Page 68 - Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments in Psychiatry

68 | Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments in Psychiatry

Physical Effects of Breathing Practices
Diaphragmatic breathing decreases an excessively active
parasympathetic nervous system. When practiced, it
appropriately energizes the sympathetic nervous system on the
inhale, and the exhale appropriately engages the
parasympathetic system (Brown 2009). Proper breathing
manages energy, breath volume, and adjusts other biological
systems such as the endocrine, digestive, circulatory and
neurochemical. Deep breathing stops the cycle of stress so
prevalent in current society. Regulation of breath regulates
heart function through the vagus nerve (Edwards 2008).

The Impact of Breathing on Anxiety and
Depression

While Americans often think of yoga as a series of meditative
postures, the system of yoga includes an emphasis on various
breathing techniques which induce a variety of desired states.
Brown and Gerbarg conducted an intensive study of Sudarshan
Kriya yogic breathing (SKY). They found decreases in a variety of
mood states such as depression, anxiety, stress and PTSD (post-
traumatic stress disorder—severe anxiety symptoms that linger
after traumatic events). They were especially curious about the
mechanisms of change from this form of breathing. They found
that SKY increased parasympathetic nervous system activity,
relaxation of the stress response, hormonal release and thalamic
response. In addition, they found that SKY breathing was
effective as an early intervention with survivors of natural
disasters, and they cite experience with 9/11 and the December
2004 tsunami. The authors emphasize the importance that
healthcare providers comprehend the research and clinical
evidence of these therapeutic benefits. SKY breathing has much
to offer—at no cost—as an adjunctive treatment to conventional
methods (Brown 2005).
SKY has been taught by the Art of Living Foundation
(www.artofliving.org/us-en) for many years and has reached 6