Yoga, an ancient Indian practise has been gaining world popularity for years now. The past decade saw Yoga’s popularity sky rocket and we’re not surprised. Yoga is known to be beneficial to the body and mind. However, adding to its list of benefits, a recent study found out, yoga could help patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis(RA).
The study’s findings say that the ancient practice from India cuts down inflammation and reduces pain in the joints of the patient’s right just eight weeks of practicing it.
The asanas that especially help these patients are the downward dog, lotus and crab poses. The study also found that these asanas shielded the patients from depression, which is a common side effect of the chronic condition.
The research study further confirmed the claims about yoga being beneficial to the body and the mind.
The mental benefits of yoga for patients of RA become the bigger hero because the mental health conditions are often blamed for the patients ‘inability to stick to their medication and worsening their disease severity.
Blood samples of 72 RA patients were collected for the research purpose and then divided into two groups - - those that practiced yoga while taking conventional medication and those who just took the drugs.
The impact was measured for two weeks. Results - published in the journal Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience - revealed the RA sufferers who did yoga had significantly lower levels of inflammation markers in their blood than those who just relied on conventional treatment. They also reported less pain and reduced signs of depression.
'Our results provide evidence that yoga positively modifies the pathobiology of autoimmunity at cellular and molecular levels by targeting mind-body communications,' Dr Dada said.
The researchers believe their study demonstrates yoga can be used as a 'complementary therapy' when treating RA.
But, Dr Dada added, further research is required to determine how yoga benefits RA patients.
