Scientists hail 'butt breathing'; Believe it can save lives in case of severe lung failure

Butt breathing: A study was conducted to see if people could get oxygen through their rectums like loaches. (Picture Credit: Pexels)

Most of you may find it hard to believe that there's something called 'butt breathing'. You will probably ask 'what does it even mean?'. Well, researchers from Japan and US have developed a way that will allow people to breathe through their rectum. Well, yes! Your butt.

A human clinical trial was actually done to actually understand if people can breathe through their rectum area and well, the findings were positive. Wondering how it all began? The researchers got inspired from some aquatic species that are known to absorb oxygen from their rectal area.

Loach, an aquatic specie, swallows air from the surface and absorbs the oxygen through its gut. This is what helps its gills to survive in low oxygen conditions, as per the study.

Does that mean humans too can the help of their lower gut in case lungs are not able to do their job? Moneycontrol's team reached out to Dr Akshay Budhraja, Senior Consultant & HOD Respiratory & Sleep Medicine, Aakash Healthcare, to find out if butt breathing is real.

Dr Budhraja shared a study was conducted to see if people could get oxygen through their rectums like loaches. The objective was only to understand if the technique of administration was safe in humans.

Explaining the concept...
"An enema-like procedure feeds highly oxygenated fluids to the large intestine, where the life-sustaining gas is absorbed into the bloodstream. There were no major side effects, but some people reported bloating and discomfort, which appeared to worsen as the volume increased.
The concept is that oxygen travels through the intestinal walls and into the bloodstream, avoiding any problems that a patient would have inhaling the traditional method," he explained.

Also read: Sleeping for less than 6 hours every night? Doctors have a warning that you must not ignore

Loaches are not the only species...
Dr Budhraja also shared that loaches are not the only species who use a backdoor breathing strategy. "A few species of turtles, sea cucumbers, and even pigs can do the same when their lungs don't operating properly," he said.

Doctor's take on the technique's efficacy... 
Dr Budhraja told Moneycontrol that as per the findings of the study, the procedure is tolerated in humans, however, its efficacy still needs to be found out. "If the process is found to be effective then it can be significant discovery. This technique may allow doctors to rescue patients whose airways are closed by injury or inflammation, or whose lung function is severely limited by infectious disorders," he highlighted.

Can this technique help humans in case of lung failure?
Normally, mechanical ventilation (the breathing machine) is sufficient to provide oxygen to the body and eliminate carbon dioxide. However, in severe circumstances, or when ventilators are not accessible, oxygen levels can fall dangerously low. The next alternative, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), involves an external machine performing the function of the heart and lungs. It saves lives, but it is also hazardous, expensive, and resource-intensive. When the lungs (and ventilators) are unable to cope, enteral ventilation through anus (EVA) could provide a simpler, lower-tech bridge, the doctor concluded.

Also read: From walking with a stick to now doing pilates at 86, know Salman Khan's step mother's fitness secret

FAQs on butt breathing:

Q. What is butt breathing?
It’s a form of respiration where some animals can absorb oxygen through their rear end, specifically through the cloaca.

Q. Which animals can breathe through their butt?
Certain turtles, fish, and amphibians use cloacal respiration, especially when underwater or hibernating.

Q. How does butt breathing work?
The cloaca has blood vessel–rich sacs that allow oxygen exchange directly from water into the bloodstream.

Q. Why do animals use butt breathing?
It helps them survive in low-oxygen conditions, such as during winter when they’re submerged in cold water.

Q. Can humans breathe through their butt?
No — humans don’t have the anatomy for cloacal respiration, though scientists have studied similar oxygen absorption methods for medical use.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.