood pressure is well worth the effort. Using paced breathing as taught by the Resperate device is easy and fun and effective. The benefits of the Resperate have been demonstrated in seven clinical trials to date.

The manufacturer, Intercure reports that breathing slower than normal and pacing your breathing evenly can lower your blood pressure by as much as 36 points systolic and 20 points diastolic. The device has been cleared by the FDA for use in lowering blood pressure and many doctors and cardiologists are now recommending it's use as part of their treatment plans. There is even a Resperate unit which two people can use, the Resperate Duo which keeps track of the ongoing statistics of 2 people, making it ideal for two people in the same houselold to share. A great website to read more and about the Resperate is LifeMatters.com

The Resperate has also been FDA cleared for Stress Management also and can be used as part of a plan to reduce stress through relaxation. It reduces stress by the same mechanisms that makes it so effective in lowering blood pressure.

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Common mispellings of the Resperate machine are: respirate, resparate, resporate, Resperate, and the company Intercure actually spells the word like this RESPeRATE.