A 12-hour course in Ayurveda is being offered to American medical students, residents, faculty, and practicing physicians. Continue reading Going on the road to introduce Ayurveda to American medical students and physicians
Category Archives: Yoga
The rationale for yoga for weight reduction
A telephone survey of more than 11,000 people revealed that about 3% had used CAM in the past 12 months for the purpose of losing weight.
Here are the most common CAM therapies. Continue reading The rationale for yoga for weight reduction
Yoga benefits for breast cancer survivors
Research reported Dr. Pamela Schultz during the American Physiological Society meeting in Washington, DC shows that the Iyengar method of yoga not only promotes psychological well-being, but seems to offer immune system benefits as well. Continue reading Yoga benefits for breast cancer survivors
Yoga for health
According to their website, the International Yoga Therapy Conference “is a forum that explores the specific and profound ways in which yoga can aid in maintaining good health or recovery from illness.”
This year’s meeting will be held at the Peacock Gap Country Club in San Rafael, California (about 30 minutes north of San Francisco) on May 18 to 20. Continue reading Yoga for health
CAM from a biblical perspective
It claims to be “the most comprehensive, current, well-balanced, and trustworthy information available from both a scientific and a biblical perspective.”
Here’s the premise for Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook, by Donal O’Mathuna and Walt Larimore, MD
The use of CAM by people with asthma
During the most recent meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians Dr. Paul Blanc from the University of California at San Francisco reported that half of all people with asthma use CAM.
Here are the highlights from Medscape.
Yoga improves quality of life in patients with chronic pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis is most often caused by alcoholism and alcohol abuse. The ability to get these patients to commit and stick with yoga classes twice weekly for 12 weeks is a major accomplishment. Improved quality of life is a bonus.
Here are the results from two studies.
Continue reading Yoga improves quality of life in patients with chronic pancreatitis
The use of homeopathy among celebrities
I was surprised to learn of the popularity of homeopathy among today’s luminaries.
Here’s a list.
Yoga for adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome
According to these study results, yoga complements the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBD).
Continue reading Yoga for adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome
CAM for smoking cessation?
A survey of more than a thousand people trying to quit smoking reveals those treatments most commonly used and most often perceived to be effective.
I listed them here with a brief comment on the scientific support.
Comparing yoga to statins for cholesterol lowering
Yoga practice is associated with positive effects on cholesterol levels in the blood.
For example,
- 6% to 25% decrease in total cholesterol
- 22% to 28% reduction in triglycerides
- 13% to 26.0% reduction in LDL (bad) cholesterol
But how does this compare to the LDL cholesterol lowering effects of statins, the most widely used drugs to treat hypercholesterolemia?
Continue reading Comparing yoga to statins for cholesterol lowering
Yoga 101
Thinking of starting yoga? Can’t get past the jargon? Maybe this will help.
Dealing with caffeine withdrawal
An article in Yoga Journal states, “Some yogis eschew the use of all caffeine, while others adopt a policy of moderate consumption. Caffeine can temporarily enliven the body, but dependence on it could hinder your yoga practice.”
For those who want to stop using caffeine-containing products, the article recommends adding Yogi tea or specific medicinal herbs to your diet to help ease the transition.
I have no idea if any of this stuff helps. It is clear however, that caffeine withdrawal is well documented and is included in DSM-IV-TR (the 4th text revision of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), considered the bible of mental disorders.
Here are details of the caffeine withdrawal symptoms.
Yoga for dummies…like me
Here are two links and a book for anyone who wants to include a little yoga in their life.