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Lyall Watson – Heaven’s Breath

Our biological tides are driven by the involuntary nervous system. 

On the approach of a cold weather front – blood volume shrinks, shutting off the periphery of the body against the outside world; the blood pressure rises; blood sugar increases; the pupils dilate; the upper eyelids are raised; sweat glands are stimulated; and there is an increase in breathing rate and in flow of air to the lungs in normal individuals.  All these things happen unconsciously, arousing us, girding up our loins for the possible need to take avoiding action.

The usual reaction to a warm front – is that blood vessels dilate; blood pressure falls; blood sugar declines; the pulse rate drops; the pupils contract; the eyelids relax; sweating is controlled; and the flow of air to the lungs is reduced.  All these are actions of the parasympathetic nervous system, the ‘loyal opposition’ which works through the inhibiting hormone noradrenalin to counteract the effects of adrenalin excitement.