Pharmakoökonomie: Open Access

Sudarshan Kriya Yoga: A breath of hope during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Sameer Zope

Essential counter measures to fight a highly infectious rapidly spreading pandemic disease like COVID-19 include antiviral therapy,   immune-modulator therapy, and vaccination. Antiviral therapies are expensive and require mass production of drugs. Rampant uses of  immunosuppressant, immune-modulators are associated significant complications like lethal bacterial and fungal super infections.  Disease specific vaccines are moreover strain-specific, so the protection provided is also limited and specific. Globally the number of identified COVID- 19 cases has been steadily growing. Along with serious health problems, the disease has exerted a huge psychological impact on the public, hence worldwide there is an increased interest towards use of low-risk, cost-effective complementary alternative therapies, like Yoga and Ayurveda to tackle the infectious pandemic, COVID-19. Now substantial clinical evidence is available on the potential complementary role of various yogic practices in the management of diverse communicable and non-communicable diseases. Recently many studies have also highlighted importance of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) practices in improvement of psychological, physical and social wellbeing among frontline COVID warriors, COVID patients and general population. A unique Multi-component Breath-Based Yogic Practice “Sudarshan Kriya Yoga” includes specific sequential breathing techniques. It alleviates routine stress, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and stress-related medical disorders through balancing of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), improvement in the systemic health parameters and the quality of life. It is capable of potentiating innate host immune defenses that are crucial to tackle a plethora of microbial infections. A non-governmental, non-profit organization, the Art of Living Foundation has provided solace to the global population at large through online Sudarshan Kriya Yoga workshop during this COVID-19 pandemic. Essential counter measures to fight a highly infectious rapidly spreading pandemic disease like COVID-19 include antiviral therapy,   immune-modulator therapy, and vaccination. Antiviral therapies are expensive and require mass production of drugs. Rampant uses of  immunosuppressant, immune-modulators are associated significant complications like lethal bacterial and fungal super infections.  Disease specific vaccines are moreover strain-specific, so the protection provided is also limited and specific. Globally the number of identified COVID- 19 cases has been steadily growing. Along with serious health problems, the disease has exerted a huge psychological impact on the public, hence worldwide there is an increased interest towards use of low-risk, cost-effective complementary alternative therapies, like Yoga and Ayurveda to tackle the infectious pandemic, COVID-19. Now substantial clinical evidence is available on the potential complementary role of various yogic practices in the management of diverse communicable and non-communicable diseases. Recently many studies have also highlighted importance of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) practices in improvement of psychological, physical and social wellbeing among frontline COVID warriors, COVID patients and general population. A unique Multi-component Breath-Based Yogic Practice “Sudarshan Kriya Yoga” includes specific sequential breathing techniques. It alleviates routine stress, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and stress-related medical disorders through balancing of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), improvement in the systemic health parameters and the quality of life. It is capable of potentiating innate host immune defenses that are crucial to tackle a plethora of microbial infections. A non-governmental, non-profit organization, the Art of Living Foundation has provided solace to the global population at large through online Sudarshan Kriya Yoga workshop during this COVID-19 pandemic.