health

Further evidence of yoga's therapeutic benefits has been found. A new study concluded that regular practice may ease menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors.

The trial involved 37 women who had finished treatment for early-stage breast cancer.

The women were split into two groups, one of which took a two-hour yoga class for eight weeks as well as practising yoga at home for 30 minutes a day.

At the end of the time-frame, the yoga group had a greater improvement in menopausal symptoms - they had a greater drop in fatigue and joint pain, and improved sleep.

The participants took a kind of yoga called Yoga of Awareness, which aims to create an enhanced sense of awareness and acceptance of the body's physical and mental state.

The study was carried out by the Duke and Oregon Health & Science University in the USA.

The results were presented in Los Angeles last week at the International Association of Yoga Therapists' Symposium for Yoga Therapy and Research.

Image source: Devotion

New research has confirmed what yogis have known for thousands of years - that regular use of a salty nasal wash helps snuffy symptoms of colds and flu. In otherwords, go out and buy a neti pot.

A study of children between the ages of six and ten found that using a seawater nasal wash can improve the symptoms of colds and even stop them catching other germs.

One group was given standard medication, while the other was told to use a nasal wash with a modified seawater solution.

Patients were observed for 12 weeks and were assessed over four visits, as reported in The Daily Mail.

After eight weeks of the study, which was conducted int he Czech Republic, those using the saline solution had fewer sore throats, coughs, blocked and running noses than the other group.

Evidence shows that salt washes reduce the production of inflammatory compounds or create a favourable environment for cilia - tiny hairs in the respiratory system - to banish mucus.

Yogis have traditionally used neti pots containing salty water to remove mucus, help prevent respiratory tract infections, relieve allergies and colds, and even treat headaches and migrains.

The practice is one of the kriyas - or purification techniques - performed to ensure optimum physical and spiritual health.

Neti pots can be brought by mainstream yoga suppliers, including Yogamatters and shopneti.co.uk

Picture source: Yogamatters

Getting enough exercise and generally having a healthy lifestyle can add 14 years to the life of an average person, a new study has found. Major research over ten years concluded that taking exercise, eating fruit and vegetables, not drinking too much alcohol and not smoking can significantly boost longevity.

The research, which was done by the University of Cambridge and the Medical Research Council in Norfolk between 1993 and 2006, involved 20,000 participants aged between 45 and 79 years old, from all social classes.

A 72-year-old adhering to all four positive lifestyle factors was found to have the same risk of dying as a 60-year old with far more hedonistic tendencies.

Professor Kay-Tee Khaw, who lead the research, says: "We know that individually, measures such as not smoking and exercising can have an impact on longevity, but this is the first time we have looked at them altogether."

"We also found that social class and Body Mass Index really did not have a role to play", he adds. 

Two international studies have concluded that yoga is a powerful weapon against a raft of illnesses, including heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity. It also significantly boosts wellbeing and guards against stress, the research has found.

A study by the University of Karlastad, Sweden, involved 55 adults taking part in Sudarshan Kriya - cycles of slow, normal and rapid breathing that were performed for an hour a day over six weeks.

At the end of the period, feelings of anxiety, stress and depression were significantly lower and participants were considerably more optimistic.

Yoga brings about a 'relaxation response' associated with reduced nervous system activity together with a feeling of wellbeing due to an increase in antioxidants and lower levels of stress hormones, it was concluded.

Co-investigator Dr Faahri Saatiglour from the University of Oslo told Reuters Health: "We do not emphasise this point enough in our Western health care."

Another study carried out in Bikaner, India, evaluated the positive effects of meditation in 101 adults with symptoms of heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity.

Fifty-five adults received three months of regular yoga, including standard postures and Raja Yoga. The remaining received conventional care.

After a three month period, waist circumference, blood pressure and blood sugar were significantly lower in the yoga group participants.

Yoga has been found to help angina and advanced coronary artery disease, research has revealed.  A "yoga intervention" programme was given to 42 male patients between 32 and 72 years old with a history of heart disease.

The group was given an intensive programme involving relaxation, pranayama (breathing exercises), postures, meditation and a low fat vegetarian diet.

Participants were then split into two groups: one set was put on the yoga intervention programme while the other received conventional medical therapy.

While the latter group continued to deteriorate, the yoga group, whose normal medication was reduced in many cases, showed marked improvement in their angina symptoms. Their mental state, body weight and cholesterol levels also improved in many cases.

The results add to a growing weight of scientific evidence of the physical and psychological benefits that yoga practice, combined with a yogic lifestyle, can have.

The study was conducted by Dr Manchanda, head of the Department of Cardiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.