BENEFITS RISK OF YOGA FOUND FOR BIPOLAR DISORDER

Right now no one can say whether yoga provides clinical benefits to people with bipolar disorder, but in a new article in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice, researchers report survey responses they gathered from scores of people with the condition who practice yoga. What the collective testimony suggests is that yoga can be a substantial help, but it sometimes carries risks, too.

There is no scientific literature on hatha yoga for bipolar disorder," said lead author Lisa Uebelacker, associate professor (research) of psychiatry and human behavior in the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and a staff psychologist at Butler Hospital. Hatha yoga is the practice, familiar in the West, in which people move between various poses. It often includes breathing practices and meditation. "There is reason to think that there are ways in which it might be wonderful and ways in which it might not be safe. We are interested in studying hatha yoga for bipolar as an adjunctive treatment to pharmacotherapy."

The preponderance of responses from more than 70 people who answered the study's online survey were that yoga has benefits for people with bipolar disorder. When asked, "What impact do you think yoga has on your life?" the vast majority of responses were positive and about one in five respondents characterized yoga as "life changing." One even said, "Yoga has saved my life. ... I might not be alive today were it not for yoga."

Twenty-nine other respondents said yoga decreased anxiety and promoted calm or provided other emotional benefits. Calm also emerged as a specific benefit for 23 survey respondents when asked how yoga affects mania symptoms. Other benefits that were mentioned repeatedly included distraction from depressive thoughts and increased clarity of thought.

"There is clearly evidence that yoga seems to be a powerful practice for some individuals with BD," the researchers wrote in the paper. "It was striking that some of our respondents clearly believed that yoga had a major positive impact on their lives."

Throughout the survey there was also evidence that yoga could be problematic for some people with BD, although fewer people cited problems.

In response to survey questions about whether yoga has had a negative impact, for example, five respondents cited cases in which rapid or energetic breathing made them feel agitated. Another became too relaxed after a slow, meditative practice: "I fell into a relaxed state ... near catatonic as my mind was depressed already. I was in bed for three days afterward."

And like some people in general who practice yoga, 11 respondents warned that there is the potential for physical injury or pain. Another four said they became self-critical or frustrated with their performance sometimes during yoga.

"It's possible that you want to avoid any extreme practice, such as extended periods of rapid breathing," Uebelacker said. The survey also raised some concerns about heated yoga, which is consistent with evidence that the use of certain medications for bipolar disorder, including lithium and antipsychotic medications, are associated with possible heat intolerance and resulting symptoms of physical illness.

Next: a pilot clinical trial

The online survey is the first stage in a research program that Uebelacker, who has spent several years studying yoga for unipolar depression, and colleague Lauren Weinstock, an expert in bipolar disorder, are developing to examine yoga for bipolar disorder. They now have a grant from the Depressive and Bipolar Disorder Alternative Treatment Foundation to run a pilot clinical trial in which they will compare outcomes from yoga to outcomes from using a well-regarded workbook for bipolar disorder.

Those results could set the stage for a larger trial with enough statistical power to rigorously identify benefits and risks, Uebelacker said.

For many bipolar patients, symptoms persist for decades despite multiple medications. The current studies of yoga, Uebelacker said, are part of a broader program at Butler and Brown to determine what else can help people who are already undergoing conventional therapies.

"We're looking at alternative ways to cope with suffering that is part of people's everyday lives so that there are other options in addition to ongoing medication and psychotherapy" Uebelacker said.

As their research continues, they will learn what role hatha yoga might play.

HOMOEOPATHY FOR GENERALISED ANXIETY DISORDER

It's normal to feel anxious from time to time, especially if your life is stressful. However, excessive, ongoing anxiety and worry that interfere with day-to-day activities may be a sign of generalized anxiety disorder.

It's possible to develop generalized anxiety disorder as a child or an adult. Generalized anxiety disorder has symptoms that are similar to panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other types of anxiety, but they're all different conditions.

Living with generalized anxiety disorder can be a long-term challenge. In many cases, it occurs along with other anxiety or mood disorders. In most cases, generalized anxiety disorder improves with medications or talk therapy (psychotherapy). Making lifestyle changes, learning coping skills and using relaxation techniques also can help.

Causes--As with many mental health conditions, the exact cause of generalized anxiety disorder isn't fully understood, but it may include genetics as well as other risk factors.

Symptoms--Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms can vary. They may include:

·         Persistent worrying or obsession about small or large concerns that's out of proportion to the impact of the event

·         Inability to set aside or let go of a worry

·         Inability to relax, restlessness, and feeling keyed up or on edge

·         Difficulty concentrating, or the feeling that your mind "goes blank"

·         Worrying about excessively worrying

·         Distress about making decisions for fear of making the wrong decision

·         Carrying every option in a situation all the way out to its possible negative conclusion

·         Difficulty handling uncertainty or indecisiveness

Physical signs and symptoms may include:

·         Fatigue

·         Irritability

·         Muscle tension or muscle aches

·         Trembling, feeling twitchy

·         Being easily startled

·         Trouble sleeping

·         Sweating

·         Nausea, diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome

·         Headaches

There may be times when your worries don't completely consume you, but you still feel anxious even when there's no apparent reason. For example, you may feel intense worry about your safety or that of your loved ones, or you may have a general sense that something bad is about to happen.

Your anxiety, worry or physical symptoms cause you significant distress in social, work or other areas of your life. Worries can shift from one concern to another and may change with time and age.

Symptoms in children and teenagers

In addition to the symptoms above, children and teenagers who have generalized anxiety disorder may have excessive worries about:

·         Performance at school or sporting events

·         Being on time (punctuality)

·         Earthquakes, nuclear war or other catastrophic events

A child or teen with generalized anxiety disorder may also:

·         Feel overly anxious to fit in

·         Be a perfectionist

·         Redo tasks because they aren't perfect the first time

·         Spend excessive time doing homework

·         Lack confidence

·         Strive for approval

·         Require a lot of reassurance about performance

Risk factors--These factors may increase the risk of developing generalized anxiety disorder:

Personality. A person whose temperament is timid or negative or who avoids anything dangerous may be more prone to generalized anxiety disorder than others are.

Genetics. Generalized anxiety disorder may run in families.

Being female. Women are diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder somewhat more often than men are.

Complications-Having generalized anxiety disorder does more than just make you worry. It can:

·         Impair your ability to perform tasks quickly and efficiently because you have trouble concentrating

·         Take your time and focus from other activities

·         Sap your energy

·         Disturb your sleep

Generalized anxiety disorder can also lead to or worsen other mental and physical health conditions, such as:

·         Depression (which often occurs with generalized anxiety disorder)

·         Substance abuse

·         Trouble sleeping (insomnia)

·         Digestive or bowel problems

·         Headaches

·         Heart-health issues

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

ACONITUM NAPELLUS 30 - Aconite is  one of the  top homeopathic remedies for anxiety   as it covers the acuteness of anxiety attacks .  The key symptoms of aconite  to be used as a homeopathic remedy for anxiety is the ‘suddenness of symptoms’ . Anxiety or distress will come very suddenly and without any premonition and can come at any time . Feeling of impending doom and also fear of death is there.Anxiety attacks happen out of nowhere , at any time and there might not be any perceptible trigger or a reason for it to occur

ARGENTUM NITRICUM 200-Argentum nitricum is an excellent remedy for anxiety , especially chronic type.It is for anxiety with dizziness.  It is more suited to people who suffer from ‘Generalised Anxiety Disorder ‘ . The main symptoms are – there is constant sense of anxiety – here it differs from Aconite as it is used more when the attacks of anxiety are sudden in nature and are violent. In Argentum patient the anxiety is not violent  but is constant . the patient is more of  a “worrier type ” and this is what leads to a state of constant anxiety .  The patient that requires Argentum lives in a world full of fear, irrational impulses and a forsaken feeling. They  are always in a state of worry. They anticipate all kinds of worrisome things  They suffer suffer from a severe anticipatory anxiety – the thought of meeting a new person gives palpitations, trembling, a cramping pain in the abdomen and at times a strong urge to pass stool.Argentum patients suffer from all kinds of phobias claustrophobia , acrophobia etc. they usually  Avoid crowded places, parties, narrow streets and alleys ; fear of height is very strongly marked and looking down even from the second floor sends shivers down the spine.

ANACARDIUM ORIENTALE 200- Anxiety. Fear of examination. Fear he is being pursued and prosecuted . Stage fright in musicians.Ancardium patients think that they are possessed of two persons or wills. They are very easily offended. Lack of confidence in himself and others. They have digestive problems.

ARSENICUM ALBUM 200-Arsenic alb is best for anxiety, anxiousness and mental restlessness. Arsenic alb patients always moving from place to another, physically too weak to move, so he wants to be moved from place to place . Marked feature of Arsenic alb is fear of death, fears that he is having some incurable disease . They are always sad and hopeless of recovery. Fear and in anxiety when alone , fears as if he will die soon. They have suicidal tendencies , weary of life. Impulse to commit suicide, over sensitiveness to circumstances and surrounding. Arsenic alb patient is extremely fastidious , wants everything in proper place even when he or she is sick.

CALCAREA CARB 200- Calcarea carb is also useful for anxiety. The patient thinks that he has done something wrong . He feels uneasy and anxious with palpitations. He fears loss of reason. Calcarea carb patients are desperate of life. Fears insanity. Bores others by repeatedly describing his ailments

GELSEMIUM 200- Anxiety due to fright, fear, emotions, exciting news or forthcoming examination and interview . Stage fright. Diarrhoea from emotional excitement, fright, bad news.For anxiety chills and hot flushes.

IGNATIA AMARA 200- Ignatia is prescribed when anxiety occurs due to any grief. The patient has a changeable mood. They are introspective, silently brooding , melancholic, sad and tearful, sighing and sobbing.

LYCOPODIUM CLAVATUM 200-Anxiety with lack of confidence. The patient is unable to sleep due to the happenings during the day. Anxiety about forthcoming events. Lycopodium patients prefer warm food and drinks. They have a craving for sweets.

NATRUM MURIATICUM 200-The Natrum mur. Patient is anxious about everything, even has anxious dreams. Anxiety with chest pain.

PHOSPHORUS 200- Very restless patients who are sensitive. They need security and constant reassurance. Anxious , restless and nervous due to the fear of darkness, thunder, alone or dying.

PULSATILLA NIG. 200- Pulsatilla is prescribed when anxiety occurs  after bad news or an emotional upset. The patient is weepy , touchy and needs company

PHOSPHORUS 200- Phosphorus is an  effective remredy for anxiety of those people who are  very restless and  are sensitive. They need security and constant reassurance. Anxious, restless and nervous due to the fear of darkness, thunder, alone or dying.

SULPHUR 200-Sulphur is one of the best remedies for anxiety disorder.There is anxiety with fainting spells , profuse sweating, which is worse in morning. Sulphur persons are mentally lazy, always tired, occasionally restlessness and hasty. They are irritable, impatient of others, selfish, easily excited and offended. They are always in dreams , delusions, things rags to be beautiful things. He is a ragged philosopher , very unclean, does not care for neatness, he thinks there is no need of cleanliness. Sulphur patients are suspicious and mentally depressed , very forgetful , confused, absent minded, having aversion to mental , as well as physical efforts and aversion to bathing.

SEPIA 200- Anxious towards evening. Dreads to be alone . Indifferent to those loved best.A feeling of bearing down in pelvis.

SYPHILINUM 200—Syphilinum is best  for anxiety. An important feature of Syphilinum  patients is that they repeatedly wash their hands and they feel compelled to do so in order to relieve their anxiety. Marked fear of night time, the patient dreads the approach of night. There is intense anxiety and a constant feeling that he  may go insane

THUJA OCCIDENTALIS 200- Thuja is one of the very good remedies for generalized anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive neurosis. The patient generally gets anxious over trifles and cannot concentrate on whatever he does. He has many fixed ideas and he finds it difficult to get rid of them. Social phobia is also commonly seen in these patients who begin to get nervous and get twitching on being approached by strangers. Overall a very good drug for controlling anxiety states

NEW INFORMATION ABOUT HOW NEURONS ACT COULD LEAD TO BRAIN DISORDER ADVANCEMENTS

Neurons are electrically charged cells, located in the nervous system, that interpret and transmit information using electrical and chemical signals. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have determined that individual neurons can react differently to electrical signals at the molecular level and in different ways -- even among neurons of the same type. This variability may be important in discovering underlying problems associated with brain disorders and neural diseases such as epilepsy.

"Genetic mutations found in neurological disorders create imbalances in the inward and outward flow of electrical current through cells," said David Schulz, associate professor in the Division of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Science and a researcher in the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program at MU. "Often, neurons react to electrical signals, or voltage, and compensate by altering their own electrical outputs. The variability in these imbalances, even among multiple cells of the same kind within the brain, is one of the major problems scientists face when trying to design therapeutics for disorders like epilepsy. Seizures in individuals can be caused by different imbalances -- therefore getting to the root of how neurons act individually makes our studies important."

Schulz and his team previously proved that two identical neurons can reach the same electrical activity in different ways. In his new study, Schulz hypothesized that neurons might use the cell's genetic code, or its messenger RNA (mRNA), to "fine tune" the production of proteins, helping individual cells react accordingly.

Using clusters of neurons obtained from Jonah crabs, Schulz and his team experimentally altered electrical input and output in the neurons and measured the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels found within the cells. Invertebrates like crabs are useful in neuroscience research because their neurons are simple enough to observe and study, but advanced enough that they can be "scaled up" to apply to higher organisms, Schulz said.

They found that when normal patterns of stimulation were maintained, cells engaged the correct ratios of mRNA to produce the proteins needed to help keep electrical impulses in order; however, when normal patterns of activity were not maintained, this fundamentally changed the cells at the molecular level.

"We were the first to show that the correct ratios of mRNAs are actively maintained by the actual activity or voltage of the cell, and not chemical feedback," Schulz said. "These results represent a novel aspect of regulation that might be useful for developing therapeutics for neuronal disorders later."

Schulz' study, "Activity-dependent feedback regulates correlated ion channel mRNA levels in single identified motor neurons," was published in the August 18^th edition ofCurrent Biology.