Effects of yogic breath regulation: A narrative review of scientific evidence

Apar Avinash Saoji, B R Raghavendra, N K Manjunath, Apar Avinash Saoji, B R Raghavendra, N K Manjunath

Abstract

Pranayama or breath regulation is considered as an essential component of Yoga, which is said to influence the physiological systems. We present a comprehensive overview of scientific literature in the field of yogic breathing. We searched PubMed, PubMed Central and IndMed for citations for keywords "Pranayama" and "Yogic Breathing". The search yielded a total of 1400 references. Experimental papers, case studies and case series in English, revealing the effects of yogic breathing were included in the review. The preponderance of literature points to beneficial effects of yogic breathing techniques in both physiological and clinical setups. Advantageous effects of yogic breathing on the neurocognitive, psychophysiological, respiratory, biochemical and metabolic functions in healthy individuals were elicited. They were also found useful in management of various clinical conditions. Overall, yogic breathing could be considered safe, when practiced under guidance of a trained teacher. Considering the positive effects of yogic breathing, further large scale studies with rigorous designs to understand the mechanisms involved with yogic breathing are warranted.

Keywords: Health benefits; Physiological effects; Pranayama; Yoga; Yogic breathing.

Copyright © 2017 Transdisciplinary University, Bangalore and World Ayurveda Foundation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

References

    1. Taimni I. Theosophical Publishing House; 1999. The science of yoga: the yoga-sūtras of Patañjali. in Sanskrit with Transliteration in Roman, Translation and Commentary in English.
    1. Muktibodhananda S. 2nd ed. Yoga Publication Trust; Bihar: 2002. Hatha yoga Pradipika: light on hatha yoga.
    1. Jeter P.E., Slutsky J., Singh N., Khalsa S.B.S. Yoga as a therapeutic intervention: a bibliometric analysis of published research studies from 1967 to 2013. J Altern Complement Med. 2015;21:586–592.
    1. Sengupta P., Chaudhuri P., Bhattacharya K. Male reproductive health and yoga. Int J Yoga. 2013;6:87–95.
    1. Sengupta P. Health impacts of yoga and pranayama: a state-of-the-art review. Int J Prev Med. 2012;3:444–458.
    1. Srinivasan T.M. Pranayama and brain correlates. Anc Sci Life. 1991;11:2–6.
    1. Stancák A., Kuna M., Srinivasan, Dostálek C., Vishnudevananda S. Kapalabhati – yogic cleansing exercise. II. EEG topography analysis. Homeost Heal Dis. 1991;33:182–189.
    1. Pradhan B. Effect of kapalabhati on performance of six-letter cancellation and digit letter substitution task in adults. Int J Yoga. 2013;6:128–130.
    1. Telles S., Yadav A., Gupta R.K., Balkrishna A. Reaction time following yoga bellows-type breathing and breath awareness. Percept Mot Skills. 2013;117:1131–1140.
    1. Bhavanani A.B., Madanmohan, Udupa K. Acute effect of mukh bhastrika (a yogic bellows type breathing) on reaction time. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2003;47:297–300.
    1. Bhavanani A.B., Ramanathan M., Harichandrakumar K.T. Immediate effect of mukha bhastrika (a bellows type pranayama) on reaction time in mentally challenged adolescents. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2012;56:174–180.
    1. Sharma V.K., M R, S V, Subramanian S.K., Bhavanani A.B., Madanmohan Effect of fast and slow pranayama practice on cognitive functions in healthy volunteers. J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8:10–13.
    1. Vialatte F.B., Bakardjian H., Prasad R., Cichocki A. EEG paroxysmal gamma waves during Bhramari Pranayama: a yoga breathing technique. Conscious Cogn. 2009;18:977–988.
    1. Rajesh S.K., Ilavarasu J.V., Srinivasan T.M. Effect of Bhramari Pranayama on response inhibition: evidence from the stop signal task. Int J Yoga. 2014;7:138–141.
    1. Nagendra H.R. Swami Vivekananda Yoga Prakashana; Bangalore: 2007. Pranayama – the art and science.
    1. Jella S.A., Shannahoff-Khalsa D.S. The effects of unilateral forced nostril breathing on cognitive performance. Int J Neurosci. 1993;73:61–68.
    1. Telles S., Singh N., Puthige R. Changes in P300 following alternate nostril yoga breathing and breath awareness. Biopsychosoc Med. 2013;7:11.
    1. Telles S., Joseph C., Venkatesh S., Desiraju T. Alterations of auditory middle latency evoked potentials during yogic consciously regulated breathing and attentive state of mind. Int J Psychophysiol. 1993;14:189–198.
    1. Telles S., Yadav A., Kumar N., Sharma S., Visweshwaraiah N.K., Balkrishna A. Blood pressure and Purdue pegboard scores in individuals with hypertension after alternate nostril breathing, breath awareness, and no intervention. Med Sci Monitor. 2013;19:61–66.
    1. Marshall R.S., Basilakos A., Williams T., Love-Myers K. Exploring the benefits of unilateral nostril breathing practice post-stroke: attention, language, spatial abilities, depression, and anxiety. J Altern Complement Med. 2014;20:185–194.
    1. Marshall R.S., Laures-Gore J., DuBay M., Williams T., Bryant D. Unilateral forced nostril breathing and aphasia – exploring unilateral forced nostril breathing as an adjunct to aphasia treatment: a case series. J Altern Complement Med. 2015;21:91–99.
    1. Shannahoff-Khalsa D.S., Kennedy B. The effects of unilateral forced nostril breathing on the heart. Int J Neurosci. 1993;73:47–60.
    1. Pal G.K., Agarwal A., Karthik S., Pal P., Nanda N. Slow yogic breathing through right and left nostril influences sympathovagal balance, heart rate variability, and cardiovascular risks in young adults. N Am J Med Sci. 2014;6:145–151.
    1. Turankar A.V., Jain S., Patel S.B., Sinha S.R., Joshi A.D., Vallish B.N. Effects of slow breathing exercise on cardiovascular functions, pulmonary functions & galvanic skin resistance in healthy human volunteers – a pilot study. Indian J Med Res. 2013;137:916–921.
    1. Sinha A.N., Deepak D., Gusain V.S. Assessment of the effects of pranayama/alternate nostril breathing on the parasympathetic nervous system in young adults. J Clin Diagn Res. 2013;7:821–823.
    1. Jovanov E. On spectral analysis of heart rate variability during very slow yogic breathing. IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2005;3:2467–2470.
    1. Upadhyay Dhungel K., Malhotra V., Sarkar D., Prajapati R. Effect of alternate nostril breathing exercise on cardiorespiratory functions. Nepal Med Coll J. 2008;10:25–27.
    1. Bhargava R., Gogate M.G., Mascarenhas J.F. Autonomic responses to breath holding and its variations following pranayama. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1988;32:257–264.
    1. Bhavanani A.B., Ramanathan M., Balaji R., Pushpa D. Differential effects of uninostril and alternate nostril pranayamas on cardiovascular parameters and reaction time. Int J Yoga. 2014;7:60–65.
    1. Shannahoff-Khalsa D.S., Sramek B.B., Kennel M.B., Jamieson S.W. Hemodynamic observations on a yogic breathing technique claimed to help eliminate and prevent heart attacks: a pilot study. J Altern Complement Med. 2004;10:757–766.
    1. Mason H., Vandoni M., Debarbieri G., Codrons E., Ugargol V., Bernardi L. Cardiovascular and respiratory effect of yogic slow breathing in the yoga beginner: what is the best approach? Evid Based Complement Altern Med. 2013;2013:743504.
    1. Pal G.K., Velkumary S., Madanmohan Effect of short-term practice of breathing exercises on autonomic functions in normal human volunteers. Indian J Med Res. 2004;120:115–121.
    1. Sharma V.K., Trakroo M., Subramaniam V., Rajajeyakumar M., Bhavanani A.B., Sahai A. Effect of fast and slow pranayama on perceived stress and cardiovascular parameters in young health-care students. Int J Yoga. 2013;6:104–110.
    1. Thangavel D., Gaur G.S., Sharma V.K., Bhavanani A.B., Rajajeyakumar M., Syam S.A. Effect of slow and fast pranayama training on handgrip strength and endurance in healthy volunteers. J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8:BC01–3.
    1. Raghuraj P., Ramakrishnan A.G., Nagendra H.R., Telles S. Effect of two selected yogic breathing techniques on heart rate variability. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1998;42:467–472.
    1. Stancák A., Kuna M., Srinivasan, Vishnudevananda S., Dostálek C. Kapalabhati – yogic cleansing exercise. I. Cardiovascular and respiratory changes. Homeost Health Dis. 1991;33:126–134.
    1. Veerabhadrappa S.G., Baljoshi V.S., Khanapure S., Herur A., Patil S., Ankad R.B. Effect of yogic bellows on cardiovascular autonomic reactivity. J Cardiovasc Dis Res. 2011;2:223.
    1. Pramanik T., Sharma H.O., Mishra S., Mishra A., Prajapati R., Singh S. vol. 15. 2009. (Immediate effect of slow pace bhastrika pranayama on blood pressure and heart rate).
    1. Nivethitha L., Manjunath N.K., Mooventhan A. Heart rate variability changes during and after the practice of bhramari pranayama. Int J Yoga. 2017;10:99–102.
    1. Nemati A. The effect of pranayama on test anxiety and test performance. Int J Yoga. 2013;6:55–60.
    1. Mohanty S., Saoji A.A. Comments on “alternate nostril breathing at different rates and its influence on heart rate variability in non practitioners of yoga”. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016;10:CL01.
    1. Sivakumar G., Prabhu K., Baliga R., Pai M.K., Manjunatha S., Krishnamoorthi Prabhu K. Acute effects of deep breathing for a short duration (2–10 minutes) on pulmonary functions in healthy young volunteers. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2011;55:154–159.
    1. Dinesh T., Gaur G., Sharma V., Madanmohan T., Harichandra Kumar K., Bhavanani A. Comparative effect of 12 weeks of slow and fast pranayama training on pulmonary function in young, healthy volunteers: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Yoga. 2015;8:22–26.
    1. Hakked C.S., Balakrishnan R., Krishnamurthy M.N. Yogic breathing practices improve lung functions of competitive young swimmers. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2017 Apr–Jun;8(2):99–104.
    1. Pratap V., Berrettini W.H., Smith C. Arterial blood gases in pranayama practice. Percept Mot Skills. 1978;46:171–174.
    1. Desai B.P., Gharote M.L. Effect of Kapalabhati on blood urea, creatinine and tyrosine. Act Nerv Super (Praha) 1990;32:95–98.
    1. Telles S., Desiraju T. Oxygen consumption during pranayamic type of very slow-rate breathing. Indian J Med Res. 1991;94:357–363.
    1. Telles S., Nagarathna R., Nagendra H.R. Breathing through a particular nostril can alter metabolism and autonomic activities. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1994;38:133–137.
    1. Telles S., Nagarathna R., Nagendra H.R. Physiological measures of right nostril breathing. J Altern Complement Med. 1996;2:479–484.
    1. Raghuraj P., Telles S. Immediate effect of specific nostril manipulating yoga breathing practices on autonomic and respiratory variables. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2008;33:65–75.
    1. Bhattacharya S., Pandey U.S., Verma N.S. Improvement in oxidative status with yogic breathing in young healthy males. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2002;46:349–354.
    1. Marzatico F., Pansarasa O., Bertorelli L., Somenzini L., Della Valle G. Blood free radical antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxides following long-distance and lactacidemic performances in highly trained aerobic and sprint athletes. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1997;37:235–239.
    1. Martarelli D., Cocchioni M., Scuri S., Pompei P. Diaphragmatic breathing reduces exercise-induced oxidative stress. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:932430.
    1. Balasubramanian S., Janech M.G., Warren G.W. Alterations in salivary proteome following single twenty-minute session of yogic breathing. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:376029.
    1. Bhavanani A.B., Sanjay Z., Madanmohan Immediate effect of sukha pranayama on cardiovascular variables in patients of hypertension. Int J Yoga Ther. 2011;21:73–76.
    1. Bhavanani A.B., Madanmohan, Sanjay Z., Basavaraddi I.V. Immediate cardiovascular effects of pranava pranayama in hypertensive patients. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2012;56:273–278.
    1. Bhavanani A.B., Madanmohan, Sanjay Z., Madanmohan Immediate effect of chandra nadi pranayama (left unilateral forced nostril breathing) on cardiovascular parameters in hypertensive patients. Int J Yoga. 2012;5:108.
    1. Adhana R., Gupta R., Dvivedi J., Ahmad S., Dvivedii J., Ahmad S. The influence of the 2:1 yogic breathing technique on essential hypertension. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2013;57:38–44.
    1. Goyal R., Lata H., Walia L., Narula M.K. Effect of pranayama on rate pressure product in mild hypertensives. Int J Appl Basic Med Res. 2014;4:67–71.
    1. Dabhade A.M., Pawar B.H., Ghunage M.S., Ghunage V.M. Effect of pranayama (breathing exercise) on arrhythmias in the human heart. Explor J Sci Heal. 2012;8:12–15.
    1. Singh V., Wisniewski A., Britton J., Tattersfield A. Effect of yoga breathing exercises (pranayama) on airway reactivity in subjects with asthma. Lancet. 1990;335:1381–1383.
    1. Prem V., Sahoo R.C., Adhikari P. Comparison of the effects of Buteyko and pranayama breathing techniques on quality of life in patients with asthma - a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2012;27:133–141.
    1. Cooper S., Oborne J., Newton S., Harrison V., Thompson Coon J., Lewis S. vol. 58. 2003. (Effect of two breathing exercises (Buteyko and pranayama) in asthma: a randomised controlled trial).
    1. Saxena T., Saxena M. The effect of various breathing exercises (pranayama) in patients with bronchial asthma of mild to moderate severity. Int J Yoga. 2009;2:22–25.
    1. Raghavendra P., Shetty P., Shetty S., Manjunath N.K., Saoji A.A. Effect of high-frequency yoga breathing on pulmonary functions in patients with asthma: a randomized clinical trial. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2016;117:550–551.
    1. Shahab L., Sarkar B.K., West R. The acute effects of yogic breathing exercises on craving and withdrawal symptoms in abstaining smokers. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2013;225:875–882.
    1. Mooventhan A., Khode V. Effect of Bhramari pranayama and OM chanting on pulmonary function in healthy individuals: a prospective randomized control trial. Int J Yoga. 2014;7:104–110.
    1. Jyotsna V.P., Joshi A., Ambekar S., Kumar N., Dhawan A., Sreenivas V. Comprehensive yogic breathing program improves quality of life in patients with diabetes. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2012;16:423.
    1. Jyotsna V.P., Ambekar S., Singla R., Joshi A., Dhawan A., Kumar N. Cardiac autonomic function in patients with diabetes improves with practice of comprehensive yogic breathing program. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;17:480–485.
    1. Zautra A.J., Fasman R., Davis M.C., Craig A.D. The effects of slow breathing on affective responses to pain stimuli: an experimental study. Pain. 2010;149:12–18.
    1. Dhruva A., Miaskowski C., Abrams D., Acree M., Cooper B., Goodman S. Yoga breathing for cancer chemotherapy-associated symptoms and quality of life: results of a pilot randomized controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2012;18:473–479.
    1. Chakrabarty J., Vidyasagar M.S., Fernandes D., Bhat V., Nagalakshmi, Joisa G. Effectiveness of pranayama on the levels of serum protein thiols and glutathione in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy: a randomized controlled trial. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2013;57:225–232.
    1. Chakrabarty J., Vidyasagar M.S., Fernandes D., Joisa G., Varghese P., Mayya S. Effectiveness of pranayama on cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Yoga. 2015;8:47–53.
    1. Johnson D.B., Tierney M.J., Sadighi P.J. Kapalabhati pranayama: breath of fire or cause of pneumothorax? A case report. Chest. 2004;125:1951–1952.
    1. Cramer H., Krucoff C., Dobos G. Adverse events associated with yoga: a systematic review of published case reports and case series. PLoS One. 2013;8:e75515.

Source: PubMed

Sponsor e collaboratori

Condizioni mediche

Interventi farmacologici

3
Sottoscrivi