A specially designed Pranayama module comprising of a string of breathing exercises, every day for 28 days can be highly effective in preventing Covid-19 infection in exposed healthcare professionals (HCPs), finds a study conducted by doctors from Lady Hardinge Medical College and Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) under the Union Ayush Ministry.
The experts said that the study which was conducted during the first wave in 2020 is still relevant as Pranayma remains the first line of defense for the frontline health care workers amid the third wave that now looms large over the country.
The researchers included Dr Rakesh Sarwal from (NITI) Aayog, Dr Rajinder K. Dhamija, Professor and Head of Neurology, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi and Khushbu Jain and Dr Ishwar V. Basavaraddi, both from MDNIY, Delhi
Dr Basavaraddi said a few studies have shown the practice of Pranayama, a component of Yoga, to be effective in improving immune function and reducing infection.
However, no clinical trial on the efficacy of Pranayama in preventing Covid-19 has been conducted till date.
“We conducted a pilot project in five hospitals in the national capital during September-November, 2020. 280 HCPs assigned duties with Covid-19 patients who were found negative in antibody tests in pre-intervention assessment were recruited and randomly assigned to intervention and control groups.
The intervention group practiced specially designed Pranayama modules twice a day (morning and evening) for 28 days, while those in the control group were advised general fitness practices (like walking, jogging, running).
The morning protocol comprised activities like Dhyana that helped to clean the nasal passages and maintain the sinuses and helps to get rid of pathogens while Kapalabhati is a process of forceful exhalation and normal inhalation which helps to improve pulmonary functions and secretions, also cleanse the frontal sinuses and ease movement of
diaphragm.
“Since body’s immunity plays an important role in Covid-19 infection, non pharmacological interventions which have an immune-modulatory effect, could serve as a preventive as well as a therapeutic measure for patients with infection,” Dr Basavareddi said.
“Our study reveals that twice daily practice of specially designed Pranayama Modules administered by trained Yoga instructors in HCPs exposed to active cases lead to a significant protective effect in preventing Covid-19 infection.
“This is the first of its kind study to assess the effect of the specially designed Pranayama protocol in preventing Covid-19 infection,” said Dr Dhamija.
Co-author Sarwal said that Pranayama modules may be promoted and adopted to improve immunity in all sections of the population. Considering the implications of the study for health care professionals and the general public living in fear of COVID-19, larger studies across different geographical, ethnic and cultural backgrounds are needed to extend and verify the generalization of the present results.