7/27/2017 Yoga Therapy for Diabetes and Obesity

Yoga Therapy for Diabetes and Obesity

Dr. M.V. Divekar, Bombay

Yoga is one of the richest heritages of India. It is both a philosophy as well as a

practical science of healthy living. The scientific aspects of yoga are now being
extensively investigated all over the world, and the efficacy of yoga therapy is well
established, particularly in the treatment of various diseases like asthma, diabetes,
obesity, heart disease and various nervous and mental disorders.

At the Lokmanya Municipal General Hospital, Sion, Bombay, we have studied the
effect of yoga therapy in 52 diabetic cases and 38 obese subjects, from both the
young and middle age groups. Individuals over the age of 55, and those with heart,
liver, kidney, bone or joint diseases, were excluded for obvious reasons. Our
experiences are given in this article for the benefit of yoga students.

The therapy consisted of first introducing the principles of yoga philosophy, and then
the teaching of simple asanas in groups, under the supervision of experts. The
participants were asked to practise at home, for half an hour per day. The following
asanas were taught: padmasana, veerasana, paschimottanasana,
padangushthasana, trikonasana, janusirshasana, L pose (preliminary to
sarvangasana), tadasana, shavasana, nauli. Other asanas, and kumbhaka, were
advised for those who were lean and young, and without any physical handicaps.

The purpose of these asanas was to make the patients contract and relax muscles
slowly, especially those of the abdomen. Alternate expansion and compression of
abdominal viscera, and an increase in abdominal pressure, were presumed to
increase blood circulation and promote the function of liver, pancreas and other
internal organs.

Results

Out of 52 subjects, weight loss was seen in 37 subjects. After 6 months' treatment
weight loss ranged from 2 to 4 kg. The after-lunch blood sugar showed a distinct fall
to near normal levels, requiring considerable reduction in dose of drugs like insulin or
oral tablets. In two patients, drugs had to be discontinued. Lowering of blood fats
(cholesterol) was seen in 20 cases.

After yoga therapy, all subjects felt relief of symptoms like tension, headache,
constipation, dyspepsia, etc. Many had a feeling of exhilaration, lightness and
suppleness of body. However, some did complain initially of muscle and joint pains
until they could do the asanas more easily. It may be noted here that before yoga
therapy all these subjects were taking anti-diabetic drugs and observing dietary
restrictions. But addition of yoga therapy showed a substantial and significant
benefit. The diet and drugs were not discontinued.

Similar beneficial results have been reported in India by Melkote (1973), Varandani
(1973), and Rukmini and Sinha (1975), at the seminars on yoga sponsored by the
Central Council for Research in Indian Medicine in 1973 and 1975. In normal young
volunteers, after doing hatha yoga, blood sugar has been reported to be lowered
(Udupa et al., 1972). In their therapy, they adopted mudras and shatkarmas
(cleansing procedures). We did not give these in our trial, as they were time
consuming and were not found necessary.

How does yoga work?

It may be said that yoga therapy is nothing but physical suppleness and mental
relaxation. However, medical research now indicates that yoga may act directly on
the central nervous system, the blood circulation and the metabolism.

Our patients, at the end of 30 minutes of yoga therapy, did not feel tired or
exhausted. On the contrary, they felt relaxed, when they did it in the right manner.

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7/27/2017 Yoga Therapy for Diabetes and Obesity

Yogasanas are postures, not exercises, which involve slow and rhythmic contraction
and relaxation of muscles, and deeper and slower breathing, all of which tend to
improve circulation and lung ventilation.

Yoga is basically designed to train or to control the autonomic or involuntary nervous

system through activation of the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a part of the
brain which controls hunger, sleep and emotions, as well as endocrine glands like the
pituitary, thyroid, pancreas and suprarenal glands. It also plays a role in control of
hunger and appetite and is thus directly connected with increase or decrease in body
weight.

Although diabetes is due to relative or absolute deficiency of insulin, the basic cause
may not necessarily lie only in the pancreas, or the extra pancreatic areas. The
central nervous system has a definite role to play by maintaining equilibrium
between the involuntary parasympathetic and sympathetic systems. Disequilibrium
of the autonomic nervous system is reflected in emotional disturbance, which is
known to upset weight, control of diabetes and blood glucose levels. This may be
caused by excess secretion of epinephrine, leading to diminished secretion of insulin
and subsequent metabolic disturbances.

The scientific proof that the hypothalamus can be influenced by classical conditioning
(as in meditation) has come from biofeedback observations using appropriate
instruments (Shapiro, 1969). Recently Stone and De Leo (1969), working on high
blood pressure cases, have shown that an enzymatic substance called dopamine-
beta-hydroxylase (DBH) is reduced in the hypothalamic area after yoga and
relaxation. The reduction of this enzyme reduces peripheral epinephrine activity in
response to emotions and other stimuli and helps to reduce blood pressure and blood
sugar. Yoga-induced hypothalamic changes would also influence endocrine functions
which in their turn control metabolism. This is one scientific explanation of yoga
therapy.

Another way in which yoga perhaps acts is through a physical mechanism. There
may be a direct stimulatory effect on the circulation in the digestive organs of the
abdomen, such as the liver, pancreas, stomach, etc. Alternate contraction and
relaxation of abdominal muscles has a kind of pumping action on both arterial and
venous blood vessels. It is also likely that there may be increased utilisation of
glucose in muscles and dissipation of fats for energy. This view is purely conjectural
and needs to be substantiated by scientific proof.

In conclusion, after yoga therapy there is a definite improvement in control of blood

glucose and diabetes and also reduction in weight. However, this does not
necessarily allow the individual to abandon dietetic restrictions or drugs. Yoga
therapy acts (i) by controlling the autonomic or involuntary system in the
hypothalamus and (ii) perhaps by improvement in the blood circulation in the
digestive organs, through alternate contraction and relaxation of abdominal muscles.
This, however, remains to be verified.

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