(p<0.05). These results are interpreted by neurologists as indicative of increased mental focus/heightened awareness in SK&P practitioners. It is striking to note that SK&P practitioners displayed signicantly greater mental alertness (beta activity) than the control group of physicians and medical researchers, whose profession requires development and daily use of these very skills. EEG activity was also studied duringthe practice of SK&P in ve females of similar age, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds. This study found an increase in EEG alpha activity, with interspersed persistence of beta activity. This indicates a state of relaxation co-existing with heightened alertness. Effect on Cortisol, the “Stress Hormone” Several studies have demonstrated signicant falls in cortisol levels. In one study, blood cortisol, known as the “stress hormone,” was measured in 21 individuals, 35–50 years of age. Regular SK&P practitioners (Group 1) were compared with beginning practitioners (Group 2) during their SK&P sessions. The beginning practitioners were also measured before learning SK&P, while listening to classical music (Group 3). Among beginners, the fall in cortisol levels was signicantly greater during SK&P than when listening to classical music, suggesting that SK&P produces a better relaxation response. Regular SK&P practitioners had signicantly lower blood cortisol levels at baseline than beginning practitioners, indicating that they experienced less physiological stress under the demands of daily living. The signicant further fall in serum cortisol levels, during and following SK&P, among beginning and regular practitioners, suggests that regular practice of SK&P progressively develops greater levels of both relaxation and resilience to stress. Effect on Blood Lactate Blood lactate is another biochemical measure of stress. Participants in police training constitute a highly stressed group. They undergo intense physical and emotional training daily. Blood lactate was measured in 10 such individuals, both before learning SK&P and after the rst session. There was a signicant fall in lactate levels after SK&P, suggesting that it induces a state of relaxation. Effect on Immune Function The immune system protects us from disease. 2 L a c t a t e m m o l e s / m g p r o t e i n Decreased Lactate (an indicator of tension and stress) Control Group SK&P Practitioners BETA 1 (12,5-18Hz) BETA 2 (18,5-30Hz) EEG-beta wave measures, indicating increased alertness
(p<0.05). These results are interpretedby neurologists as indicative of increasedmental focus/heightened awareness inSK&P practitioners. It is striking to note that
SK&P practitioners displayed signicantlygreater mental alertness (beta activity) thanthe control group of physicians and medicalresearchers, whose profession requiresdevelopment and daily use of these veryskills.
EEG activity was also studied during thepractice of SK&P in ve females of similarage, socioeconomic, and educationalbackgrounds. This study found an increasein EEG alpha activity, with interspersedpersistence of beta activity. This indicates astate of relaxation co-existing with heightenedalertness.
Effect on Cortisol, the “Stress Hormone”Several studies have demonstrated signicant
falls in cortisol levels. In one study, bloodcortisol, known as the “stress hormone,”was measured in 21 individuals, 35–50 years of age. Regular SK&P practitioners(Group 1) were compared with beginningpractitioners (Group 2) during their SK&Psessions. The beginning practitioners werealso measured before learning SK&P, while
listening to classical music (Group 3). Amongbeginners, the fall in cortisol levels wassignicantly greater during SK&P than whenlistening to classical music, suggesting that
SK&P produces a better relaxation response.Regular SK&P practitioners had signicantlylower blood cortisol levels at baseline thanbeginning practitioners, indicating that theyexperienced less physiological stress underthe demands of daily living. The signicantfurther fall in serum cortisol levels, duringand following SK&P, among beginning andregular practitioners, suggests that regularpractice of SK&P progressively developsgreater levels of both relaxation and
resilience to stress.
Effect on Blood LactateBlood lactate is another biochemicalmeasure of stress. Participants in policetraining constitute a highly stressed group.They undergo intense physical and emotionaltraining daily. Blood lactate was measuredin 10 such individuals, both before learningSK&P and after the rst session. There
was a signicant fall in lactate levels afterSK&P, suggesting that it induces a state ofrelaxation.
Effect on Immune FunctionThe immune system protects us from disease.
2
L a c t a t e m m o l e s / m g p r o t e i n
Decreased Lactate (an indicator of tension and stress)
Natural killer (NK) cells are the surveillancecells of the immune system and are capableof destroying tumor cells as well as infectedcells. NK cells were counted in the peripheral
blood of three groups: SK&P practitioners,normal individuals not practicing SK&P,and cancer patients in remission. NK cellswere signicantly higher (p<0.001) in theSK&P group than in either non-practicingindividuals or in cancer patients in remission.The cancer patients then learned SK&P. After3–6 months of regular practice, there was asignicant increase in the cancer patients’ NKcell count. This is particularly encouraging,since cancer survivors have abnormally low
levels of NK cells, and NK cells are believedto be important in the body’s defense againstnew and recurring cancers.
Effect on Antioxidant EnzymesThe body is repeatedly exposed toenvironmental pollutants, and its cellscontinuously produce normal metabolic by-products. Both of these factors can result in
the formation of free radicals. These reactwith oxygen and cause oxidant damage,contributing to many diseases, includingcancer and such cardiovascular diseases asheart disease and stroke.
To counteract these free radicals, the humanbody has a defense system in the form of
antioxidant enzymes. A study was conductedto assess the effect of SK&P on antioxidantenzymes. Levels of three major antioxidantenzymes—superoxide dismutase (SOD),
catalase, and glutathione—were all found tobe signicantly higher in SK&P practitionersthan in the matched control group. Thesedata suggest that people who practice SK&Phave an improved antioxidant status and anenhanced defense against oxidant damage.
Effect on Blood CholesterolPsychosocial stress is a major contributor tohypertension and coronary heart disease(CHD). In CHD, deposits of LDL cholesterol,
fat, and other substances on the arterialwalls slow or block the ow of blood,resulting in heart malfunction. A study wasconducted to assess the cholesterol levels ofindividuals before they learned SK&P, as wellas after 7 and 45 days of regular practice.Signicant drops in total cholesterol and LDL(harmful) cholesterol, as well as increases inHDL (benecial) cholesterol were observed.These ndings suggest that SK&P improvesthe blood cholesterol prole, and thatregular practice may therefore prove to bean effective tool in preventing and arrestinghypertension and CHD.
Effect on DepressionSK&P has been shown to have a 68%–73%success rate in the treatment of depression,regardless of severity. Relief from depression,determined by psychiatric evaluationand standard psychiatric measures (Beck
Depression Inventory, Hamilton RatingScale for Depression, and others), wasexperienced within three weeks. At the three-month follow-ups, patients remained stableand in remission. Published studies furthersuggest that SK&P normalizes patients’ brain-wave patterns, increases serum prolactin (a“well-being” hormone), and is as effective as
G l u t a t h i o n e m m o l e s / m g p r o t e i n
it is safe, free of unwanted side-effects, cost-effective, and self-empowering.
ConclusionsThe subjective reports of in-creased health, vitality, well-being, and peace of mind bythousands of SK&P practitionersare consistent with researchndings to date, which sug-gest an overall strengthening
of the mind/body system. EEG,blood cortisol, and lactate lev-els reect a state of relaxation, yet alertness. Signicant increases in NKcells and antioxidant enzymes suggest thatregular practice may help prevent many seri-ous diseases. Decreases in cholesterol mayprevent cardiac disease, and depression isquickly alleviated in a high percentage ofindividuals. Thus, even though further studiesare needed, these ndings point to the pow-
erful health restoration and promotion effectsof these time-honored practices.
Selected ReferencesSharma, H., Sen, S., Singh, N.K. Bhardwaj, V. Kochupillai, N. Singh(2003). Sudarshan Kriya practitioners exhibit better antioxidant statusand lower blood lactate levels. Biological Psychology, 63:281-291.
Bhatia, M., Kumar, A., Kumar, N., Pandey, R.M., and Kochupillai, V.(2003). Electrophysiologic evaluation of Sudarshan Kriya: an EEG,
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