Powers Of The mind & Yoga

2005-12-04T10:02:00.000+05:30

The power of mind – the electromagnetic waves can create miracle by traversing higher dimensions India Daily Technology Jun. 8, 2005 Scientists are modeling the power of mind in terms of complex spatial structures in the fifth and higher dimensions. Simply put, the human mind is much more powerful than we think. The mind can generate enormous electromagnetic flux that traverses in higher dimensions and create miracles. The science of telepathy is finally getting explained with contemporary physics that nullifies the traditional old quantum physics. Human mind and soul can generate powerful spatial structures that allow communicating with other mind through higher dimensions. The new physics can start to explain the concept of consciousness, spirituality and more. Now we have started to understand that miracles, healing and other so called magical effects are actually true. The power of positive thinking is getting reconfirmation from the scientific community. It is possible to apply will power and create miracles. The power of mind is unleashed when we can concentrate and focus on something. The fact is that prayers have a meaning and that can heavily influence an outcome. What is also interesting is that science is finding that mind needs a focal point to focus on to traverse the higher dimension of spatial structures and unleash its power. The religious beliefs provide this focal point. The higher dimensions beyond our four dimensional universe does not work with quantum physics. Our traditional physics just fails to exists in the parallel Universe higher dimensions. More On.......KALAPURUSH

Deep breathing's a big stress buster

2005-12-01T06:31:00.000+05:30

In the early 1940s, somatic stress researchers found that stress manifested itself differently on mental and physical planes. Physical effects included the classic ‘fight-or-flee’ response — tight muscles, rapid and shallow breathing, increased blood pressure and heart rate, adrenaline secretion and sweating. The cognitive effects of stress were listlessness, concentration and memory problems and loss of motivation. The two-fold or psychophysical manifestation of stress led to a simple, but profound, means of stress-relief — corrective relaxation and breathing techniques. These were already known to the ancients. The key insight of yoga, for example, is that it is literally impossible to be anxious and relaxed at the same time. In modern parlance, this is expressed as an inverse relationship between relaxation and anxiety. In practical terms, whatever promotes relaxation also leads to reduction of anxiety.Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), which is similar to the conscious unwinding of tension envisaged in the yogic shavasana or the corpse pose, is a method designed to teach how to recognise involuntary muscle tension and relax muscle groups, to minimise negative stress. Equally profound is the insight on the relationship that the breath bears with the mind. The cessation of one leads to the quieting of the other, says a famous verse from the Hathayoga-pradipika. Researchers have found that breath control, what yogis would call pranayama, is among the most effective stress-busting techniques in existence. They found that when the breathing gets slow and full, other positive physical and cognitive changes occur that promote relaxation. Thus, diaphragmatic breathing reduces the rate and increases the depth of breathing to promote what Harvard researcher Herbert Benson called the relaxation response. The scientist who pioneered the study of transcendental meditation (TM) in the lab found that anxious individuals could be taught to slow down their breathing during bouts of anxiety, to reduce stress. He found that meditation invariably calmed the mind and body. Focusing on any sound, thought or image, even nonsensical ones, to the exclusion of everything else, hence, tended to promote inner organisation and integrity. It also led to feelings of mastery, control and unity, what psychologist Abraham Maslow called the ‘oceanic’ or merged state of bliss. Similar insights inform Dean Ornish’s ‘heart-friendly’ Lifestyle Programme. He says, “Though diet is important, it’s only one part of my programme. Emotional stress plays an important role in just about all illnesses, both directly and indirectly. For example, emotional stress makes arteries constrict and clot blood faster, which, in turn, may cause a heart attack. Also, people are more likely to smoke, overeat, drink too much, work too hard, and so on when they are feeling stressed. Thus, stress management is an important part of what I recommend. These techniques include yogic stretching and breathing techniques, meditation, support groups and imagery.” The latter involves techniques of visualisation to create altered states — heightened relaxation and concentration — through the use of vivid images and fantasies. We shall examine this next week.

Turmeric Helps in Breast Cancer

2005-11-29T13:19:00.000+05:30

TURMERIC HELPS IN BREAST CANCER CURETurmeric, the medicinal properties of which Ayurveda found millennia ago, is now recognized by modern scientific research as a cure for breast cancer. Its anti toxic properties were also widely known, from ancient times in India. Turmeric is an ingredient in many Ayurvedic medicines. Houston : Oct 15, 2005. : In what may spell good news for people at advanced stages of breast cancer, researchers have discovered that curcumin - the main ingredient in the common Indian spice turmeric - is an "effective preventive". Researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre have found that curcumin, which gives Indian curry its yellow colour; inhibits metastasis in the lungs of mice afflicted with breast cancer."We know that it's an effective preventive at low doses, the question is whether larger doses can be therapeutic for disease sufferers," Dr Bharat Aggarwal, of the experimental therapeutics department at the cancer centre, said. Though study results are early, researchers found the non-toxic natural substance not only repelled progression of the disease to the lungs, but also appeared to reverse the effects of paclitaxel taxol, a commonly prescribed chemotherapy for breast cancer that may trigger spread of the disease with use over a long period of time."We are excited about the results of the study and the possible implications for taking the findings into the clinic in the next several years," he said.Advanced breast cancer is currently a difficult foe to fight with few proven treatments available after surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Because taxol is so toxic, it activates a protein that produces an inflammatory response that induces metastasis.Curcumin suppresses this response, making it impossible for the cancer to spread. In fact, researchers found that adding curcumin to taxol actually enhances its effect.Curcumin breaks down the dose, making the therapy less toxic and, just as powerful while delivering the same level of efficacy.Taxol is currently used as chemotherapeutic agent in breast cancers, but because the drug frequently induces resistance after prolonged use, it is not effective in treating metastatic breast cancer, says Aggarwal.Researchers studied 60 mice with breast cancer, which were randomly assigned to one of four groups - control group, taxol only, curcumin only and the combination of taxol and curcumin. After the tumours grew to 10 mm in size, they were surgically removed, and the mice were fed powdered curcumin.

Role of Ayurvedic drugs in Managing HIV Infection

2005-11-29T13:13:00.000+05:30

Role of Ayurvedic drugs in the management of HIV infection – A pilot projectDoiphode V.V; Gupte, R.B.Proceedings of international Seminar on Complementary Medicine in AIDS, Ayur, Educ. Ser. No.68, Pune, p. 72-80, February 8, 1998'(Eng ).AIDS patients (25 patients) here administered with Guduchi, Shatavari, Amalaki, Bhui, Kohada, Makaradwaja, vanga bhasma and abhark\bhasma in different combinations based on the principles of Rasayana chikitsa described in Ayurveda. Evaluation of the results revealed that the group "A" patients, showed significant weight gain, as compared to control group. No significant statistical difference were observed in experimental or control group in the parameters observed viz., hemoglobin estimation, absolute lymphocyte count, platelet count, montoux test, and chest x-ray.
A Role of Ayurveda in AIDSKulkami A.Proceedings of International Seminar on Contemporary Medicine in AIDS, Ayur. Edu. Ser No. 68, Pune, p. 65-71, Feb 8th 1998 (Eng).Ayurvedic medicines were given to the patients to get the symptomatic relief, they include Chyavanprash in the form of Raktavardhak ( 1 tsp. ) in the morning, Sookshma triphia tabs ( 2 tabs) twice a day. The above medicines have been shown to improve the quality of life of the patient and help to keep away from the diseases and hazardous infections.
Clinical trial of Boswellia Serrata (Shallaki) in the treatment of OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritis of the knee joint is a common problem presenting as pain and progressive disability. Although arrest of degenerative changes is difficult the treatment is aimed at making the patient symptom free and mobile as far as possible. Drug treatment of Osteoarthritis being prolonged, the drug selected should be free of side effects.Patients complaining of pain in the knee joints, stiffness and difficulty in walking and or climbing were included in the trial. The diagnosis of osteoarthritis was established from history, physical examination and X Ray changes of the affected joint. The patients selected were divided into two groups - one group of patients received Shallaki tablets, while the other group of patients were given paracetamol tablets.After 4 weeks of trial it was observed that, 7 patients taking Shallaki showed excellent response these cases were having short duration of complaints (less than 6 months). They had no radiological changes.26 cases showed good response. In these patients duration of complaints was more than 6 months with minimal changes of osteoarthritis on X-Ray examination. If treatment with Shallaki had continued for longer period, patients would have shown excellent results.
US take note of Ayurvedic remedy to lower cholesterol.The resin of the Guggulu tree has been used in Indian traditional medicines for more than 2,500 years, and more recently has been enlisted to fight high cholesterol.David Moore of the Baylor College of medicine in Houston found that the Guggulu extract lives up to its reputation. It really does lower cholesterol in a number of clinical studies in the Indian literature, Moore said.Writing in the journal science he said it has been used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine since at least 600BC to treat obesity and other disorder.Moore's team found the steroid guggulsterone, the active agent in the Guggulu extract blocks the activity of the Foresaid X receptor (FXR) on cells. FXR helps regulate cholesterol by affecting levels of bile acids, which are produced from cholesterol and released by the liver.Source : AYURVEDA and ALL

Yoga & Meditation Cures Panic disorder

2005-11-29T12:53:00.000+05:30

Yogic cure of Panic Disorder Everyone sometimes feels anxious for no identifiable reason. At these times we think, “Something is happening—I must stay alert.” Panic victims share these feelings, but for them the stakes are higher. Their distress is so overwhelming that the fearful possibilities take on mammoth proportions. “I’m having a heart attack,” they think, or “I’m losing my mind.” We all experience periods of vague anxiety, which often pass without our ever discovering or having to acknowledge the causes. Panic anxiety, however, is the cue for a determined (and often desperate) search for a source. Panic attacks are characterized by rapidly escalating and overwhelming anxiety. In the beginning, panickers are rarely able to identify what has made them anxious, describing the episodes as occurring “out of the blue.” The attacks are triggered by frightening physical sensations that occur suddenly, much like an unconscious reflex. Among the most common are shortness of breath, a rapid heart rate, heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, a feeling of choking, chest pain, nausea, and dizziness. Frightened sufferers develop painfully sharp sensitivity to these sensations, often making several trips to the emergency room before they finally realize that their symptoms are panic-related. Physical sensations alone are not the core of the illness. Fearful thoughts, unpleasant emotions, avoidant behaviors, disturbing sensations, and deteriorating relationships all collude with one another to maintain panic. Thoughts such as the fear of dying or of having a mental breakdown are common. Even mild anxiety can trigger an attack, and any disturbing emotion can be interpreted as a precursor to full-fledged panic. Gradually, the fear of having an attack in public leads the panicker to avoid those places—a disorder known as agoraphobia. Problems in relationships, which may have been the original source of anxiety, become worse as panic episodes develop. Difficulty with self-assertiveness and with the resolution of conflicts increases. Friends and partners are often frustrated because they cannot understand what is happening. The Road to Recovery Fortunately, panic disorder can be treated successfully, frequently with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Panic sufferers are now turning to yoga for help as well, for yoga offers a wide range of stress-reducing tools. An ancient model of recovery can be found in the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, one which is also embodied in the Four Noble Truths of the Buddha.MORE ON.................................. http://kaalchakra.bravehost.com/panicdisorder.html

Treating The Cancer By Scientific Yoga

2005-11-27T17:23:00.000+05:30

With modern medicine unable to find a cure for cancer, victims of the dreaded disease are looking for alternative avenues. Most cancer specialists agree Yoga is the most effective alternative treatment available. Cancer is a condition where the human cells divide uncontrollably and form a tumour which affects the functioning of the normal cells. Allopathy tries to destroy the tumour and arrest its further growth through surgery, medication and radiation. Yoga experts explain uncontrolled cell multiplication as human energy (prana shakti) gone haywire due to internal disturbances.According to them, the only way to set things right is to iron out the disturbances with the power of the mind. And what is prescribed is 'Yoga nidra', a particular Yoga exercise, which is effective in training the subconscious to fight cancer. K S Madhavan of the A M Charitable Trust, which promotes complementary cancer therapies, believes that more than cancer, it is the fear of cancer that kills the victim. "It is like even before the battle has begun, the patient has lost the war," Madhavan says. In Yoga nidra, the cancer patient starts off with 'shavasana' where he/she lies supine with feet slightly apart and hands on both sides of the body with palms up. Later, he is instructed to relax all parts of the body while keeping the subconscious active. The patient is then asked to visualise cancer cells as irregularly shaped cells affecting the normal functioning of smooth normal body cells. Then, the patient visualises again about white blood cells, the immune system of the body, fighting the cancer cells and finally winning the battle. He is asked to imagine the cancer-affected body part as one fresh and glowing with new bio-energy. Supporters of Yoga argue that allopathic medicine may silence the tumour temporarily but the body reacts by lying dormant for a while and then striking back, as manifested by secondary tumours springing up in other body parts. AM Trust organises Yoga sessions for cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy in many hospitals. Relaxation techniques reduce toxic effects of drugs used in chemotherapy. Though Yoga is not prescribed as an alternative, senior oncologist at the Regional Cancer Centre (M N J Institute of Oncology) and the Apollo Cancer Centre believe that Yoga has a beneficial effect on cancer patients.MORE AT KAALCHAKRA

Meditation May Reduce Heart Disease Risk

2005-11-22T18:20:00.000+05:30

Black adolescents with high normal blood pressure who practice transcendental meditation improve the ability of their blood vessels to relax and may reduce their risk of becoming adults with cardiovascular disease, researchers say.

After eight months of meditation, these adolescents experienced a 21 percent increase in the ability of their blood vessels to dilate compared to a 4 percent decrease experienced by their non-meditating peers, says Dr. Vernon A. Barnes, physiologist at the Medical College of Georgia’s Georgia Prevention Institute and lead investigator on the study.

“Our blood vessels are not rigid pipes,” says Dr. Barnes. “They need to dilate and constrict, according to the needs of the body. If this improvement in the ability to dilate can be replicated in other at-risk groups and cardiovascular disease patients, this could have important implications for inclusion of meditation programs to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease and its clinical consequences.

“We know this type of change is achievable with lipid lowering drugs, but it’s remarkable that a meditation program can produce such a change,” the researcher says.

In the April 2004 issue of the American Journal of Hypertension, Dr. Barnes and his colleagues reported that 15 minutes of twice-daily transcendental meditation steadily lowered the blood pressure of 156 black, inner-city adolescents and their pressures tended to stay lower.

This new study, being presented during the 63rd Annual Scientific Conference of the American Psychosomatic Society held March 2-5 in Vancouver, focused on 111 of those adolescents, 57 who meditated and 54 controls.

MCG researchers found among the meditators an increased ability of the blood vessel lining, called the endothelium, to relax. “Dysfunction in the ability of the endothelium to dilate is an early event in heart disease, a process that starts at a young age,” says Dr. Barnes.

At four months and again at eight months, researchers used echocardiography to measure the diameter of the right brachial artery, the main artery that feeds the arm, before and after a blood pressure cuff was inflated for two minutes. They found essentially no difference in the ability of that vessel to relax after stress in either group at four months. But by eight months, EDAD or endothelial-dependent arterial dilation, was significantly improved in the meditators, says Dr. Barnes, noting that as with all lifestyle changes, the full benefits of meditating may take a while.

“Change can’t be expected overnight,” he says. “Meditation and other positive lifestyle habits such as exercising and eating right have to become part of your life, like brushing your teeth.” Long-term studies are needed to determine the long-term impact of meditation on the risk of heart disease, he says.

Doctors already know that smoking, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease are all associated with decreased EDAD. “With the high prevalence of heart disease we have in our country today, this is something that should be considered,” he says of meditation, which is inexpensive and has no side effects.

The obesity epidemic in the United States, he says, likely is the primary contributor to the increasing blood pressure rates in children. But obesity appears to be part of an unhealthy cycle where the stresses of everyday life – such as poverty and not feeling safe at home – contribute to bad habits such as overeating and/or eating high-fat comfort foods and not exercising. Stress also may impair sleep, preventing the body – and blood pressure – from resting and recovering.

It appears that meditating – allowing the mind to settle to minimal activity for 15 minutes twice daily – may help the meditator and his blood vessels relax in the hectic world around him.

Dr. Frank Treiber, director of MCG’s Georgia Prevention Institute, and Dr. Surender Malhotra, cardiology fellow at MCG, are co-authors on the study which is highlighted as one of 10 abstract submissions to the conference viewed as having the highest potential to change clinical practice from the perspective of screening, diagnosis or treatment.

The research was funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Yoga God Realization Obstacles In Meditation

2005-11-22T04:47:00.000+05:30

[from Chapter I: "Samadhi Pada- On Contemplations"]I.30. VYAADHI-STYAANA-SAMSHAYA-PRAMAADAALASYAA-VIRATI-BHRAANTI-DARSHANAALABDHABHOOMI-KATVAANAVASTHITATVAANI CITTA-VIKSHEPAASTE 'NTARAAYAAH.'The obstacles to Realization are disease, mental torpor, doubt, indifference, laziness, craving for pleasure, delusion, inability to practice and maintain concentration, and restlessness of mind due todistraction'.Commentary:If the body is not healthy, cosmic consciousness cannot be reached. The practice of 'asanas' and 'pranayama' wards off disease and helps to maintain alertness. Doubt and the various mental obstacles can be dispelled by the spiritual experiences that come through meditation. Especially when progress seems to be at a standstill, it is essentialto plod on doggedly with the practice. Yoga, like any other kind of learning, is never a straight ascent; there are ups and downs and plateaus. Bear this in mind, do not become discouraged, and be aware that all seekers encounter these same obstacles. They should be regarded as challengeswhich introduce growth opportunities to develop strength. With regularity in practice, the mind eventually rights itself.MORE ON...................KAALCHAKRA

Preventing Hair Loss by Yoga Ayureda

2005-11-20T11:11:00.000+05:30

Preventing hair loss
Hair loss can result from several reasons ranging from hormonal imbalance to an improper diet or Stress. You can control hair fall with a few simple dos.

FOR CENTURIES, women have taken pride in their crowning glory. One gets worked up when there is a threat to the lovely tresses. A few strands of hair in the comb and you hit the panic button. But wait, hair fall may be part of the hair cycle or a result of improper hair care. The hair cycle... Each strand grows from a hair follicle, where the new cells produced are added on to the root causing the hair to grow. On an average, hair grows at half an inch per month. Hair grows more quickly in summer and between the ages of 16-24. Normally, each hair has a life span--a single strand lives for seven years, and is then replaced by a new one. But when the rate of hair fall overtakes the rate of replacement, or hair loss becomes obvious. The whys of hair loss... There are several causes for hair loss. Between the ages of 40-50 women tend to lose about 20 per cent of their hair, though at a slower rate when compared to men. In men, the hereditary pattern of hair loss is observed.Childbirth, contraceptive pills, menopause and related hormonal changes and hysterectomy result in hair fall among women. "Balding is catching up in women too as diffused hair loss, thinning in the top frontal part or localised baldness Alopecia is occurring. This is due to over and improper use of hair styling and colouring products. Dietary deficiencies and stress are the major lifestyle causes of hair loss today," says Laila Kakade, Begums' And solutions... "To rescue falling hair, take 2-teaspoons castor oil, 2 teaspoons each of amla and shikakai powder, powdered fenugreek (methi) seeds, 2 teaspoons of neem paste and 2 eggs. Apply the paste to the scalp and hair and leave on for 45 minutes. Wash with a mild shampoo. For dandruff, massage hair with warm coconut oil and apply the juice of one lemon to the scalp. Grind 550 grams of methi seeds. Mix in two eggs and apply on the scalp. Leave on for 30 minutes, shampoo with an anti-dandruff shampoo. For a final rinse, take warm water and add juice of one lemon to it. Do this twice a week to wash the hair off dandruff," says Laila. Scalp diseases from bacterial or fungal infection can lead to hair fall. Get medical help for any persistent hair infection and keep you hair clean and dandruff free as a maxim. Food for the sheen... What you eat reflects on your hair. "Hair needs proteins, vitamins and minerals, so incorporate plenty of fruits, vegetables and milk in your diet," says Laila. Green, leafy vegetables, fresh fruit salads, coconut, lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, yoghurt, almonds and cottage cheese give hair strength and a natural shine. Drink at least eight glasses of water, herbal teas and unsweetened fruit juice. Go easy on tea and coffee. They increase the drainage of water and important nutrients and hamper the absorption of minerals crucial for hair health. Alcohol is antagonistic to several minerals and vitamins that are essential for healthy hair. Fitness for hair... Exercise regularly. Regular exercise stimulates the circulatory system, encouraging a healthy blood supply to all cells, nourishing and helping in hair regeneration and repair. Be calm and de-stress yourself with yoga," says Laila. The maxim then, a healthy lifestyle with a nutritious diet, regular workouts, doing yoga asana like Sarvanga asan yogic posture and a stress free outlook should do wonders to revitalise the crowning glory. More on.................KAALCHAKRA

Vegetarian Food Diet & Diseases

2005-11-16T11:35:00.000+05:30

What Indian Saints had been saying since Time Immeorial Regarding Benefits Of Vegetarian Food.

New Research Had Found Out That Meaty, Salty, Starchy Diet May Impact Chronic Lung Disease

A new study finds that eating mostly meat, refined starches, and sodium may increase the likelihood of developing chronic respiratory symptoms, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Researchers found that individuals whose diets are rich in meat, refined starches and sodium are 1.43 times more likely to report new onset of persistent coughs with phlegm than those who consume a diet high in fruit and soy. "Understanding all the contributing factors, including the role that diet plays in the incidence and development of chronic respiratory symptoms will lead to better prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases," said David A. Schwartz, M.D., the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the component of the National Institutes of Health, that supported the study. "We know that cigarette smoking can be a specific cause of COPD, but now we're learning that avoiding certain foods may help reduce chronic respiratory symptoms, both in smokers and non-smokers." The results appearing online in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine analyzed data to assess the usual dietary intake of 52,325 participants. Although the study was conducted within a Singaporean population, the dietary patterns are reflective of U.S. eating patterns. The study population consisted of men and women of Chinese ethnicity ranging in ages from 45 to 74 at enrollment.
"These are exceptional data on dietary habits," said NIEHS researcher Stephanie London, M.D., lead investigator on the study. "We are fortunate to have access to high quality dietary data from such a large number of participants to address the potential links with respiratory health." Dr. Mimi Yu, of the University of Minnesota, founder of the Singapore Chinese Cohort, developed and validated a 165-item quantitative food frequency questionnaire in this population. The participants were presented with a list of 147 food items and 18 beverages and asked about the frequency of consumption of each item over a one-year period. For this paper, researchers used these data to analyze dietary patterns of the population, rather than simply looking at individual foods or nutrients as is usually done.
"We were able to identify two distinct food patterns in our population," said Dr. London. "what we refer to as the 'meat-dim sum pattern' and the 'vegetable-fruit-soy pattern.'" The meat-dim sum pattern contained 31 food items, predominantly pork, chicken, fish, noodle dishes, and preserved foods, as well as 11 snack items. The vegetable-fruit-soy pattern contained 32 foods, including 23 vegetables, 4 fruit items and five soyfood items.
The meat dim sum pattern was positively associated with new onset cough with phlegm after adjusting for age, gender, smoking, education and other factors. No individual food item could account for the 1.4 fold increase in risk of cough with phlegm from this dietary pattern. "It is difficult to tease out what is accounting for the increases in respiratory symptoms related to the meat-dim-sum diet, and thus using the patterns is useful" said Dr. London.
The researchers explain that there are similarities between the newly identified Chinese patterns and U.S. dietary patterns. Two primary U.S. patterns have been consistently described in the research literature. The "Western" pattern, characterized by red and processed meats, sweets and desserts, French fries, refined grains, has many similarities to the Chinese meat-dim sum diet; and the "prudent" pattern, characterized by fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, poultry and whole grains, resembles the vegetable-fruit-soy diet.
"As researchers, we rarely look at the impact of dietary patterns on health. We typically look at vitamins and specific foods, but not how overall dietary patterns affect non-malignant respiratory diseases or symptoms," said Dr. London. "These data show us the important contribution that diet can have on the development of diseases, such as COPD. Choosing foods with less saturated fat, lower in refined starches and sodium content is probably a good idea." Researchers at the National University of Singapore, the University of Minnesota, the University of California at Davis, and Fox-Chase Cancer Center collaborated with NIEHS on this study. More on.....................KAALCHAKRA

Yoga Cures Autism Mental Disability

2005-11-01T07:42:00.000+05:30

Yoga may be a a simple way to help kids, especially children with autism or attention deficit disorder, focus. It's a unique approach, but it makes a lot of sense, NBC4's Dr. Bruce Hensel reported. Yoga helps kids with and without learning disabilities, Hensel reported. It helps them physically and emotionally as well. A very special yoga class is held at John Muir Elementary School in Santa Monica. Yoga instructor Darlene D'Arezzo teaches kids breathing, posture and movement at schools and in private classes. D'Arezzo has kids with many disabilities. She finds yoga helps each in a unique way. "Yoga helps soothe, calm stress. It helps to filter out what's not necessary, what's not needed," D'Arezzo said. That can be crucial for children like Olivia Maitra Conell, who has autism spectrum disorder. "In general, it's a healthy, fun activity that becomes routine for her, and that's positive and healthy," said Andrea Maitra Conell, Olivia's mother. D'Arezzo said it also helps those with attention deficit disorder. "I have one student who was able to come off medicines and is actually doing better without medicines," D'Arezzo said. Just a few weeks in, Olivia is already making progress. "She's now excited," Andrea Maitra Conell said. "She's talking about it when she's home. She even says, 'Mommy' and asks to do poses with us." Whether in school or in private class, Conell believes it helps kids with or without learning disabilities. The key is it builds their self-confidence. That's a key in their development, Hensel reported. Studies show physical training also helps children with learning problems get more in touch with their bodies, which also helps them communicate and adjust to social situations. More on KALCHAKRA

Spiritual Meditation Reduces Pain

2005-10-03T18:43:00.000+05:30

Spiritual meditation 'may reduce pain'Meditation makes people more relaxed and able to withstand pain if it has a spiritual basis, say scientists.Student volunteers were put into three groups, one asked to concentrate on a phrase such as "God is love" or "God is peace" as they meditated, another to focus on messages such as "I am happy" or "I am joyful" and a third were simply told to relax.They were instructed to practise their technique for 20 minutes a day for two weeks. The researchers used psychological profiling to assess their mood at the beginning and end of each week.They also tested pain tolerance by measuring the amount of time the volunteers could keep their hands in water cooled to 2C.Those practising spiritual meditation showed greater reductions in anxiety than the other groups, and were able to hold their hands in cold water for nearly twice as long.Amy Wachholtz, a Phd student at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, US, who conducted the study, told New Scientist magazine that spiritual medication delivered more than deep relaxation."It is also likely that there is something unique inherent in the practice of spiritual meditation that cannot be completely conveyed through secular meditation and relaxation."
More on.......... Kaalchakra

Yoga Halts Prostrate Cancer

2005-09-20T11:40:00.000+05:30

Diet, yoga may halt prostate cancer LIFESTYLE WATCH
Men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer may be able to stop the disease with some drastic lifestyle changes.That finding comes from a new study of 93 prostate cancer patients.Some of the men were randomly assigned to a group that adopted a vegan or vegetarian diet, regular exercise and stress management through yoga.After a year, those who made the lifestyle changes experienced an average 4 percent drop in their PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels, an indicator of cancer growth.But among those who didn't make the changes, PSA levels rose an average of 6 percent.Early-stage prostate cancer is diagnosed in more than 230,000 Americans each year.

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Alternative Treatment May Help Male Sexual Infertility Problems

2005-08-24T05:31:00.000+05:30

Alternative Treatment May Help Male Infertility Problems.Acupuncture may help some men overcomeinfertility problems by improving the quality of their sperm, according to a new study.Researchers found five weeks of acupuncture treatment reduced the numberof structural abnormalities in sperm and increased the overall number of normal sperm in a group of men with infertility problems. They say the results suggest that acupuncture may complement traditional infertility treatments and help men reach their full reproductive potential.Acupuncture May Ease Male Infertility An estimated 10% of men are infertile, and the male partner is a factor in up to 50% of infertile couples, write the researchers. In many cases, the cause of male infertility is unknown. Previous studies of acupuncture and male infertility have suggested that acupuncture can improve sperm production and motility (a measure of sperm movement).In this study, researchers looked at the effects of acupuncture on the structural health of sperm in men with infertility of unknown cause. The findings appear in the July issue of Fertility and Sterility.Twenty-eight infertile men received acupuncture treatments twice a week for five weeks, and 12 received no treatment and served as a comparison group. Researchers analyzed sperm samples at the beginning and end of the study and found significant improvements in sperm quality in the acupuncture group compared with the other group. Acupuncture treatment was associated with fewer structural defects in the sperm and an increase in the number of normal sperm in ejaculate.But other sperm abnormalities, such as immature sperm or sperm death, were unaffected by acupuncture.The researchers write that acupuncture treatment is a simple, noninvasive method that can improve sperm quality.

2005-08-10T19:47:00.000+05:30

Meditation May Cut Stress, Improving Mental And Physical Health
An intensive program that teaches Indian meditation skills may help people reduce the psychological and physical effects of high stress, according to a new study.

Kimberly A. Williams, Ph.D., at West Virginia University in Morgantown, and her colleagues assessed the benefits of the program that taught participants to “discern a relaxed from tense body and come to understand experientially how mental and emotional states influence the body and vice versa.” They recruited 62 “stressed-out” subjects from the community. Past studies of similar training programs have shown the benefits in patients with confirmed psychiatric diagnoses and/or chronic illness. This is the first study to examine the benefits of such a program within a community setting, in people who reported abnormally high stress but not at a level that constitutes a psychiatric disorder. They found that the 35 participants who underwent what was termed “mindfulness training” experienced an average 54 percent reduction in psychological distress from the beginning of the program to three months later.

Ayurveda & Herbs

2005-07-28T19:00:00.000+05:30

Indian Ayurveda

Ingredient That Makes Curry Yellow Effective Against Melanoma Cells Curcumin, the yellow pigment found in the spice turmeric and a key ingredient in yellow curry inhibits melanoma cell growth and stimulates tumor cell death, according to a new study. Published in the August 15, 2005 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study also elucidates curcumin's intracellular mechanisms of action in this type of tumor.As well as showing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, curcumin has been shown to have anti-cancer properties. In other tumors, it has been demonstrated to inhibit tumor growth and stimulate apoptosis, an intracellular mechanism for cells of all types to "kill" themselves. To evaluate the compound's efficacy in melanoma, researchers led by Razelle Kurzrock, M.D. of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston treated three melanoma cell lines with curcumin at different doses and for different duration.Results show that curcumin treatment decreased cell viability in all three cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, curcumin induced apoptosis in tumor cells at high concentrations for short periods of time and low concentrations for long periods of time - a new finding in the study of curcumin.Curcumin was found to suppress two specific proteins normally part of an intracellular pathway that prevents apoptosis when stimulated. Curcumin partially inhibited NF-êB and strongly inhibited its upstream stimulator and another independent inhibitor of apoptosis, IKK. However, it did not suppress two other signaling pathways associated with melanomas and tumor proliferation, B-Raf/MEK/ERK and Akt pathways."Based on our studies, we conclude the curcumin is a potent suppressor of cell viability and inducer of apoptosis in melanoma cell lines," said the authors, adding "Future investigation to determine the effects of curcumin in animal models of melanoma and clinical trials are planned."

Yoga Reduces Fatigue

2005-05-20T10:36:00.000+05:30

Yoga Reduces Fatigue In Multiple Sclerosis Patients, OHSU Study Finds
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Just six months of yoga significantly reduces fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis, but it has no effect on alertness and cognitive function, says a new Oregon Health & Science University study.The study, published June 8 in the journal Neurology, found that yoga is as good as a traditional aerobic exercise program in improving measures of fatigue, a common and potentially disabling symptom of MS. It was the first randomized, controlled trial of yoga in people with MS.A parallel study by the same OHSU authors, presented in April at the 56th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, found that cognitive function does not improve among healthy seniors in a six-month yoga program or exercise class, but physical health and quality of life appear to be enhanced. The MS study was not designed to determine the impact of yoga on the disease itself, said the study's lead author, Barry Oken, M.D., professor of neurology and behavioral neuroscience in the OHSU School of Medicine. Rather, it was intended to determine the effect of yoga and aerobic exercise on cognitive function, fatigue, mood and quality of life among people with MS."There are some claims out there that yoga helps MS itself, that it can decrease the number of lesions" in the brain caused by MS, said Oken, director of the Oregon Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Neurological Disorders (ORCCAMIND) at OHSU. "I'm not sure that that's not the case, because stress may have an impact on MS. But that was not what we were trying to show."Study co-author Dennis Bourdette, M.D., professor of neurology in the OHSU School of Medicine and director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Oregon, said yoga was studied because many people with MS already are using it and reporting benefits."We wanted to see whether or not it was beneficial when studied scientifically and how it compared with a type of exercise that physicians are more comfortable recommending -- exercise on a stationary bicycle supervised by a physical therapist," said Bourdette, chairman of the School of Medicine's Department of Neurology and associate director of ORCCAMIND.An earlier survey of nearly 2,000 MS patients in Oregon and southwest Washington found about 30 percent of respondents tried yoga. Of those, 57 percent reported it to be "very beneficial," Bourdette noted. Indeed, many chapters of the National MS Society sponsor yoga programs."So it is used fairly commonly, and I believe with publication of our results it will gain even more acceptance and use," he said. The study "also clearly demonstrates that yoga postures can be modified for use among people with MS who have disabilities caused by their condition and that yoga can be done safely and effectively."The study examined 69 MS patients in three groups: one taking weekly Iyengar yoga classes along with home practice; another taking a weekly exercise class using a stationary bicycle along with home exercise; and a third group placed on a waiting list to serve as a control. Participants were monitored for attention, alertness, mood, anxiety, fatigue and overall quality of life.The yoga classes were offered once a week for 90 minutes. Participants were taught up to 19 poses, each held for 10 seconds to 30 seconds with rest periods of 30 seconds to a minute. They also performed breathing exercises to promote concentration and relaxation, as well as progressive relaxation, visualization and meditation techniques. And daily home practice was strongly encouraged.The MS study's aerobic exercise component was similar to the yoga intervention, with one class per week plus home exercise. It consisted of bicycling on recumbent or dual-action stationary bicycles, and each class began and ended with about five minutes of stretching. Participants were given exercise bikes to use at home and were encouraged to use them outside of the weekly class.While the yoga and aerobic exercise programs produced no significant changes in alertness, attention or other measures of cognitive function in MS patients compared with the waiting-list group, the study found there were improvements in two fatigue measurement tests."We think they're equally beneficial for symptoms of fatigue from MS," Oken said of yoga and aerobic exercise.The study cautioned that the reasons behind the reduction in MS fatigue symptoms are unclear. The socialization aspect of the yoga and exercise classes, as well as a placebo effect -- simply telling participants that the exercise program was specifically designed to improve psychological well-being -- could be credited.Yoga is a type of so-called mind-body medicine that includes tai-chi, meditation, and dance, music and art therapy. It is a commonly practiced method involving behavioral, psychological, social and spiritual approaches to health, and it is centered around meditation, breathing and postures.Of the active or hatha yoga techniques, Iyengar yoga is the most common type practiced in the United States. Participants assume a series of stationary positions that employ isometric contraction and relaxation of different muscle groups to create specific body alignments. There also is a relaxation component."I see it mostly as a kind of physical activity with a stress-reduction component and body awareness features," Oken said of yoga. "It has this aspect of bringing your attention to the present moment. But it's hard to know if that's due to relaxation or getting your mind not to worry for a little bit." Whatever the workout method, exercise seems to help MS patients reduce fatigue symptoms, Bourdette said. "This is true whether the regular exercise is yoga, swimming, using a stationary bicycle or any other physical activity," he said. "Sometimes the effects are quite dramatic and other times less so. But everyone with MS who exercises regularly reports benefit."The parallel study on the effects of yoga and exercise on healthy seniors focused on 136 participants aged 65 to 85. It showed there were some improvements in physical measures, such as cardiovascular fitness, and quality-of-life measures, such as energy and fatigue.There was no improvement in measures of cognitive function, however, compared with a waiting-list control group."I was hoping to show some cognitive benefit, but the main benefit was a decrease in fatigue and higher energy levels," Oken explained. "I think those relative benefits are only going to be seen over quite a long period of time. In healthy people, it's probably going to be a fairly subtle effect."
Both studies were funded by the National Institutes of Health.More on ... KAALPURUSH

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