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. 2013 Sep;19(3):180-5.
doi: 10.4103/0973-1075.121537.

Randomized Controlled Trial in Advance Stage Breast Cancer Patients for the Effectiveness on Stress Marker and Pain through Sudarshan Kriya and Pranayam

Neeta Kumar  1 , Sushma Bhatnagar  2 , T Velpandian  3 , Santosh Patnaik  3 , Geetha Menon  1 , Manju Mehta  4 , Komal Kashyap  2 , Vishwajeet Singh  1 , Surajpal  2
Affiliations

Randomized Controlled Trial in Advance Stage Breast Cancer Patients for the Effectiveness on Stress Marker and Pain through Sudarshan Kriya and Pranayam

Neeta Kumar et al. Indian J Palliat Care. 2013 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the effect of a cognitive, behavioral stress management module of Sudarshan Kriya (SK) and P on levels of serum cortisol and pain among the women suffering from advanced stage breast cancer.

Materials and methods: Participants (n = 147) were screened and randomized to receive standard care (n = 69) versus standard along with SK and Pranayam (P) intervention (n = 78) imparted in one 18 hrs workshop spread during 3 days. Participants were expected to practice it at home 20 min daily as adjuvant to standard pharmacological treatment for pain.

Results: There was a significant difference in blood cortisol levels after 3 months of practice of SK and P. Mean blood levels in the intervention arm were 341.2 ng/ml against 549.2 ng/ml in the control arm (P ≤ 0.002). Pain perception in comparison to control arm reduced by 3 points in SK and P arm on 0-10 verbal scale of pain.

Conclusion: SK and P is an effective intervention in reducing stress and pain among advance stage patients of breast cancer.

Keywords: Cancer; Pain; Pranayam; Stress; Sudarshan kriya; Yoga.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Experimental design, flow diagram
Figure 2
Figure 2
Verbal pains scale on 0-10 scale: showed average 2 point difference at 3rd month of follow-up in control versus Sudarshan Kriya and Pranayam yoga arm. (Upper thick line = control arm verbal pain scales, lower thin line = Sudarshan Kriya and Pranayam verbal pain scale)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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