Effect of Rhythmic Breathing (Sudarshan Kriya and Pranayam) on Immune Functions and Tobacco Addiction

Abstract

Stress, a psychophysiological process, acts through the immune-neuroendocrine axis and affects cellular processes of body and immune functions, leading to disease states including cancer. Stress is also linked to the habit of tobacco consumption and substance abuse, which in turn also leads to diseases. Sudarshan Kriya (SK) and Pranayam (P), rhythmic breathing processes, are known to reduce stress and improve immune functions. Cancer patients who had completed their standard therapy were studied. SK and P increased natural killer (NK) cells significantly (P <0.001) at 12 and 24 weeks of the practice compared to baseline. Increase in NK cells at 24 weeks was significant (P <0.05) compared to controls. There was no effect on T-cell subsets after SK and P either in the study group or among controls. SK and P helped to control the tobacco habit in 21% of individuals who were followed up to 6 months of practice. We conclude that the inexpensive and easy to learn and practice breathing processes (SK and P) in this study demonstrated an increase in NK cells and a reduction in tobacco consumption. When confirmed in large and randomized studies, this result could mean that the regular practice of SK and P might reduce the incidence and progression of cancer.

Recruitment and initial interest of men in yoga for smoking cessation: QuitStrong, a randomized control pilot study

“…The purpose of the current study was to gain an initial understanding of yoga as a complementary treatment for smoking cessation among men. Prior to our work, smoking research employing yoga had examined only brief smoking abstinence (<12-h quit period) versus actual smoking cessation, or these studies were based on clinical samples, such as cancer patients or adults participating in a drug rehabilitation program [29][30][31]. Thus, as was our work among women, this research is unique, given that no other yoga studies have focused exclusively on designing and understanding yoga for men's smoking cessation.…”

“…Two studies, one investigating hatha yoga [29] and the other investigating yogic breathing exercises [30], found positive effects of yoga on cravings and mood following a period of brief smoking abstinence (e.g., 1 or 12 h) but did not focus on smoking cessation. The other two studies recruited specific clinical populations: rhythmic breathing (Sudarshan kriya and pranayama) as part of a quit smoking program for patients with cancer [31] and hatha yoga for patients quitting smoking in a drug rehabilitation program [32]. Both studies reported that a significant number of participants increased motivation to quit; however, actual quitting outcomes were not measured.…”

Assessment of Different Stressed Conditions Associated with Blood Group and WBCs among Medical Students and their Management with Anti-Oxidant Therapy and Yoga

“…All subjects were instructed not to take any medication, antioxidant supplements or any other citrus fruits, which could interferes with study results. Orange consuming group students were instructed to take 200 ml of orange juice (freshly prepared), after breakfast and Sudarshan kriya performing group students were instructed to perform the yoga regularly for one month in the morning time for 30 minutes [15,18]. Before and after the experiment, STAI values (Spielbergers STAI questionnaire) calculated and differential count (Leishman's staining) was done [19].…”

“…Sudarshan kriya Yoga (SKY), designed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is a rhythmic breathing exercise, is very effective in these contexts. SKY is composed of Ujjayi Pranayama, Bhastrika Pranayama and brief chanting, which is done in sitting posture and closed eye [15]. Benefits includes reduction in stress, anxiety and depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, improve antioxidant status etc.…”

Assessment of Awareness and Quality of Life Among Practitioners of Specific Yogic Breathing Technique for Coping with Stress. Preliminary Study

“…Zaobserwowano m.in. : redukcję objawów PTSD u ofiar tsunami w 2004 r. w południowo--wschodniej Azji i weteranów wojennych z Afganistanu i Iraku [5][6], zmniejszenie symptomów u osób cierpiących na kliniczną depresję [7], poprawę stanu zdrowia u pacjentów uzależnionych od alkoholu [8], ograniczenie zachowań agresyw-nych u adolescentów [9] oraz używania tytoniu i zwiększenie odporności u pacjentów chorych na nowotwory [10], a także wzrost optymizmu i dobrego samopoczucia w grupie studentów [11]. Warta szczególnej uwagi była analiza wzrostu ekspresji genów na skutek zastosowania sekwencji SKY w populacji nieklinicznej [12].…”