Clinicians trained in proper breath techniques have employed HFYB as a sole intervention. Christopher Gilbert (personal communication 2015), a clinical psychologist and breathing sciences professor, does use HFYB with individuals suffering from chronic pain as a temporary antidote to the drowsy side effects produced by narcotics medication. The author of this review, a certified psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner and yoga teacher, has also used HFYB with clients to counteract medication side effects and depression in order to improve concentration and mood. It is noteworthy that many studies are finding the effects of HFYB to result in an alert and relaxed state in healthy participants (Telles et al. 2015) and that mental health practitioners are finding beneficial results working with clinical populations. Yogic breathing, as an adjunct treatment to other forms of psychotherapy, could be a powerful tool. Improvements in psychological, cognitive, and physiological health are all reported to result from the autonomic nervous system shifts that correspond with HFYB (Brown and Gerbarg 2005b; Raghuraj et al. 1998; Sharma et al. 2014; Telles et al. 2015). Further research needs to be done to more fully understand the complex effects of HFYB on the nervous system so that its utilization and clinical application can be wellinformed and effective. The cited studies of HFYB that examined HRV utilized the measure of LF/HF ratio (Raghuraj et al. 1998; Telles, Singh and Balkrishna 2011). Current research indicates that this traditional measure is controversial in its use to assess sympathetic and parasympathetic balance (Bob Whitehouse personal communication). The LF component is a more accurate reflection of baroreflex activity rather than cardiac sympathetic activation, for which it is has often been used (McCraty and Shaffer 2015). Increases in Very Low Frequency (VLF), a rhythm generated directly by the heart may be a better measure of sympathetic nervous system modulationthan LF (McCraty and Shaffer 2015; Bob Whitehouse personal communication). Although current and past research indicates promise, it would benefit the body of HFYB and HRV studies if future experiments utilized VLF measures instead of LF. Most of the studies in this review partnered with healthy male participants within the age ranges of thirteen to forty (Bhavanani et al. 2003; Joshi and Telles 2009; Telles and Maharana et al. 2011; Telles and Singh et al. 2011; Telles et al. 2015). Another area of expansion for this body of research would be to test the effects with larger population samples that are more diverse. Including HFYB as a component within a larger yogic breath sequence like SKY is the recommended form to continue studies of the therapeutic effects with clinical populations. 5 Application possibility in meditation training Considering the above data, HFYB could be used in meditation training to increase energy level (Telles et al. 2015), improve clarity of mind (Gilbert 1999), enhance attention (Bhavanani, Madanmohan and Udupa 2003; Bhavanani et al. 2003; Telles, Singh and Balkrish44 Anna Andaházy – Gejza M. Timčák
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