Does it really work?! Brain Chemistry Many people are relying on antidepressant medications to help them cope with depression. “Sara” was one of those people. She had decided to take antidepressants years earlier but was concerned about the effects of long term usage, the idea of taking a pill that exerted control over the mind, and the possibility of negative effects on a developing baby if she became pregnant. Because of her concerns she decided to discontinue the use of antidepressant medication. “Sara” researched into brain chemistry involved in depression, brain chemistry as affected by the medication, and brain chemistry as affected by yoga. She decided that yoga might be a good alternative to the medications. Following classroom instructions, and recommendations from the “Medical Yoga Manual” she began a regular practice of yoga, including: Sun Salute, cobra, humming, alternate nostril breathing, plough pose, the half shoulder stand, visualization and meditation, and other practices. Her doctor had prescribed a special pack to aid in weaning off the medication. It took longer than her doctor expected, but she successfully discontinued the medication. Side effects occurred during the withdrawal phase. She suffered from anxiety attacks, “brain zaps”, eye movements, and hearing sensations. Not all people have these problems when discontinuing antidepressant medication, but for “Sara” they were intermittent but intense. She believes that the withdrawal symptoms disappeared when her brain chemistry returned to its natural state. “Sara” believes that yoga helped her brain readjustment and has helped with depression since then. She also thinks yoga helped prevent her from going back on the antidepressants. She plans to continue doing yoga. -------------------- Yoga’s effects on brain chemistry are well documented. Benefits occur not only for depression, but for other emotional imbalances and mental illnesses. Serotonin, monoamine oxidase, GABA (gamma-amino butyric), melatonin, and neurochemicals secreted by the ductless glands flow through the blood stream into the brain and are involved in chemical reactions in the brain tissues. Brain chemistry also affects the electrical activity of the brain. Some chemicals are better transmitters, inhibitors, and/or receptors and facilitate electrochemical stimulation and the flow of electromagnetic energy through the tissues, affecting the thoughts we have. Research has indicated that alternate nostril breathing helps balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain. The right and left hemispheres are each instrumental in the types of skills a person may develop. Furthermore, oxygenating the brain through yoga breathing techniques helps the brain cells (neurons) stay healthy, and even helps elongate the dendrites, enhancing the synapse between cells (this means a better connection). Of course it is much more complicated than that, and no one really understands how it all comes together or works. Much more research needs to be done, some with expensive equipment! But, we don’t need to wait for the research to be done, and we don’t need to understand how it works, for it to work. We can do the yoga and get the benefit.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 15:05:04 +0000