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Bushell W, Castle R, Williams MA, Brouwer KC, Tanzi RE, Chopra D, Mills PJ. Meditation and Yoga Practices as Potential Adjunctive Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19: A Brief Overview of Key Subjects. J Altern Complement Med 2020; 26:547-556. [PMID: 32579021 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2020.0177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Editor's Note: As an acute condition quickly associated with multiple chronic susceptibilities, COVID-19 has rekindled interest in, and controversy about, the potential role of the host in disease processes. While hundreds of millions of research dollars have been funneled into drug and vaccine solutions that target the external agent, integrative practitioners tuned to enhancing immunity faced a familiar mostly unfunded task. First, go to school on the virus. Then draw from the global array of natural therapies and practices with host-enhancing or anti-viral capabilities to suggest integrative treatment strategies. The near null-set of conventional treatment options propels this investigation. In this paper, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California-San Diego, Chopra Library for Integrative Studies, and Harvard University share one such exploration. Their conclusion, that "certain meditation, yoga asana (postures), and pranayama (breathing) practices may possibly be effective adjunctive means of treating and/or preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection" underscores the importance of this rekindling. At JACM, we are pleased to have the opportunity to publish this work. We hope that it might help diminish in medicine and health the polarization that, like so much in the broader culture, seems to be an obstacle to healing. -John Weeks, Editor-in-Chief, JACM.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Bushell
- Biophysical/Medical Anthropology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Chopra Library for Integrative Studies, Whole Health Institute, Bentonville, AK, USA
| | - Ryan Castle
- Chopra Library for Integrative Studies, Whole Health Institute, Bentonville, AK, USA
| | - Michelle A Williams
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kimberly C Brouwer
- Division of Global Health, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rudolph E Tanzi
- Department of Neurology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Deepak Chopra
- Chopra Library for Integrative Studies, Whole Health Institute, Bentonville, AK, USA.,Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Paul J Mills
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Center of Excellence for Integrative Health, Institute for Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Saatcioglu F. Regulation of gene expression by yoga, meditation and related practices: a review of recent studies. Asian J Psychiatr 2013; 6:74-7. [PMID: 23380323 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2012.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2012] [Revised: 10/01/2012] [Accepted: 10/04/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Integrative medicine (IM) approaches have gained significant interest in recent years to provide a solution for the health care challenges we face today. Yogic cognitive-behavioral practices are among the most widely used IM approaches and include diverse practices such as yoga asanas, meditation, breathing exercises, Qi Gong, Tai Chi Chih, and various others. Studies to date suggest that these yogic/meditative practices have significant positive effects on the mind-body system and thereby can increase wellness and support the healing process from disease. Previous work has provided evidence for both psychological and physiological effects of these practices; however, the mechanisms of these effects, especially at the molecular level, have largely been missing. Three recent studies started to provide some of this information through gene expression profiling in circulating immune cells, which support the hypothesis that yogic/meditative practices have a measurable effect at the molecular level. These studies are reviewed herein and some future perspectives are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahri Saatcioglu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Oslo, Postboks 1041 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway.
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Kuntsevich V, Bushell WC, Theise ND. Mechanisms of Yogic Practices in Health, Aging, and Disease. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 77:559-69. [DOI: 10.1002/msj.20214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Heber-Katz E, Gourevitch D. The relationship between inflammation and regeneration in the MRL mouse: potential relevance for putative human regenerative(scarless wound healing) capacities? Ann N Y Acad Sci 2009; 1172:110-4. [PMID: 19735244 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04499.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in the regenerative response in amphibians and various mammalian models of regeneration. The neutrophil response is known to bring MMPs and other proteases to the wound to promote bacterial elimination and tissue remodeling. These issues in relation to what is occurring in the MRL mouse model of regeneration/wound healing are discussed, followed by speculation as to their possible relevance for examples of the putative scarless wound healing described by some medical anthropologists and clinicians.
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Bushell WC, Theise ND. Toward a Unified Field of Study: Longevity, Regeneration, and Protection of Health through Meditation and Related Practices. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2009; 1172:5-19. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04959.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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