Yoga,Dhyana &Ayurveda their

Impact on Health

In US alone 1 crore people are medi-tating on daily basis. Same is the trend in Europe. On many occasions doctors are suggesting to do yoga along with medication. National press is printing various articles describing this

ancient Indian life procedures. Almost every town is having Yoga & Dhyana centers. Schools made yoga classes compulsory from KG to PG. Corporate, Offices, Hotels and even jails conduct it

Especially to prevent & control the severity of chronic diseases doctors are recommending Yoga & Dhyana in many major hospitals. More so in Hypertension, Ischemic Heart Diseases, AIDS

Cancer, Infertility Yoga is highly beneficial in reducing the agony and pain. Also helpful in psychiatric disorders, depression by aiding patients by recovery from the symptoms. Why is it so?

The results of 3 decades scientific studies are attracting the medical professionals all over the world. Doctors are accepting especially for tension Yoga-Dhyana are the right answer.

It also help in improving the body immunity and fight the diseases. Interesting questions are how they act on brain and what changes they bring in its functioning? It is not difficult to find answer with modern medical gadgets.

In mid 60’s Dr. Herbert Benson studied 36 people who are doing Transcendental meditation (Bhavateeta Dhyana). At mid night they were taken to the lab and noted the effects of

Dhyana like heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature changes. The oxygen use reduced by 17%. The heart rate is reduced to one third. Theta waves are observed in the brain. Normally they are more before sleep.

After rolling into sleep they will be different. By analyzing the results Dr. Benson by this Dhyana the people could able control the shocks and responses due to severe stress.

They were also happy and relaxed in their composure. Dr. Greg Jacobs-Prof. Of Psychiatry-Harvard medical school who coordinated the studies of Dr. Benson conducted another experiment.

He has selected 2 groups of each 20 members, for one group he has given listen to selected audio cassettes and he asked the other group to practice Dhyana. He recorded brain responses

with EEG. The Theta waves are more in the group done Dhyana-Yoga. The functional activity of parietal lobe has come down and created great calmness & serenity. This is very interesting to note.

In late 90’s Dr. Andrew Newberg-Neurologist-Pennsylvania University conducted a study on Buddhist Monks about their brain functioning during yoga by using ultra sound scanning

apparatus. It has been noted that even in deep meditation brain functioning is not stopped. But the information to parietal lobe stopped from getting information.

Dr. Benson with the help of MRI Scanner tested the people in Dhyana and noted that though the blood supply is reduced to brain to some extent during Dhyana, the blood supply

to limbic system controlling emotions, heart functioning, respiration was good. Dr. Richard Davidson-Wisconsin University-Madison conducted experiments. Usually the pre-frontal cortex play a crucial role in our emotive

Behavior of its left is stimulated negative traits like dissatisfaction and angry will be predominant. If its right is stimulated positive traits like happiness, satisfaction etc. will be predominant.

He analyzed that during Dhyana in this cortex stimulation changes from left to right. This clearly indicates that brain will be trained to face stress there by happiness, satisfaction will increase. Great.

Buddhist Guru Dalai lama & Dr. Benson established Mind-Body Medical Institute in 2000. Here some neuro scientists, psychologists has conducted a deep study on Dhyana in their Dharmashala.

They have arranged electrodes to the heads of meditators and recorded electro-magnetic wave changes of their brains. This study proved regular Dhyana helps neuron to strengthen and face stress effectively.

There is another angle of these experiments involving the antisocial elements in jails-2002, by changing their thinking through Dhyana. They have conducted this study

at a jail near Seattle-US they have made them to meditate for 11 hours a day for 10 days. After 2 years only 56% of the people meditated returned to jails. Others not meditated 75% returned to jails.

In 2002 at Cambridge University people suffering from chronic depression made to meditate. After the meditation the chances of recurrence of symptoms have reduced by 50% in them.

In 2003- Dr. Den Arnish experiments proved that the people who meditate daily and take proper food coupled with Yoga the cholesterol in blood vessel is reduced, that reduces the chances of heart attack problem.

He declared through “American Urological Association” that the prostrate cancer progress will be slow by Dhyana. The patients suffering from chronic skin diseases

like Psoriasis will have mental stress. Dr. John Kabat jinn observed that Dhyana reduces the stress and help in reducing the progress of the disease. He studied the effect of Dhyana on vaccines at Wisconsin University.

In this study a vaccine used for flu has shown better results in people doing meditation. Producing antibodies more effectively. This has proved that Dhyana & Yoga strengths body immune mechanism.

It helps immensely in reducing Hypertension considerably and reduces the chances of cancerous lumps in the breasts of women. By improving mental peace it improves sexual ability.

What is the future of Dhyana & Yoga? They not only reduces the stress, improves concentration, mental calmness. They also improves coordination between functioning of various systems in body.

More and more experiments are conducted globally towards this and entire medical profession is looking at it seriously and eagerly for effective solutions for nagging healthcare problems.

What changes we can see in

the brain during Meditation?

Frontal Lobe: is the seat for our discretery ability, planning ability, emotions, self motivation. During Dhyana frontal lobe will be serene and stable.

Parietal Lobe: is the centre which will help about our consciousness of the surroundings, time sense. While doing Dhyana its activation is slowed down.

Thalamus: Consciousness, sensory organs control, communication responsibility, concentration are major jobs of thalamus. While in Dhyana the flow of communications are reduced.

Reticular Formation: Alertness, fighting spirit, running away from danger making us ready to face eventualities through electrical impulses as Alfa Waves are responses of Reticular Formation

Alfa Waves are responsible for Reticular Formation. During Dhyana and Yoga the responses of Alfa Waves are reduced, slowly Theta Waves will increase

creating calm and serene atmosphere to brain and in turn to whole human body. This rejenuvates both Mind and Body resulting in immuno-modulation and better quality life.

In Charaka Samhita & Susruta Samhita herbs are mentioned which will help in improving the calmness of body and mind like Aswagandha (recommended for insomnia, as a rejenuvator and aphrodisiac)

Brahmi, Shankapushpi etc. Hence the combination of Dhyana, Ayurveda and proper eating habits go a long way in proving 100 years healthy, happy life.

For more info contact

Murthy Kovur

Wellness Coach

98480 13958

healthxlnc@gmail.comSreyas family

AyurvedicCounseling Center