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AI in Ayurveda diagnosis and treatment is a transformative approach. AI-powered Ayurveda systems can provide real-time monitoring, predict potential health issues, and track the effectiveness of treatments, bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern medical advancements, while promoting holistic wellness.

The integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) in Ayurveda can rapidly transform modern medicine, particularly in holistic diagnostics and treatment planning. Ayurveda, an ancient time tested, holistic medical system, offers valuable insights into personalized health through balancing the body's natural elements (doshas). This article explores a comprehensive framework that combines the potential of LLMs with the principles of Ayurveda.

By combining with the powerful software tools presently available, such as LangChain, MongoDB, Hugging Face Transformers, TensorFlow, and others, the integration of Ayurveda with Generative AI and LLMs becomes highly feasible. These tools can help manage vast datasets, process language, predict health patterns, and generate personalized Ayurvedic recommendations.

The integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI technologies into Ayurveda offers a groundbreaking approach to medical diagnosis and treatment. By leveraging AI's ability to analyze vast amounts of Ayurvedic texts, health data, and patient history, personalized treatment plans can be generated with precision. This fusion of ancient wisdom and modern AI models revolutionizes holistic healthcare, enabling more effective and accessible Ayurvedic solutions for individuals worldwide.

By leveraging AI to enhance the accuracy of diagnosis, treatment personalization, and decision support in Ayurveda, this hybrid approach bridges the gap between ancient wisdom and cutting-edge technology. We explore how LLMs can revolutionize both modern and Ayurvedic healthcare practices while addressing challenges in standardization, language, human values, and ethical standards.

Key Points

Ayurvedic wellness focuses on the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Generative AI and LLM Models can analyze the dosha profile, dhatus, srotas the flow channels in Ayurveda,  and suggest ways to balance it. They can offer specific advice on food, Ayurveda herbs, Ayurveda medicines, yoga exercises, and more.

• Specific food choices and meal planning to address Vata, Pitta, or Kapha imbalances
• Recommended herbs, spices, and Ayurvedic medicines to support individual dosha needs
• Customized yoga exercise routines and relaxation techniques to pacify or invigorate the doshas
• Lifestyle adjustments, such as sleep patterns, daily routines, and stress management strategies

With LLMs, Ayurvedic practitioners can give patients a detailed, personalized plan for wellness. This helps patients make better health choices and take charge of their well-being.

Introduction 

Ayurveda is a 3,000-year-old holistic system of medicine that emphasizes balance between the body’s three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—to maintain health. Traditional diagnostic and treatment methods in Ayurveda rely on a deep understanding of natural elements, environmental factors, and individual constitution (Prakriti). On the other hand, modern AI, specifically Large Language Models (LLMs), excels in natural language processing, making it possible to analyze large datasets and provide accurate medical insights.

Recent advancements in LLMs, such as GPT-4 and its successors, have shown tremendous potential in medical diagnostics and treatment by analyzing patient data, medical texts, and electronic health records (EHRs). The combination of Ayurveda with LLMs can offer personalized, data-driven, and holistic healthcare solutions. This article explores a unified framework where LLMs are employed to enhance Ayurveda's diagnostic and treatment processes and explores the potential benefits, challenges, and future applications.

1. LLMs in Modern and Ayurvedic Medical Diagnosis

1.1 Diagnostic Process in Ayurveda AI

In Ayurveda AI System, the diagnostic process will be deeply rooted in understanding the disease through the following five primary stages:

1. Purvarupa (Prodromal Symptoms): The early signs of imbalance or disease, often subtle and sometimes overlooked, can now be flagged by AI systems using health data analytics and wearable devices, allowing for proactive interventions before the disease fully manifests.
2. Rupa (Manifested Symptoms): AI models, especially LLMs (Large Language Models), can be trained to analyze patients' symptoms in depth, providing doctors with a detailed understanding of the manifested state of illness and suggesting personalized Ayurvedic treatments.
3. Samprapti (Pathogenesis): AI can map out the progression of diseases based on data patterns, offering insights into the dosha imbalances and the disease’s evolution. This helps in creating real-time models of the disease progression, aiding Ayurvedic practitioners in understanding the root cause and how it’s affecting the body.
4. Upasaya (Therapeutic Tests): AI can be employed to test and evaluate different therapeutic interventions, offering real-time feedback and predictive models that optimize treatments. Machine learning can track the effectiveness of various Ayurvedic treatments and predict the best combination of herbs, diet, and lifestyle changes.
5. Ashtavidha Pareeksha (Eightfold Physical Examination): Using technologies like computer vision and sensor-based diagnostics, AI can assist practitioners in performing the eight-fold Ayurvedic examinations—pulse (Nadi), urine (Mutra), stool (Mala), tongue (Jihva), voice and speech (Shabda), touch (Sparsha), eyes (Drik), and general appearance (Akruti). AI’s precision in analyzing physiological data can offer a more comprehensive and data-driven approach to diagnosis.

1.2 Disease Prediction and Diagnosis

LLMs have revolutionized disease prediction by processing vast amounts of patient data, clinical notes, and diagnostic records. One such example is Health-LLM, a retrieval-augmented disease prediction model designed to offer personalized diagnostics based on patient-specific data (Jin et al., 2024). This model has been successfully employed in both zero-shot diagnosis settings and personalized treatments, demonstrating the capability of LLMs in real-time, complex diagnostic scenarios.

Similarly, in Ayurveda, diagnosis is based on observing the patient's Prakriti (constitution), Vikriti (imbalances), and external factors, such as diet, lifestyle, and environment. By training LLMs on traditional Ayurvedic texts like Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita, these models can learn to recognize patterns in patient data to assess dosha imbalances and suggest appropriate Ayurvedic diagnostic methods.

1.3 Multimodal Diagnosis in Modern and Traditional Medicine

Recent studies have shown that LLMs are also capable of integrating multimodal data—combining textual information with medical images and other diagnostic tools. For instance, in breast cancer diagnosis, Haider et al. (2024) demonstrated how LLMs assist clinicians by classifying breast images and making treatment recommendations. Such multimodal systems can enhance Ayurvedic diagnosis by integrating modern diagnostic tools (e.g., blood tests, imaging) with traditional Ayurvedic assessments, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the patient’s condition.

In the Ayurvedic context, pulse reading (Nadi Pariksha), tongue analysis, and dosha evaluation are key diagnostic tools. An LLM could process these traditional Ayurvedic assessments alongside modern diagnostic results, offering a more complete picture of a patient’s health.

2. LLMs in Personalized Treatment Planning

"In the convergence of AI and Ayurveda, we unlock the full potential of holistic medicine—where personalized care is both deeply rooted in tradition and guided by the benefits of future technology." - Sri Amit Ray

2.1 Ayurvedic Treatment Personalization with LLMs

Ayurvedic treatment is highly personalized, considering each individual's constitution and current health state. In recent applications, LLMs have been used to generate personalized treatment recommendations by processing patient history, lifestyle factors, and clinical data. Benary et al. (2023) showcased how LLMs in oncology create personalized cancer treatment plans by analyzing tumor characteristics and patient data.

Similarly, in Ayurveda, LLMs could be trained to recommend specific herbs, diets, and therapies based on a patient’s dosha imbalances. By integrating historical Ayurvedic treatment data with modern clinical research, LLMs could offer precise Ayurvedic treatments that cater to individual needs. For instance, an LLM could suggest dietary adjustments based on Ayurvedic guidelines or recommend specific Panchakarma detox therapies for restoring dosha balance.

2.2 LLM-Based Decision Support Systems

Modern medicine has leveraged LLMs to support clinical decision-making, as seen in systems like DrHouse (Yang et al., 2024), which integrates sensor data and expert knowledge for accurate diagnostic reasoning. In Ayurveda, this decision-making process is traditionally the responsibility of experienced practitioners who analyze various aspects of a patient's life, including mental and emotional states, to provide treatment.

An LLM-based decision support system for Ayurveda could assist practitioners by offering suggestions based on patient input and historical treatment success rates. For instance, such systems could analyze multiple factors—including seasons, body type, and food habits—to recommend Ayurvedic formulations like Triphala, Ashwagandha, or Brahmi, in addition to guiding patients on lifestyle adjustments according to their dosha.

3. Challenges in Applying LLMs to Ayurveda and Modern Medicine

3.1 Standardization and Variability in Practices

Ayurveda is highly individualized and varies significantly between practitioners. The lack of standardized treatments poses a challenge for developing comprehensive LLMs. Similarly, in modern healthcare, clinical guidelines may differ depending on the practitioner or region. For LLMs to be effective, standardizing core Ayurvedic practices without sacrificing personalization is necessary. This challenge is also seen in oncology, where Benary et al. (2023) discussed the need for standardized treatment generation based on patient data.

3.2 Language and Cultural Barriers

Ayurveda’s ancient texts are written in Sanskrit, and the practices themselves are deeply rooted in Indian culture. Training LLMs on Ayurvedic principles requires detailed annotation and translation of these texts to ensure that the models can understand complex terminologies. Modern medicine, on the other hand, involves standardized terminologies like the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), making it easier for LLMs to comprehend. Bridging this language gap in Ayurveda is essential for effective AI implementation.

3.3 Ethical and Practical Concerns

Ethical considerations in using LLMs in healthcare include patient safety, informed consent, and the risk of AI replacing human intuition and expertise. In Ayurveda, where treatments often involve holistic practices and natural therapies, ensuring that LLM-generated recommendations align with ethical guidelines is critical. Similar concerns have been raised in modern medicine, as highlighted by Reese et al. (2023), where AI systems need transparency in decision-making to build trust with healthcare providers and patients.

4. Future Directions for AI Integration in Ayurveda and Modern Healthcare

4.1 Hybrid Systems for Modern and Ayurvedic Diagnosis

The future of healthcare lies in hybrid systems where LLMs assist practitioners by combining the best of both modern and Ayurvedic diagnostics. For example, a hybrid system could integrate the pulse diagnosis (Nadi Pariksha) from Ayurveda with real-time EHR data analysis for a comprehensive diagnosis. Similarly, LLMs can incorporate diagnostic outputs from both traditional and modern tools to deliver a more robust treatment plan, enhancing the precision of Ayurveda's holistic care approach.

4.2 AI in Medical Education

LLMs can revolutionize Ayurvedic education by serving as virtual tutors. These models can help students grasp Ayurvedic principles, provide in-depth explanations, and analyze case studies. Similarly, modern medical education can benefit from AI-powered tutoring systems that deliver personalized learning experiences for students studying complex topics such as oncology, cardiology, and more.

4.3 Research and Clinical Validation

To fully integrate LLMs into Ayurveda and modern medicine, further research and clinical validation are needed. Collaborative efforts between research institutes, healthcare providers, and AI companies are required to build high-quality, domain-specific datasets. Moreover, conducting clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LLM-generated treatment plans is crucial to ensure patient trust and regulatory compliance.

Conclusion

The integration of LLMs into both Ayurveda and modern medical systems offers a promising avenue for enhancing diagnosis and treatment personalization. By leveraging LLMs to process vast datasets, medical texts, and real-world patient data, healthcare providers can offer more precise, individualized care. In Ayurveda, LLMs can help standardize and modernize ancient practices while preserving their holistic essence. In modern medicine, LLMs continue to revolutionize decision support systems and treatment planning. Although challenges such as standardization, language barriers, and ethical concerns remain, the future of LLM-powered healthcare systems holds immense potential for improving patient outcomes.

References

1. Jin, M., Yu, Q., Shu, D., Zhang, C., Fan, L. (2024). Health-LLM: Personalized Retrieval-Augmented Disease Prediction Model. arXiv preprint.
2. Haider, S. A., Pressman, S. M., Borna, S., Gomez-Cabello, C. A. (2024). Evaluating Large Language Model (LLM) Performance on Established Breast Classification Systems. Diagnostics.
3. Ahsan, H., McInerney, D. J., Kim, J., Potter, C. (2024). Retrieving Evidence from EHRs with LLMs: Possibilities and Challenges. Journal of Machine Learning in Healthcare.
4. Reese, J. T., Danis, D., Caufield, J. H., Groza, T. (2023). On the Limitations of Large Language Models in Clinical Diagnosis. medRxiv.
5. Benary, M., Wang, X. D., Schmidt, M., Soll, D. (2023). Leveraging Large Language Models for Decision Support in Personalized Oncology. JAMA Network Open.
6. Yang, B., Jiang, S., Xu, L., Liu, K., Li, H., Xing, G. (2024). DrHouse: An LLM-Empowered Diagnostic Reasoning System through Harnessing Outcomes from Sensor Data and Expert Knowledge. arXiv preprint.
7. Savage, T., Wang, J., Gallo, R., Boukil, A., Patel, V. (2024). Large Language Model Uncertainty Measurement and Calibration for Medical Diagnosis and Treatment. medRxiv.
8. Tan, Y., Zhang, Z., Li, M., Pan, F., Duan, H., Huang, Z. (2024). MedChatZH: A Tuning LLM for Traditional Chinese Medicine Consultations. Computers in Biology and Medicine.
9. Charaka Samhita (Translated by Sharma P.V.)
10. Sushruta Samhita (Translated by Kaviraj Bhishagratna K.L.)
11. Ray, Amit. "PK/PD Modeling of Ashwagandha and Giloy: Ayurvedic Herbs." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, vol, 24, no 11, 2024, pp. 17-20.   https://amitray.com/modeling-of-ashwagandha-and-giloy-ayurvedic-herbs/
12. WHO Integrated Health Services (IHS). “WHO Benchmarks for the Practice of Ayurveda.” World Health Organization, 11 Feb. 2022, www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240042674.
13. Ray, Amit. “Ayurveda and the 7 Chakras: A Comprehensive Step by Step Guide.” Yoga and Ayurveda Research, vol. 1, no. 2, Sri Amit Ray Compassionate AI Lab, 2021, pp. 60-62. amitray.com/ayurveda-and-the-7-chakras-a-beginners-guide/.
14. Ray, Amit. "Heart Rate Variability with Om Meditation and Chanting." Compassionate AI, vol. 3, no. 9, 2019, pp. 72-74. https://amitray.com/stress-relief-and-heart-rate-variability-with-om-meditation/
15. Ray, Amit. "Reticular Activating System for Manifestation and Visualization." Compassionate AI, vol. 4, no. 12, 2021, pp. 3-5. https://amitray.com/reticular-activating-system-for-manifestation/
16. Ray, Amit. "Glymphatic System Brain Health and 40 Hz Music and Mantra Chanting." Compassionate AI, vol. 1, no. 3, 2024, pp. 12-14, amitray.com/glymphaticsystem-brain-health-and-40-hz-music-and-mantra-chanting/.
17. Ray, Amit. "Telomere Protection and Ayurvedic Rasayana: The Holistic Science of Anti-Aging." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, vol. 4, no. 10, 2023, pp. 69-71. https://amitray.com/telomere-protection-and-ayurvedic-rasayana/
18. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2030. health.gov, 2021, health.gov/healthypeople.
19. Govindaraj, P., S. Nizamuddin, A. Sharath, et al. "Genome-Wide Analysis Correlates Ayurveda Prakriti." Scientific Reports, vol. 5, 2015, p. 15786, doi.org/10.1038/srep15786.
20. Ray, Amit. "Neuroscience of Samadhi: Brainwaves, Neuroplasticity, and Deep Meditation." Compassionate AI, vol. 3, no. 9, 2024, pp. 48-50, https://amitray.com/neuroscience-of-samadhi/.
21. Ray, Amit. “Seven Scientific Benefits of Om Chanting.” Yoga and Ayurveda Research, vol. 1, no. 3, 2019, pp. 42-44, amitray.com/seven-scientific-benefits-of-om-chanting/.
22. Ray, Amit. "Slow Breathing Yoga Pranayama to Reduce Oxidative Stress." Compassionate AI, vol. 1, no. 1, 2024, pp. 66-68. https://amitray.com/slow-breathing-yoga-pranayam-to-reduce-oxidative-stress/
23. Ray, Amit. “Meditation and Oxygen Consumption of the Brain.” Yoga and Ayurveda Research, vol. 4, no. 12, 2017, pp. 21-23. amitray.com/meditation-and-oxygen-consumption-of-the-brain/
24. Ray, Amit. "Integrating LLM AI Models for Ayurveda Medical Diagnosis and Treatment." Compassionate AI, vol. 4, no. 10, 2024, pp. 54-56. amitray.com/llm-ai-models-for-ayurveda/
25. Ray, Amit. "The 12 Meridians, Ayurvedic Herbs and the 72000 Nadis." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, vol. 3, no. 9, 2024, pp. 78-80. amitray.com/the-12-meridians-ayurvedic-herbs-and-the-72000-nadis/
26. Ray, Amit. “72000 Nadis and 114 Chakras in Human Body - Sri Amit Ray.” Amit Ray, amitray.com, 22 Nov. 2017, amitray.com/72000-nadis-and-114-chakras-in-human-body/.
27. Patwardhan, B. "Bridging Ayurveda with Evidence-Based Scientific Approaches in Medicine." EPMA Journal, vol. 5, no. 19, 2014, doi.org/10.1186/1878-5085-5-19. 

There are two major categories of traditional Samadhi:

1. Samprajnata Samadhi (with cognition): In this state, the mind still operates with a focus on subtle objects like thought, emotions, or abstract ideas. There is awareness, but it is absorbed in deep concentration on finer aspects of reality.
2. Asamprajnata Samadhi (without cognition): Also known as Nirbija Samadhi (seedless), this is a state of complete cessation of thought and perception. It is beyond the mind and ego, resulting in a profound sense of unity and non-dual awareness.

Compassion and Samadhi 

In our Ray 114 Chakras tradition, compassion and Samadhi are deeply interconnected, reflecting a profound synthesis of spiritual practice and inner transformation.

Compassion, as a fundamental aspect of spiritual evolution, aligns with the higher vibrations of the 114 chakras, each representing different facets of the self and the universe. Samadhi, the pinnacle of meditative absorption, facilitates a state where individual consciousness merges with universal consciousness, fostering an expansive sense of empathy and interconnectedness.

In this state, the meditator experiences a boundless compassion that transcends personal limitations, resonating with the pure essence of divine love and cosmic harmony. This synergy between compassion and Samadhi not only enhances personal spiritual growth but also contributes to the collective well-being, manifesting a holistic approach to spiritual enlightenment and human connection.

The glymphatic system is a recently discovered waste clearance system in the brain, somewhat akin to the lymphatic system in the rest of the body. It plays a crucial role in flushing out waste products and toxins from the brain, helping to maintain its health and proper functioning. Our research focuses on the impact of 40 Hz mantra chanting on the 12 brain chakras and the glymphatic system, within the broader context of the 114 chakras in the human body.

The human brain is an intricate organ with a multitude of functions, and like any complex system, it generates waste products as a natural byproduct of its activities. In recent years, researchers have discovered a remarkable waste clearance system in the brain known as the glymphatic system [1].

This system, first identified in 2012, has since garnered significant attention for its crucial role in maintaining brain health and preventing the accumulation of harmful substances.

In this comprehensive article, we explore the glymphatic system's what, why, and how, including its location and mechanism. Discover practical exercises, mantra chanting, and foods that enhance its function, and delve into future research directions. Uncover how to optimize brain health through understanding this vital system

What is the Glymphatic System?

The glymphatic system is a specialized waste clearance system in the brain that facilitates the removal of metabolic waste products and toxins. Unlike the lymphatic system in the rest of the body, which relies on a pumping mechanism like the heart, the glymphatic system capitalizes on the brain's unique structure and function to clear waste efficiently.

Why is the Glymphatic System Important?

The importance of the glymphatic system lies in its ability to maintain a clean and healthy environment within the brain. Accumulation of waste products, such as beta-amyloid and tau proteins, has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The glymphatic system acts as a crucial defense mechanism, preventing the buildup of these toxic substances and promoting overall brain health. There is new evidence that has demonstrated that the glymphatic system plays a significant role in the maintenance of proper cognition, the clearance of waste from the brain, and the homeostasis of fluids in the central nervous system [3].

How Does the Glymphatic System Work?

The glymphatic system operates primarily during sleep. As an individual sleeps, the system becomes more active, allowing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to flow more efficiently through the brain tissue. This increased fluid movement facilitates the removal of waste products, which are then transported through the bloodstream and eventually eliminated from the body.

The glymphatic system operates through three main components:

1. Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Influx along Periarterial Spaces: Cerebrospinal fluid, a clear, colorless fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, enters the brain tissue along channels surrounding arteries. This influx of CSF provides a pathway for the transport of nutrients and other essential substances into the brain.
2. Exchange between CSF and Interstitial Fluid (ISF) in the Brain Parenchyma: Once inside the brain tissue, the CSF mixes with interstitial fluid, which is the fluid surrounding the cells of the brain. This exchange allows for the removal of waste products and toxins that have accumulated in the interstitial fluid.
3. ISF Efflux along Perivenous Spaces: After the CSF and interstitial fluid have exchanged substances and waste products, the combined fluid, now containing waste materials, moves along channels surrounding veins in the brain. These perivenous spaces provide a pathway for the waste-laden fluid to exit the brain and eventually be cleared from the central nervous system.

Overall, the glymphatic system plays a crucial role in maintaining brain health by facilitating the clearance of waste products and ensuring proper fluid balance within the brain tissue. Dysfunction of the glymphatic system has been implicated in various neurological disorders, highlighting its importance in brain function and health.

When Does the Glymphatic System Function?

The glymphatic system is most active during the slow-wave sleep (SWS) stage, also known as deep sleep. This stage typically occurs in the early part of the sleep cycle and is characterized by slow and synchronized brain waves. Adequate and quality sleep is essential to ensure the optimal functioning of the glymphatic system.

Where is the Glymphatic System Located?

The glymphatic system surrounds blood vessels in the brain, creating a network of channels that facilitate the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. This intricate network extends throughout the brain, allowing for comprehensive waste clearance. Understanding the anatomical location of the glymphatic system is crucial for appreciating its role in maintaining brain health.

Mechanism of the Glymphatic System:

The mechanism of the glymphatic system involves the movement of cerebrospinal fluid through the brain tissue, facilitated by the activity of glial cells. Glial cells, particularly astrocytes, play a key role in regulating the flow of fluid and ensuring the efficient clearance of waste products. During sleep, these cells undergo changes that enhance the glymphatic system's performance, emphasizing the interconnectedness of sleep and brain health.

Exercises to Support the Glymphatic System:

While the glymphatic system's primary activity occurs during sleep, certain lifestyle factors, including regular physical exercise, can contribute to its optimal function. Exercise has been shown to improve sleep quality and promote overall brain health, indirectly supporting the glymphatic system. Incorporating aerobic activities, strength training, and mindfulness practices into one's routine can contribute to a healthier glymphatic system.

Foods that Support the Glymphatic System:

Nutrition plays a crucial role in overall brain health, and certain foods may specifically support the glymphatic system. Antioxidant-rich foods, omega-3 fatty acids, and a well-balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains contribute to a healthy brain environment. Staying adequately hydrated is also important, as dehydration can impair the glymphatic system's efficiency.

40 Hz Music and Brain Health

The relationship between music, particularly at a frequency of 40 Hz, and the glymphatic system offers an intriguing intersection in the realm of brain health. While the glymphatic system primarily operates during sleep, studies suggest that certain auditory stimuli, including music at specific frequencies, may have potential benefits for brain function and health.

Music at 40 Hz and Brain Waves:

1. Gamma Brain Waves:
   • Music at 40 Hz corresponds to the gamma frequency range, which is associated with cognitive processes, memory consolidation, and attention.
   • Gamma waves are crucial for information processing and have been linked to improved cognitive abilities.
2. Enhanced Neural Synchronization:

• • Exposure to rhythmic stimuli, such as music at 40 Hz, has been shown to enhance neural synchronization, promoting communication between different brain regions.
  • Increased synchronization may contribute to more efficient information processing and overall cognitive performance.

Glymphatic System and Sleep:

1. Sleep and Glymphatic System:
   • The glymphatic system is most active during slow-wave sleep (SWS), which is characterized by slow and synchronized brain waves.
   • During SWS, cerebrospinal fluid flows more efficiently through the brain, facilitating the removal of waste products.
2. Music's Impact on Sleep Quality:

• • Music, including that at 40 Hz, has been studied for its potential to influence sleep quality.
  • Certain rhythmic patterns and frequencies may induce a state of relaxation, promoting easier transition into SWS and potentially enhancing glymphatic system activity.

40 Hz Music and Glymphatic System:

1. Stimulation of Brain Activity:
   • Music at 40 Hz may stimulate brain activity and neural synchronization, potentially enhancing the glymphatic system's efficiency during sleep.
2. Cognitive Benefits:
   • Improved glymphatic system function may contribute to better waste clearance, reducing the risk of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.
3. Stress Reduction:

• • Music, especially calming and rhythmic tunes, may contribute to stress reduction, positively impacting overall brain health.
  • Reduced stress levels can create an environment conducive to optimal glymphatic system function.

Approaches for 40 Hz  Waves

Creating sensory stimulation at a specific frequency, such as 40 Hz, can be achieved through various means, depending on the type of sensory experience you want to provide. Here are a few approaches to generate 40 Hz sensory stimulation using visual, auditory, and tactile methods:

1. Visual Stimulation:

Using a Flickering Light Source:

• Use a light source (e.g., LED) that can be controlled.
• Rapidly turn the light on and off at a rate of 40 times per second (40 Hz).
• This flickering light can be applied to create a visual stimulation experience.

2. Auditory Stimulation:

Binaural Beats:

• Create a pair of audio signals with slightly different frequencies, creating a binaural beat at 40 Hz.
• For example, play a 440 Hz tone in one ear and a 400 Hz tone in the other ear. The brain perceives a beat frequency of 40 Hz.

Sine Wave Generation:

• Generate a pure sine wave with a frequency of 40 Hz using audio synthesis techniques.
• This can be done using Python with libraries like NumPy and PyDub, as shown in the previous example.

Tactile Stimulation:

Vibration:

• Use a vibrating motor or device that can generate vibrations at 40 Hz.
• Apply the vibrating device to specific areas of the body, such as the hands, to provide tactile stimulation.

Important Considerations:

1. Individual Variability:
   • People may respond differently to sensory stimulation, and it's essential to consider individual preferences and sensitivities.
2. Safety Precautions:
   • Ensure that the intensity and duration of the sensory stimulation are within safe limits to prevent discomfort or adverse effects.
3. Context and Purpose:
   • Consider the context and purpose of the sensory stimulation. For relaxation, auditory methods like binaural beats may be suitable, while visual flickering might be used for specific therapeutic purposes.
4. User Experience:

• • Experiment and gather feedback to optimize the user experience. The effectiveness of sensory stimulation can be influenced by factors like duration, timing, and the individual's state of mind.

Mantra chanting, particularly with "Om," has been shown to influence Heart Rate Variability (HRV), a key indicator of autonomic nervous system balance. Regular Om chanting promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and enhances overall cardiovascular health by harmonizing the mind-body connection.

Summary:

The article explores the connection between the glymphatic system, brain health, and the impact of 40 Hz music and mantra chanting. The glymphatic system is crucial for clearing waste and toxins from the brain, particularly during sleep.

Initial research suggests that exposure to 40 Hz sound frequencies, such as in certain types of music and mantra chanting, can enhance the functioning of the glymphatic system. However, further studies are required to fully understand this effect. This may improve brain health by supporting cognitive function, reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, and promoting overall mental well-being.

Reference:

1. Gao, Ying, Kangding Liu, and Jie Zhu. “Glymphatic System: An Emerging Therapeutic Approach for Neurological Disorders.” Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, July 6, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2023.1138769.
2. Alghanimy, Alaa, Lorraine M. Work, and William M. Holmes. “The Glymphatic System and Multiple Sclerosis: An Evolving Connection.” Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, January 1, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2024.105456.
3. Hladky, S.B., Barrand, M.A. Mechanisms of fluid movement into, through and out of the brain: evaluation of the evidence. Fluids Barriers CNS 11, 26 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/2045-8118-11-26.
1. Ray, Amit. "Seven Scientific Benefits of Om Chanting." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, 1.3 (2019): 42-44. https://amitray.com/seven-scientific-benefits-of-om-chanting/.
2. Ray, Amit. "Heart Rate Variability with Om Meditation and Chanting." Compassionate AI, 3.9 (2019): 72-74. https://amitray.com/stress-relief-and-heart-rate-variability-with-om-meditation/.
3. Ray, Amit. "The Power of 24 Healing Chakras in Your Hand." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, 3.7 (2020): 60-62. https://amitray.com/the-24-healing-chakras-in-your-hand/.
4. Ray, Amit. "Reticular Activating System for Manifestation and Visualization and 114 Chakras." , 1.5 (2021): 3-5. https://amitray.com/reticular-activating-system-for-manifestation/.
5. Ray, Amit. "The Sama Veda Mantra Chanting: Melody and Rhythms." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, 4.12 (2023): 30-32. https://amitray.com/the-sama-veda-mantra-chanting-melody-and-rhythms/.
6. Ray, Amit. "Glymphatic System Brain Health and 40 Hz Music and Mantra Chanting." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, 3.8 (2024): 21-23. https://amitray.com/glymphatic-system-brain-health-and-40-hz-music-and-mantra-chanting/.
7. Ray, Amit. "Benefits and Neuroscience of Ek-Sruti Mantra Chanting." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, 3.9 (2024): 90-92. https://amitray.com/benefits-and-neuroscience-of-ek-sruti-mantra-chanting/.
8. Ray, Amit. "Neuroscience of Hanuman Chalisa and The Ray 114 Chakras for Healing." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, 4.11 (2025): 48-50. https://amitray.com/neuroscience-of-hanuman-chalisa/.

Oxygen, the elixir of life, is indispensable for our existence, playing a pivotal role in cellular respiration and energy production. However, recent scientific observations have illuminated a paradox: while oxygen is vital for life, excessive oxygen intake can lead to oxidative stress [1], a condition associated with various diseases.

"With harmony and peace in every inhale and exhale, yoga pranayama whispers the art of reducing oxidative stress and profound well-being." - Sri Amit Ray

Slow breathing

This realization has prompted a closer examination of ancient breathing practices, particularly resistance pranayama, as a potential remedy for mitigating oxidative stress. Researchers observed that relaxation induced by diaphragmatic breathing boosts the body's antioxidant defense system [2] of the body.

In this article we explore the intricate relationship between oxygen, oxidative stress, and yoga slow breathing exercises. We explore the power of yoga slow breathing exercises, and their benefits for modern health.

Recent breathing research has shown that quick, shallow and unfocused breathing may contribute to a host of problems, including anxiety, depression and high blood pressure. However, by harmonizing the equilibrium of oxygen and other respiratory gases, slow breathing exercises in yoga pranayama may contribute to diminishing oxidative stress and fostering overall well-being.

Oxidative Stress and Diseases

Research has established a strong correlation between oxidative stress and the pathogenesis of various diseases. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) function as crucial signaling molecules, intricately involved in the advancement of inflammatory disorders. Extensive research has underscored the significant correlation between oxidative stress and the development of various diseases.

Even a modest elevation in lung vascular pressure has been shown to activate pro-inflammatory responses and increase ROS production in endothelial cells [3]. This imbalance between ROS production and antioxidant defenses is implicated in the development of conditions such as cancer, asthma, and pulmonary hypertension.

Pranayama and Heart rate variability (HRV)

Heart rate variability (HRV) refers to the variation in the time interval between heartbeats. It is considered a marker of the balance between the sympathetic nervous system (which governs the body's "fight or flight" response) and the parasympathetic nervous system (which governs the body's "rest and digest" response). Higher HRV is generally associated with greater parasympathetic activity and better overall health.

Several studies have demonstrated that regular practice of Pranayama can lead to an increase in HRV indices [3]. This increase is typically interpreted as a reflection of enhanced parasympathetic nervous system tone. Here's how it works:

1. Breathing Techniques: Pranayama involves specific breathing techniques, such as deep breathing, alternate nostril breathing, or rhythmic breathing patterns. These techniques often emphasize slow, deep breaths and prolonged exhalation, which can activate the parasympathetic nervous system and induce a relaxation response.
2. Vagal Stimulation: The vagus nerve, a major component of the parasympathetic nervous system, plays a key role in regulating heart rate and other autonomic functions. Certain Pranayama techniques, particularly those involving controlled breathing and breath retention, can stimulate the vagus nerve, leading to increased parasympathetic activity and subsequently higher HRV.
3. Mind-Body Connection: Pranayama practices are often accompanied by mindful awareness of the breath and the present moment. This mindfulness component can further enhance the relaxation response and promote parasympathetic dominance, contributing to increased HRV.

Overall, the practice of Pranayama offers a powerful tool for improving heart rate variability and promoting overall well-being by balancing the autonomic nervous system towards a state of relaxation and calmness.

Pranayama and Oxidative Stress

The ancient practice of pranayama, a component of yoga, involves conscious control and regulation of breath. Resistance pranayama, in particular, is gaining attention as a potential tool to reduce oxidative stress. By manipulating the breath, these exercises aim to restore balance to the respiratory gases, potentially mitigating the harmful effects of excessive oxygen intake.

Pranayama techniques, including deep breathing, alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhana), Ujjayi breathing, Kapalbhati, and Bhramari, offer diverse approaches to breath control. The rhythmic and intentional nature of these practices is believed to not only enhance lung capacity and oxygen utilization but also promote relaxation and mental well-being.

Respiratory Rate and Heart Rate

Both respiratory rate (breaths per minute) and heart rate (pulse beats per minute) are essential vital signs measured in yoga context. Adults typically take 12-20 breaths per minute, while children tend to breathe faster.

The normal pulse for healthy adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. During physical activity or stress, both respiratory rate and heart rate tend to increase.

However, during yoga relaxation breathing or 114 chakras meditative practices, respiratory rate might decrease while heart rate remains stable or decreases slightly. Moreover, meditation can reduce oxyzen consumption requirements of the brain. 

In yoga practices, especially the incorporation of specific breathing techniques and mindful movement, can contribute to the regulation of respiratory rate and heart rate. 

Red Blood Cell Production:

A pivotal adaptation to resistance breathing is the body's response to the reduced oxygen availability by producing more red blood cells. This process is known as erythropoiesis. The hormone erythropoietin (EPO), released by the kidneys in response to low oxygen levels, stimulates the bone marrow to produce additional red blood cells.

Oxygen and Oxidative Stress

Oxygen is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it is crucial for energy production through cellular respiration, while on the other, excessive oxygen intake can induce oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a state characterized by an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body's antioxidant defenses [3]. ROS, including free radicals, can damage cellular components such as proteins, lipids, and DNA, contributing to the pathogenesis of various diseases.

Excessive levels of oxidative stress have been linked to a range of health conditions, including atherosclerosis, cataract, retinopathy, myocardial infarction, hypertension, renal failure, and uremia. Oxygen toxicity, a consequence of high oxygen intake, can lead to the enhanced formation of ROS, setting the stage for oxidative stress and its associated health complications.

Slow Breathing Practices

Recently, slow breathing practices have gained popularity in the western research world and researchers observed that it is associated with health and longevity. Normally a resting adult takes averaging around 16 breaths a minute, about 23,000 breaths a day. Reducing the total number breaths per day, and total oxygen intake, enhances longevity. It is a well known ancient yoga technique.

Respiratory researchers observed that reduced breathing rate, hovering around 5-6 breaths per minute in the average adult, can increase vagal activation leading to reduction in sympathetic activation, increased cardiac-vagal baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) [3], and increased parasympathetic activation all of which correlated with mental and physical well being.

Moreover, the slow breathing increases the oxygen absorption that follows greater tidal volume, which reduces the physiological dead space in the lungs. This in turn produce another positive effect, that is, a reduction in the need of breathing.

Oxygen Dynamics and Respiration

To comprehend the delicate balance between oxygen and health, it is essential to explore terms such as hyperoxia, hypoxemia, and hypoxia. Hyperoxia, hypoxemia, and hypoxia are terms related to the levels of oxygen in the body, and they describe different aspects of oxygen concentration and its effects on physiological processes.

Formation of Oxyhemoglobin:

During the process of respiration, the transportation of oxygen within the bloodstream primarily involves red blood cells (RBCs) and their key component, hemoglobin. Hemoglobin, a pigment present in RBCs, imparts the characteristic red color to blood. Approximately 97% of the oxygen is transported by binding with hemoglobin in the RBCs, while the remaining 3% dissolves directly in the plasma.

The binding of oxygen to hemoglobin results in the formation of oxyhemoglobin. This binding process is influenced by several factors, including the partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide, H+ concentration, and temperature. Specifically, the ideal conditions for the formation of oxyhemoglobin include a suitable partial pressure of oxygen, low H+ concentration, and a lower temperature. These conditions are typically met in the pulmonary alveoli, where oxygen exchange occurs during breathing.

Each hemoglobin molecule has the capacity to carry up to four oxygen molecules, forming a stable and reversible complex. The oxyhemoglobin complex serves as the vehicle for oxygen transport within the bloodstream, ensuring efficient delivery to tissues throughout the body.

Oxygen Transport to the Tissues:

In the alveoli, where oxygen uptake is optimal, the formed oxyhemoglobin is crucial for efficient oxygen transport. However, as blood circulates through the body and reaches the tissues, the environmental conditions change. In tissues, the partial pressure of oxygen decreases, and the concentration of carbon dioxide, H+, and temperature may increase. These altered conditions lead to the dissociation of oxygen from the oxyhemoglobin complex.

The dissociated oxygen is then released and diffuses into the surrounding tissues, providing the necessary oxygen for cellular respiration and energy production. On average, every 100 mL of blood oxygenated at the lung surface has the capacity to deliver approximately 5 mL of oxygen to the tissues. This dynamic process ensures a continuous and regulated supply of oxygen to meet the metabolic demands of various tissues and organs throughout the body.

Carbon Dioxide Dynamics and Respiration

The balance between carbon dioxide production in the tissues and its elimination in the lungs is a crucial aspect of respiratory physiology. This process involves a dynamic equilibrium that ensures the body maintains appropriate levels of carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular metabolism.

1. Tissue Production:
   • During cellular metabolism, tissues generate carbon dioxide as a byproduct.
   • The production of carbon dioxide is influenced by various factors, including the type and rate of cellular activities.
2. Transport in the Blood:
   • Carbon dioxide produced in the tissues is transported in the bloodstream in various forms, such as carbamino-hemoglobin and bicarbonate.
3. Bicarbonate Formation:
   • In the tissues, carbon dioxide combines with water in the presence of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, forming bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions.
4. Bicarbonate Transport:
   • Bicarbonate, a stable form of carbon dioxide, is transported in the plasma to the lungs through the circulatory system.
5. Alveolar Exchange:
   • In the alveoli of the lungs, where oxygen is in high concentration, carbon dioxide is released from bicarbonate through a reverse reaction facilitated by carbonic anhydrase.
6. Exhalation:
   • The released carbon dioxide is expelled from the body during exhalation.
7. Quantitative Regulation:

• • The body regulates the amount of carbon dioxide produced in the tissues to maintain a balance with its elimination in the lungs.
  • Various physiological mechanisms, including respiratory rate and depth, adjust to meet the metabolic demands and maintain appropriate carbon dioxide levels.

This intricate process reflects a delicate equilibrium that ensures the body efficiently removes carbon dioxide, preventing its accumulation, which could lead to respiratory acidosis. The balance between production and elimination is essential for maintaining proper pH levels in the blood and supporting overall physiological function.

Respiratory Health: Hyperoxia, Hypoxemia, Hypoxia, and Hypercapnea

The respiratory system is a complex and vital component of human physiology, playing a crucial role in maintaining the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. Four key terms associated with respiratory conditions are hyperoxia, hypoxemia, hypoxia, and hypercapnea. Let's delve into each term to understand their significance and implications on health.

Hyperoxia refers to a state of excess oxygen supply in tissues and organs, potentially leading to oxygen toxicity and oxidative stress. On the other hand, hypoxemia is characterized by a decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood, while hypoxia denotes reduced tissue oxygenation. Both conditions can arise from defects in oxygen delivery or utilization.

Hyperoxia:

• Definition: Hyperoxia refers to a condition where there is an excess supply of oxygen in tissues and organs.
• Causes: Hyperoxia can occur due to the administration of high concentrations of supplemental oxygen or exposure to environments with elevated oxygen levels.
• Consequences: While oxygen is essential for life, an excessively high level of oxygen can lead to oxygen toxicity. This can result in the enhanced formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), contributing to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can damage cells and tissues and is associated with various health conditions.

Hypoxemia:

• Definition: Hypoxemia is a condition characterized by a lower-than-normal partial pressure of oxygen in the blood.
• Causes: Hypoxemia can result from various factors, including respiratory disorders, heart conditions, high altitudes, or inadequate oxygen intake.
• Consequences: Inadequate oxygen in the blood can lead to insufficient oxygen delivery to tissues and organs, potentially causing symptoms such as shortness of breath, confusion, and cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes). Chronic hypoxemia can contribute to the development of conditions like pulmonary hypertension and heart failure.

Hypoxia:

• • Definition: Hypoxia is a condition characterized by reduced levels of oxygen in the tissues.
  • Causes: Hypoxia can result from a variety of factors, including inadequate oxygen intake, impaired oxygen delivery (as in the case of circulatory problems), or defective utilization of oxygen by the tissues.

  • Types of Hypoxia:

    • Hypoxic Hypoxia: Caused by low oxygen levels in the air, such as at high altitudes.
    • Anemic Hypoxia: Caused by a reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, as seen in conditions like anemia.
    • Ischemic Hypoxia: Caused by inadequate blood flow, limiting the delivery of oxygen to tissues.
    • Histotoxic Hypoxia: Caused by the inability of cells to utilize oxygen effectively, often due to toxins or metabolic disturbances.
  • Consequences: Hypoxia can have severe consequences on cellular function and can lead to cell damage or death if prolonged. It is a common factor in various medical conditions, including stroke, heart attack, and respiratory disorders.

In summary, hyperoxia refers to excess oxygen in tissues, hypoxemia is a low level of oxygen in the blood, and hypoxia is a condition of reduced oxygen in the tissues. Understanding these terms is crucial for assessing and managing oxygen-related issues in medical and physiological contexts.

Carbon Dioxide: Hypercapnia and its Implications

In the intricate dance of respiratory gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) plays a crucial role. Hypercapnia, the buildup of CO2 in the bloodstream, alters the pH balance of the blood, making it more acidic. Acute hypercapnia, marked by a sudden rise in CO2, poses additional dangers as the kidneys struggle to cope with the spike. This imbalance can have profound consequences on health, underscoring the need for a harmonious equilibrium between oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Antioxidants: Nature's Defense Against Oxidative Stress

Modern research has unveiled the role of antioxidants in controlling oxidative stress. Antioxidants, whether derived from diet or supplements, act by interrupting the propagation of free radicals or inhibiting their formation. This ability to counteract oxidative stress holds promise in improving immune function, increasing healthy longevity, and potentially preventing the onset of diseases associated with excessive oxidative stress.

Balanceing Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, and Antioxidants:

Maintaining a delicate balance between oxygen, carbon dioxide, and antioxidants is crucial for modern health. This equilibrium not only serves as a defense against viruses but also addresses the challenges posed by an overstimulated lifestyle. The integration of ancient breathing wisdom, such as resistance pranayama, with contemporary knowledge about antioxidants provides a holistic approach to achieving this balance.

Conclusion

Oxygen, essential for life, poses a paradox that has become increasingly evident in the context of oxidative stress and its associated health implications. The ancient practice of pranayama, particularly resistance pranayama, offers a potential pathway to mitigate the adverse effects of excessive oxygen intake. By harmonizing the delicate dance between oxygen and other respiratory gases, these ancient breathing exercises may contribute to reducing oxidative stress and promoting overall well-being.

In the face of modern challenges, including the overstimulation of lifestyle and the threat of diseases linked to oxidative stress, embracing both ancient wisdom and contemporary research may pave the way for a more balanced and resilient approach to health. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of oxygen and its impact on our well-being, the integration of mindful breathing practices and antioxidant-rich lifestyles holds promise for a healthier and more harmonious future.

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In the world of anti-aging and longevity, telomere preservation and Ayurvedic Rasayana constitute two separate yet related fields. The Ayurvedic Rasayana is a branch of Ayurveda that specifically focuses on rejuvenation and anti-aging.

Telomeres are essential components of our genetic material, and the process of aging is tightly connected to the maintenance of telomere length. On the other hand, the Ayurvedic Rasayana is a holistic approach to rejuvenation and anti-aging that involves a number of dietary and herbal components. It is considered to be one of the most effective anti-aging treatments available.

This article investigates the connection between the Ayurvedic Rasayana and the protection of telomeres and offers numerous suggestions for how to make use of Ayurvedic herbs to enhance longevity.

Telomere Protection and Ayurvedic Rasayana: The Holistic Science of Anti-Aging

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Many of my students requested me to write about the relationships between the 12 meridians, the ayurvedic herbs, and the 72,000 nadis. This article explores how the 12 meridians and the associated Ayurveda herbs work in harmony to promote holistic well-being.

The relationships between the 12 meridians, Ayurvedic herbs, and the 72,000 nadis highlight the intricate interplay of energy systems within the body and beyond. Here, you will know the details of the 12 meridians, the 8 extra meridians, Yin and Yang organs, and the associated Ayurveda herbs.

The 12 Meridians and Ayurveda Herbs

In TCM, the 12 meridians are considered the primary pathways through which Qi (vital energy) flows. Each meridian is associated with specific organs and functions. Normally, we consider the 12 meridians to be part of the 72,000 Nadis energy network. The 114 chakras and the 12 meridians are deeply interlinked.

The connection between TCM's 12 meridians and Ayurvedic herbs lies in their shared goal of achieving harmony and balance within the body. By addressing imbalances in the meridians using appropriate Ayurvedic herbs, individuals can support the flow of Qi and promote overall well-being.

While, the 72,000 nadis gives  a broader exploration of energy channels and their impact on holistic well-being. However, by addressing imbalances in the meridians or the nadis using appropriate Ayurvedic herbs, individuals can support the flow of Qi and promote overall well-being.

72000 Nadi System Course

Just as TCM's 12 meridians seek to balance Yin and Yang within the body, yoga and Ayurveda's nadis play a crucial role in balancing energies. When the nadis are balanced, the flow of Prana (life force) is harmonious, promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Ayurvedic herbs can be chosen based on the specific meridian imbalances, aligning their properties with the associated organs and functions. For example, herbs supporting liver health can complement the Liver Meridian.

The Meridian System

The 12 Meridians

The meridian system includes 12 main meridians, each connecting to an organ system, extending to an extremity, and accompanied by eight collaterals called as 8 extra meridians.  The collaterals refer to the smaller energy channels or pathways that branch off from the main meridians. These collaterals serve to further distribute and regulate the flow of Qi (vital energy) and blood throughout the body. While the main meridians are the primary pathways, the collaterals play a significant role in ensuring balanced energy distribution to specific areas and regions of the body.

The 12 Main Meridians:

1. Lung Meridian (LU): The Lung Meridian governs respiratory function, controls the skin's health, and plays a role in the immune system. It starts in the chest and runs down to the thumb.
2. Large Intestine Meridian (LI): Responsible for bowel movements and the absorption of fluids, the Large Intestine Meridian runs from the index finger to the face.
3. Stomach Meridian (ST): The Stomach Meridian is associated with digestion, nutrient absorption, and distribution of nourishment. It travels from the face to the second toe.
4. Spleen Meridian (SP): Responsible for digestion and transforming food into energy, the Spleen Meridian runs from the big toe to the chest.
5. Heart Meridian (HT): The Heart Meridian governs blood circulation, mental activities, and houses the spirit. It starts in the chest and ends at the pinky finger.
6. Small Intestine Meridian (SI): Separating pure from impure substances in digestion, the Small Intestine Meridian runs from the pinky finger to the ear.
7. Bladder Meridian (BL): Regulating urinary functions and body balance, the Bladder Meridian extends from the inner corner of the eye to the little toe.
8. Kidney Meridian (KI): Responsible for water metabolism, reproductive health, and the aging process, the Kidney Meridian travels from the foot to the chest.
9. Pericardium Meridian (PC): Protecting the heart, controlling blood circulation, and influencing emotions, the Pericardium Meridian runs from the chest to the middle finger.
10. Triple Heater Meridian (TH): Coordinating bodily functions and regulating temperature, the Triple Heater Meridian extends from the ring finger to the ear.
11. Gallbladder Meridian (GB): Influencing decision-making and detoxification, the Gallbladder Meridian runs from the outer corner of the eye to the fourth toe.
12. Liver Meridian (LR): Governing Qi and blood flow, detoxifying the body, and supporting emotional stability, the Liver Meridian travels from the big toe to the chest.

The 8 Extra Meridians (Curious Vessels):

The 8 extra meridians are considered extraordinary because they don't directly correspond to specific organs. Instead, they play essential roles in maintaining balance, regulating the flow of Qi and blood, and connecting the primary meridians. These Extra meridians are:

1. Du Mai (Governor Vessel): Running along the spine, it influences the central nervous system, mental clarity, and spiritual development.
2. Ren Mai (Conception Vessel): Located on the front midline of the body, it governs reproductive health, digestion, and nourishment.
3. Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel): Associated with the uterus and menstrual cycles, it plays a role in emotional stability and blood circulation.
4. Dai Mai (Belt Vessel): Encircling the waist, it assists in balancing the upper and lower body, regulating Qi flow, and supporting lumbar health.
5. Yin Wei Mai (Yin Linking Vessel): Influencing emotional well-being and the Yin aspects of the body, it helps harmonize emotions.
6. Yang Wei Mai (Yang Linking Vessel): Balancing Yang energy and addressing musculoskeletal issues, it helps relieve pain and discomfort.
7. Yin Qiao Mai (Yin Motility Vessel): Associated with Yin energy, it supports the regulation of fluids and nourishment.
8. Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Motility Vessel): Related to Yang energy, it assists in balancing posture and locomotion.

These Extra meridians are often utilized in acupuncture and other therapies to address specific health concerns, regulate energy flow, and promote overall well-being. They are considered vital for maintaining the body's balance and harmony, both physically and energetically.

Yang and Yin

The concepts of Yang and Yin are fundamental principles that are used to describe the dualistic nature of the universe and the interplay of opposites. Yang symbolizes the sun, and Yin symbolizes the moon. Yang represents the masculine, active, and assertive aspects of nature, while Yin represents the feminine, passive, and receptive aspects. You can easily understand these concepts through the analogy of the sun and the moon:

1. Yang as the Sun: Yang is often associated with qualities that are analogous to the sun. The sun is seen as a source of light, heat, and energy. Similarly, Yang is associated with qualities such as warmth, activity, expansion, and brightness. It represents dynamic, outward-moving energy. In the context of the human body, Yang energy is linked to functions that are active and energizing, such as digestion and metabolism.
2. Yin as the Moon: On the other hand, Yin is likened to the moon. The moon reflects the sun's light and has a cooling, calming, and nurturing quality. Yin represents receptivity, rest, contraction, and darkness. It is associated with the more passive and inward aspects of nature. In the human body, Yin energy is related to functions that are restorative and calming, like sleep and healing.

The concept of Yin and Yang is not limited to the physical world but is applied to various aspects of life, including health, medicine, philosophy, and even the understanding of natural phenomena. Balance between Yin and Yang is considered essential for well-being. When there is an imbalance, it can lead to disharmony and health issues. 

Yin and Yang Organs ( The Solid and the Hollow Organs)

The body's organs are classified into two categories: solid and hollow organs.

Yin and Yang Organs and your Emotions

Yin organs: The solid organs, consisting of the heart, spleen, lungs, liver, and kidneys, are often referred to as Yin organs. These organs are responsible for storing vital substances and regulating deep-seated functions within the body. They are integral in maintaining physical and emotional health.

Yang organs: The hollow organs include the gallbladder, bladder, stomach, small and large intestines, and the "Triple Burner," and are categorized as Yang organs. These organs primarily focus on processing and eliminating waste materials from the body. They play a vital role in digestion, absorption, and the excretion of bodily waste products.

The harmonious interplay between these solid and hollow organs, supported by the intricate meridian system, is essential for overall health and total well-being. Balancing and nurturing the Yin and Yang aspects of the body, as well as ensuring the smooth flow of Qi and blood through the meridians.

Triple Burner or the San Jiao

The Triple Burners in Human Body

The "Triple Burner," also known as the "Triple Heater" or "San Jiao," is an intriguing concept that doesn't correspond to a specific physical organ in the way that other organs, like the heart or liver, do. Instead, it's a functional concept that describes a set of processes and activities related to the regulation of water and energy metabolism in the body. They can be formless, or adipose tissue or parietal serous membranes in the thorax, abdomen and pelvis. 

The Triple Burner is divided into three "burners" or regions, each with its distinct functions:

1. Upper Burner: This corresponds roughly to the chest area and is responsible for regulating the activities of the organs in the upper part of the body, such as the heart and lungs. It controls the intake of air and the transformation of Qi (vital energy) within these organs.
2. Middle Burner: This area encompasses the organs in the abdominal region, including the stomach and spleen. Its role is to manage the transformation and transportation of food and fluids, ensuring that nutrients are extracted and transported to the rest of the body.
3. Lower Burner: The lower burner includes the organs in the lower abdominal region, such as the bladder and intestines. It primarily deals with the processes of digestion, elimination, and the regulation of fluids.

The Triple Burner serves as a bridge between the different organ systems, coordinating their functions and ensuring the smooth flow of Qi and fluids throughout the body. It's often described as a network that regulates the body's temperature, water metabolism, and energy distribution.

The 114 Chakras list Online course

Balancing the Meridians with Ayurvedic Herbs

Ayurvedic herbs are classified according to their tastes, qualities, and effects on the doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These herbs are meticulously chosen to address specific imbalances and promote overall health. 

1 Lung Meridian (LU):

• Imbalances: Respiratory issues, grief.
• Ayurvedic Herb: Tulsi (Holy Basil).
• Discussion: Tulsi's respiratory benefits and emotional support align perfectly with addressing imbalances in the Lung Meridian.

2. Large Intestine Meridian (LI):

• Imbalances: Digestive problems, constipation.
• Ayurvedic Herb: Triphala.
• Discussion: Triphala's gentle yet effective nature makes it an ideal choice for digestive issues associated with the Large Intestine Meridian.

3. Stomach Meridian (ST):

• Imbalances: Digestive disorders, worry.
• Ayurvedic Herb: Licorice Root.
• Discussion: Licorice Root's ability to soothe digestion and calm the mind aligns with the imbalances of the Stomach Meridian.

4. Spleen Meridian (SP):

• Imbalances: Poor digestion, fatigue.
• Ayurvedic Herb: Ashwagandha.
• Discussion: Ashwagandha supports digestion and boosts energy, addressing the issues associated with the Spleen Meridian.

5. Heart Meridian (HT):

• Imbalances: Heart issues, anxiety.
• Ayurvedic Herb: Arjuna.
• Discussion: Arjuna's reputation for heart health and emotional calmness makes it a natural choice for the Heart Meridian.

6. Small Intestine Meridian (SI):

• Imbalances: Digestive imbalance, indecision.
• Ayurvedic Herb: Trikatu.
• Discussion: Trikatu enhances digestion and supports decision-making, reflecting the imbalances of the Small Intestine Meridian.

7. Bladder Meridian (BL):

• Imbalances: Urinary problems, fear.
• Ayurvedic Herb: Gokshura (Tribulus).
• Discussion: Gokshura promotes urinary health and encourages courage, addressing issues linked to the Bladder Meridian.

8. Kidney Meridian (KI):

• Imbalances: Kidney issues, anxiety.
• Ayurvedic Herb: Shilajit.
• Discussion: Shilajit supports kidney function and reduces anxiety, resonating with imbalances in the Kidney Meridian.

9. Pericardium Meridian (PC):

• Imbalances: Emotional imbalance, heart.
• Ayurvedic Herb: Rose.
• Discussion: Rose soothes emotions and supports heart health, aligning with the Pericardium Meridian's concerns.

10. Triple Heater Meridian (TH):

• Imbalances: Temperature regulation, frustration.
• Ayurvedic Herb: Brahmi.
• Discussion: Brahmi helps balance body temperature and calm frustration, reflecting the imbalances of the Triple Heater Meridian.

11. Gallbladder Meridian (GB):

• Imbalances: Gallbladder problems, anger.
• Ayurvedic Herb: Kutki.
• Discussion: Kutki supports gallbladder health and reduces anger, making it suitable for the Gallbladder Meridian's imbalances.

12. Liver Meridian (LR):

• Imbalances: Liver issues, frustration.
• Ayurvedic Herb: Milk Thistle.
• Discussion: Milk Thistle aids liver function and eases frustration, complementing the imbalances of the Liver Meridian.

Healing herbs

By addressing imbalances on multiple levels—physical, emotional, and energetic—this integrated approach provides a comprehensive toolkit for promoting holistic well-being. Whether you're seeking to restore balance, alleviate specific health concerns, or simply enhance vitality, the synergy of the 12 meridians and Ayurvedic herbs offers a profound pathway to wellness that honors the wisdom of both traditions. Ayurveda and chakras also provides a comprehensive holistic healing framework. 

It's important to note that these are general discussions for educational purpose, and for any health-related concerns, it is imperative to seek guidance from a qualified  ayurveda medical practitioner.

Conclusion:

The relationships between the 12 meridians, Ayurvedic herbs, and the 72,000 nadis highlight the intricate interplay of energy systems within the body. While these systems have distinct origins and terminologies, they converge in their emphasis on balance, harmony, and holistic well-being. By understanding and incorporating their principles, individuals can embark on a journey towards optimal health that addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of their lives.

Sources:

1. Ayurveda and the Seven Chakras
2. Five Types of Ayurveda Foods
3. Ayurveda Sanjivani Vidya and Urja Vidya

Have you ever thought about how your body and mind stays balanced and in tune? The complex relationship between hormones and the endocrine system is a key part of how the body works. In addition to being important for our bodies, hormones also have a big effect on our energy regions, which are called chakras.

In this article, you will learn the relationship between hormones, the endocrine system, and your seven chakras, and practices for balancing and harmonizing We'll also talk about how important they are to your overall health.

The Seven Chakras and Your Glands and Hormones

By adopting these healthy lifestyle practices and exploring holistic approaches to wellness, you can create a supportive environment for both hormone balance and chakra vitality, promoting overall physical, emotional, and energetic well-being.

Read more ..

How to use the Reticular Activating System part of the brain to improve your manifestation power? Sri Amit Ray talks about the techniques to purify and reprogram your reticular activating system for effective visualization and manifestation.

In this article, we explain how to reprogram your reticular activating system effectively to manifest your dreams. You will also know how it is related to some of the chakras, in the Sri Amit Ray 114 Chakra System framework. 

Success in manifestation and Law of attraction needs clear vision, unshakable determination, and persistent smart work. Smart work means working efficiently with innovative ideas. However, smart work alone is not sufficient, you need to align with higher consciousness. You need to keep your focus consistently on your higher goals. To keep your focus consistently on your higher goals, you need purification of your reticular activating system. 

Here, we discussed the 7 techniques to purify the reticular activating system for higher manifestations.

Reticular Activating System for Manifestation

Your reticular activating system part of the brain can improve your manifestation and visualization power with mantra and exercises. Before deep-diving into the roles of RAS in manifestation of your dreams, let's first understand Reticular Activating System in brief.

In today’s hyperactive, stressful and hyper-connected world of overstimulation and pollution, keeping respiratory muscles strong, happy and healthy is a major challenge. A great way to establish a healthy body and joyful mind is to strengthen your respiratory muscles optimally with special yoga breathing exercises - called resistance pranayama. 

In this guide, we’ll introduce deep resisted yoga breathing techniques and its various uses and benefits. We’ll then show you several ways you can verify and uses its power. You can use it alongside with your daily yoga exercises,  meditations, and medications.

This is a great way to overcome the difficulties of panic attacks, anxieties and hyperventilation. It has vast array of beneficial effects in the three domains of physical health, mental health and cognitive performance.

What is Respiratory Muscle Yoga Training?

Yoga resistance breathing is different from the traditional yoga breathing techniques. The traditional 15 yoga breathing techniques include: 

1. Bhastrika Pranayama (Breath of fire)
2. Kapalabhati Pranayam (Skull shining)
3. Anulom Vilom (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
4. Ujjayi Pranayama (The sound of ocean waves)
5. Bhramari Pranayama (Humming bee breath)
6. Surya Bhedana (The solar breath)
7. Chandra Bhedana (The lunar breath)
8. Kumbhaka Pranayama (Breath retention)
9. Sheetli Pranayama (Cooling breath)
10. Simhasana (Lion’s Breath)
11. Mrigi Mudra Pranayam (Deer seal breathing)
12. Dirga Pranayama (Long breath)
13. Udgeeth pranayama (Chanting breath)
14. Plavini Pranayama (Floating breath)
15. Murcha Pranayama (Swooning breath)

However, the Ray respiratory muscle yoga resistance breathing training is a new way to improve strength or endurance of the inspiratory or expiratory muscles. This is a tool that can benefit just about anyone interested keeping stress, strain, anxiety, pain, and blood pressure under control.

This yoga strength breathing training can be accomplished by breathing against a resistance.  You can build the resistance naturally with your hands, fingers, abdominal muscles and the nostrils.

This is an external device free, natural sets of yoga breathing exercises. It enables you to:

• Control the blood pressure of your body
• Maintain the pH balance of the body optimally 
• Reduce the airway resistance during normal breathing
• Increase the effective lungs volume
• Enhances the vagal nerve activity 
• Uncover and resolve the breathing difficulties and errors naturally
• Integrate your body, mind and inner metabolisms optimally.

What are the respiratory muscles?

The respiratory muscles are those muscles that contribute to inhalation and exhalation. From a functional point of view, there are three groups of respiratory muscles:

• the diaphragm
• the rib cage muscles
• the abdominal muscles. 

The diaphragm is a thin skeletal muscle that placed at the base of the chest and separates the abdomen from the chest. The diaphragm should be viewed as two distinct muscles, crural and costal, which act in synchrony throughout respiration.

The rib cage muscles consist of three layers of muscles external, internal, and innermost layer they combine to fill the space between the ribs.

The abdominal muscles consist of four main muscle groups that combine to completely cover the internal organs include:  the external obliques, the internal obliques, the transversus abdominis, and the rectus abdominis.

What is the mechanism of breathing?

Breathing is a physical process of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide​. It is a combination inspiration and expiration. Inspiration is an active process. Expiration is a passive process. In inspiration we take air into the lungs and expiration is the expulsion of the air out of the lungs.

Breathing mechanism

The most important muscle of respiration is the diaphragm. When you inhale, or breathe in, your diaphragm contracts and moves downward and its edges move outward. This compresses the abdominal cavity, raises the ribs upward and outward and thus expands the thoracic cavity. This expansion draws air into the lungs.

Expiration is a passive process because the lungs naturally want to recoil inward and collapse. During expiration, the lungs deflate without much effort from our muscles. However, the expiratory muscles – internal intercostals, rectus abdominis,  external and internal obliques, transversus abdominis – can contract to force air out of the lungs during active breathing periods.

What is Resistance Breathing?

The key objective of resistance breathing is to activate and strengthen the respiratory muscles by various breathing mechanisms. Primarily in resistance breathing you voluntarily reduce the oxygen intake and carbon dioxide elimination for short duration by the providing some controlled breathing resistance.

The three most common procedure for yoga respiratory muscle resistance strength training include:

• flow resistance - breathing through a small nostril openings  
• pressure resistance - building respiratory pressures with fingers 
• muscle resistance - building pressures on the rib cage and the abdominal muscles

What is Yoga Resistance Breathing?

According to Sri Amit Ray, the respiratory yoga resistance breathing, or the Virodhana pranayama techniques are one of the best ways to purify the mind and body. They make the mind focused and inward. There are ten of resistance breathing exercises and, in general, all of them cleanse the body and purify the mind. In these yoga techniques the flow resistance, pressure resistance and the muscle resistance are developed in a sequential and rhythmic manner.

The yoga resistance breathing (Virodhana Pranayama) techniques varies depending on the use of the respiratory muscles and the rhythms. Broadly, it can be classified in the following five groups:  

1. Diaphragm muscle training: The diaphragm is a motor muscle of breath and which can be automatic, forced, or controlled. It’s the dome-shaped muscle found below your lungs, separating your chest cavity from your abdominal cavity. Here, the yoga techniques are used to build the resistances through this muscle.
2. Finger Training: The respiratory rhythm, directly and indirectly, affects the central nervous system (CNS).  In yoga resistance breathing the natural rhythms of the breath and holding the breath, sustaining the breath in different rhythms are controlled by the movement of the fingers. Resistance yoga breathing brings the breath consciously in a definite and particular rhythm. 
3. Rib cage yoga muscle training: Tightness in muscles that attach to your ribs can impair your ability to breathe. Several yoga breathing exercises can improve your rib cage mobility and strength.
4. Abdominal muscle yoga training: These yoga exercises are developed to strengthen your core respiratory muscles. 
5. Nada Anushandhan respiratory training: The mantras like "So Hum", "Om Namah Shivaya" or just "Om" are used to activate the olfactory nerves and the vagus nerve.  Nada Anushandhan is  investigating, purifying the mind and merging with of the supreme divine sound.

The 114 Chakras Meditation Class

Olfactory Nerves and Yoga Resistance Breathing

Breathing through the nose stimulates the olfactory nerve at the top of the nasal cavity. Moreover, it enhances the visuospatial brain power. The olfactory nerve is the only nerve in the central nervous system that continually regenerates throughout your adult lives. The olfactory nerve is composed of neurons that originate in the mucus tissue of the nose and run the short distance to the olfactory bulb, one of the most primitive parts of the brain.

Vagus Nerve and the Yoga Resistance Breathing

The vagal nerve is considered as the key proponent of the parasympathetic nervous. Activating the vagus nerve via yoga breathing techniques can calm your autonomic nervous system. Yoga resistance breathing is a universally accessible cost-free way to quell performance anxiety anyplace and anytime.

During the exhalation phase of the resistance breathing, the vagus nerve squirts out like a tranquilizer. Acetylcholine, ACh is the primary neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic nervous system and counteracts “fight, flight, or freeze” stress responses.

Vagus nerve is one of the longest nerves in the body and it is 80 percent of our parasympathetic nervous system, also referred to as our ‘rest and digest’ system. When we have a high vagal tone or healthy vagal tone that is indicative that when you inhale, you have a slight increase in your heartbeat, and when you exhale, you have a slight decrease in your heartbeat. It is also associated with better physical and mental well-being. 

The Benefits of Using Respiratory Muscle Yoga Training

There are many benefits to using these yoga breathings on your mind and body. Some of the most important advantages include the ability to reduce your high blood pressure, and make improvements to your bodies' energy flow. You can even check on and optimize internal improvements such as increases in diaphragm thickness, changes in muscle fiber type (greater fatigue resistance), and improvements in strength.

This powerful pranayama affects the functioning of different systems of the body and affords countless benefits. These breathing exercises will help you develop physically, mentally and emotionally. Here are a few of the benefits of the resistance yoga breathing techniques:

• Increases lung’s capacity to take in Oxygen 
• Reverses age by retaining youth
• Reduces stress
• Enhance stamina
• Helps control shortness of breath
• Improves speed of recovery
• Builds endurance
• Increases muscular strength
• Improves digestion
• Improves blood pressure

Respiratory muscle weakness and fatigue are contributing factors to many breathlessness sensations. A stronger muscle can contract more  forcefully and potentially resist fatigue. Specifically on COPD, there is a typical pattern that exists. The lungs are overinflated, the diaphragm tends to be flat at rest and the respiratory muscles are functionally and structurally weak. Scientists observed that, resistance breathing can improve the condition. 

Millions of Americans have breathing problems because of COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, along with issues like chest or back pain and a cough that doesn't go away. Breathing problems may also stem from other serious problems such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, COVID-19, and lung disease related to HIV or AIDS. However, yoga resistance breathing can improve these conditions. 

Adaptation of the Respiratory Muscles

Adaptation of the respiratory muscles to the slow increase of the load of the yoga exercises is very important for consistent gains. Unlike Hatha yoga pranayama, in our Ray 112 Shiva-shakti yoga pranayama tradition, the exercises are adjusted over time to avoid plateauing. The partial openings of the nostrils are the key elements in this yoga pranayama. 

An 8-week expiratory muscle strength yoga breathing training program in healthy individuals is generally helpful. Normally, these yoga exercise are done about 21 resistance inhalations - two to three times per day, preferably in the morning and evening. Total training for around 5-10 minutes per day is very effective. Progressively, the load is increased.

Types of Yoga Resistance Breathing Techniques

The rib cage and the abdominal muscles are primarily “pressure generators.” Conversely, the diaphragm is primarily a “flow generator.” The yoga resistance breathing techniques are available in the following three forms:

• inspiratory muscle yoga resistance training (IYR) only,
• expiratory muscle yoga  resistance training (EYR), and
• both inspiratory and expiratory muscle training (CYR).

In all the above cases, the resistance load can be adjusted to change the load. This is done by using a progressively increased flow resistance or increased pressure resistance. 

Here are five best yoga resistance breathing techniques: 

1. PanchAnguli Pranayama
2. PanchAngha Nada Yoga Pranayama
3. Sarva-Akarsini Pranayama
4. SarvaRogahara Pranayama
5. SarvaSiddhiprada Pranayama.

Kumbhaka Pranayama and Virodhana Pranayama Combined Cycle

Yoga resistance breathing (Virodhana Pranayama) is different from the retention breathing (Kumbhaka pranayama) techniques. The figure shown above explains the differences. The Yoga resistance breathing (Virodhana Pranayama) techniques are different from the traditional Hatha yoga pranayama techniques. These techniques are compatible with the Ray 114 chakras traditions and the Ray Sri Chakra Sadhana traditions. For example, the Sarva-Akarsini Pranayama includes the combined cycle of retention breathing and resistance breathing. 

Generally retention breathing (kumbhakas) force the breath into the central sushumna channel, but resistance breathing (Virodhana Pranayama) works in opposite way. It cleans the the central sushumna channel and then the breath and the Kundalini energy flows blissfully in the sushumna channel without any force.

The 72000 Nadi System

Types of Pranayama in Patanjali Yoga sutra

According to the Patanjali Yoga Sutra, (Verses 2.49 to 2.51),  pranayama starts by slowing and reducing the effort in the breathing. The pranayama has the following ten control aspects:

• outward flow (exhalation),
• inward flow (inhalation), 
• retention of breath (internal or external), 
• regulation by movements,
• regulation by place,
• regulation by time,
• regulation by number,
• regulation by slowing down the breath,
• regulation by making the breath subtle.

Moreover, when all your thought waves, ideas in the mind and the objects are settled, there starts a natural pranayama, which is beyond the normal.

Basic Rules of Yoga Resistance Breathing Exercises 

You can follow the following basic steps for best yoga breathing exercises:

1. Before undertaking any of these breathing practices, learn to sit in a steady and comfortable posture.
2. Make sure your alimentary canal is empty, but you are neither hungry or thirsty.
3. Brush your teeth, scrape your tongue, and keep your nostrils healthy and clean. 
4. Make sure that both your nostrils are open. If one nostril is blocked to the point that your breathing becomes uncomfortable, then use the techniques.
5. Make sure your mind is not running here and there at that time. Then you sit with your eyes closed and the mind is completely settled.
6. Never exceed your capacity. Expand your capacity slowly. Never bully yourself and do not compete with others practicing this pranayama. Self-assessment and guidance from a competent teacher will help you achieve the most result with least risk.

Steps for Respiratory Muscle Yoga Resistance Breathing

I am giving here a simple example of yoga resistance breathing exercise. This is know as SarvAkarsani Pranayama.  This yoga abdominal resistance breathing exercise can increase the strength and mobility of your diaphragm. It massages viscera and the abdominal muscles; relaxes and stretches the lumbosacral region. It helps improve awareness of the abdominal area and slows down mental frequencies.

To do this you can follow the steps below:

1. Gently round your back and take the "cat" pose in yoga.
2. Make sure that your shoulders are over your hands and your hips are over your knees.
3. Take a deep breath through nose and try to imagine the air is pushing into the stomach, fell the stomach blow up with the air.
4. While breathing out through mouth, drive the sternum up towards the ceiling to create a hump in the upper back.
5. Focus the breath and imagine the air get into the dome created and slowly and fully breathed out through mouth.
6. Maintain the position for 6 breaths and return to the starting position.
7. Take 1 to 2 minutes resting interval and then repeat the above procedures for 5 cycles.
8. Do not hold breath throughout the process.
9. Take one min rest between two cycle, to prevent hyperventilation.
10. Allow yourself a little time to get into a regular rhythm. It may help to imagine that as you are breathing in, you draw half a circle with your breath around your body, and as you breathe out, you complete the other half of the circle. Allow your breath to become smooth, easy and regular.
11.  Now, slow down your breathing out, then be conscious of a comfortable pause before allowing your breaths in to follow smoothly and easily. If any distractions, thoughts or worries come into your mind, allow them to come, then allow them to go, and bring your attention back to your breathing.
12.  When you are ready to end this exercise, take a few deeper breaths in. Bring some feeling back into your fingers and toes. Open your eyes slowly, and turn over onto one side before gently sitting up.

Looking Forward

To improve your health and mind, you should start thinking about yoga resistance breathing. Taking a deep, resisted, breath offers a new and unconventional way to generate the benefits of exercise and physical activity. 

So there you have it, five different yoga ways that you can improve your respiratory muscles to make sure that you’re more connected to the world, you’re enhancing your physical and mental well-being, and you’re living life to the fullest.

Take the time and make the effort to change your breathing habits. Your heart, mind and your loved ones will thank you.

Sri Vidya Sadhana Advanced Course

Reference:

1. Saoji, Apar Avinash et al. “Effects of yogic breath regulation: A narrative review of scientific evidence.” Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine vol. 10,1 (2019): 50-58. doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2017.07.008
1. Ray, Amit. "Meditation and the Oxygen Consumption of the Brain." Compassionate AI, 4.12 (2017): 21-23. https://amitray.com/meditation-and-oxygen-consumption-of-the-brain/.
2. Ray, Amit. "Brain-Computer Interface and Compassionate Artificial Intelligence." Compassionate AI, 2.5 (2018): 3-5. https://amitray.com/brain-computer-interface-compassionate-ai/.
3. Ray, Amit. "Seven Scientific Benefits of Om Chanting." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, 1.3 (2019): 42-44. https://amitray.com/seven-scientific-benefits-of-om-chanting/.
4. Ray, Amit. "Heart Rate Variability with Om Meditation and Chanting." Compassionate AI, 3.9 (2019): 72-74. https://amitray.com/stress-relief-and-heart-rate-variability-with-om-meditation/.
5. Ray, Amit. "The Power of 24 Healing Chakras in Your Hand." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, 3.7 (2020): 60-62. https://amitray.com/the-24-healing-chakras-in-your-hand/.
6. Ray, Amit. "Ayurveda and the 7 Chakras: A Comprehensive Step by Step Guide." Compassionate AI, 1.2 (2021): 60-62. https://amitray.com/ayurveda-and-the-7-chakras-a-beginners-guide/.
7. Ray, Amit. "Sri Amit Ray Yoga Resistance Breathing for Respiratory Muscle Training." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, 3.7 (2021): 42-44. https://amitray.com/yoga-resistance-breathing-for-respiratory-muscle-training/.
8. Ray, Amit. "Reticular Activating System for Manifestation and Visualization and 114 Chakras." , 1.5 (2021): 3-5. https://amitray.com/reticular-activating-system-for-manifestation/.
9. Ray, Amit. "The 12 Meridians, Ayurvedic Herbs and the 72000 Nadis." Compassionate AI, 3.9 (2023): 78-80. https://amitray.com/the-12-meridians-ayurvedic-herbs-and-the-72000-nadis/.
10. Ray, Amit. "Telomere Protection and Ayurvedic Rasayana: The Holistic Science of Anti-Aging." Compassionate AI, 4.10 (2023): 69-71. https://amitray.com/telomere-protection-and-ayurvedic-rasayana/.
11. Ray, Amit. "The Sama Veda Mantra Chanting: Melody and Rhythms." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, 4.12 (2023): 30-32. https://amitray.com/the-sama-veda-mantra-chanting-melody-and-rhythms/.
12. Ray, Amit. "Slow Breathing Yoga Pranayama to Reduce Oxidative Stress." Compassionate AI, 1.3 (2024): 15-17. https://amitray.com/slow-breathing-yoga-pranayam-to-reduce-oxidative-stress/.
13. Ray, Amit. "Glymphatic System Brain Health and 40 Hz Music and Mantra Chanting." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, 3.8 (2024): 21-23. https://amitray.com/glymphatic-system-brain-health-and-40-hz-music-and-mantra-chanting/.
14. Ray, Amit. "Neuroscience of Samadhi: Brainwaves, Neuroplasticity, and Deep Meditation." Compassionate AI, 3.9 (2024): 48-50. https://amitray.com/neuroscience-of-samadhi/.
15. Ray, Amit. "Benefits and Neuroscience of Ek-Sruti Mantra Chanting." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, 3.9 (2024): 90-92. https://amitray.com/benefits-and-neuroscience-of-ek-sruti-mantra-chanting/.
16. Ray, Amit. "Integrating LLM AI Models for Ayurveda Medical Diagnosis and Treatment." Compassionate AI, 4.10 (2024): 54-56. https://amitray.com/llm-ai-models-for-ayurveda/.
17. Ray, Amit. "Neuroscience of Hanuman Chalisa and The Ray 114 Chakras for Healing." Yoga and Ayurveda Research, 4.11 (2025): 48-50. https://amitray.com/neuroscience-of-hanuman-chalisa/.

How many chakras?

There are 114 chakras in human body. Among these 114 chakras, the 7 chakras are major, 21 chakras are minor, and the rest 86 chakras are micro chakras. To improve the effectiveness of balancing, clearing, diagnosis, treatment and healing a combined approach of the 114-chakra system and Ayurveda is essential. Here, we discussed the ancient wisdom of the 7 chakras and Ayurveda in a holistic way.

Stress Relief and Heart Rate Variability with Om Meditation

Sri Amit Ray explains how Om meditation and Om chanting is related to heart rate variability and stress relief.

Your heart rate is constantly changing to meet various requirements of your body and mind. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) measures how your heart rate varies over time. Generally, heart rate variability increases during relaxation and recovering activities and decreases during stress and anxiety. HRV reflects the changes in the interval between heartbeats (R wave) over time. HRV is NOT the same as plain heart rate (HR). It’s not the “beats per minute” number most of us are familiar with.

Broadly speaking there are seven types of Om meditation. The impact of these meditations on stress level varies from person to person. HRV measurement just after different Om meditations can help you to assess the impact of your personalized meditation techniques on stress relief.  The key for effective Om chanting is activating the Vayapini Nadi and the Kurma Nadi.  Our studies strongly suggests that Vayapini Om chanting increases HRV and may be linked to the activation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex regions of the brain.

Stress Relief and Heart Rate Variability with Om Meditation

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Seven Scientific Benefits of Om Chanting

Here, Sri Amit Ray explains the scientific aspects of om chanting benefits.

Om chanting is a disciplined and  flexible process to remove tension, anxiety,  fear, depressions, and negativity from life.  It can bring positivity to your life like courage, focus, concentration, happiness, and joy, effortlessly. It can improve your state (short term) as well as trait (long term) health, happiness, joy and well-being. 

Om chanting is a series of step-by-step process. It is a scientific art but it should be learnt properly to get its benefits. Systematic guided Om chanting can change your emotional reactions and responses to external stimuli and internal experiences in a positive way. It can enhance your efficiency, calmness, tranquility, and mental clarity.

Dr. Ray explains how low frequency Om chanting can reduce our daily stress, strain, anxiety and tensions. Om chanting is effective for stress management.  Under various pressure conditions such as before examination, before public speaking, before important sports events and during critical challenges of life Om chanting can enhance confidence and eliminate stress and anxiety.  Om chanting improves the connections between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, which is the key component for relaxation, stress control and better decision making. 

Low frequency seven step deep Om chanting increases gamma wave in the brain. The gamma brain waves are known as “feeling of blessings”.  The seven step deep Om chanting and meditation is supposed to be practiced for 20 minutes, two times per day. Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphins are the four key hormones generated in the body during low frequency Om meditation and these four hormones have huge impact on regulating both state anxiety as well as trait anxiety.

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Brain-Computer Interface and Compassionate Artificial Intelligence

Dr. Amit Ray, Compassionate AI Lab

The purpose of Compassionate AI is to remove the pain from the society and help humanity. We focused on developing AI based low cost BCI based interfaces for helping disable people.

Artificial Intelligence with Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) or Brain Machine Interface (BMI) is a fast-growing emerging technology for removing pains from the society. Here, Dr. Amit Ray explains how with the advancement of artificial intelligence and exploration of new mobile bio-monitoring devices, earphones, neuroprosthetic, wireless wearable sensors, it is possible to monitor thoughts and activities of brain neurons and serve humanity.

This research is going to be immensely beneficial for the physically and mentally challenged people as well as for the people who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental disorders or brain problems. Over the last 5 years, technologies for non-invasive transmission of information from brains to computers have developed considerably.

Here, researchers focus to build a direct communication link between the human brain and the smartphones, earphone, computers or other devices. With BCI mind can speak silently with a smartphone or other devices.  Recent advancement of neuroprosthetic, linking the human nervous system to computers and providing unprecedented control of artificial limbs and restoring lost sensory function.

 BCI establishes two way communications between the brain and the machine.  One is brain-computer interface, and another is called computer-brain interfaces (CBI). BCI hopes to create new communication channels for disabled or elderly persons using their brain signals.

Meditation improves long-term ventilatory efficiency, gas exchange efficiency and heart rate variability by lowering oxygen consumption and enhancing the divinity quotient. Divinity is the state of being connected with the source. It is the state when our heart is full of love, compassion, and caring. It is the state when our mind is full of joy, equanimity, peacefulness, and happiness. It is the state when we are relaxed, energetic, focused, joyful, creative, clear and compassionate. Deep 114 Chakra meditation is the best way to awaken your divinity. During 114 Chakra meditation the brainwaves of the entire brain get synchronized and produces deep relaxation, slower breathing, and a lower heart rate as a result a less oxygen is needed in each breath, and fewer breaths are needed in total. These meditations have seven powerful steps. Each step is unique. 

For good meditation we need the best circulation of blood in the brain. Scientists have explored meditation from different angles. Here we examined how meditation is linked to the oxygen consumption in the brain.

"Meditation is the artwork to awaken the divinity within you." - Sri Amit Ray

Oxygen is vital to brain growth and healing.  Brain cells are very sensitive to decrease in oxygen levels and don’t survive or function well very long without it. A continuous uninterrupted supply of oxygen to the brain is essential in order to maintain its metabolic functions and to prevent brain cell damage. Meditation slows down the heart rate, decreases respiratory rate and this helps to calm the body and relax the mind.

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