Effects of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga on psychological health and serum cortisol levels in breast cancer women

• Main Authors: Yu-WenWang, 王昱文
• Other Authors: A-Min Huang
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/06248322456330891578

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 生理學研究所 === 98 === Suffering from breast cancer is a devastating impact for women. Anxiety, fear, depression, and uncertainty are prevalent, and secretion of stress hormones, like cortisol, is increasing. Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) is a special kind of breathing technique which includes Yoga stretch, Ujjayi breathing, Bhastrika breathing and the core technique Sudarshan Kriya. Regular SKY practice not only relieves depression, but also decreases serum cortisol levels. In this study, we proposed that psychological health will be improved and serum cortisol levels will be decreased after the SKY training course and regular practice of SKY in breast cancer women. Subjects were divided into two groups: breast cancer subjects without SKY (BC, n=21), and breast cancer subjects with SKY (BS, n=25). Psychological health questionnaires were self-evaluated and blood samples were collected at 4 time points, pre-SKY training (T0), post-SKY training (T1), the first month (T2), and the third month (T3) after the SKY training courses. The frequency of daily SKY practice at home was ~6 times/week and follow-up group practice of SKY was ~6 times/12 weeks, suggesting that women with breast cancer were able to practice SKY regularly, especially in the first two months. In the BS group, State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) scores decreased at T1, T3 and Trait Anxiety Inventory scores decreased at T1, T2, and T3. Resilience Scale increased at T1. The total Mental Adjustment to Cancer scores increased at T1 and T2, especially in the domains of “Hopeless”, “Positive”, and “Anxious”. The total scores of Quality of Life increased at T2, especially in the domains of “Physical”, “Psychological”, and “Environment”. In the BC group, SAI and TAI scores decreased at T3, but no changes of the other psychological questionnaires. Serum cortisol levels significantly decreased at T2 in BSs, but not in BC. Decrease of serum cortisol level is correlated with the decrease of SAI scores and with the increase of MAC scores throughout the 3-month of regular practice. This study indicates that SKY is feasible for breast cancer women. The SKY training course and regular SKY practice reduce the time to improve anxiety, to increase mental adjustment to cancer, resilience and the quality of life and to decrease of serum cortisol levels.