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Ahuja N, Bhardwaj P, Pathania M, Sethi D, Kumar A, Parchani A, Chandel A, Phadke A. Yoga Nidra for hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Ayurveda Integr Med 2024; 15:100882. [PMID: 38484438 PMCID: PMC10950755 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaim.2023.100882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypertension is a prevalent chronic condition that affects a substantial proportion of the world's population. Medications are commonly prescribed for hypertension management, but non-pharmacological interventions like yoga are gaining popularity. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the efficacy of Yoga Nidra (YN) for the management of hypertension. METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials, i.e., non-randomized and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to investigate the effects of YN on hypertension. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and EBSCO were searched for relevant studies published up to September 2022. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The primary outcome measure was the change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) after YN intervention, analyzed as weighted mean difference (WMD), in comparison to control groups. The random-effects model was used for the meta-analysis. Risk of bias was assessed for RCTs and non-RCTs using Cochrane's RoB-2 and ROBINS-I tools, respectively. RESULTS Five RCTs and three Non-RCTs involving a total of 482 participants (239 for YN vs 243 for controls) were included in this review. The meta-analysis indicated that YN significantly reduced SBP (WMD = 12.03 mm Hg, 95% CI [7.12, 16.93], Z = 4.80, p < 0.00001) and DBP (WMD = 6.32 mm Hg, 95% CI [3.53, 9.12], Z = 4.43, p < 0.00001) compared to control groups. The overall risk of bias for the three RCTs was high, whereas for the five non-RCTs, one had an overall moderate risk while the other four had an overall serious risk of bias. DISCUSSION This systematic review and meta-analysis provides evidence supporting the efficacy of YN as a complementary therapy for hypertension management. YN is a safe, cost-effective, and easily accessible intervention that primarily relies on interoception and induces a deep relaxation response in practitioners, aiding them in coping with various components of high blood pressure, such as stress, vascular inflammation, peripheral vascular resistance, etc. Our understanding of the mechanisms of YN is constantly evolving, and there is a need for further research to fully explore and appreciate the significance of this ancient science and its potential efficacy on BP. Considering the results and the multifactorial role of YN, it can act as a safe and reliable adjuvant therapy to complement the pharmacological treatment of hypertension. However, further studies with larger sample sizes, longer follow-up periods, and homogenous populations are warranted. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis suggests that YN is effective in reducing SBP and DBP, particularly in individuals with hypertension. The results highlight the potential of YN as a complementary therapy for hypertension management. Healthcare providers may consider recommending YN to patients with hypertension as an adjuvant therapy to medication. Further studies are required to identify standardized optimal forms and durations of YN best suited for hypertension management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navdeep Ahuja
- Dept. of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Praag Bhardwaj
- Dept. of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Monika Pathania
- Dept. of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India.
| | - Dilasha Sethi
- Division of Yoga and Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana - SVYASA, Bangaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Arjun Kumar
- Dept. of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Ashwin Parchani
- Dept. of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Akshita Chandel
- Dept. of General Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Aashish Phadke
- Division of Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders - Lifestyle Modulations and Yoga Modules, Kasturba Health Society - Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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Lagasse E, Levin M. Future medicine: from molecular pathways to the collective intelligence of the body. Trends Mol Med 2023; 29:687-710. [PMID: 37481382 PMCID: PMC10527237 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2023.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
The remarkable anatomical homeostasis exhibited by complex living organisms suggests that they are inherently reprogrammable information-processing systems that offer numerous interfaces to their physiological and anatomical problem-solving capacities. We briefly review data suggesting that the multiscale competency of living forms affords a new path for biomedicine that exploits the innate collective intelligence of tissues and organs. The concept of tissue-level allostatic goal-directedness is already bearing fruit in clinical practice. We sketch a roadmap towards 'somatic psychiatry' by using advances in bioelectricity and behavioral neuroscience to design methods that induce self-repair of structure and function. Relaxing the assumption that cellular control mechanisms are static, exploiting powerful concepts from cybernetics, behavioral science, and developmental biology may spark definitive solutions to current biomedical challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Lagasse
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Michael Levin
- Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
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Mathews J, Chang A(J, Devlin L, Levin M. Cellular signaling pathways as plastic, proto-cognitive systems: Implications for biomedicine. PATTERNS (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 4:100737. [PMID: 37223267 PMCID: PMC10201306 DOI: 10.1016/j.patter.2023.100737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Many aspects of health and disease are modeled using the abstraction of a "pathway"-a set of protein or other subcellular activities with specified functional linkages between them. This metaphor is a paradigmatic case of a deterministic, mechanistic framework that focuses biomedical intervention strategies on altering the members of this network or the up-/down-regulation links between them-rewiring the molecular hardware. However, protein pathways and transcriptional networks exhibit interesting and unexpected capabilities such as trainability (memory) and information processing in a context-sensitive manner. Specifically, they may be amenable to manipulation via their history of stimuli (equivalent to experiences in behavioral science). If true, this would enable a new class of biomedical interventions that target aspects of the dynamic physiological "software" implemented by pathways and gene-regulatory networks. Here, we briefly review clinical and laboratory data that show how high-level cognitive inputs and mechanistic pathway modulation interact to determine outcomes in vivo. Further, we propose an expanded view of pathways from the perspective of basal cognition and argue that a broader understanding of pathways and how they process contextual information across scales will catalyze progress in many areas of physiology and neurobiology. We argue that this fuller understanding of the functionality and tractability of pathways must go beyond a focus on the mechanistic details of protein and drug structure to encompass their physiological history as well as their embedding within higher levels of organization in the organism, with numerous implications for data science addressing health and disease. Exploiting tools and concepts from behavioral and cognitive sciences to explore a proto-cognitive metaphor for the pathways underlying health and disease is more than a philosophical stance on biochemical processes; at stake is a new roadmap for overcoming the limitations of today's pharmacological strategies and for inferring future therapeutic interventions for a wide range of disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanita Mathews
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | | | - Liam Devlin
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Michael Levin
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
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Schachter AB, Argentieri MA, Seddighzadeh B, Isehunwa OO, Kent BV, Trevvett P, McDuffie M, Mandel L, Pargament KI, Underwood LG, McCray AT, Shields AE. R|S Atlas: Identifying existing cohort study data resources to accelerate epidemiological research on the influence of religion and spirituality on human health. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e043830. [PMID: 34697108 PMCID: PMC8547361 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Many studies have documented significant associations between religion and spirituality (R/S) and health, but relatively few prospective analyses exist that can support causal inferences. To date, there has been no systematic analysis of R/S survey items collected in US cohort studies. We conducted a systematic content analysis of all surveys ever fielded in 20 diverse US cohort studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to identify all R/S-related items collected from each cohort's baseline survey through 2014. DESIGN An R|S Ontology was developed from our systematic content analysis to categorise all R/S survey items identified into key conceptual categories. A systematic literature review was completed for each R/S item to identify any cohort publications involving these items through 2018. RESULTS Our content analysis identified 319 R/S survey items, reflecting 213 unique R/S constructs and 50 R|S Ontology categories. 193 of the 319 extant R/S survey items had been analysed in at least one published paper. Using these data, we created the R|S Atlas (https://atlas.mgh.harvard.edu/), a publicly available, online relational database that allows investigators to identify R/S survey items that have been collected by US cohorts, and to further refine searches by other key data available in cohorts that may be necessary for a given study (eg, race/ethnicity, availability of DNA or geocoded data). CONCLUSIONS R|S Atlas not only allows researchers to identify available sources of R/S data in cohort studies but will also assist in identifying novel research questions that have yet to be explored within the context of US cohort studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Boonin Schachter
- Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - M Austin Argentieri
- Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Bobak Seddighzadeh
- Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Oluwaseyi O Isehunwa
- Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Blake Victor Kent
- Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | | | - Michael McDuffie
- Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Laura Mandel
- Chesapeake Regional Information Systems for our Patients, Columbia, MD, USA
| | - Kenneth I Pargament
- Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA
| | - Lynn G Underwood
- Inamori International Center for Ethics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Alexandra E Shields
- Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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5
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Singh VP, Khandelwal B. Effect of Yoga and Exercise on Glycemic Control and Psychosocial Parameters in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Study. Int J Yoga 2020; 13:144-151. [PMID: 32669769 PMCID: PMC7336951 DOI: 10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_45_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes has been strongly associated with psychosocial factors such as stress, anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL). There is not much evidence whether yoga can improve these factors and motivate individuals to engage in active lifestyle. AIMS This study aims to evaluate the effect of yoga and exercise over glycemic control, anxiety, depression, exercise self-efficacy (ESE), and QOL after 3-month program. METHODS Two hundred and twenty-seven individuals were randomly allocated to yoga group (YG) and exercise group. YG practiced yoga for 2 weeks under supervision and then carried out practice at home for 3 months. The exercise group practiced 30 min of brisk walking for 5 days a week. RESULTS On comparison among the groups, in YG, there was a mean change of 0.47 in glycated hemoglobin which was greater than mean reduction of 0.28 in the exercise group with P < 0.05. State anxiety reduced by 7.8 and trait anxiety reduced by 4.4 in YG (P < 0.05) in 3 months as compared to nonsignificant reductions of 3 and 1 in mean of state and trait anxiety scores in the exercise group (P > 0.05). There was a statistically significant reduction in depression score in both the groups, 8.6 in yoga and 4.0 in exercise, which was greater in YG. ESE improved by 19.2 in YG (P < 0.05), whereas it improved only 2.2 in the exercise group (P > 0.05). QOL improved by 23.7 in YG and 3.0 in the exercise group which was nonsignificant in the exercise group as compared to YG. CONCLUSIONS Yoga is superior to exercise alone as a lifestyle modification program in improving glycemic control, anxiety, depression, and QOL as well as ESE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Pratap Singh
- Department of Physiotherapy, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka, India
| | - Bidita Khandelwal
- Professor of Medicine, Sikkim Manipal University, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim, India
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6
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Hassan A, Robinson M, Willerth SM. Modeling the Effects of Yoga on the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease in a Dish. Cells Tissues Organs 2019; 206:263-271. [PMID: 31121578 DOI: 10.1159/000499503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) accounts for 80% of all dementia cases, making it the most common form of dementia. Aging serves as the main risk factor for AD, but early onset AD can also occur in individuals younger than 65 years. AD results from progressive neurodegeneration leading to dysfunctional synaptic transmission in the brain. The cascade hypothesis of AD states that amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism becomes impaired either by mutation or an interleukin-mediated stress response to injury, resulting in the splicing of harmful oligomeric forms of amyloid beta (Aβ). These oligomers disrupt extracellular receptor binding, intracellular function, and cellular membrane integrity. Yoga and meditative practices slow the progression of the cognitive decline associated with AD. However, the biological mechanisms underlying this therapeutic effect remain elusive. Here, we investigated the ability of neurotransmitters released during yoga and meditative practices to rescue neurons from synaptic dysfunction in an in vitro Alzheimer's model created by culturing basal forebrain cholinergic neurons with physiologically relevant levels of the I-42 isoform of oligomeric Aβ (OΑβI-42). We found that the neurotransmitters dopamine and histamine produce a cooperative action with serotonin to reverse the loss of choline acetyltransferase (CHaT) by OΑβI-42. The loss of ChaT, the enzyme responsible for processing the cholinergic neurotransmitter acetylcholine, contributes to the synaptic dysfunction experienced during AD. These neurotransmitters inhibit nitric oxide synthesis caused by OΑβI-42, preventing oxidative and nitrosative stress. Serotonin activates an alternate cleavage of APP to produce a fragment with known neurotrophic effects, giving it the unique ability to inhibit the OΑβI-42 production cycle. We hypothesize here that these concerted actions lead to the protection of cholinergic synaptic transmission in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adithy Hassan
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Meghan Robinson
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stephanie M Willerth
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, .,Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, .,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, .,Centre for Biomedical Research, Faculty of Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, .,International Collaboration for Repair Discovery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,
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7
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Vieten C, Wahbeh H, Cahn BR, MacLean K, Estrada M, Mills P, Murphy M, Shapiro S, Radin D, Josipovic Z, Presti DE, Sapiro M, Chozen Bays J, Russell P, Vago D, Travis F, Walsh R, Delorme A. Future directions in meditation research: Recommendations for expanding the field of contemplative science. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205740. [PMID: 30403693 PMCID: PMC6221271 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The science of meditation has grown tremendously in the last two decades. Most studies have focused on evaluating the clinical effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions, neural and other physiological correlates of meditation, and individual cognitive and emotional aspects of meditation. Far less research has been conducted on more challenging domains to measure, such as group and relational, transpersonal and mystical, and difficult aspects of meditation; anomalous or extraordinary phenomena related to meditation; and post-conventional stages of development associated with meditation. However, these components of meditation may be crucial to people's psychological and spiritual development, could represent important mediators and/or mechanisms by which meditation confers benefits, and could themselves be important outcomes of meditation practices. In addition, since large numbers of novices are being introduced to meditation, it is helpful to investigate experiences they may encounter that are not well understood. Over the last four years, a task force of meditation researchers and teachers met regularly to develop recommendations for expanding the current meditation research field to include these important yet often neglected topics. These meetings led to a cross-sectional online survey to investigate the prevalence of a wide range of experiences in 1120 meditators. Results show that the majority of respondents report having had many of these anomalous and extraordinary experiences. While some of the topics are potentially controversial, they can be subjected to rigorous scientific investigation. These arenas represent largely uncharted scientific terrain and provide excellent opportunities for both new and experienced researchers. We provide suggestions for future directions, with accompanying online materials to encourage such research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra Vieten
- Research Department, Institute of Noetic Sciences, Petaluma, California, United States of America
| | - Helané Wahbeh
- Research Department, Institute of Noetic Sciences, Petaluma, California, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - B. Rael Cahn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Katherine MacLean
- Center for Optimal Living, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Mica Estrada
- Institute for Health and Aging, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Paul Mills
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Michael Murphy
- Center for Theory and Research, Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California, United States of America
| | - Shauna Shapiro
- Department of Counseling Psychology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California, United States of America
| | - Dean Radin
- Research Department, Institute of Noetic Sciences, Petaluma, California, United States of America
| | - Zoran Josipovic
- Department of Psychology, New York University and Nonduality Institute, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - David E. Presti
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Michael Sapiro
- Research Department, Institute of Noetic Sciences, Petaluma, California, United States of America
| | - Jan Chozen Bays
- Randall Children’s Hospital, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Peter Russell
- Research Department, Institute of Noetic Sciences, Petaluma, California, United States of America
| | - David Vago
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Fred Travis
- Center for Brain, Consciousness and Cognition, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Roger Walsh
- School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Arnaud Delorme
- Research Department, Institute of Noetic Sciences, Petaluma, California, United States of America
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
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8
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Hyperbaric oxygen and aerobic exercise in the long-term treatment of fibromyalgia: A narrative review. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 109:629-638. [PMID: 30399600 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.10.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is one of the most common clinical presentations in the primary care settings. In the US, Fibromyalgia (FM) affects about 1-3% of adults and commonly occurs in adults between the ages of 40-50 years. FM causes widespread muscular pain and tenderness with hyperalgesia and allodynia and may be associated with other somatic complaints. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been utilized and has recently shown promising effects in the management of FM and other chronic pain disorders. In HBOT, the intermittent breathing of 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber where the pressure is higher than 1 atmosphere absolute (ATA) has been utilized. HBOT exhibits a significant anti-inflammatory effect through reducing production of glial cells and inflammatory mediators which results in pain alleviation in different chronic pain conditions. HBOT can also influence neuroplasticity and affects the mitochondrial mechanisms resulting in functional brain changes. In addition to that, HBOT stimulates nitric oxide (NO) synthesis which helps in alleviating hyperalgesia and NO-dependent release of endogenous opioids which seemed to be the primary HBOT mechanism of antinociception. Moreover, aerobic exercise and meditative movement therapies (MMT) have gained attention for their role in pain alleviation through different anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms. In this review, we aim to elucidate the different mechanisms of HBOT and aerobic exercise in attenuating pain as adjuvant therapy in the multidisciplinary treatment strategy of chronic pain, and more particularly fibromyalgia.
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Innes KE, Selfe TK, Khalsa DS, Kandati S. Meditation and Music Improve Memory and Cognitive Function in Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 56:899-916. [PMID: 28106552 DOI: 10.3233/jad-160867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While effective therapies for preventing or slowing cognitive decline in at-risk populations remain elusive, evidence suggests mind-body interventions may hold promise. OBJECTIVES In this study, we assessed the effects of Kirtan Kriya meditation (KK) and music listening (ML) on cognitive outcomes in adults experiencing subjective cognitive decline (SCD), a strong predictor of Alzheimer's disease. METHODS Sixty participants with SCD were randomized to a KK or ML program and asked to practice 12 minutes/day for 3 months, then at their discretion for the ensuing 3 months. At baseline, 3 months, and 6 months we measured memory and cognitive functioning [Memory Functioning Questionnaire (MFQ), Trail-making Test (TMT-A/B), and Digit-Symbol Substitution Test (DSST)]. RESULTS The 6-month study was completed by 53 participants (88%). Participants performed an average of 93% (91% KK, 94% ML) of sessions in the first 3 months, and 71% (68% KK, 74% ML) during the 3-month, practice-optional, follow-up period. Both groups showed marked and significant improvements at 3 months in memory and cognitive performance (MFQ, DSST, TMT-A/B; p's≤0.04). At 6 months, overall gains were maintained or improved (p's≤0.006), with effect sizes ranging from medium (DSST, ML group) to large (DSST, KK group; TMT-A/B, MFQ). Changes were unrelated to treatment expectancies and did not differ by age, gender, baseline cognition scores, or other factors. CONCLUSIONS Findings of this preliminary randomized controlled trial suggest practice of meditation or ML can significantly enhance both subjective memory function and objective cognitive performance in adults with SCD, and may offer promise for improving outcomes in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim E Innes
- Department of Epidemiology, West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV, USA.,Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Terry Kit Selfe
- Department of Epidemiology, West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV, USA.,Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Dharma Singh Khalsa
- Department of Internal Medicine and Integrative Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Sahiti Kandati
- Department of Epidemiology, West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
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10
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Foote FO, Benson H, Berger A, Berman B, DeLeo J, Deuster PA, Lary DJ, Silverman MN, Sternberg EM. Advanced Metrics for Assessing Holistic Care: The "Epidaurus 2" Project. Glob Adv Health Med 2018; 7:2164957X18755981. [PMID: 29497586 PMCID: PMC5824899 DOI: 10.1177/2164957x18755981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In response to the challenge of military traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder, the US military developed a wide range of holistic care modalities at the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, from 2001 to 2017, guided by civilian expert consultation via the Epidaurus Project. These projects spanned a range from healing buildings to wellness initiatives and healing through nature, spirituality, and the arts. The next challenge was to develop whole-body metrics to guide the use of these therapies in clinical care. Under the "Epidaurus 2" Project, a national search produced 5 advanced metrics for measuring whole-body therapeutic effects: genomics, integrated stress biomarkers, language analysis, machine learning, and "Star Glyphs." This article describes the metrics, their current use in guiding holistic care at Walter Reed, and their potential for operationalizing personalized care, patient self-management, and the improvement of public health. Development of these metrics allows the scientific integration of holistic therapies with organ-system-based care, expanding the powers of medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Herbert Benson
- Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ann Berger
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Brian Berman
- The Institute for Integrative Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- University of Maryland School of Medicine Center for Integrative Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - James DeLeo
- The NIH Clinical Center Department of Clinical Research Informatics, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - David J Lary
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
| | - Marni N. Silverman
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
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11
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Liu S, Liu Y, Ni Y. A Review of Mindfulness Improves Decision Making and Future Prospects. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.4236/psych.2018.92015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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12
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Vergeer I, Bennie JA, Charity MJ, Harvey JT, van Uffelen JGZ, Biddle SJH, Eime RM. Participation trends in holistic movement practices: a 10-year comparison of yoga/Pilates and t'ai chi/qigong use among a national sample of 195,926 Australians. BMC COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2017; 17:296. [PMID: 28587599 PMCID: PMC5461749 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1800-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent decades, the evidence supporting the physical and mental health benefits of holistic movement practices such as yoga and t'ai chi have become increasingly established. Consequently, investigating the participation prevalence and patterns of these practices is a relevant pursuit in the public health field. Few studies have provided population-level assessment of participation rates, however, and even fewer have focused on patterns over time. The purpose of this study was to examine participation prevalence and trends in yoga/Pilates and t'ai chi/qigong over a ten-year period in a nationally representative sample of Australians aged 15 years and over, with particular attention to sex and age. A secondary purpose was to juxtapose these findings with participation trends in traditional fitness activities over the same period. METHODS Data comprised modes and types of physical activity, age, and sex variables collected through the Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey (ERASS), a series of independent cross-sectional Australia-wide surveys conducted yearly between 2001 and 2010. For each year, weighted population estimates were calculated for those participating in yoga/Pilates, t'ai chi/qigong, and fitness activities (e.g. aerobics, calisthenics). Linear regression and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine trends in prevalence rates over time and differences among sex and age (15-34; 35-54; 55+ years) groups, respectively. RESULTS Average prevalence rates between 2001 and 2010 were 3.0% (95% CI 2.9-3.1) for yoga/Pilates, 0.6% (95% CI 0.5-0.6) for t'ai chi/qigong, and 19.2% (95% CI 18.9-19.4) for fitness activities. Across the decade, overall participation rates remained relatively stable for yoga/Pilates and t'ai chi/qigong, while increasing linearly for fitness activities. For both genders and in all three age groups, participation in fitness activities increased, whereas only in the 55+ age group was there a significant increase in yoga/Pilates participation; participation in t'ai chi/qigong declined significantly in the two younger age groups. CONCLUSIONS Participation rates in yoga/Pilates and t'ai chi/qigong in Australia were low and relatively stable. As fitness activities increased in popularity across the decade, holistic movement practices did not. These findings point to the need to investigate activity-specific barriers and facilitators to participation, including intrapersonal, interpersonal, organisational, and environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ineke Vergeer
- Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Campus, PO Box 4393, Raceview, QLD 4305 Australia
- Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Active Living & Public Health Program, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC Australia
| | - Jason A. Bennie
- Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Campus, PO Box 4393, Raceview, QLD 4305 Australia
- Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Active Living & Public Health Program, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC Australia
| | - Melanie J. Charity
- Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Active Living & Public Health Program, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC Australia
- Faculty of Health, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC Australia
| | - Jack T. Harvey
- Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Active Living & Public Health Program, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC Australia
- Faculty of Health, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC Australia
| | - Jannique G. Z. van Uffelen
- Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Active Living & Public Health Program, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC Australia
- Department of Kinesiology, Physical Activity, Sports and Health Research Group, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stuart J. H. Biddle
- Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Campus, PO Box 4393, Raceview, QLD 4305 Australia
- Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Active Living & Public Health Program, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC Australia
| | - Rochelle M. Eime
- Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Active Living & Public Health Program, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC Australia
- Faculty of Health, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC Australia
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The embodied mind: A review on functional genomic and neurological correlates of mind-body therapies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 73:165-181. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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14
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Cohen MM, Elliott F, Oates L, Schembri A, Mantri N. Do Wellness Tourists Get Well? An Observational Study of Multiple Dimensions of Health and Well-Being After a Week-Long Retreat. J Altern Complement Med 2017; 23:140-148. [PMID: 28068147 PMCID: PMC5312624 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2016.0268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Wellness retreats use many complementary and alternative therapies within a holistic residential setting, yet few studies have evaluated the effect of retreat experiences on multiple dimensions of health and well-being, and no published studies have reported health outcomes in wellness tourists. Objectives: To assess the effect of a week-long wellness-retreat experience in wellness tourists. Design: A longitudinal observational study with outcomes assessed upon arrival and departure and 6 weeks after the retreat. Setting: A rural health retreat in Queensland, Australia. Interventions: A holistic, 1-week, residential, retreat experience that included many educational, therapeutic, and leisure activities and an organic, mostly plant-based diet. Outcome measures: Multiple outcome measures were performed upon arrival and departure and 6 weeks after the retreat. These included anthropometric measures, urinary pesticide metabolites, a food and health symptom questionnaire, the Five Factor Wellness Inventory, the General Self Efficacy questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Insomnia Rating Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Profile of Mood States, and the Cogstate cognitive function test battery. Results: Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) were seen in almost all measures (n = 37) after 1 week and were sustained at 6 weeks (n = 17). There were statistically significant improvements (p < 0.001) in all anthropometric measures after 1 week, with reductions in abdominal girth (2.7 cm), weight (1.6 kg), and average systolic and diastolic pressure (−16.1 mmHg and −9.3 mmHg, respectively). Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) were also seen in psychological and health symptom measures. Urinary pesticide metabolites were detected in pooled urine samples before the retreat and were undetectable after the retreat. Conclusion: Retreat experiences can lead to substantial improvements in multiple dimensions of health and well-being that are maintained for 6 weeks. Further research that includes objective biomarkers and economic measures in different populations is required to determine the mechanisms of these effects and assess the value and relevance of retreat experiences to clinicians and health insurers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc M Cohen
- 1 School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University , Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fiona Elliott
- 1 School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University , Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Liza Oates
- 1 School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University , Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adrian Schembri
- 1 School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University , Bundoora, Victoria, Australia .,2 Cogstate Limited , Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nitin Mantri
- 3 School of Science, RMIT University , Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
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Preliminary indications of the effect of a brief yoga intervention on markers of inflammation and DNA methylation in chronically stressed women. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e965. [PMID: 27898068 PMCID: PMC5290356 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2016] [Revised: 08/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Yoga is associated with reduced stress and increased well-being, although the molecular basis for these benefits is not clear. Mounting evidence implicates the immune response, with current studies focused on protein immune markers (such as cytokines) in clinical populations. To explore the molecular impact, this pilot study uses a subsample (n=28) from a randomised waitlist control trial investigating the impact of an 8-week yoga intervention in a community population of women reporting psychological distress (N=116). We measured interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) protein levels, and the DNA methylation of these genes and the global indicator, LINE-1. Correlations between these and psychological variables were explored, identifying moderate correlations with CRP protein levels, and methylation of IL-6, CRP and LINE-1. Many cytokine samples were below detection, however a Mann-Whitney U demonstrated a trend of moderate between-group effect for elevated IL-6 in the yoga group. Methylation analyses applied cross-sectional and non-controlled longitudinal analyses. Waist-to-height ratio and age were covaried. We demonstrated reduced methylation of the TNF region in the yoga group relative to the waitlist control group. No other genes demonstrated a significant difference. Longitudinal analysis further supported these results. This study is one of the first to explore yoga and immunological markers in a non-clinical population, and is the first study to explore DNA methylation. These findings indicate that further research into molecular impact of yoga on markers of immune function is warranted, with larger studies required.
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Abstract
Meditation has become popular in many Western nations, especially the USA. An increasing body of research shows various health benefits associated with meditation and these findings have sparked interest in the field of medicine. The practice of meditation originated in the ancient Vedic times of India and is described in the ancient Vedic texts. Meditation is one of the modalities used in Ayurveda (Science of Life), the comprehensive, natural health care system that originated in the ancient Vedic times of India. The term “meditation” is now loosely used to refer to a large number of diverse techniques. According to Vedic science, the true purpose of meditation is to connect oneself to one's deep inner Self. Techniques which achieve that goal serve the true purpose of meditation. Neurological and physiological correlates of meditation have been investigated previously. This article describes the process of meditation at a more fundamental level and aims to shed light on the deeper underlying mechanism of the beneficial effects associated with meditation. Research on the effects of meditation is summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hari Sharma
- Center for Integrative Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Breathing to younger skin: 'reversing the molecular mechanism of skin aging with yoga'. Future Sci OA 2016; 2:FSO122. [PMID: 28031969 PMCID: PMC5137887 DOI: 10.4155/fsoa-2016-0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Innes KE, Selfe TK, Khalsa DS, Kandati S. Effects of Meditation versus Music Listening on Perceived Stress, Mood, Sleep, and Quality of Life in Adults with Early Memory Loss: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 52:1277-98. [PMID: 27079708 PMCID: PMC5649740 DOI: 10.3233/jad-151106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) are at increased risk not only for Alzheimer's disease, but for poor mental health, impaired sleep, and diminished quality of life (QOL), which in turn, contribute to further cognitive decline, highlighting the need for early intervention. OBJECTIVE In this randomized controlled trial, we assessed the effects of two 12-week relaxation programs, Kirtan Kriya Meditation (KK) and music listening (ML), on perceived stress, sleep, mood, and health-related QOL in older adults with SCD. METHODS Sixty community-dwelling older adults with SCD were randomized to a KK or ML program and asked to practice 12 minutes daily for 12 weeks, then at their discretion for the following 3 months. At baseline, 12 weeks, and 26 weeks, perceived stress, mood, psychological well-being, sleep quality, and health-related QOL were measured using well-validated instruments. RESULTS Fifty-three participants (88%) completed the 6-month study. Participants in both groups showed significant improvement at 12 weeks in psychological well-being and in multiple domains of mood and sleep quality (p's≤0.05). Relative to ML, those assigned to KK showed greater gains in perceived stress, mood, psychological well-being, and QOL-Mental Health (p's≤0.09). Observed gains were sustained or improved at 6 months, with both groups showing marked and significant improvement in all outcomes. Changes were unrelated to treatment expectancies. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that practice of a simple meditation or ML program may improve stress, mood, well-being, sleep, and QOL in adults with SCD, with benefits sustained at 6 months and gains that were particularly pronounced in the KK group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim E. Innes
- Department of Epidemiology, West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Terry Kit Selfe
- Department of Epidemiology, West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Dharma Singh Khalsa
- Department of Internal Medicine and Integrative Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM and the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Sahiti Kandati
- Department of Epidemiology, West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
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Singh VP, Khandelwal B, Sherpa NT. Psycho-neuro-endocrine-immune mechanisms of action of yoga in type II diabetes. Anc Sci Life 2015; 35:12-7. [PMID: 26600662 PMCID: PMC4623627 DOI: 10.4103/0257-7941.165623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Yoga has been found to benefit all the components of health viz. physical, mental, social and spiritual well being by incorporating a wide variety of practices. Pathophysiology of Type II DM and co-morbidities in Type II DM has been correlated with stress mechanisms. Stress suppresses body's immune system and neuro-humoral actions thereby aff ecting normal psychological state. It would not be wrong to state that correlation of diabetes with stress, anxiety and other psychological factors are bidirectional and lead to difficulty in understanding the interrelated mechanisms. Type II DM cannot be understood in isolation with psychological factors such as stress, anxiety and depression, neuro-endocrine and immunological factors. There is no review which tries to understand these mechanisms exclusively. The present literature review aims to understand interrelated Psycho-Neuro-Endocrine and Immunological mechanisms of action of Yoga in Type II Diabetes Mellitus. Published literature concerning mechanisms of action of Yoga in Type II DM emphasizing psycho-neuro-endocrine or immunological relations was retrieved from Pubmed using key words yoga, Type II diabetes mellitus, psychological, neural, endocrine, immune and mechanism of action. Those studies which explained the psycho-neuroendocrine and immune mechanisms of action of yoga were included and rest were excluded. Although primary aim of this study is to explain these mechanisms in Type II DM, some studies in non-diabetic population which had a similar pathway of stress mechanism was included because many insightful studies were available in that area. Search was conducted using terms yoga OR yogic AND diabetes OR diabetic IN title OR abstract for English articles. Of the 89 articles, we excluded non-English articles (22), editorials (20) and letters to editor (10). 37 studies were considered for this review. The postulated mechanism of action of yoga is through parasympathetic activation and the associated anti stress mechanism. It reduces perceived stress and HPA axis activation thereby improving overall metabolic and psychological profiles, increasing insulin sensitivity, and improving glucose tolerance and lipid metabolism. Yoga has positive effects on immune system of diabetics.- Overall, Type II DM is influenced by psycho-neuro-endocrine and immune mechanisms where Yoga has important positive role in combating stressors and improving these systems to regain health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Pratap Singh
- Department of Physiotherapy, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim, India
| | - Bidita Khandelwal
- Department of Medicine, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim, India
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20
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Chan KP. Prenatal meditation influences infant behaviors. Infant Behav Dev 2014; 37:556-61. [PMID: 25063985 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2014.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Revised: 05/04/2014] [Accepted: 06/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Meditation is important in facilitating health. Pregnancy health has been shown to have significant consequences for infant behaviors. In view of limited studies on meditation and infant temperament, this study aims to explore the effects of prenatal meditation on these aspects. The conceptual framework was based on the postulation of positive relationships between prenatal meditation and infant health. A randomized control quantitative study was carried out at Obstetric Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong. 64 pregnant Chinese women were recruited for intervention and 59 were for control. Outcome measures were cord blood cortisol, infant salivary cortisol, and Carey Infant Temperament Questionnaire. Cord blood cortisol level of babies was higher in the intervention group (p<0.01) indicates positive health status of the newborns verifies that prenatal meditation can influence fetal health. Carey Infant Temperament Questionnaire showed that the infants of intervention group have better temperament (p<0.05) at fifth month reflects the importance of prenatal meditation in relation to child health. Present study concludes the positive effects of prenatal meditation on infant behaviors and recommends that pregnancy care providers should provide prenatal meditation to pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ka Po Chan
- The Buddhist Institute of Enlightenment (Hk) Ltd., 270 Sha Tsui Road 2/F, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong.
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21
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Muehsam D, Ventura C. Life rhythm as a symphony of oscillatory patterns: electromagnetic energy and sound vibration modulates gene expression for biological signaling and healing. Glob Adv Health Med 2014; 3:40-55. [PMID: 24808981 PMCID: PMC4010966 DOI: 10.7453/gahmj.2014.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David Muehsam
- Visual Institute of Developmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy (Dr Muehsam)
| | - Carlo Ventura
- National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Visual Institute of Developmental Sciences, Bologna; Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna (Dr Ventura), Italy
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22
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Innes KE, Selfe TK. Meditation as a therapeutic intervention for adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease - potential benefits and underlying mechanisms. Front Psychiatry 2014; 5:40. [PMID: 24795656 PMCID: PMC4005947 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic, progressive, brain disorder that affects at least 5.3 million Americans at an estimated cost of $148 billion, figures that are expected to rise steeply in coming years. Despite decades of research, there is still no cure for AD, and effective therapies for preventing or slowing progression of cognitive decline in at-risk populations remain elusive. Although the etiology of AD remains uncertain, chronic stress, sleep deficits, and mood disturbance, conditions common in those with cognitive impairment, have been prospectively linked to the development and progression of both chronic illness and memory loss and are significant predictors of AD. Therapies such as meditation that specifically target these risk factors may thus hold promise for slowing and possibly preventing cognitive decline in those at risk. In this study, we briefly review the existing evidence regarding the potential utility of meditation as a therapeutic intervention for those with and at risk for AD, discuss possible mechanisms underlying the observed benefits of meditation, and outline directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim E. Innes
- Department of Epidemiology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Terry Kit Selfe
- Department of Epidemiology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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Loizzo J. Meditation research, past, present, and future: perspectives from the Nalanda contemplative science tradition. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2014; 1307:43-54. [PMID: 24673149 PMCID: PMC4253124 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.12273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This article offers an overview of meditation research: its history, recent developments, and future directions. As the number and scope of studies grow, the field has converged with cognitive and affective neuroscience, and spawned many clinical applications. Recent work has shed light on the mechanisms and effects of diverse practices, and is entering a new phase where consensus and coherent paradigms are within reach. This article suggests an unusual path for future advancement: complementing conventional research with rigorous dialogue with the contemplative traditions that train expert meditators and best know the techniques. It explores the Nalanda tradition developed in India and preserved in Tibet, because its cumulative approach to contemplative methods produced a comprehensive framework that may help interpret data and guide research, and because its naturalistic theories and empirical methods may help bridge the gulf between science and other contemplative traditions. Examining recent findings and models in light of this framework, the article introduces the Indic map of the central nervous system and presents three testable predictions based on it. Finally, it reviews two studies that suggest that the multimodal Nalanda approach to contemplative learning is as well received as more familiar approaches, while showing promise of being more effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Loizzo
- Center for Integrative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical CollegeNew York
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24
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Craigmyle NA. The beneficial effects of meditation: contribution of the anterior cingulate and locus coeruleus. Front Psychol 2013; 4:731. [PMID: 24137145 PMCID: PMC3797386 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2013] [Accepted: 09/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of meditation the cortical salience detecting and executive networks become active during "awareness of mind wandering," "shifting," and "sustained attention." The anterior cingulate (AC) is activated during "awareness of mind wandering." The AC modulates both the peripheral sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the central locus coeruleus (LC) norepinephrine systems, which form the principal neuromodulatory system, regulating in multiple ways both neuronal and non-neuronal cells to maximize adaptation in changing environments. The LC is the primary source of central norepinephrine (C-NE) and nearly the exclusive source of cortical norepinephrine. Normally activated by novel or salient stimuli, the AC initially inhibits the SNS reflexively, lowering peripheral norepinephrine and activates the LC, increasing C-NE. Moderate levels of C-NE enhance working memory through alpha 2 adrenergic receptors, while higher levels of C-NE, acting on alpha 1 and beta receptors, enhance other executive network functions such as the stopping of ongoing behavior, attentional set-shifting, and sustained attention. The actions of the AC on both the central and peripheral noradrenergic systems are implicated in the beneficial effects of meditation. This paper will explore some of the known functions and interrelationships of the AC, SNS, and LC with respect to their possible relevance to meditation.
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Deng G, Cassileth B. Complementary or alternative medicine in cancer care-myths and realities. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2013; 10:656-64. [PMID: 23897081 DOI: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2013.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Complementary therapies are adjuncts to mainstream care, used primarily for symptom control and to enhance physical and emotional strength during and after mainstream cancer treatment. These therapies are rational, noninvasive and evidence-based that have been subjected to study to determine their value, document the problems they aim to ameliorate and define the circumstances under which they are beneficial. By contrast, 'alternative' therapies are generally promoted as such-for use as actual antitumour treatments. Typically they lack biological plausibility and scientific evidence of safety and efficacy, and many are outright fraudulent. Combining the helpful complementary therapies with mainstream oncology care to address patients' physical, psychological and spiritual needs constitutes the practice of integrative oncology. By providing patients' nonpharmacological treatment modalities that reduce symptom burden and improve quality of life, physicians enable patients to have an active role in their care, which in turn improves the physician-patient relationship, the quality of cancer care and the well-being of patients and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Deng
- Integrative Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1429 First Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
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Keshavan MS, Rao NP, Rao TSS. Yoga and mental health: Promising road ahead, but proceed with caution. Indian J Psychiatry 2013; 55:S329-31. [PMID: 24049192 PMCID: PMC3768205 DOI: 10.4103/0019-5545.116295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- M S Keshavan
- Stanley Cobb Professor of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Yan JH, Guo YZ, Yao HM, Pan L. Effects of Tai Chi in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: preliminary evidence. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61806. [PMID: 23626732 PMCID: PMC3634011 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2013] [Accepted: 03/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Currently, several studies assessed the role of Tai Chi (TC) in management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but these studies have wide variation of sample and convey inconclusive results. We therefore undertook a meta-analysis to assess the effects of TC. Methods A computerized search through electronic databases was performed to obtain sample studies. The primary outcomes were 6-min walking distance (6MWD) and dyspnea. Secondary outcomes included health-related quality of life and pre-bronchodilator spirometry. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 test. A random-effects meta-analysis model was applied. Results Eight randomized controlled trials involving 544 patients met the inclusion criteria. The pooled WMDs were 34.22 m (95% CI 21.25–47.20, P<0.00001) for 6 MWD, –0.86 units (95% CI –1.44––0.28, P = 0.004) for dyspnea, 70 ml (95% CI 0.02–0.13, P = 0.01) for FEV1, 120 ml (95% CI 0.00–0.23, P = 0.04) for FVC. TC significantly improved the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire total score, and the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire score except impact score. Conclusions Findings suggest that TC may provide an effective alternative means to achieve results similar to those reported following participation in pulmonary rehabilitation programs. Further studies are needed to substantiate the preliminary findings and investigate the long-term effects of TC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Hong Yan
- Department of Clinical Medical Technology, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, PR China
| | - Yong-Zhong Guo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Central Hospital of Xuzhou, Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, Xuzhou, PR China
| | - Hong-Mei Yao
- Department of Internal Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Lei Pan
- Department of Internal Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, PR China
- * E-mail:
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