Traditional Medicine in Asia

Traditional Medicine in Asia
centres in the psychic body. Mantras which
are composed of those sounds create
vibrations in specific areas of the psychic
body. Their vibrations have effects on our
physical bodies and our mental functioning.
Physical effects – Since the mantras,
when sounded audibly, vibrate the
appropriate parts of the physical body, any
problems in those parts that respond to
vibration, improve when the appropriate
mantras are repeated. For instance, the
last letter of the often-used mantra, OM,
produces a humming sound, which vibrates
the head area. It is an excellent practice
for relieving tension, headache and chronic
sinusitis. Similarly, other mantras especially
vibrate the chest area, and are good for
relieving tension there. In this way, if one
knows the area of action of mantras, one
can virtually prescribe an appropriate
mantra for that area.
Mental effects – If mantra is the force
that liberates the mind from bondage, what
is this bondage? It has two aspects,
impurities (mala) and oscillation (vikshepa).
The impurities are the sum total of all the
negative impressions deep in the mind. They
are the result of past problems in all areas
of our mental being, and relate to such areas
of our life as love, joy, security, power and
self-esteem. Mantras activate these parts
of our mental apparatus and allow
memories to surface where they can be dealt
with and eliminated. The other aspect of
the mind, vikshepa, is the oscillation and
distraction of the mind; the internal
monologue goes on all day, the desires, the
fears, the plans, the disappointments, the
mind is never at peace. By repeating the
mantras with one-pointed awareness, the
oscillations can be quietened and the mind
becomes tranquil and peaceful.
Psychic effects – Mantras can also be
used to awaken our psychic potentials, but
this subject is better left to be imparted by
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one’s own yoga instructor who is
experienced in the science of mantra.
Some research data on Yoga
As we have seen, yoga covers a broad
range of techniques applicable to all
aspects of life. This needs to be taken into
account when examining yoga research,
since there are many articles that discuss
relaxation, hypometabolism, etc., which
are directly or indirectly related to yoga,
although this relationship may not be
explicitly stated.
Yoga and Cardiovascular Disease
Considerable research data have been
collected on yoga’s capacity to influence
the cardiovascular system and improve
function. Research has focused on
hypertension and coronary artery disease
in particular. Yoga is seen to be a good
alternative to exercise, because of its
additional relaxation effect, and the fact
that it can be finely adjusted to the physical
needs of the individual person.
The research on hypertension is now
conclusive as a result of more than 30 years
of data. 4,5,6,7 In 1969, Datey successfully
treated 53 per cent of 47 patients suffering
from hypertension using the meditation
technique of shavasana. There have been
several studies, which have compared
various meditative practices and their
effects on blood pressure. Bagga and
Gandhi compared shavasana with
Transcendental Meditation © and found that
both techniques lowered heart rate and
blood pressure, and increased skin
resistance; however, a mantra-based
meditation practice was relatively more
significant. 8
There have been a number of studies
on the heart itself and it has been shown
that yoga improves cardiovascular