Physician Services
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Supporting ResearchDiabetes: A study of response pattern of non-insulin dependent diabetics to yoga therapy. Jain SC, Uppal A, Bhatnager SO, Talukdar B. “Changes in blood glucose and glucose tolerance by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after 40 days of yoga therapy in 149 non-insulin-dependent diabetics (NIDDM) were investigated. The response to yoga in these subjects was categorized according to a severity scale index (SSI) based on area index total (AIT) under OGTT curve. One hundred and four patients showed a fair to good response to the yoga therapy. There was a significant reduction in hyperglycemia and AIT with decrease in oral hypoglycemia and AIT with decrease in oral hypoglycemic drugs required for maintenance of normoglycemia. It is concluded that yoga, a simple and economical therapy, may be considered a beneficial adjuvant for NIDDM patients.”
A. A. Khanam, U. Sachdeva, R Guleria and K. K. Deepak “The concept of yoga is helpful for the treatment of Bronchial Asthma has created a great interest in the medical research field. In order to investigate whether autonomic functions and pulmonary functions are improved in asthma patients after short term yoga training, a study was conducted with nine diagnosed bronchial asthma patients. Yoga training was given for seven days in a camp in Adhyatma Sadhna Kendra, New Delhi. The autonomic function tests to measure the parasympathetic reactivity (Deep Breathing test, Valsalva Maneuver), Sympathetic reactivity (Hand Grip test, Cold Pressure test), and pulmonary function tests FVC, FEV1, PEFR, PIF, BHT and CE were recorded before and after yoga training. The resting heart rate after yoga training (P<0.05) was significantly decreased (89.55 +/- 18.46/min to 76.22 +/- 16.44/min). The sympathetic reactivity was reduced following yoga training as indicated by significant (P<0.01) reduction in DBP after HGT. There was no change in parasympathetic reactivity. The FVC, FEV1, PEFR did not show any significant change. The PIF (P<0.01), BHT (P<0.01) and CE (P<0.01) showed significant improvement. The results closely indicated the reduction in sympathetic reactivity and improvement in the pulmonary ventilation by way of relaxation of voluntary inspiratory and expiratory muscles. The “comprehensive yogic life style change programme for patients of Bronchial Asthma has shown significant benefit even within a short period.”
D. S. Shannahoff-Khalsa and L. R. Beckett “The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of yogic techniques in the treatment of eight adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). A specific yogic breathing pattern has been prescribed for the treatment of OCD, as well as others for treating generalized anxiety. A one year course of therapy was followed. Subjects improved on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) comparing baseline with three, six, nine and twelve month results (one-way ANOVA for repeated measures, F(4, 12) = 3.343, p, .001), anxiety (t = 3.167, p, .051), and global severity indexes (t = 7.314, p = .005). Perceived Stress Scale scores showed significant improvement for the five test periods (one-way ANOVA for repeated measures, F(4,12) = 9.114, p.”
U. Panjwani, W. Selvamurthy, S. H. Singh, H. L. Gupta,
L. Thakur and U. C. Rai “The effect of Sahaja yoga meditation on seizure control and electroencephalographic alterations was assessed in 32 patients of idiopathic epilepsy. The subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group I (n = 10) practiced Sahaja yoga for 6 months, Group II (n = 10) practiced exercises mimicking Sahaja yoga for 6 months and Group III (n = 12) served as the epileptic control group. Group I subjects reported a 62 per cent decrease in seizure frequency at 3 months and a further decrease of 86 per cent at 6 months intervention. Power spectral analysis of EEG showed a shift in frequency from 0-8 Hz towards 8-20 Hz. The ratios of EEG powers in delta (D), theta (T), alpha (A), and beta (B) bands, i.e., A/D, A/D = T, A/T and A+ B/D + T were increased. Per cent D power decreased and per cent A increased. No significant changes in any of the parameters were found in Groups II and III, indicating that Sahaja yoga practice brings about seizure reduction and EEG changes. Sahaja yoga could prove to be beneficial in the management of patients of epilepsy.”
M Garfindel, A Singhal, W. Katz, et al “A simple yoga program – no drugs, no expensive equipment, and no surgery – was better than conventional treatment at reducing pain and improving the hand strength of patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, according to a new study at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. The randomized, single blind, controlled study included a yoga group and a group who only received wrist splints, the most common form of treatment. The yoga group took a 1.5 hour class twice a week. They performed simple postures designed to take each joint of the upper body through its full range of motion, stretching, strengthening and aligning the hands, wrists, arms and shoulders. After eight weeks, the yoga group had significantly less pain and greater hand strength, whereas the control group experienced no significant reduction in pain or increase in hand strength.”
Dean Ornish, M.D., Larry W. Scherwitz, PhD, James
H. Billings, PhD, MPH, K Lance Gould, MD, et al “The study was a follow-up to the groundbreaking Ornish’s Lifestyle Heart Trial. The original trial found that after one year, heart patients who made intensive lifestyle changes had a 37.2 percent reduction in LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol), less frequent angina (chest pain), and a reduction in stenosis (narrowing of the blood vessels). By contrast, patients who made moderate changes reduced LDL cholesterol by only 6 percent, had more frequent angina, and greater stenosis. Among the 48 patients from the original study, 35 agreed to take part in the follow-up and continued through the entire five years. An experimental group who made intensive changes in diet, exercise, stress management and other lifestyle factors, including yoga, showed greater reversal of coronary heart disease after five years than patients who followed a program advocated by the American Heart Association.” PRINCIPLES OF WELLNESS: Overview | Posture | Breathing | Diet | Supporting Research
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