Gurminder HothiArgosy University, Seattle

Pharmaceutics are dispensed at alarming rates Despite proliferation of medication mental illness

continues to rise System based on pathology instead of wellness Treating underlying issues such as psycho-

immunology and bio-nutritional deficiencies Ethics of: take two of these and call me in the

morning Modern medicine is largely restricted to bio-

chemical standards of care Better clinical outcomes can be attained through

holistic modalities of medicine

Can meditative practices such as yoga, which tap into a client’s psycho-physiology, outperform standardized modalities of therapy such as commonly prescribed pharmaceutics?

Standards of care: professionally agreed upon modalities of medical intervention

Usually, selected through scientific experimentation Strive to show statistical significance for the use of

yoga Research will consider experiments that target

biological outcomes such as blood pressure, heart rate and body compensation

Survey and self-report data will also be presented Both measure improved functionality for clients

diagnosed with psychiatric disorders depress/anxiety

First study looked and laid foundation for the use of physical exercises as a healing modality (Paluska & Schwenk, 2000)

Researchers were able to look at the effects of physical exercise on depression and anxiety

Practitioners reported reduction of symptoms and general improvement of physical health

Release of dopamine, modulation of neuro-chemicals, remember this is what meds are used for

Concerns: People with disabilities or issues of mobility

Recommendation: Consult family doctor Resolution: Practice yoga that is sedentary or

focused on breathe work (Harvard, 2009)

Researchers Danucalov, Simoes, Kozasa & Leite (2008) 

Heart rate-decreased Blood Pressure-decreased Body composition-toned Variability in metabolic rates Fluctuations of caloric expenditure Increased respiratory ventilation   Concerns: Mixed results and low scalability

Researchers presented data that supported yoga’s positive psycho-biological effects

Increased parasympathetic nervous system functioning, biological cooling effect through out the body = calming-(Harvard, 2009)

Less likely to be provoked by stress and anxiety and reported improved immune functioning, not getting sick as much/staying healthy (Granath, Ingvarsson, Thiele, & Lundberg, 2006)

This study also looked at catecholamines in urine and cortisol in saliva as an objective marker of improved biological functioning-Stress hormones

Subjective self-report data was also collected (Schure, Christopher, & Christopher, 2008)

Improved stress management skills, increased ability to deal with day-to-day anxieties, and an enhanced sense of overall well-being

Weakness: possible inflated self-report and lack random selection process

Self-report data/evidence collected suggested Yoga can help reduce symptoms of ADHD-(Harrison, Manocha & Rubia 2004) help focus, decrease back ground noise, improve concentration

Increased moral recognition in juvenile offenders-(Derezotes, 2000)

Both of these studies leveraged family participation in the therapy and implemented in-home or long term after care models of continued care

Douglass (2009) suggested that yoga should be paired with healthy nutritional regiments, family support and integrated into one’s life for optimal results

Holistic medicine implement s above protocols into therapeutic standards of care

Yoga can be an effective clinical therapy Outcomes shown by both objective and subjective

data support hypothesis-(Schure, et al., 2008) Incorporation of mind-body approach to healing Yoga promotes and engages the body’s natural

healing system-(Harvard, 2009) Reduction of physiological stress, increase in

psychological well-being and greater socialization TX dosage of Yoga: 3 days a week 90 minute

sessions for best results-(Harrison, et al., 2004)

Direct trails against pharmacological medication Some research low scale; larger population

samples are needed to draw generalizations Since yoga was effective with psychological

illnesses and seems to improve physiological wellness can it work for schizophrenia or diabetes?

Isolate the exact factors that make yoga effective

Variables need to be controlled: small test size, experimental biases, and confounding variables

Treating causes and conditions versus symptom suppression Medications that claim neuro-chemical modulations can be

achieved via non-invasive methodologies Standards of care have to look beyond medication management

to holistic healing Once size does not fit all Leverage the body’s natural healing system; medication can dull

this system Physical exercise, meditative practices and healthy nutritional

habits EBP-Thousands of years of evidence versus controlled laboratory

tests Holistic healing methodologies yielding statistically significant

outcomes as empirical testing occurs Best outcomes when paired with supportive social and familial

integration, sleep and nutritional hygiene Preventative and wellness versus reactionary and suppressive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYoxG7KfGzI&playnext=1&list=PL1F0CF8F5C505DD16

YouTube - Yoga Therapy.url

Abramson, J. (2005). Overdosed America. New York: Harper. American Psychological Association. (2011). Standard 8: Informed consent in

research. Online resource. Retrieved from: http://www.apa.org/ Danucalov, M. A. D., Simoes, R. S., Kozasa, E. H., & Leite, J. R. (2008).

Cardiorespiratory and metabolic changes during yoga sessions: The effects of respiratory exercises and meditation practices. Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback, 33, 77-81. Retrieved from: EBSCO database.

Derezotes, D. (2000). Evaluation of yoga and meditation training with adolescent sex offenders. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 17(2), 97-113. Retrieved from: EBSCO database.

Douglass, L. (2009). Yoga as an intervention in the treatment of eating disorders: Does it help? Eating Disorders, 17, 126-139. Retrieved from: EBSCO database.

Granath, J., Ingvarsson, S., Thiele, U. V., Lundberg, U. (2006). Stress management: A randomized study of cognitive behavioral therapy and yoga. Cognitive Behavior Therapy, 35(1), 3-10. Retrieved from: EBSCO database.

Harrison, L. J., Manocha, R., & Rubia, K. (2004). Sahaja yoga meditation as a family treatment for children with attention deficit hyper-activity disorder. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 9(4), 479-497. Retrieved from: EBSCO database.

Harvard Medical School. (2009). Yoga for anxiety and depression. Harvard Mental Health Letter. Retrieved from: EBSCO database.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/addiction-in-society/200906/michael-jacksons-death-wont-reduce-abuse-prescription-meds