Hypertension Research

Dr Shreeniwas, MD, Director Yoga Research Institute, Patna, affiliated with Bihar School of Yoga, is currently doing research into the yogic treatment of high blood pressure.

First phase of research

  1. 150 cases, all males, age groups 15-40 years.
  2. All selected at random.
  3. All were normal individuals whose blood pressures (BP) ranged from 100 to 150mm.Hg. systolic (mostly between 120 to 130 mm.Hg.) and 50 to 80 mm.Hg. diastolic (mostly between 60 and 70 mm.Hg.).
  4. The men were asked to lie down and take rest. The BP was recorded at intervals of ten to thirty minutes till their resting (normal) BP was established and noted.
  5. They were then given a tablet of tranquilliser Diazepam (5 mgm.) Calmpose. After waiting for thirty minutes the process of recording the BP was repeated as above, and the lowest BP reached was noted.
  6. The men were then allowed to go home and carry on with their usual activities, diet, etc.
  7. They reported for a re-check of their BP after forty-eight hours. This time the BP was again recorded at intervals of ten to thirty minutes and the lowest baseline noted. They were then put into shavasana and yoga nidra following the technique of Swami Satyananda Saraswati.

The results obtained

  1. Diazepam had very little effect on lowering the BP.
  2. Yoga nidra could bring down the BP to a level still lower than the 'resting' by 10 to 20 mm. Hg. systolic and by 0 to 10 mm. Hg. diastolic.
  3. Yoga nidra is a perfectly safe, sound and effective method for lowering BP.