1. Yoga practices reduce allostatic load in stress response systems such that optimal homeostasis is restored.
2. Stress induces
i. Imbalance of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) with decreased parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) and increased sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity
ii. Underactivity of the gamma amino-butyric acid (GABA) system, the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter system
iii. Increased allostatic load.
3. Yoga-based practices
i. Correct underactivity of the PNS and GABA systems in part through stimulation of the vagus nerves, the main peripheral pathway of the PNS
ii. Reduce allostatic load.
4. Depression, epilepsy, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain exemplify medical conditions that are exacerbated by stress, have low heart rate variability (HRV) and low GABAergic activity, respond to pharmacologic agents that increase activity of the GABA system, and show symptom improvement in response to yoga-based interventions.
5. The observation that treatment resistant cases of epilepsy and depression respond to vagal nerve stimulation corroborates the need to correct PNS underactivity as part of a successful treatment plan in some cases.
6. Decreased PNS and GABAergic activity that underlies stress-related disorders can be corrected by yoga practices resulting in amelioration of disease symptoms.
[Med Hypotheses. 2012 May;78(5):571-9]
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