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1/14/1972 - Throwing Up in Mexico by Andrew T. Weil

Vomiting subject olite discussion United States least around dinner table Serhaps usual subject Institute newsletter ievertheless physician interested alternatives orthodox medical techniques consider extremely important subject discussion because teach about workings natural mechanisms available altering internal processes A place begin emotional attitudes stand talking about vomiting polite company Vomiting ultimately social least societies desirous relegating natural functions obscurity lavatory public Moreover these attitudes justified experience vomited association illness think something could about alone practice openly feelings universal prise persons example instructional materials students learn vomit voluntarily practice regularly ultimately perform morning ritual called la___dh_aut_i_ people gargle In newsletter I would outline theory vomiting operation autonomic nervous system report learned about other people describe briefly experiences learning change involuntary unpleasant process voluntary welcome method extending awareness internal functions In medical training I taught nothing about vomiting except symptom medical illness I regret having learned information For understanding nervous mechanisms underlying process makes willing attention yogis others right mechanism Vomiting reflex action That initiated nervous impulses periphery usually stomach which traveling center brain produce outgoing nervous impulse causes actual regurgitation stomach contents Now vomiting center happens anatomically discrete brain called medulla oblongata connecting between lowest portion brain uppermost portion spinal ecause contains centers regulating respiration medulla properly considered vital center entire nervous system whose disruption means cessation Occasionally vomiting arises directly irritation medulla itself absence anything wrong stomach called central vomiting which symptom serious trouble brain Because medulla brain farthest cortex closest spinal because centers control basic heartbeat breathing which continue neurologists think keystone involuntary nervous system The nerve fibers issue vomiting center medulla alimentary tract vagus nerve conduit leaves cranium innervate structures throat chest abdomen The vagus principal component parasympathetic nervous system portion autonomic system whose influence certain internal functions conserve energy For example vagal fibers heart stimulated heartbeat slows During vomiting massive vagal discharges occur producing number physiological changes addition emptying stomach Is possible learning vomit willfully opens important channel unconscious activity conscious influence And might extend cortical influence center unconscious brain medulla I think answer questions And these neurological considerations inclined listen carefully Easterners learning vomit beneficial exercise Eastern systems development based subjective experience internal states neurology yogic conceptions nervous system fanciful Sy contrast West about neurological mechanisms often little about their correlations experience What significance _Kp_ie_ vomiting reflex purpose I vomiting function change conscious experience dramatically three I As means ridding unwanted materials Vomiting often brings instant relief sense being someone ingested substances accept toxins It worth recalling inside stomach actually outside because continuous exterior substances entered until point cross walls stomach intestines bloodstream Vomiting merely shunts things already outside point where absorption cannot occur Anyone experienced knows rapid transition sickness health As means ridding unwanted sensations Occasionally absence ingestion toxins vomiting serve powerful conditions motion sickness headache particularly undigested remains stomach Many persons experience relief seasickness throw robably fewer learned headache means A young Indian I Tepoztlan described method If headache severe incapacitating eliminated three steps while lying closed create visual image preferably discrete color location econd again using visual imagination transfer image stomach fhird expel vomiting Of course technique assumes mastery vomiting As means ridding unwanted emotions That vomiting mental spiritual applications strange Quite commonly however persons psychedelic intoxicants experience nausea anxiety onset effects sooner vomit sooner state consciousness Many natural hallucinogens peyote example supposed trigger nausea their direct pharmacological actions Yet Indians peyote regularly become nauseated Other drugs known nauseating virtue their pharmacology persons experience severe nausea relieved vomiting Having watched persons convinced nausea onset hallucinogenic physical analog mental resistance letting extreme anxiety about detaching oneself ordinary consciousness order experience reality another concentrating resistance anxiety physical sensations stomach expelling vomiting person himself these unwanted emotions How difficult learn natural mechanism obstacles mastering Much difficulty mental rather physical Until vomiting unnatural unpleasant wrong cannot begin autonomic controls nature given People I mastered technique isolated these negative interpretations physical vomiting becomes pleasant natural sensation promotes feeling being health Many methods available learnin B process drinking quantities water pressing stomach inducing retching finger throat vomit quietly smoothly external possible Interestingly enough women difficulty possibly because willing abandon themselves internal sensations Over course I practiced sporadic success intend going So difficult difficult mastery yogic postures as__a_n_a_s_ breathing techniques When attempting vomit I found useful remind myself I trying remove things inside merely things already outside I found proper mental imagery essential Part secret getting medullary vomiting center seems imagining mechanism holding image focus brain connec right stomach vomiting possible From successes I usually occasions I genuinely wanted something stomach I testify result indeed feeling being effect example profound stimulation respiration possibly consequence exercising medulla Again vomiting usually accompanied lacrimation further spillover autonomic activity sensation tears freely pouring I associate invigoration cleansing Here Mexico I number persons interested subject including positive experiences throwing Indians persons close Indians accepting bodily processes Americans At Indians though perfectly happy vomit whenever knowledge nervous system Ko motivate acquire mastery process disciplined If achieve harmony synthesize intellectual experiential knowledge common framework Like physicians trained United States knowledge autonomic nervous system mainly lilectual while I Mexico I shall continue practice vomiting means complementing knowledge wisdom direct experience