The Therapeutic Effect of Pranayama, The Healing Potential of Our Breath
Pranayama (breathing techniques) is the art and science of consciously improving one’s breathing potential, thereby increasing the capacity to breathe in more oxygen and improve the supply of oxygen to the different parts of the body. Proper supply of oxygen results in oxygenation of every cell in the body, thereby increasing one’s vital energy, strengthening the various bodily systems and functions, and improving one’s quality of life. In Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga, pranayama is the fourth limb.
The life of every living creature is based on how they breathe but the power of breathing is not fully understood and appreciated by the majority of the population. For instance, the lifetime of a tortoise is approximately 150 years and it takes 4-5 breaths/minute, whereas the life span of a hare is about eight years and it breathes at 38-39 breaths/minute. Hence, by reducing the number of breaths/minute, one’s life span could be extended. The significance of breathing, and the means of extending one’s life span through breathing techniques, is explained in numerous yogic texts and is now being experimented with, analyzed and accepted by the global research community. In addition to reducing stress, many research studies have proven the therapeutic effects of proper breathing techniques.
Rhinosinusitis, a more accurate term for sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinus resulting in a plugged nose, fever, headache, sore throat, cough and a few other symptoms. Research studies have proven that performing alternate nostril breathing (Anuloma-viloma) for 30 minutes, over a period of 40 days, results in relief for patients affected by rhinosinusitis.
Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, which may result in any or most of the following symptoms: coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness of the chest. According to a World Health Organization report, around 235 million people, worldwide, are affected by asthma. Research on pranayama has shown that performing breathing techniques (Deep Breathing, Brahmari and Omkara) for 20 minutes, twice a day, for 12 weeks has resulted in significant improvement in the symptoms and lung function. Research on asthmatic adults practising Ujjayi breathing for one month has shown positive results–increasing the oxygen assimilation in blood from 0.75 to 5 percent, which is clinically very significant.
Pranayama has positive effects on patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) showing improvement in lung function parameters, reduced symptoms, and improvement in psychological function with reduced anxiety and depression.
Cardiovascular Disease is one of the most common causes of death across the world. Practice of Kapalbhati and alternate nostril breathing for 10 minutes, twice a day, for a duration of 2 weeks has shown significant improvement in pulmonary function in patients affected by coronary artery disease (CAD) and it was suggested as a complementary therapy for rehabilitation in CAD patients (Yadav et al. 2009).
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Practice of various pranayama (Kapalbhati, Bhastrika, alternate nostril and Brahmari) has shown to increase the antioxidant activity and reduce the lipid peroxidation, which prevents cellular damage in patients affected by CAD. Studies conducted by the Yoga Research Foundation have concluded that practice of alternate nostril breathing, for one month, has reduced the systolic blood pressure by 10 mmHg and diastolic BP by 4.5 mmHg.
In most of the cases, medicines are given either to suppress the symptoms, alleviate pain or to treat secondary infections. To heal the body and mind, more cosmic energy or life energy (prana) is required which can be supplied through the practice of pranayama. By practicing pranayama, the breath is used to manage the amount, flow and distribution of energy to the body and mind. Hence, if breath can be regulated, the body and mind can be managed in an effective manner. Pranayama plays a significant role in the activity of the brain. The right hemisphere of the brain corresponds to the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the artistic, holistic and psychic side of perception, whereas the left hemisphere of the brain corresponds to the sympathetic nervous system responsible for logical, rational and analytical thinking. The left nostril breathing activates the right hemisphere of the brain and vice-versa. It has been determined by researchers that patients with more dominant left nostril breathing have a higher incidence of respiratory disorders while those with more dominant right nostril breathing are more prone to suffer arterial hypertension and its consequences. Hence, performing alternate nostril breathing helps harmonize both hemispheres of the brain and rejuvenates the body and mind.
In conclusion, it can be stated that breath is life and to improve the quality of life, breathing should be improved. It has been proven that pranayama has numerous therapeutic effects for various diseases and could be used as a complementary therapy for various ailments.
References
Agarwal, T. et al., 2013. Pranayama has additive beneficial effects along with medication in bronchial asthma patients. Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology Advances, 3(12): 292-297.
Bhardwaj, A., Sharma, MK., and Gupta, M., 2013. Endoscopic evaluation of therapeutic effects of Anuloma-Viloma pranayama in pratishyaya w.s.r. to mucociliary clearance mechanism and Bernoulli’s principle. An international Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda, 34(4).
Boolan, H., Namratha Reddy BS, Donita Atkins RN, Lakkireddy, D., (2013) Healing the Heart: Can Yoga be the Missing Piece that Completes the Puzzle in Modern Medicine? J Yoga Phys Ther 3: 148, doi:10.4172/2157-7595.1000148
B.K.S. Iyengar, 2013. Light on Pranayama. Thomson Press India Ltd.
Katiyari, S.K. and Bihari, S., 2006. Role of pranayama in rehabilitation of COPD patients- a randomized controlled study. Indian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 20(2): 98-104.
Nikam et al., 2010. Effect of pranayam practicing on lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in coronary artery disease. International Journal of Biomedical Research, 1(4): 153-157.
Dr. Renu Mahtani. Power pranayama-Discover the healing potential of your breath. Jaico Publishing House.
Saxena, T. and Saxena, M., 2009. The effect of various breathing exercises (pranayama) in patients with bronchial asthma of mild to moderate severity.
Swami Adiswarananda. 2011. Meditation and Its Practices. Advaita Ashrama Publications.
Swami Muktibodhananda. Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Yoga Publication Trust, Bihar.
Swami Niranjanananda Saraswathi. 2009. Prana and Pranayma. Yoga Publication Trust, Bihar.
Yadav, A. et al., 2009. Role of pranayama breathing exercises in rehabilitation of coronary heart disease patients- a pilot study. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 8(3): 455-458.
Agarwal, T. et al., 2013. Pranayama has additive beneficial effects along with medication in bronchial asthma patients. Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology Advances, 3(12): 292-297.
Bhardwaj, A., Sharma, MK., and Gupta, M., 2013. Endoscopic evaluation of therapeutic effects of Anuloma-Viloma pranayama in pratishyaya w.s.r. to mucociliary clearance mechanism and Bernoulli’s principle. An international Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda, 34(4).
Boolan, H., Namratha Reddy BS, Donita Atkins RN, Lakkireddy, D., (2013) Healing the Heart: Can Yoga be the Missing Piece that Completes the Puzzle in Modern Medicine? J Yoga Phys Ther 3: 148, doi:10.4172/2157-7595.1000148
B.K.S. Iyengar, 2013. Light on Pranayama. Thomson Press India Ltd.
Katiyari, S.K. and Bihari, S., 2006. Role of pranayama in rehabilitation of COPD patients- a randomized controlled study. Indian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 20(2): 98-104.
Nikam et al., 2010. Effect of pranayam practicing on lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in coronary artery disease. International Journal of Biomedical Research, 1(4): 153-157.
Dr. Renu Mahtani. Power pranayama-Discover the healing potential of your breath. Jaico Publishing House.
Saxena, T. and Saxena, M., 2009. The effect of various breathing exercises (pranayama) in patients with bronchial asthma of mild to moderate severity.
Swami Adiswarananda. 2011. Meditation and Its Practices. Advaita Ashrama Publications.
Swami Muktibodhananda. Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Yoga Publication Trust, Bihar.
Swami Niranjanananda Saraswathi. 2009. Prana and Pranayma. Yoga Publication Trust, Bihar.
Yadav, A. et al., 2009. Role of pranayama breathing exercises in rehabilitation of coronary heart disease patients- a pilot study. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 8(3): 455-458.