Advances in Mind-body Medicine

No Abstract Available.

Heartfulness meditation (HM) trains the practitioner's attention as they progress towards reaching a super-conscious state. The process is supported by guided "Heartfulness cleaning," which helps clear the mind. This study aimed to examine the short-term effects of HM on affect and cognition and determine whether performing Heartfulness cleaning beforehand influenced the meditation outcome. Forty-eight experienced meditators (age range: 19-71 years and a male-to-female ratio: 27:21) were randomly assigned to 3 sessions: (i) HM, (ii) Heartfulness meditation preceded by cleaning, and (iii) quiet rest as a control...

Compared to non-Hispanic White individuals, non-Hispanic Black Individuals report worse chronic pain from a variety of medical issues. Among the options for non-pharmacological pain treatment, mind-body interventions (MBI) are a promising modality to help Black individuals manage their chronic pain effectively. MBIs such as mindfulness meditation improve chronic pain and chronic pain-related outcomes by shifting the individual's perception of pain away from stress-related cognitive appraisals, emotional reactions, and behaviors...

CONTEXT: The use of music in obstetrics increases every day, and it is extensively used in the control of labor pain. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the effect of music on labor pain and duration. DESIGN AND SETTING: This systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out between October 15 and November 15, 2022. The search was done in the PubMed and ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, Ovid, EBSCO CINAHL Plus, and Cochrane Library databases...

No Abstract Available.

CONTEXT: Thyroid dysfunction is a common endocrine disorder. Lifestyle changes such as the use of complementary therapies namely yoga, regular physical activity, and proper diet may reduce the risk of endocrinal dysfunction and may help individuals to maintain a healthy weight. OBJECTIVE: The study intended to evaluate thyroid patients' knowledge gaps with respect to, cultural beliefs about, and attitudes towards the practice of yoga as a therapeutic tool in India...

CONTEXT: Bariatric surgery has been an effective treatment for severe obesity. However, it can be challenging for bariatric-surgery patients to reach and maintain long-term weight loss. Behavioral interventions may be beneficial in reducing weight and improving the psychological outcomes of bariatric patients. OBJECTIVE: The review intended to evaluate the benefits of mindfulness training for weight management among pre- and postoperative, bariatric-surgery patients and to help determine the design of the most effective mindfulness program for them...

CONTEXT: Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFTs) can reduce anxiety, depression, PTSD, and phobias. Research has found correlations between attitudes toward money and anxiety and depressive symptomatology. No research has yet examined the effectiveness of EFT in changing money attitudes. OBJECTIVE: The study intended to measure the effectiveness of EFT in changing money attitudes and to contrast EFT's effects delivered virtually or in-person by evaluating multiple markers of stress, including anxiety, depression, pain, happiness, and PTSD...

CONTEXT: Anxiety is a common mental health concern in the USA that is associated with an increased risk of hypertension, arterial stiffness, and cardiovascular disease. Therapists have used eight-week programs for mindfulness meditation to treat anxiety; however little is known about the psychophysiological effects of a single meditation session. OBJECTIVE: The study intended to assess the effects of a one-hour, mindfulness-meditation session on anxiety symptomology and cardiovascular function, including aortic pulsatility...

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with cognitive decline. Lifestyle behaviors such as yoga practices play a significant role in preventing cognitive decline. PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to assess the effect of yoga intervention on working memory and prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation in T2DM patients. METHODS: Twenty T2DM participants, aged between 40 and 60 years, volunteered for a 6-week study. Participants were randomized into a yoga practice (n = 10) and a waitlist control group (n = 10)...

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to comprehensively review empirical evidence on the effectiveness of Baduanjin exercise, one type of mind-body focused qigong exercise, on individuals' physical, cognitive, and mental well-being; outline potential mechanisms; and, suggest potential implication strategies for using Baduanjin in clinical practices and for future research. METHODS: Recent randomized-controlled studies and systematic reviews/meta-analyses published in English were searched in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus up to July 2022...

CONTEXT: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels. Yoga has been shown to have positive effects on blood sugar levels in diabetes patients. However, there is limited research on the effects of specific yoga poses on blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a single yoga asana, Ardha Matsyendrasana, on random blood glucose (RBG) levels in patients with T2DM. Specifically, we aimed to investigate whether a 15-minute practice of Ardha Matsyendrasana could reduce RBG levels in patients with T2DM...

No Abstract available.

Prana is the driving and organizing force of the entire universe, and essential for survival. It can be experimental and experiential. This is a retrospective analysis of the pranic energy perception data collected for an exploratory study conducted in 2014 using the convenience sampling method. This paper describes the experiences of 100 participants during a hand sensitization practice. Participants were guided to feel the prana between their hands according to prescribed steps in the pranic healing technique, taught by Master Choa Kok Sui...

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common lifestyle disorder that has become a major international public health concern affecting young women of reproductive age. Homeopathy aims to provide an individual with optimal health on all levels-emotional, mental, physical and spiritual. Homeopathy's goal is to promote an individual's overall well-being rather than just treat symptoms. Dr. Boenninghausen's unique contribution to the promotion of scientific prescribing in homeopathic practice is the concept of remedy relationship and its reportorial analysis...

CONTEXT: Nada Yoga is a branch of yoga philosophy that means "union through sound." The practice involves the resonance of energy centers in the body through specific sound frequencies. These subtle effects of yogic sound resonance on the subtle energy systems of the body have not been assessed before. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immediate effect of Nada Yoga meditation on the energy levels and alignment of the seven chakras in healthy volunteers. DESIGN: Randomized controlled crossover design...

CONTEXT: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients are at increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia compared to healthy individuals. Lifestyle practices such as yoga can have a vital role in preventing and managing T2DM. Some studies have found that yoga can positively impact cognitive function in T2DM. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the benefits of short-term yoga practice on heart rate variability (HRV) and cognitive function for T2DM patients, without a matched control group, to address the paucity of data on the effectiveness of yoga practice on cognitive health on T2DM individuals...

No Abstract Available.

CONTEXT: Heart rate variability (HRV) could be a promising early biomarker of cognitive impairment. A better understanding of reaction patterns between cardiovascular and cognitive functions can be helpful in predicting and preventing the manifestation of disease. Additionally, beneficial cardiovascular evidence for yoga is promising but lacks short-term (approximately one year) cross-sectional investigations. OBJECTIVE: The study intended to investigate phasic HRV and its patterns of reaction in yoga practitioners and nonpractitioners, using rest and stress periods induced by cognitive tasks...

CONTEXT: Insomnia or poor sleep quality is associated with impaired physical, psychological, and mental functions that individuals require for health and well-being. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of yoga practice in managing insomnia and its related complications, such as cognitive failure, stress, and impaired quality of life (QoL), for individuals suffering from acute insomnia. DESIGN: The research team designed a randomized controlled trial...