Can you really breathe through your butt? Inside Japan’s surprising medical experiment

It sounds like a strange online myth, but scientists in Japan have been studying whether mammals, including humans, can absorb oxygen through the gut. This phenomenon, often called butt breathing, is officially known as enteral ventilation. In a world where lung failure and ventilator shortages can quickly turn deadly, this idea could change how emergency oxygen therapy works. According to a peer-reviewed study published in Med (Cell Press) , researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University successfully demonstrated gut-based oxygen absorption in mice and pigs, sparking global curiosity. You can read the full study. The experiment may sound unconventional, but it could one day save lives when traditional breathing support is unavailable. The phrase “butt breathing” may sound humor