Effect of a Structured Naturopathy and Yoga Intervention on Pain, Depression, and Quality of Sleep in a Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patient.

A 54-year-old postmenopausal woman was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACCA) of the right breast. She had complaints of pain in the upper quadrant of the right breast, stress, disturbed sleep, and depression. Her self-reported pain intensity using the visual analog scale (VAS) was 8 and her perceived stress scale value was 19. Her depression score on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was 12. Her quality of sleep, evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), was 18. She was given integrated naturopathy and yoga therapy for 43 days. She showed a reduction in pain, stress, and depression scores. Her quality of sleep also improved after the integrated naturopathy and yoga therapy. Our structured integrated naturopathy and yoga therapy improved pain, stress, depression, and sleep quality in a postmenopausal breast cancer patient and may be used as adjuvant therapy for patients with breast cancer.

Effect of yoga on cardiovascular functions and psychological aspects of people on public service-related work: an exploratory study.

OBJECTIVES: Yoga is increasingly being introduced in workplace settings to improve health and well-being. However, there is a lack of studies reporting the effect of yoga in people on public service-related work, who are at high risk for various health-related problems. Thus, the objective of this study was to find the effect of yoga on cardiovascular functions and psychological (stress, anxiety, and depression) aspects of people on public service-related work. METHODS: A single-group pre-test and post-test experimental study design was adopted. Eighty-two participants aged 41.52 ± 7.44 years who are working in the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission were undergone 1-h of yoga (under the supervision of a yoga & naturopathy doctor) a day, 5-days a week for a period of 1-month at their office. Cardiovascular functions such as systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse rate (PR) were measured using an automatic BP monitor. Psychological variables such as stress, anxiety, and depression were measured using Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS) before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Results of this study showed a significant reduction in body mass index, SBP, DBP, PR, mean arterial pressure, rate pressure product, and double product. Though results showed insignificant (just missed the statistical significance [p=0.056]) reduction in anxiety, it showed clinical improvement (i.e. the mean anxiety score has reduced from moderate category to mild category). However, there is neither statistically significant nor clinical difference in stress and depression. None of the participants reported any untoward events during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that yoga might improve the cardiovascular functions and anxiety of people in public service-related work. However, no such significant improvement was noted in their stress and depression levels. However, a randomized controlled trial is required to warrant the results of this study.

Effect of yoga and naturopathy on disease activity and symptom burdens in a patient with active ulcerative colitis: a case report.

OBJECTIVES: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory disease that affects the large bowel. The objective of this study is to find the effect of yoga and naturopathy (YN) in a patient with active moderate pancolitis. CASE PRESENTATION: An 18-year old unmarried female diagnosed with UC in 2017. Patient's symptoms began with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea with/without blood stains more than seven times a day, daily. The symptoms reduced after taking regular conventional medication for a period of one-year. However, in February-2019, the patient visited our hospital with the same complaints and received 21-days of YN treatments. Results showed a better reduction in the abdominal pain, disease activity, stress and depression and a better improvement in hemoglobin levels, quality of sleep, and quality of life with no adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: YN could be considered as an alternative therapy in the management of UC. However, further studies are required to warrant this effect.