Showing posts with label Mind / Body Medicine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mind / Body Medicine. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Well Being and Medicine


Well Being is the Natural Order of a Human Person. 

Imagine a spectrum of Well Being which includes negative and positive. Meaning, there are people not so well in a desired Order, some are having dis-Order and, there is a possibility of improvement in almost every human being (i.e. ideal situation of achievement of the highest potential). 

Identification and correction of what is not in order is one goal of any such institution while taking/ guiding others to reach their highest possible potential is the other goal. In my consideration, taking only one goal into the account will be half approach to the issue of Well Being.

Now, looking at the Human Potential of highest order one will have to consider the different dimensions of life. They are normally classified as following three-
- Physical (Body - Organs and Systems)
- Psychological (Mind/ Behaviour/ Emotions/ Sex)
- Spiritual (Happiness/ fulfillment, larger goals of life, relationship with the universe, other beings and existence)

But, more could be added to better manage and understand them. Like-
- Intellectual (thinking/ analysis)
- Social (relationship with other human beings/ community)
- Environmental (impact of ecology and environmental factors like quality of air, water, sunlight etc.)
- Moral (there are things you know is right or wrong in certain context)
- Professional/ Industrial/ Job

The above explained dimensions are all well recognized. 

WHO definition of 'Health' is a much forward/ progressive statement at normal standards- 
"Health is a complete state of Physical, Mental and Social Well Being and not, merely the absence of Disease or Infirmity".

However in India, a person is defined as a whole of five sheaths/ layer of existence (In Sanskrit, PanchaKosha). These are-
- Annamaya Kosha (Physical Body- that which is made of food/ nutrition)
- Manomaya Kosha (Layer of Mind/ Emotion)
- Vijnanamaya Kosha (Layer of Intellect)
- Pranamaya Kosha (Energy Body)
- Anandmaya Kosha (Spiritual Layer)

Now, this is very logical for me to understand. But, this approach requires one to understand/ recognize the Spiritual and Energy dimensions. Since there are differences in mainstream Scientific Community of today over the recognition of these last two, these two very important dimensions are generally ignored by the people (read Doctors, Psychologists etc.) who have the responsibility to bring people back to the rhythm/ order of, what is LIFE.
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Assuming that, there are people who recognize the need of improvement in any of the above mentioned dimensions, where should they go? Assuming that there is going to be a Center which will help people re-align their Body, Emotions, Intellect, Energy and Spiritual well-being - one will have to think of the established parameters within the ambit of Medicine, Health and Wellness. 

First Do No Harm. This is the established principle in Medicine, which is encrypted in every Medical Professional as 'Hippocratric Oath'. There is general sense of belief in the Public that if their Doctors are qualified they are in safer hands. Now, not every medical professional abides by this which we know because people's inner consciousness have lesser grip on a professional than the objectives of Pharmaceutical Companies and Hospital Industry. Researches and Medicines get manufactured because it benefits the industry, not the human being. Slowly, people are understanding this and looking out for alternatives but the problem lies with the reach, standards and protocols of alternatives available.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Medical Research on Yoga






Medical research on yoga 

General reviews 


Khalsa SB. Yoga as a therapeutic intervention: a bibliometric analysis of published research studies. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2004 Jul;48(3):269-85. PMID: 15648399 


Levitz L. Yoga and rehabilitation. Am Arch Rehabil Ther. 1977 Spring;25(1):11-6. PMID: 10236619 


Nayak NN, Shankar K. Yoga: a therapeutic approach. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2004 Nov;15(4):783-98, vi. PMID: 15458752 


Raub JA. Psychophysiologic effects of Hatha Yoga on musculoskeletal and cardiopulmonary function: a literature review. J Altern Complement Med. 2002 Dec;8(6):797-812. PMID: 12614533 


Riley D. Hatha yoga and the treatment of illness. Altern Ther Health Med. 2004 Mar-Apr;10(2):20-1. PMID: 15055088 


Saper RB, Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Culpepper L, Phillips RS. Prevalence and patterns of adult yoga use in the United States: results of a national survey. Altern Ther Health Med. 2004 Mar-Apr;10(2):44-9. PMID: 15055093 


Udupa KN, Singh RH. The scientific basis of yoga. JAMA. 1972 Jun 5;220(10):1365. PMID: 5067335 


Telles S, Naveen KV. Yoga for rehabilitation: an overview. Indian J Med Sci. 1997 Apr;51(4):123-7. PMID: 9355699 

Physiologic effects of yoga 


Arambula P, Peper E, Kawakami M, Gibney KH. The physiological correlates of Kundalini Yoga meditation: a study of a yoga master. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2001 Jun;26(2):147-53. PMID: 11480165 


Birkel DA, Edgren L. Hatha yoga: improved vital capacity of college students. Altern Ther Health Med. 2000 Nov;6(6):55-63. PMID: 11076447 


Chohan IS, Nayar HS, Thomas P, Geetha NS. Influence of yoga on blood coagulation. Thromb Haemost. 1984 Apr 30;51(2):196-7. PMID: 6740553 


Clay CC, Lloyd LK, Walker JL, Sharp KR, Pankey RB. The metabolic cost of hatha yoga. J Strength Cond Res. 2005 Aug;19(3):604-10. PMID: 16095417 


Dash M, Telles S. Yoga training and motor speed based on a finger tapping task. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1999 Oct;43(4):458-62. PMID: 10776461 


Fenz WD, Plapp JM. Voluntary control of heart rate in a practitioner of yoga: negative findings. Percept Mot Skills. 1970 Apr;30(2):493-4. PMID: 5454053 


Harinath K, Malhotra AS, Pal K, Prasad R, Kumar R, Kain TC, Rai L, Sawhney RC. Effects of Hatha yoga and Omkar meditation on cardiorespiratory performance, psychologic profile, and melatonin secretion. J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Apr;10(2):261-8. PMID: 15165407 


Madanmohan, Udupa K, Bhavanani AB, Shatapathy CC, Sahai A. Modulation of cardiovascular response to exercise by yoga training.Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2004 Oct;48(4):461-5. PMID: 15907055 


Manjunath NK, Telles S. Factors influencing changes in tweezer dexterity scores following yoga training. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1999 Apr;43(2):225-9. PMID: 10365316 


Morse DR, Cohen L, Furst ML, Martin JS. A physiological evaluation of the yoga concept of respiratory control of autonomic nervous system activity. Int J Psychosom. 1984;31(1):3-19. PMID: 6590525 


Muralidhara DV, Ranganathan KV. Effect of yoga practice on Cardiac Recovery Index. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1982 Oct-Dec;26(4):279-83. PMID: 7152636 


Raghuraj P, Telles S. Right uninostril yoga breathing influences ipsilateral components of middle latency auditory evoked potentials. Neurol Sci. 2004 Dec;25(5):274-80. PMID: 15624085 


Raju PS, Prasad KV, Venkata RY, Murthy KJ, Reddy MV. Influence of intensive yoga training on physiological changes in 6 adult women: a case report. J Altern Complement Med. 1997 Fall;3(3):291-5. PMID: 9430331 


Spicuzza L, Gabutti A, Porta C, Montano N, Bernardi L. Yoga and chemoreflex response to hypoxia and hypercapnia. Lancet. 2000 Oct 28;356(9240):1495-6. Erratum in: Lancet 2000 Nov 4;356(9241):1612. PMID: 11081541 


Stanescu DC, Nemery B, Veriter C, Marechal C. Pattern of breathing and ventilatory response to CO2 in subjects practicing hatha-yoga. 
J Appl Physiol. 1981 Dec;51(6):1625-9. PMID: 6798002 


Telles S, Joshi M, Dash M, Raghuraj P, Naveen KV, Nagendra HR. An evaluation of the ability to voluntarily reduce the heart rate after a month of yoga practice. 

Integr Physiol Behav Sci. 2004 Apr-Jun;39(2):119-25. PMID: 15759599 
Telles S, Reddy SK, Nagendra HR. Oxygen consumption and respiration following two yoga relaxation techniques. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2000 Dec;25(4):221-7. PMID: 11218923 


Telles S, Ramaprabhu V, Reddy SK. Effect of yoga training on maze learning. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2000 Apr;44(2):197-201. PMID: 10846635 


Telles S, Nagarathna R, Vani PR, Nagendra HR. A combination of focusing and defocusing through yoga reduces optical illusion more than focusing alone. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1997 Apr;41(2):179-82. PMID: 9142567 


Telles S, Hanumanthaiah BH, Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR. Plasticity of motor control systems demonstrated by yoga training. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1994 Apr;38(2):143-4. PMID: 8063362 


Telles S, Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR, Desiraju T. Physiological changes in sports teachers following 3 months of training in Yoga. Indian J Med Sci. 1993 Oct;47(10):235-8. PMID: 8112782 


Telles S, Desiraju T. Autonomic changes in Brahmakumaris Raja yoga meditation. Int J Psychophysiol. 1993 Sep;15(2):147-52. PMID: 8244842 


Vani PR, Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR, Telles S. Progressive increase in critical flicker fusion frequency following yoga training. 
Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1997 Jan;41(1):71-4. PMID: 10225037 


Vempati RP, Telles S. Yoga-based guided relaxation reduces sympathetic activity judged from baseline levels. Psychol Rep. 2002 Apr;90(2):487-94. PMID: 12061588 


Vijayalakshmi P, Madanmohan, Bhavanani AB, Patil A, Babu K. Modulation of stress induced by isometric handgrip test in hypertensive patients following yogic relaxation training. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2004 Jan;48(1):59-64. PMID: 15270370 


Villien F, Yu M, Barthelemy P, Jammes Y. Training to yoga respiration selectively increases respiratory sensation in healthy man. Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2005 Mar;146(1):85-96. PMID: 15733782 


Yadav RK, Ray RB, Vempati R, Bijlani RL. Effect of a comprehensive yoga-based lifestyle modification program on lipid peroxidation. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2005 Jul-Sep;49(3):358-62. PMID: 16440857 

General health and aging 


Bijlani RL, Vempati RP, Yadav RK, Ray RB, Gupta V, Sharma R, Mehta N, Mahapatra SC. A brief but comprehensive lifestyle education program based on yoga reduces risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. J Altern Complement Med. 2005 Apr;11(2):267-74. PMID: 15865492 


DiBenedetto M, Innes KE, Taylor AG, Rodeheaver PF, Boxer JA, Wright HJ, Kerrigan DC. Effect of a gentle Iyengar yoga program on gait in the elderly: an exploratory study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005 Sep;86(9):1830-7. PMID: 16181950 


Haber D. Yoga as a preventive health care program for white and black elders: an exploratory study. Int J Aging Hum Dev. 1983;17(3):169-76. PMID: 6671816 



Behera D. Yoga therapy in chronic bronchitis. J Assoc Physicians India. 1998 Feb;46(2):207-8. PMID: 11273114 


Bielory L, Russin J, Zuckerman GB. Clinical efficacy, mechanisms of action, and adverse effects of complementary and alternative medicine therapies for asthma. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2004 Sep-Oct;25(5):283-91. PMID: 15603200 


Blazek-O'Neill B. Complementary and alternative medicine in allergy, otitis media, and asthma. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2005 Jul;5(4):313-8. PMID: 15967074 


Coll R, Tello A. Yoga in bronchial asthma. Arch Bronconeumol. 1994 Aug-Sep;30(7):369. PMID: 7952843 


Cooper S, Oborne J, Newton S, Harrison V, Thompson Coon J, Lewis S, Tattersfield A. Effect of two breathing exercises (Buteyko and pranayama) in asthma: a randomised controlled trial. Thorax. 2003 Aug;58(8):674-9. PMID: 12885982 


Fluge T, Richter J, Fabel H, Zysno E, Weller E, Wagner TO. Long-term effects of breathing exercises and yoga in patients with bronchial asthma. Pneumologie. 1994 Jul;48(7):484-90. PMID: 7937658 


Goyeche JR, Abo Y, Ikemi Y. Asthma: the yoga perspective. Part II: Yoga therapy in the treatment of asthma. J Asthma. 1982;19(3):189-201. PMID: 7118825 


Goyeche JR, Ago Y, Ikemi Y. Asthma: The yoga perspective. Part I. The somatopsychic imbalance in asthma: towards a holistic therapy. J Asthma Res. 1980 Apr;17(3):111-21. PMID: 7251550 


Jain SC, Talukdar B. Evaluation of yoga therapy programme for patients of bronchial asthma. Singapore Med J. 1993 Aug;34(4):306-8. PMID: 8266199 


Jain SC, Rai L, Valecha A, Jha UK, Bhatnagar SO, Ram K. Effect of yoga training on exercise tolerance in adolescents with childhood asthma. J Asthma. 1991;28(6):437-42. PMID: 1744029 


Khanam AA, Sachdeva U, Guleria R, Deepak KK. Study of pulmonary and autonomic functions of asthma patients after yoga training. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1996 Oct;40(4):318-24. PMID: 9055100 


Krusche F.Yoga respiratory therapy helps children with asthma. Fortschr Med. 1999 Feb 20;117(5):44. PMID: 10095314 


Lane DJ, Lane TV. Alternative and complementary medicine for asthma. Thorax. 1991 Nov;46(11):787-97. PMID: 1771600 


Lehrer P, Feldman J, Giardino N, Song HS, Schmaling K. Psychological aspects of asthma. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2002 Jun;70(3):691-711. PMID: 12090377 


Maevskii AA. A complex of breathing exercises (hatha yoga) to arrest the developing attacks of dyspnea in bronchial asthma. Klin Med (Mosk). 1995;73(4):87-8. PMID: 7474837 


Manocha R, Marks GB, Kenchington P, Peters D, Salome CM. Sahaja yoga in the management of moderate to severe asthma: a randomised controlled trial. Thorax. 2002 Feb;57(2):110-5. PMID: 11828038 


McIver S, O'Halloran P, McGartland M. The impact of Hatha yoga on smoking behavior. Altern Ther Health Med. 2004 Mar-Apr;10(2):22-3. PMID: 15055089 


Miller AL. The etiologies, pathophysiology, and alternative/complementary treatment of asthma. Altern Med Rev. 2001 Feb;6(1):20-47. PMID: 11207455 


Nagendra HR, Nagarathna R. An integrated approach of yoga therapy for bronchial asthma: a 3-54-month prospective study. J Asthma. 1986;23(3):123-37. PMID: 3745111 


Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR. Yoga for bronchial asthma: a controlled study. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1985 Oct 19;291(6502):1077-9. PMID: 3931802 


Ram FS, Holloway EA, Jones PW. Breathing retraining for asthma. Respir Med. 2003 May;97(5):501-7. PMID: 12735667 


Sabina AB, Williams AL, Wall HK, Bansal S, Chupp G, Katz DL. Yoga intervention for adults with mild-to-moderate asthma: a pilot study. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2005 May;94(5):543-8. PMID: 15945557 


Sathyaprabha TN, Murthy H, Murthy BT. Efficacy of naturopathy and yoga in bronchial asthma--a self controlled matched scientific study. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2001 Jan;45(1):80-6. PMID: 11211575 


Singh V, Wisniewski A, Britton J, Tattersfield A. Effect of yoga breathing exercises (pranayama) on airway reactivity in subjects with asthma. Lancet. 1990 Jun 9;335(8702):1381-3. PMID: 1971670 


Singh V. Kunjal: a nonspecific protective factor in management of bronchial asthma. J Asthma. 1987;24(3):183-6. PMID: 3505533 


Vedanthan PK, Kesavalu LN, Murthy KC, Duvall K, Hall MJ, Baker S, Nagarathna S. Clinical study of yoga techniques in university students with asthma: a controlled study. Allergy Asthma Proc. 1998 Jan-Feb;19(1):3-9. PMID: 9532318 

Arthritis 


Dash M, Telles S.Improvement in hand grip strength in normal volunteers and rheumatoid arthritis patients following yoga training. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2001 Jul;45(3):355-60. PMID: 11881576 


Garfinkel M, Schumacher HR Jr. Yoga. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2000 Feb;26(1):125-32, x. PMID: 10680200 


Garfinkel MS, Schumacher HR Jr, Husain A, Levy M, Reshetar RA. Evaluation of a yoga based regimen for treatment of osteoarthritis of the hands. J Rheumatol. 1994 Dec;21(12):2341-3. PMID: 7699639 


Haslock I, Monro R, Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR, Raghuram NV. Measuring the effects of yoga in rheumatoid arthritis. Br J Rheumatol. 1994 Aug;33(8):787-8. PMID: 8055212 


Back Pain 


Galantino ML, Bzdewka TM, Eissler-Russo JL, Holbrook ML, Mogck EP, Geigle P, Farrar JT. The impact of modified Hatha yoga on chronic low back pain: a pilot study. Altern Ther Health Med. 2004 Mar-Apr;10(2):56-9. PMID: 15055095 


Greendale GA, McDivit A, Carpenter A, Seeger L, Huang MH. Yoga for women with hyperkyphosis: results of a pilot study. Am J Public Health. 2002 Oct;92(10):1611-4. PMID: 12356608 


Luskin FM, Newell KA, Griffith M, Holmes M, Telles S, DiNucci E, Marvasti FF, Hill M, Pelletier KR, Haskell WL. A review of mind/body therapies in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders with implications for the elderly. Altern Ther Health Med. 2000 Mar;6(2):46-56. PMID: 10710803 


Mehling WE, Hamel KA, Acree M, Byl N, Hecht FM. Randomized, controlled trial of breath therapy for patients with chronic low-back pain. Altern Ther Health Med. 2005 Jul-Aug;11(4):44-52. PMID: 16053121 


Sherman KJ, Cherkin DC, Erro J, Miglioretti DL, Deyo RA. Comparing yoga, exercise, and a self-care book for chronic low back pain: a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2005 Dec 20;143(12):849-56. PMID: 16365466 


Williams KA, Petronis J, Smith D, Goodrich D, Wu J, Ravi N, Doyle EJ Jr, Gregory Juckett R, Munoz Kolar M, Gross R, Steinberg L. Effect of Iyengar yoga therapy for chronic low back pain. Pain. 2005 May;115(1-2):107-17. PMID: 15836974 

Cardiovascular disease and hypertension 


Bharshankar JR, Bharshankar RN, Deshpande VN, Kaore SB, Gosavi GB.Effect of yoga on cardiovascular system in subjects above 40 years. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2003 Apr;47(2):202-6. PMID: 15255625 


Damodaran A, Malathi A, Patil N, Shah N, Suryavansihi, Marathe S. Therapeutic potential of yoga practices in modifying cardiovascular risk profile in middle aged men and women. J Assoc Physicians India. 2002 May;50(5):633-40. PMID: 12186115 


Jayasinghe SR. Yoga in cardiac health (a review). Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2004 Oct;11(5):369-75. PMID: 15616408 


Mahajan AS, Reddy KS, Sachdeva U. Lipid profile of coronary risk subjects following yogic lifestyle intervention. Indian Heart J. 1999 Jan-Feb;51(1):37-40.  PMID: 10327777 


Mamtani R, Mamtani R. Ayurveda and yoga in cardiovascular diseases. Cardiol Rev. 2005 May-Jun;13(3):155-62. PMID: 15834238 


Manchanda SC, Narang R, Reddy KS, Sachdeva U, Prabhakaran D, Dharmanand S, Rajani M, Bijlani R. Retardation of coronary atherosclerosis with yoga lifestyle intervention. J Assoc Physicians India. 2000 Jul;48(7):687-94. PMID: 11273502 


McCaffrey R, Ruknui P, Hatthakit U, Kasetsomboon P. The effects of yoga on hypertensive persons in Thailand. Holist Nurs Pract. 2005 Jul-Aug;19(4):173-80. PMID: 16006832 


Murugesan R, Govindarajulu N, Bera TK. Effect of selected yogic practices on the management of hypertension. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2000 Apr;44(2):207-10. PMID: 10846637 


Sundar S, Agrawal SK, Singh VP, Bhattacharya SK, Udupa KN, Vaish SK. Role of yoga in management of essential hypertension.Acta Cardiol. 1984;39(3):203-8. PMID: 6331698 


Tulpule TH, Tulpule AT. Yoga. A method of relaxation for rehabilitation after myocardial infarction. Indian Heart J. 1980 Jan-Feb;32(1):1-7. PMID: 6991393 


Yogendra J, Yogendra HJ, Ambardekar S, Lele RD, Shetty S, Dave M, Husein N. Beneficial effects of yoga lifestyle on reversibility of ischaemic heart disease: caring heart project of International Board of Yoga. J Assoc Physicians India. 2004 Apr;52:283-9. PMID: 15636328 

Cancer 


Bower JE, Woolery A, Sternlieb B, Garet D. Yoga for cancer patients and survivors. Cancer Control. 2005 Jul;12(3):165-71. PMID: 16062164 

Diabetes 


Jain SC, Uppal A, Bhatnagar SO, Talukdar B. A study of response pattern of non-insulin dependent diabetics to yoga therapy. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1993 Jan;19(1):69-74. PMID: 8472621 


Malhotra V, Singh S, Tandon OP, Madhu SV, Prasad A, Sharma SB. Effect of Yoga asanas on nerve conduction in type 2 diabetes. 
Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2002 Jul;46(3):298-306. PMID: 12613392 


Malhotra V, Singh S, Singh KP, Gupta P, Sharma SB, Madhu SV, Tandon OP. Study of yoga asanas in assessment of pulmonary function in NIDDM patients. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2002 Jul;46(3):313-20. PMID: 12613394 


Singh S, Malhotra V, Singh KP, Madhu SV, Tandon OP. Role of yoga in modifying certain cardiovascular functions in type 2 diabetic patients. J Assoc Physicians India. 2004 Mar;52:203-6. PMID: 15636309 

Depression, mood and other psychiatric diseases 


Lavey R, Sherman T, Mueser KT, Osborne DD, Currier M, Wolfe R. The effects of yoga on mood in psychiatric inpatients.Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2005 Spring;28(4):399-402. PMID: 15895926 


Malathi A, Damodaran A. Stress due to exams in medical students--role of yoga. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1999 Apr;43(2):218-24. PMID: 10365315 


Nespor K. Twelve years of experience with yoga in psychiatry. Int J Psychosom. 1993;40(1-4):105-7. PMID: 8070977 


Shaffer HJ, LaSalvia TA, Stein JP. Comparing Hatha yoga with dynamic group psychotherapy for enhancing methadone maintenance treatment: a randomized clinical trial. Altern Ther Health Med. 1997 Jul;3(4):57-66. PMID: 9210777 


Shannahoff-Khalsa DS. An introduction to Kundalini yoga meditation techniques that are specific for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Feb;10(1):91-101. PMID: 15025884 


Schell FJ, Allolio B, Schonecke OW. Physiological and psychological effects of Hatha-Yoga exercise in healthy women. Int J Psychosom. 1994;41(1-4):46-52. PMID: 7843867 


Schulte HJ, Abhyanker VV. Yogic breathing and psychologic states. Ariz Med. 1979 Sep;36(9):681-3. PMID: 496679 


Vahia NS, Vinekar SL, Doongaji DR. Some ancient Indian concepts in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Br J Psychiatry. 1966 Nov;112(492):1089-96. PMID: 5971528 


West J, Otte C, Geher K, Johnson J, Mohr DC. Effects of Hatha yoga and African dance on perceived stress, affect, and salivary cortisol. Ann Behav Med. 2004 Oct;28(2):114-8. PMID: 15454358 


Woolery A, Myers H, Sternlieb B, Zeltzer L. A yoga intervention for young adults with elevated symptoms of depression.Altern Ther Health Med. 2004 Mar-Apr;10(2):60-3. PMID: 15055096 


Wood C. Mood change and perceptions of vitality: a comparison of the effects of relaxation, visualization and yoga. J R Soc Med. 1993 May;86(5):254-8. PMID: 8505745 

Nervous system (Epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, special senses) 


Bastille JV, Gill-Body KM. A yoga-based exercise program for people with chronic poststroke hemiparesis. Phys Ther. 2004 Jan;84(1):33-48. PMID: 14992675 


DeMayo W, Singh B, Duryea B, Riley D. Hatha yoga and meditation in patients with post-polio syndrome. Altern Ther Health Med. 2004 Mar-Apr;10(2):24-5. PMID: 15055090 


Oken BS, Kishiyama S, Zajdel D, Bourdette D, Carlsen J, Haas M, Hugos C, Kraemer DF, Lawrence J, Mass M. Randomized controlled trial of yoga and exercise in multiple sclerosis. Neurology. 2004 Jun 8;62(11):2058-64. PMID: 15184614 


Panjwani U, Selvamurthy W, Singh SH, Gupta HL, Mukhopadhyay S, Thakur L. Effect of Sahaja yoga meditation on auditory evoked potentials (AEP) and visual contrast sensitivity (VCS) in epileptics. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2000 Mar;25(1):1-12. PMID: 10832506 


Panjwani U, Selvamurthy W, Singh SH, Gupta HL, Thakur L, Rai UC. Effect of Sahaja yoga practice on seizure control & EEG changes in patients of epilepsy. 
Indian J Med Res. 1996 Mar;103:165-72. PMID: 9062044 


Panjwani U, Gupta HL, Singh SH, Selvamurthy W, Rai UC. Effect of Sahaja yoga practice on stress management in patients of epilepsy. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1995 Apr;39(2):111-6. PMID: 7649596 


Ramaratnam S, Sridharan K. Yoga for epilepsy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;(3):CD001524. Review. PMID: 10908505 
Rice R, Allen RC. Yoga in glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol. 1985 Nov 15;100(5):738-9. PMID: 4061559 

Insomnia 


Khalsa SB. Treatment of chronic insomnia with yoga: a preliminary study with sleep-wake diaries. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2004 Dec;29(4):269-78. PMID: 15707256

Obesity 


Kristal AR, Littman AJ, Benitez D, White E. Yoga practice is associated with attenuated weight gain in healthy, middle-aged men and women. Altern Ther Health Med. 2005 Jul-Aug;11(4):28-33. PMID: 16053119 

Orthopedics 


Garfinkel MS, Singhal A, Katz WA, Allan DA, Reshetar R, Schumacher HR Jr. Yoga-based intervention for carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized trial. JAMA. 1998 Nov 11;280(18):1601-3. PMID: 9820263 

Pregnancy 


Narendran S, Nagarathna R, Gunasheela S, Nagendra HR. Efficacy of yoga in pregnant women with abnormal Doppler study of umbilical and uterine arteries. J Indian Med Assoc. 2005 Jan;103(1):12-4, 16-7. PMID: 16008324 


Narendran S, Nagarathna R, Narendran V, Gunasheela S, Nagendra HR. Efficacy of yoga on pregnancy outcome. J Altern Complement Med. 2005 Apr;11(2):237-44. PMID: 15865489 


Wang SM, DeZinno P, Fermo L, William K, Caldwell-Andrews AA, Bravemen F, Kain ZN. Complementary and alternative medicine for low-back pain in pregnancy: a cross-sectional survey. J Altern Complement Med. 2005 Jun;11(3):459-64. PMID: 15992230 
  

Friday, June 6, 2008

Love is Real Medicine- Dr Dean Ornish's article!

People who survive a heart attack often describe it as a wake-up call. But for a 61 year old executive I met recently, it was much more than that. This man was in the midst of a divorce when he was stricken last spring, and he had fallen out of touch with friends and family members. The Executive’s doctor, unaware of the strife in his life, counseled him to change his diet, start exercising and quit smoking. He also prescribed drugs to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. It was sound advice, but in combing the medical literature, the patient discovered that he needed to do more. Studies suggested that his risk of dying within six months would be four times greater if he remained depressed and lonely. So he joined a support group and reordered his priorities, placing relationships at the top of the list instead of bottom. His health has improved steadily since then, and so has his outlook on life. In fact he now describes his heart attack as the best that ever happened to him. “yes, my arteries are more open”, he says. “but even more important, I am more open”.

Medicine today focuses primarily on drugs and surgery, genes and germs, microbes and molecules. Yet love and intimacy are at the root of what makes us sick and what makes us well. If a new medication had the same impact, failure to prescribe it would be malpractice. Connections with other people affect not only the quality of our lives but also our survival. Study after study find that people who feel lonely are many a times more likely to to get cardiovascular disease than those who have a strong sense of connection and community. I'm not aware of any other factor in medicine- not diet, not exercise, not genetics, not drugs, not surgery- that has a greater impact on our quality of life, incidence of illness and premature death.

In part, this is because people who are lonely are more likely to engage in self-destructive behaviors. Getting through the day becomes more important than living a long life when you have no one else to live for. As one patient told me, “ I have got 20 friends in this pack of cigarettes. They are always for me. You want to take away my 20 friends? What are you going to give me instead?” Other patients take refuge in food, alcohol or drugs: “When I feel lonely, I eat a lot of fat, it coats my nerves and numbs the pain”. But, loneliness is not just a barrier to fitness. Even when you eat right, exercise and avoid smoking, it increases your risk of early death.

Fortunately, love protects your heart in ways that we don’t completely understand. In one study at Yale, men and women who felt the most loved and supported had substantially less blockage in their coronary arteries. Similarly, researchers from Case Western Reserve University studied almost 10000 married men and found that those who answered “yes” to this simple question- “does your wife show you her love?”- had significantly less angina (chest pain). And when researchers at Duke surveyed men and women with heart disease, those who were single and lacked confidants were three times as likely to have died after five years. In all three studies, the protective effects of love were independent of other risk factors.

Awareness is the first step in healing. When we understand the connection between how we live and how long we live, it’s easier to make different choices. Instead of viewing the time we spend with friends and family as luxuries, we can see that these relationships are among the most powerful determinants of our well being and survival. We are hard-wired to help each other. Science is documenting the healing values of love, intimacy, community, compassion, forgiveness, altruism and service-values that are part of almost all spiritual traditions as well as many secular ones. Seen in this context, being unselfish maybe the most self-serving approach to life, for it helps free both the giver and recipient from suffering, disease and premature death. Rediscovering the wisdom of love and compassion may help us survive at a time when an increasingly balkanized world so badly needs it.

· Dr Dean Ornish, a Clinical Professor at the University of California, San Fransisco, is founder and president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute. His books include “Love and Survival” and “Dr Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease”. For more information go to http://pmri.org or http://ornish.com
· Courtesy- Newsweek