Health and Spirituality Vinod Kochupillai Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi

Poll Conducted: Are you happy with your lifeHigh percentage: YesSurprise Contradictory to statistics Anxiety, depression, Suicide increasingIf people are happy: Why increase in depression and suicides??

Emotions: unaware or not expressed Unaware of feelings Ashamed to admit Pretending to have fun Emotions: may seem to be under control -- but!

Suppressed Emotions: ExplodeAffect: Work out putInterpersonal relations Depression/ anxietyHeart attacks, ulcers, migraine, High BP, cancer

Scientific Studies Every change in the mental-emotional state, conscious or unconscious is accompanied by an appropriate change in physiological state and every change in the physiological state is accompanied by an appropriate change in the mental-emotional state Elmer Green - Mayo clinic Physician

Body physiology, mind & emotions

How are these linked ??

Neuropeptides & receptors: Biochemical Messengers Tiny in size, but highly intelligentCommunicate: each other Regulate: conscious and unconscious activities Behavior, physical activity, even mood

Neuropeptides and receptors: Not only brain and nerve cells Present in many parts: Blood cells (mono & lymphocytes) Respiratory centre G I tract - entire lining: esophagus - large intestine Density of receptors: Gut feelingDistressing news: diarrhoeaDyspepsia: grouchy & irritable

Biochemical messengers: Neuropeptides and their receptors

Manifest as our emotions, beliefs and expectationsProfoundly influence our responses and experiences in the world Unite mind, spirit and emotions with physical body Biochemical base: awareness and consciousnessDr. Pert: Molecules of Emotions

Biochemical messengers: Molecules of Emotions Massive information transfer: Over a network linking all systems and organs, emotions, thoughts and spirit

Mobile brainThrough which intelligence moves through entire body in all places at once not just in the head

Emotions: needed Anger to define boundaries Grief to deal with losses Fear to protect from danger

Emotions denied; chronically suppressed - Stress Toxic situation Flow of peptides (messengers): blocked important body functions: breathing, blood flow, Immunity: adversely affected Manifest as diseases Healing processes: adversely affected

Free Flow of Emotions Emotions allowed to move: naturally

Inner chemicals flow: freely

Experience: freedom, joy, healthy state of being

Blocked or suppressed emotions Blood vessels: Constricted (narrowed) Blood flow: restrictedDeprives : important part of brain and other organs : of vital nourishment

Frontal Contex: Inadequate Nourishment Foggy and less alert limited in awareness Decision making processes: Interferedunable to respond freshly to world around: gets stuck in the past or the future Lack of fresh ideas

Emotions and body sensations : Link Each emotion: Physical sensation Attention over physical sensation : allows emotions to move rather than get suppressed However, one is often not aware of this sensationElimination of stress : one becomes aware and brings the sensation into consciousness

Elimination of Stress Over centuries Yoga, meditation, Pranayam Yoga is living life skillfully Meditation allows long buried thoughts and feelings to surface, it is a way of getting the peptides flow again, returning the body and the emotions to health.

Meditation A mind without agitation is meditation. A mind in the present moment is meditation.A mind which becomes no mind is meditation.A mind that has no hesitation, no anticipation is meditation.

A mind that has come back to the source is meditation. H H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Sudarshan Kriya (SK) and Pranayam (P) More recently His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Introduced a powerful process - Sudarshan Kriya Rhythmic breathing process - Three rhythms followed cyclically.

Regular practice: SK, P, yoga and meditation

stresses: eliminated peptides flow freelyone becomes aware living in the present focused, alert and yet relaxed This is what spirituality (consciousness) is allabout Productivity, efficiency and relationships automatically improve

Underlying mechanisms: Effect of Yogic Breathing : Physiology SK & P: Alleviation of anxiety, depression and stress

Increased Parasympathetic drive Calming of stress response systems Neuro endocrine release of hormones Thalamic generators Neuro-peptides & their receptors Dr. Richard Brown PsychiatristColumbia University

SK and P : EEG studies Resting EEG : 2 groups: practising SK and P x at least 2 yearsvs controls: beta waves

EEG during SK and P - alpha waves: relaxed alertness Manveer Bhatia Neurologist & EEG Incharge

During SK & PResting EEG: Control Vspractitioners of SK & P

EEG Changes

EEG Changes

SK & P : Effect on brainEEG Studies :

Increased connectivity & information processingin the brain

Bhatia M, Kumar A, Bhardwaj NK, Pandey RM and Kochupillai V. Electrophysiological evaluation of Sudarshan Kriya; EEG, BAER and P-300 study. Ind J Physiol & Pharmacol 47(2): 157-163, 2003

SK & P : effect on blood cortisol & ACTH Studies : AIIMS and NIMHANS, Bangalore Fall in blood cortisol and ACTH (Stress hormones) Consistent: relaxing effect of SK and P NIMHANS: Alcohol addicts & patients with depression 70% required no medication SK & P No side effects Cost effective

Jankiramaiah et al. A Therapeutic Efficacy ofSudarshan Kriya yoga 9SKY) In DysthymicDisorders. NIMHANS Journal 17;21-28,1998

Naga Venkatesha et al. P300 Amplitude AndAntidepressant Response To Sudarshan Kriya Yoga. Journal Affective Disorders 50;45-48,1998.

Jankiramaiah et al. Antidepressant Efficacy OfSudarshan Kriya Yoga 9SKY) In Melancholia.Journal Affective Disorders 57; 255-59, 2000.

SK & P : Fall in blood lactate Police trainees - highly stressed group Blood lactate increases during physical and/ or mental stress Alter 5 months of SK and P practice : remarkable fall in blood lactate in those practising SK & P : consistent with relaxation effect Neeta Singh: Prof. Biochemistry: AIIMS

p=0.013

p=0.0006

p=highly significant ( 3x10-10)

Blood lactate: Effect of Sudarshan Kriya

Chart1

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1.60.35

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Controls

Practioners

Lactate (mmoles/L)

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1.60.45

1.60.35

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SK & P : Antioxidant defense Police trainees Studied at base line, after 5 months of SK and P practice and during SK and P Study Group vs controls

Neeta Singh, Prof, Biochemistry, AIIMS. Significant in Antioxidant enzymes in Menopausal womenDr. Geetha