Prof. J.P.N. Mishra
Bernardi et al (1996) observed that certain yogic practices induce significant changes in cardiovascular & hematological parameters including total red blood cells count and quantitative hemoglobin, when these values were compared among different human subjects including yogic practiceners living on high attitude. They reported that yoga maintain a satisfactory oxygen transport through maintaining the hemoglobin level and red blood cell count. Another scientific study conducted by Yogamaya (an association of researches in yoga) (2004) has reported increased red blood cells count and increased quantitative hemoglobin after certain yogic practices. Our results are in conformity with these findings.
Joshi at el (2003) have reported a relationship between the practice of selected yogic practices (kapalbhati vaman & bhrmari) and quantitative hemoglobin along with erythrocyte sedimentation rate. They have observed a significant increase in hemoglobin and decrease in erythrocyte sedimentation rate in adolescent students in the age group of 18-25 years practicing kapalbhati, vaman kriya & bhramari pranayama.
Jevning at el (1977) have also reported a raised hemoglobin and hematocrit level following yoga training of one hour a day for four months in adult male subjects. Changes in blood composition in terms of increased total red blood cells count & quantitative hemoglobin were also reported following a Hatha yoga training programme. Similar findings were also reported by Lamb (2004).
The red blood cells count and hemoglobin concentration are important clinical data because they determine the amount of oxygen that blood can carry. Three of the most common measurements are hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration and red blood cells count. There are three physiological reasons for altered level of hemoglobin concentration and red blood cells count in men and women: (1) Androgen stimulated red blood cell's production, (2) Blood loses due to different reason including menstrual cycle in women and (3) Proportional percentage of body fat (Saladin, 2004).
The red blood cells are being produced by myeloid tissue i.e. red bone marrow. The factors influencing the process of erythropoisis i.e. red blood cells production are: (i) hemotopoitic growth factors, (ii) some vitamins, and (iii) iron and copper. Erythropoietin is the most important, most well-known hemopoietic growth factor which causes erythropoisis. Most of the times stimulus for erythropoitin is hypoxia i.e. deficit in oxygen supply. But certain other factors are also involved. It has been reported that high red blood cell count is due to high erythropoietin production (Chaudhuri 2001). This high red blood cell count helps in the human subject to battle with the diseases like chronic lung disease and Anemia.
Packed with each red blood cell are an estimated 200-300 million molecules of 'hemoglobin', which make up about 95% of the dry weight of each cell (Thibodeau & Patton, 1999). Each hemoglobin molecule is comprised of four protein chains and each chain, called a globin, is bound to a red pigment known as 'heme' molecule. Each 'heme' molecule contains one iron atom. Therefore one hemoglobin molecule contains four iron atoms, which enables one hemoglobin molecule to unite with four oxygen molecules to form oxyhemoglobin. By this process the oxygen supply to various tissues of the body is continuously maintained. Hemoglobin also transports carbon dioxide, which does not combine with iron atoms but is attached to amino groups of the 'globin' molecule. This hemoglobin form is carbaminohemoglobin.
For the red blood cells count and hemoglobin concentration haemostatic mechanism to succeed in maintaining a normal number of red blood cells, the bone marrow must function adequately. To do this the blood must supply it with adequate amount of Several substances with which to form the new red blood cells - vitamin B12, iron and amino acid. A recently disclosed function of hemoglobin is the transport of Nitric acid, which is produced by the endothelial cells lining blood vessels (Seeley, 2003). In the lungs, at the same time that 'heme picks up oxygen in each a-globin (a sulfur - containing amino acid), crysteine, binds with a nitric oxide molecule to form S-nitrosothiol (nitric oxide), which functions as a chemical signal that induces the smooth muscle of blood vessels to relax. By affecting the amount of nitric oxide, in tissue, hemoglobin may play a role in regulating blood pressure, because relaxation of blood vessels results in a decreased blood pressure (Guyton, 1991).
Thus it may be inferred that following our experimental intervention the red blood cell count and hemoglobin level is probably maintained through a 'biphasic mechanism - (1) by enhancing the production of normal hematopoietic growth factor there by enhancing the red blood cell production and (2) by maintaining the normal life span of existing red blood cells. Most probably the practice of meditation influences the stem cells in Red Bone marrow however the exact mechanism needs further clarification.
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is being used as a screening test for a wide variety of infections, inflammations and certain other pathological states, the test dose not distinguish between specific diseases or pathological conditions but somehow it reflects the presence of either type of antigens or pathogens. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate may also be taken as the indirect index of the
immunological state of the person. At one hand rise in erythrocyte sedimentation rate indicates the presence of infective/ inflammative / destructive disease but on the other hand a decline in erythrocyte sedimentation rate may be taken as improvement in anti-inflammatory immune capacity (Saladin, 2004).
Our findings have exhibited a decrease in erythrocyte sedimentation rate following the experimental intervention, which may be taken as the enhancement of the anti-inflammatory immune capacity. While determining erythrocyte sedimentation rate by Westengreen tube method, the blood is mixed suitably with an anticoagulant and allow to stand vertically in the Westengreen tube the erythrocyte begin to settle down because of having higher specific gravity than plasma, leaving a clear supernatent plasma column above the cells. The length of column is known as erythrocyte sedimentation rate in millimeter (mm). The tendency of the red blood cells to settle down increases when they form Rouleaux. Rouleaux formation increases when there is increase of plasma fibrionigen a-globulin. Most infectious antigens cause increase of a-globulins including fibrionigen. Possibly the yoga and meditation practices influence the a-globulin level through neurotransmitter and hormonal profile route. The present findings do not lead to a definite conclusion and it needs further scientific investigation. While reviewing the literature, we could not find even a single scientific study depicting the effect of yoga and meditation on erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
