BENGALURU: Yoga is an integral part of public health system in Karnataka. The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, and Sir CV Raman General Hospital have all employed Yoga as therapy for anxiety disorders, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and psychotic disorders.
In 2007, the NIMHANS Integrated Centre for Yoga was the first public hospital in the state to incorporate Yoga as part of the treatment plan for conditions like schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, adjustment, anxiety, somatoform pain disorder, dissociative disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, mild to moderate mental retardation, seizures, migraine, mild cognitive impairment, etc.
Last month alone, NIMHANS treated 1,313 patients in 353 Yoga therapy sessions and saw 150 new registrations. NIMHANS director Dr B N Gangadhar said, “I have had a mother of a schizophrenic son tell me that Yoga gave her son back to her. He was socially withdrawn and couldn’t emote with family members. We use a constellation of breathing exercises and Yoga asanas to design a module for the patients.”
Vakrasana, Shalabhasana, Bhujangasana and Suryanamaskar among others are a few of the asanas that were found to be beneficial for patients.
Sir CV Raman General Hospital has an Integrative Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit that is just about two months old. But already 60 patients are being treated there, most of them being diabetic, hypertensive or suffering from arthritis.
Dr Shashikant Kumbar, head of Integrative Medicine unit, said, “Multiple Scelerosis patients are at best given steroids or suppressants to reduce the symptoms. But breathing techniques and postures can be used for reducing the negative symptoms of the patients.”
For insomniacs, musculoskeletal relaxation techniques are used. “About 80 per cent of psychologists use relaxation techniques for anxiety issues,” Shashikanth said. For women, pelvic floor weakness is treated by strengtheneing exercises.