Chart 1 plots CO2 levels in exhaled air (X-axis) against respiratory rate (Y-axis). The diagonal line shows the typical relationship between these two measurements. As the respiratory rate (RR) increases, CO2 drops and vice versa. The hypocapnia (low CO2) in clients who place to the left pf line one can also be defined as hyperventilators. The scientific literature however does not distinguish between 3 types of hyperventilation, which we will now present. Chart 2 shows the CO2 and RR of 50 non-asthmatic subjects. 70% the population falls along the diagonal line which we call the typical stress response (chart 3). When a subject presents on the diagonal line but to the left of line one (a CO2 of <36) subjects has balanced hyperventilation. In other words, their hyperventilation maintains the normal ration of RR to CO2. 30% of the population however places significantly above or below this line. When subjects hyperventilate and present above or below the typical stress response, we must distinguish between those that hyperventilate by breathing more quickly and those that hyperventilate by breathing more deeply.

Compensatory shallow breathers

In order to have an increase in RR without a concurrent drop in CO2, subjects must decrease the volume or depth of their breathing as their RR increases. Thus, those clients who place above the line (High RR relative to CO2) are compensating with shallow breathing in order to keep their CO2 from dropping. This is shown in chart two as the upward arrow. Those exhibiting this phenomenon may (zone 1) or may not (zone 2) present with hypocapnia/hyperventilation depending on whether they fall to the left of line one (hypocapnia) between lines one and two (normocapnia) in chart one. In addition to their possible hypocapnia, compensatory shallow breathing has other problems associated with the concurrent lack of diaphragmatic movement and increased anatomical dead space in the lungs including atelectasis and pneumonia.

In addition to its obvious role in respiration, the motion of the diaphragm is responsible for lymphatic circulation, its motion massages the internal organs helping with their intrinsic circulation and it also serves to stimulate the vagus nerve helping us stay in a relaxed state. Thus those who present with shallow breathing may suffer from decreased lymphatic circulation, circulatory stagnation of the internal organs and decreased stimulation of the vagus nerve. If shallow breathing becomes chronic, decreased flexibility in the ribs and associated respiratory muscles may also result, further reinforcing the dysfunctional pattern. Posture, obesity and intestinal distress can also play a role in this pattern.

The administration of CO2 to these subjects has the effect of both immediately deepening the subjects breathing though CO2’s bronchiodilatory effect. Increasing the CO2 also directly removes the compensatory drive to decrease breath rate effecting long-term change. Increases in respiratory depth and decreases in RR are evident within seconds of administration. Additional magnesium and potassium to suppress the sympathetic and stimulate the parasympathetic systems is also indicated to help reduce the stress that is triggering the respiratory pattern.

Hypoxic deep breathers

In order to have a decrease in RR without a concurrent drop in CO2, subjects must increase the volume or depth of their breathing as their RR decreases. Thus, those clients who place below the line (Slow RR and low CO2) are deep breathing. While stress, metabolic acidosis and other conditions can cause the breathing to become more rapid, only hypoxia and drugs can cause the breathing to become deeper. Hypoxia can be caused by insufficient pulmonary function, dysfunctional cardiac or circulatory function, toxicity or high altitude. As an example, crying or fear (stress responses) engender short fast breathing while exercise or high altitude engenders faster deeper breathing. It may be argued that the lactic acidosis which exercise creates is also partially responsible for the deepening of the breath but lactic acidosis itself only occurs in hypoxic conditions.

Hypoxia due to circulatory disturbances as well as metal toxicity to the respiratory cytochrome system indicate the need for chelation (we suggest magnesium di-potassium EDTA suppositories) both for its ability to clean out the circulatory system as well as its ability to remove toxic metals. Since the magnitude of response to hypoxia is attenuated by decreased levels of PCO2 administration of CO2 in those to the left of line one (zone 3) is indicated as well.

CO2 levels

In addition to normalizing the shallow compensators and the hypoxic deep breathers, another goal for the practitioner is to raise the resting exhaled CO2 level of our clients as close to the optimal range 40-42 (27-28 on a blood test) as possible while keeping the RR below 12, thus avoiding the false CO2 values achieved through shallow breathing. You can see from chart 4 that nearly 40% of the adult population presents with CO2 levels below 36.

Subjects in the Major symptom range may experience all the effects of hypocapnia including increased pain, anxiety, insomnia, sleep disorders and asthma, but may not know that their symptoms are related to a common cause. This is also the range which most asthmatics present with. It is however unlikely for an asthmatic attack to occur in this range. For an attack to take place, typically the subject’s CO2 must drop into the Severe symptom range. This can occur if the subject is triggered by stress, allergens or exercise. A drop in their CO2 level of up to 10 points (Exhaled CO2) in seconds is not uncommon. Thus one goal of the asthmatic is to raise his or her baseline CO2 from the Major symptom range to the Mild or Optimal range. A subject triggered from one of these two ranges will fall into the Major symptom range, not the Severe one making an asthma attack and other hypocapnic disorders less likely.

Protein deficiencies and hypothyroidism can also cause a drop in CO2 levels. Any subject who tests low for CO2 should be questioned as to their dietary habits and be assessed for thyroid function. Clients with low CO2 are also typically dehydrated either from excessive water loss due to hyperventilation or from lack of endogenous water production at the mitochondrial level (CO2 and H20 are both end-products of ATP production therefore low CO2 can imply low H20).

Since most practitioners will not have access to a capnograph with which to measure CO2 measurement, you must rely on any of the following 4 signs for determining hypocapnia.

RR>12. Tell the patient that you are testing their pulse but watch their breathing. If you tell them that the test is for their breathing, their consciousness of their own breathing will cause it to change. Also, if you are going to do this test, it must be done before tests two and three since administration of Aetherin can lower the respiratory rate.

A client who notices a decrease in pain, a calming of the mind, deeper breathing, increased blood flow to parts of their body or any sense of increased well-being after using Aetherin.

A client who notices a sweet taste from Aetherin. Some clients will only taste Aetherin when inhaling it, others only when it is in their mouths.

Asthma, allergies, migraines, epilepsy or any other condition associated with hypocapnia.

If you are using Aetherin to decrease pain or muscle tension, it often takes 4 applications in 5 to 10 minutes before the effect begins take place. Multiple applications during testing are encouraged.


Chart 1 – CO2 and respiratory rate zone chart

Chart 2 – CO2 versus respiratory rates

Chart 3

Chart 4 - CO2 distribution