Effectiveness of integrated approach of yoga therapy versus usual care in management on chronic low back pain patients: A randomized controlled pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain is associated with both psychological and functional limitation. Yoga therapy has been shown to improve both the aspects. The present study was planned to evaluate integrated approach of yoga therapy with usaul care. AIMS: This controlled randomized trial was done to evaluate the clinical and molecular changes resulting from integrated approach of yoga therapy (IAYT) as an adjunct regimen and compared it with usual care for the management of chronic low back pain patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We enrolled 29 adult patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP). Patients were randomly divided into two groups. The control group received the usual care of treatment as per institutional protocol. The yoga group received IAYT as an adjunct to usual care. Primary outcomes were pain intensity assessed by verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) and functional ability assessed by Modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI). Secondary outcomes were pain catastrophizing, quality of life, fear of movement related to CLBP, type of pain, levels of ß-endorphin and TNF-α, and salivary CGRP. All parameters were measured at baseline, 1 and 3 months. RESULTS: A Significant decrease in VNRS score at 1 and 3 months was observed in both the groups with the yoga group showing a more significant reduction in pain over time than the control group (p = 0.036). MODI improved significantly only in the yoga group at 1 and 3 months. Intergroup comparison revealed significantly better MODI over time in the yoga group (p < 0.001). DN4, PDQ, PCS, HADS (anxiety), and Euro QOL had a statistically significant improvement at 1 and 3 months in the yoga group compared with the control group. The HADS (depression) had a statistically significant reduction scores in the yoga group at 3 months compared with the control group (p = 0.012). There was a significant reduction in TNF-α values in the yoga group compared with baseline (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: IAYT therapy helped in addressing the psychological components of pain and improved quality of life patients with chronic low back pain compared with usual care.

Ayurvedic Herbal Therapies: A Review of Treatment and Management of Dementia.

Dementia has been characterized by atypical neurological syndromes and several cognitive deficits, such as extended memory loss, strange behavior, unusual thinking, impaired judgment, impotence, and difficulty with daily living activities. Dementia is not a disease, but it is caused by several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lewy's bodies. Several drugs and remedies are indicated for alleviating unusual cognitive decline, but no effective pharmacological treatment regimens are available without side effects. Herbal drugs or traditional medicines like Ayurveda have been known for facilitating and corroborating the balance between mind, brain, body, and environment. Ayurvedic therapy comprises 600 herbal formulas, 250 single plant remedies, and natural and holistic health-giving treatments that relieve dementia in patients and increase vitality. Ayurvedic Rasayana herbs [rejuvenating elements] strengthen the brain cells, enhance memory, and decrease stress. The current medicine scenario in the treatment of dementia has prompted the shift in exploring the efficacy of ayurvedic medicine, its safety, and its efficiency. This review presents the literature on several herbal treatments for improving dementia symptomatology and patients' quality of life.

Yoga as a Preventive Intervention for Cardiovascular Diseases and Associated Comorbidities: Open-Label Single Arm Study.

Aim: Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) is a standardized yoga protocol authored by experts from all over the world under the aegis of the Ministry of AYUSH, Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homeopathy (AYUSH). The potential of CYP can be determined as a cost-effective lifestyle modification to prevent the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Methods: In this prospective trial, we compared the effect of CYP at baseline and after 1 month. A total of 374 yoga-naïve participants performed CYP under the supervision of experienced trainers. Physiological [body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, percent oxygen saturation], biochemical (fasting blood glucose and lipid profile), and neurocognitive parameters were measured before and after the intervention. Results: At day 30 of yoga practice, serum levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were found significantly improved as compared to the baseline levels observed at the time of enrollment. Similarly, the lipid profile was also obtained from experienced trainers and found to be significantly different from those of yoga-naïve volunteers. When the intervention was compared between the healthy yoga-naïve participants with yoga-naïve participants suffering from medical issues, it was found that cholesterol profile improved significantly in the healthy-naive group as compared to the diseased group (hypertension, diabetes, underwent surgery, and CVD). Conclusion: These results highlight the need for further research to better understand the effects of yoga on the primary prevention of CVD.

Partitioning of radiological, stress and biochemical changes in pre-diabetic women subjected to Diabetic Yoga Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Yoga is an ancient system of wellness with Asana and Pranayama as its most popular and propagated modules for management of lifestyle disorders. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to characterise the liver abnormalities, biochemical changes, and stress levels after Yoga intervention in prediabetic females. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 37 females were randomly divided into Yoga practising and non-practising control groups. The Yoga practising group performed Diabetic Yoga Protocol (DYP) for 3 months. Parameters including size of liver, fatty infiltration, and grade of severity were measured using ultrasonography along with biochemical parameters and stress levels at baseline and after Yoga practice. RESULTS: The glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and glucose levels were found significantly reduced in prediabetic (p = 0.015) women after practising DYP, although cholesterol levels increased in menopausal women. No escalation of fatty liver was noted among women practising DYP. CONCLUSION: DYP reduced the HbA1c and stress levels and therefore, could be a cost-effective tool for preventing prediabetes to diabetes progression.

Hypoxia in CNS Pathologies: Emerging Role of miRNA-Based Neurotherapeutics and Yoga Based Alternative Therapies.

Cellular respiration is a vital process for the existence of life. Any condition that results in deprivation of oxygen (also termed as hypoxia) may eventually lead to deleterious effects on the functioning of tissues. Brain being the highest consumer of oxygen is prone to increased risk of hypoxia-induced neurological insults. This in turn has been associated with many diseases of central nervous system (CNS) such as stroke, Alzheimer's, encephalopathy etc. Although several studies have investigated the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying ischemic/hypoxic CNS diseases, the knowledge about protective therapeutic strategies to ameliorate the affected neuronal cells is meager. This has augmented the need to improve our understanding of the hypoxic and ischemic events occurring in the brain and identify novel and alternate treatment modalities for such insults. MicroRNA (miRNAs), small non-coding RNA molecules, have recently emerged as potential neuroprotective agents as well as targets, under hypoxic conditions. These 18-22 nucleotide long RNA molecules are profusely present in brain and other organs and function as gene regulators by cleaving and silencing the gene expression. In brain, these are known to be involved in neuronal differentiation and plasticity. Therefore, targeting miRNA expression represents a novel therapeutic approach to intercede against hypoxic and ischemic brain injury. In the first part of this review, we will discuss the neurophysiological changes caused as a result of hypoxia, followed by the contribution of hypoxia in the neurodegenerative diseases. Secondly, we will provide recent updates and insights into the roles of miRNA in the regulation of genes in oxygen and glucose deprived brain in association with circadian rhythms and how these can be targeted as neuroprotective agents for CNS injuries. Finally, we will emphasize on alternate breathing or yogic interventions to overcome the hypoxia associated anomalies that could ultimately lead to improvement in cerebral perfusion.

The Molecular Links of Re-Emerging Therapy: A Review of Evidence of Brahmi (Bacopa monniera).

The convolution associated with memory is being resolved with advancement in neuroscience. According to the concurrent assumptions, synaptic plasticity forms one of the basis of memory formation, stabilization and strengthening. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is generally characterized by memory dysfunction, connections amongst the cells in the brain are attenuated or lost leading to degeneration of neural networks. Numerous attempts have been made to find new therapies for memory dysfunction with increasing attention and investments being laid on herbal drugs. Many herbal plants and extracts have already documented beneficial results when tested for antiamnesic effects. Brahmi (Bacopa monniera) is one such common herbal drug, which is employed for a long time in the Indian and Chinese medical system in order to treat several disorders. Previous research has shown that Brahmi exerts many pharmacological effects including memory boosting capacity in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and Schizophrenia, exhibiting antiparkinsonian, antistroke, and anticonvulsant potentials. The present review discusses the chemical constituents of Brahmi along with in vitro and in vivo studies based on the pharmacological effects exerted by it. The efficacy of Brahmi in treating various disorders has evoked sufficient research in recent years and now it is a time to launch multiple clinical trials.