Yoga Medical News Daily

Yoga breathing exercises improve pulmonary function in bronchial asthma patients

The role of yoga breathing exercises, as an adjunct treatment for bronchial asthma is well recognized. In this study120 asthma patients were randomized into a yoga training group and a control group.  

Pulmonary function tests were performed on all the patients at the beginning of the study, after 4 weeks and then after 8 weeks. The subjects in the yoga group showed statistically significant improvements as compared to the non-yoga group. 

The research results suggest that "yoga breathing exercises used adjunctively with standard pharmacological treatment significantly improves pulmonary functions in patients with bronchial asthma."  Abstract: PubMed. Article: "A study of the effect of yoga training on pulmonary functions in patients with bronchial asthma," by Sodhi C, Singh S, Dandona PK., Department of Physiology, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology [2009 Apr-Jun;53(2):169-74]

Diaphragmatic Breathing Reduces Exercise-induced Oxidative Stress

This Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2009 Oct 29) article by Martarelli D, Cocchioni M, Scuri S, and Pompei P., Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, Macerata, Italy, describes their study investigating "the effects of diaphragmatic breathing on exercise-induced oxidative stress and the putative role of cortisol and melatonin hormones in this stress pathway. . . . Results demonstrate that relaxation induced by diaphragmatic breathing increases the antioxidant defense status in athletes after exhaustive exercise. These effects correlate with the concomitant decrease in cortisol and the increase in melatonin. . . ."  Abstract: PubMed. Article full text.

Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Medication Therapy . . . in Japanese patients with cancer

This study, published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine  (August 2009), assessed "the efficacy of mindfulness-based meditation therapy on anxiety, depression, and spiritual well-being of Japanese patients undergoing anticancer treatment. A secondary goal was to assess the relationships among anxiety, depression, spiritual well-being, growth, appreciation, pain, and symptoms."  The subjects participated in two sessions of mindfulness-based meditation therapy, including breathing, yoga movement and meditation. The study concluded: "Mindfulness-based meditation therapy may be effective for anxiety and depression in Japanese cancer patients, and spiritual well-being is related to anxiety and depression, growth, and pain. The negative correlation of spirituality with growth differs from the results of previous studies and the mechanism of this effect needs to be investigated further."  Full abstract:  PubMed.