Jaganmohanlal Pandita Sadhuwad Granth

Author(s): Sudarshanlal Jain
Publisher: Jaganmohanlal Shastri Sadhuwad Samiti Jabalpur

Page 338

Scientific Studies in Yoga
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Occidental world came in contact with Yoga first to find solution to their problems through it. An increasing number of people in the society is affected by physical discomforts which have a psychological background. After the general interest in Yoga from physical exercise point of view, now the interest of the modern society has turned to the importance of Yoga to the emotional well-being. After 1970s there is greater understanding of the body-mind relationship in the health and disease dealt through Yogic techniques. The diseases like gastric ulcers, hyperacidity, headaches, hypertension, asthma, diabetes etc are the forms of these psychosomatic diseases as they are called. Traditional medical remedies and this has been relatively successful. But unfortunately these medicines seem to have unwanted secondary effects. Furthermore, in most cases it is necessary for the patient to be on medication for the rest of his life. Therefore, lot of people are welcoming new therapeuticai approaches and research. Yoga has been investigated mainly for its effects on one of the most ordinary psychosomatic disorders, namely, hypertension. The results are promising. Benson and his co-workers have shown from number of controlled studies lowering effect of transcendental meditation on hypertension. In 1969 Datey et al. investigated the effects of Shavasana on the patients of hypertension and showed significant improvement. Chandra Patel conducted series of investigations dealing with meditation therapy on hypertensives. Her results are all amazing. In one of the most thorough investigations on meditation and hypertension, Stone and de Leo suggested that increases in dopaminebeta-hydroxylase is responsible for the enhanced blood pressure. They found the relaxation method decreased dopaminebeta-hydroxylase in the blood and a lowering of the blood pressure.
The Asthma research projects conducted in Kaivalyadhama and elsewhere have shown very favourable results of the Yogic treatment on asthmatics.
Effects of Yoga and meditation on alcohol and drug addiction patterns have been investigated by H. Benson and by Shafi and reported decreases in the use of alcohol. Brautigam, Shafi, Shapiro and Swinyard reach similar results in the field of other drugs like barbiturates, amphetamines, marijuana, LSD and heroin.
Application of Yoga and meditation in psychotherapy dealing with neurosis and psychosis have been only very poorly tested.
Decreased level of anxiety is a main trend of a nu nber of experiments by Udupa, and by Goleman. A major finding of Johnson is an increased ability to resolve conflicts. The report concluded significant difference with higher scores for self esteem, identity self-satisfaction, personal worth, behaviour and physical self. The emotional adjustment seemed to be more positive, less feeling of general maladjustment, less personality disorder and less neurosis.
So far as preventive aspect of applied research is concerned practically no work has been done.
Promotive aspect deals with maintenance or improvement of the health and fitness, This is a very potential field and though limited research has been done, the work of