What is the Vagus nerve and how is Sudarshan Kriya linked to its health?
The Vagus nerve is a long fibrous nerve that connects the brain to the body. But what’s fascinating is it being crucial to our ability to observe, perceive, and make complex decisions.
Tests have revealed that people with impaired vagal activity have also been diagnosed with depression, panic disorders, PTSD, IBS, anxiety, panic disorders, violent mood swings, fibromyalgia, early Alzheimer’s and obesity.
Dr. Richard Brown M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at #ColumbiaUniversity theorized that #SudarshanKriya contributes to a state of alert calmness by its effect on the Vagus nerve, which is vital in transmitting data between our two nervous systems. Interestingly, one of the foremost research experts on the effects of Vagus nerve stimulation through Sudarshan Kriya, Stephen Porges, PhD., suggests that the different rhythms of breath in Sudarshan Kriya may stimulate different diameter fibers of the Vagus nerve, making it unique and likely to have a much wider range of applications and effects than the currently available electronic Vagus nerve stimulator.
Here is some fascinating research on Sudarshan Kriya for practitioners and the curious!
Anti-Aging → Probably the most exciting scientific findings regarding the benefits of Sudarshan Kriya come from Dr. Fahri Saatcioglu PhD. of Oslo, Norway. In his most recently published findings, Dr. Saatcioglu has provided evidence for how Sudarshan Kriya actually enhances gene expression and alteration which leads to a plausible explanation for how practicing Sudarshan Kriya regularly promotes anti-aging in the body by encouraging DNA strands to repair themselves.
Anti-Depressant → Sudarshan Kriya normalizes patients’ brain-wave patterns, increases serum prolactin (a “well-being” hormone), and has been proven to be as effective as standard anti-depressant drug regimens.
Stress-Resiliency → The significant further fall in serum cortisol levels, during and following Sudarshan Kriya, among beginning and regular practitioners, suggests that regular practice of Sudarshan Kriya progressively develops greater levels of both relaxation and resilience to stress.
Mental Focus → Significant increases in beta activity were observed in the left frontal, occipital, and midline regions of the brain in the Sudarshan Kriya practitioners. These results are interpreted by neurologists as indicative of increased mental focus/heightened awareness in SK&P practitioners.
Antioxidant → Levels of three major antioxidant enzymes—superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione—were all found to be significantly higher in Sudarshan Kriya practitioners than in the matched control group. These data suggest that people who practice Sudarshan Kriya have an improved antioxidant status and an enhanced defense against oxidative stress on the body.
