Positive Health Online

Abstract

TANEJA and colleagues, Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi 110029, India, have conducted a randomized controlled trial of Yogic versus conventional treatment of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

Background

The aim of the study was to evaluate the comparative effects of yogic and conventional treatment of diarrhoea-predominant IBS.

Methodology

22 male patients were allocated to two groups. The conventional group was given symptomatic treatment with loperamide 2-6 mg per day for 2 months, and the yogic intervention group practised a set of 12 asanas along with right-nostril breathing twice a day for 2 months. All patients were investigated at baseline and at one and two months for bowel symptoms, autonomic symptoms, sutonomic reactivity, surface electrogastrography, and trait and state anxiety.

Results

Two months of both conventional and yogic treatment showed a significant decrease in bowel symptoms and state anxiety. In the loperamide group, this was accompanied by an increase in electrophysiologically recorded gastric activity. In the yogic group, by contrast, there was an enhanced parasympathetic reactivity.

Conclusion

The study indicates a beneficial effect of yogic over conventional treatment in diarrhoea-predominant IBS.

References

Taneja I, Deepak KK, Poorjary G, Acharya IN, Pandey RM, Sharma MP. Yogic versus conventional treatment in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized control study. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback 29 (1): 19-33, Mar 2004.

Comment

The above studies regarding Stress and Yoga indicate improvement in both physical and emotional symptoms across a wide range of conditions.