Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) and Yoga Nidra

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) and Yoga Nidra

Hypertension and its complications are a leading cause of death in modern societies. To date, anti hypertensive drug therapy has been the only effective form of management. Unfortunately, the drug regimes available are by no means ideal. They cause major side effects in many patients, risk of dangerous consequences and a shortened life span. In this light, the emergence of Yoga Nidra relaxations a safe, effective and inexpensive treatment for mild to moderate hypertension is most encouraging both for doctor and the community at large.

The effectiveness of Yoga Nidra in lowering the elevated blood pressure levels of hypertensive patients has been validated in numerous clinical studies. The practice is now widely prescribed by doctors in several countries.

Yoga Nidra therapy adopted either alone or an adjunct therapy, has been found to reduce systolic readings (SBP) by an average of 15-20 mm Hg and diastolic readings (DBP) by 10 mm Hg. This will generally happened after 3 week of daily guided practice of yoga Nidra. As a result newly diagnosed and asymptomatic hypertensive are now frequently capable of restoring their blood pressure to acceptable limit without having to resort to antihypertensive drugs and medications, whole side effects, such as sleep disturbance, depression and male impotency, can be severe and disabling enough to preclude their use.

Recent Studies

Recent study conducted at the standford University School of medicine (USA) demonstrated that the drop in blood pressure induced by daily Yoga Nidra practice has a far reaching effect, extending throughout the day and is not merely a transient effect coincide with the practice session.

Another controlled study, which was conducted at the Langley Porter Neuropsychiatric Institute in California, found that reductions in blood pressure and anxiety levels in hypertensive patients continued for 12 months after Yoga Nidra training.

In one of the most significant investigations thus far, a team of researcher from the Department of Cardiology, K.E.M. Hospital Mumbai, led by Dr. K.K.Datey, evaluated the effect of relaxation practice on hypertension. The patients were taught the preliminary form of Yoga Nidra.

The majority of patients showed definite symptomatic improvement after 3 weeks’ training. Headache, giddiness, nervousness, irritability and insomnia disappeared in almost everyone. Significant decrease in blood pressure was obtained in 52% of patients.

The researchers concluded that this therapy opens a new avenue in the management of hypertension. Full study is also available.