دار بيبليون
The right-left-balance of the body,
mental imbalance and brain
Dr Jacques Vigne
MD,psychiatrist,
Paris, Hardwar (India)
Definitions
-Alternative physiological rhinitis :
One nostril is closed or almost closed while the other is open. It
Changes every two hours during the day, and only after five hours
during the first two thirds of the night.
– Opening of the nadis (channels of energy) :
By concentrating on the sensation of opening of the closed nostril,
the corresponding channel is said to start opening. This sensation of
opening extends to the half of the body on the same side than the
closed nostril
The context of this presentation-Studies on sciences and meditation are developing fast.
-I attended a conference on this subject in April 2012 in
Denver (Colorado) with 700 participants, including David
Richardson, member of the American Academy of Medicine –
and coauthor of books with the Dalai Lama on brain,
emotions and meditation.
-Tim Bryan, one of the youngest American Congressman
was also present : he just wrote a book A Mindful Nation. His
main idea is that there are enough scientific arguments and
studies showing that lay and secular forms of meditation are
able to improve stress, depression and many modern-day
troubles and diseases. He favors a clear engagement of the
American Government to start public meditation centers in
social groups which could be benefited by this would be the
one most directly exposed to human suffering :
-The professionals of health
-The social workers
-The teachers
every important town so that people could practice. The first
The context of this presentation-Studies on sciences and meditation are developing fast.
-I attended a conference on this subject in April 2012 in
Denver (Colorado) with 700 participants, including David
Richardson, member of the American Academy of Medicine –
and coauthor of books with the Dalai Lama on brain,
emotions and meditation.
-Tim Bryan, one of the youngest American Congressman
was also present : he just wrote a book A Mindful Nation. His
main idea is that there are enough scientific arguments and
studies showing that lay and secular forms of meditation are
able to improve stress, depression and many modern-day
troubles and diseases. He favors a clear engagement of the
American Government to start public meditation centers in
social groups which could be benefited by this would be the
one most directly exposed to human suffering :
-The professionals of health
-The social workers
-The teachers
every important town so that people could practice. The first
-There is a simple method of meditation, which is directly
inspired by the Buddhist Vipassana : scanning of the
sensations throughout the body, along with some hatha-yoga
(Mind based stress reduction, MBSR). It has been proved to
be more effective in the middle and long term than drugs
against depression. This is clearly a revolution for psychiatry.
Let’s see how long the professional milieu will take to digest
the news…
-Only for the last year 2011 and for the MBSR method, there
have been 310 studies published in scientific journals.
-This phenomenon is only partially physical, because the
basic rule remains the asymmetry of the opening of the
nostrils which changes every two hours
The traditional sources
Text : Svarayoga-udaya : “The dawn of the svara yoga”
“Svara” means the sound produced by the nostril when we
breathe strongly by one while obstructing the other. There is
usually a clear difference in sound and sensation between the
two sides.
-indeed, the opening of the closed nostril is associated to the
opening of the channels of energy, which is a fundamental
work t accomplish by the practitioner in the Yogic tradition, be
it Hindu or Tibetan Buddhist.
-I spent 25 years being very often with swami Vijayananda :
he was a French doctor who left for India and followed the
teachings of the well-known Indian woman sage, Ma
Anandamayi. He spent 60 years over there, until his passing
away, mostly in meditation. He was regularly speaking of the
opening of the channels of energy as the main work of the
spiritual practice, especially in the path of yoga.
The golden rule :
-When there is stress, tension and /or psychological suffering,
the asymmetry between the side of the closed nostril, which is
felt as more tense, and the side of the open nostril, which is
felt as more loose, is increased.
-When there is well-being and happiness, the two nostrils are
experienced as more symmetrical.
How to determinate which nostril is closed :
-With a minimum of training, one can feel directly which side
is closed, by the perception of a greater tension in the upper
part of the nostril and in the corresponding sinus.
-For beginners, it is enough to close one nostril and to
strongly breathe in and out, then to change side. The flow in
one nostril will be full, in the other it will be either much
reduced or completely blocked.
-To be rememberd : it usually takes one or two minutes
after sitting quietly for one nostril to close and the other to
open completely. When there is sustained physical effort or
some emotional stress, the two nostrils tend to open fully.
Physiological correlates
When the right nostril is open, the left brain is stimulated,
and vice-versa. The alternation of the stimulation of the
hemispheres every two hours is regulated by the
hypothalamus, and linked to the activation or inhibition of the
sympathetic system. This has been shown in various
publications by D Wertz
Wertz D ‘(1981) Cerebral hemispheric activity and autonomic nervous
function, Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of California, San
Diego.
Wertz, D., Bickford, R., Shannahoff-Khalsa, D., (1982) “Alternative cerebral
hemispheric activity and lateralization of autonomic nervous function”,
Human Neurobiology, 2, 225-229.
Wertz, D., Bickford, R., Shannahoff-Khalsa, D., “Selective hemispheric
stimulation by unilateral forced nostril breathing” Human Neurobiology, .6,
165-171
Rossi has studied the ultradian rhythm of about an hour
and a half and explains that about every hour, there is a
release of cortisol which stimulates the body and mind,
followed by a release of beta-endorphins 20 mn later which
on the contrary has a slowing effect. Testoteron with males
follows the same pattern and is correlated to cortisol. (Rossi
Ernest Lawrence Psychobiology of Healing, 1991)
All these rhythms of about 90 mn has been gathered under
the name of BARC, Basic Activity Rest Cycle.
Rossi gives such an importance to nostrils alternation that he
proposed half a dozen subjects of Ph.D thesis in psychology
to investigate this matter.
A case of double personality linked to nostril opening:
A lady hospitalized in psychiatry had strange symptoms : for
one hour and a half or two hours, she was aggressive,
impulsive, irresponsible and wicked with the surrounding
people. During the next period of one hour and a half or two
hours,she used to express guilt about what she had said or
done, recanted, apologized, and was shy and obedient.
Clinicians found that in the first, aggressive phase, her left
nostril was closed and the right one open.
She was oversensitive to odors with this open right nostril.
On the right side, there was less saliva, no transpiration from
the palm of the hand and the sole and an inhibition of the
abdominal reflexes, while it was just the contrary on the left
side.
Ischolondsky, N. (1955) The inhibitory process in the
cerebrophysiological laboratory and in the clinic, Journal of Nervous
and Mental Diseases, 121, 5-18.
Darlene Osowiec : her Ph.D. thesis shows the links between the
ultradian nasal opening alternation, stress, anxiety and the process
A case of double personality linked to nostril opening:
A lady hospitalized in psychiatry had strange symptoms : for
one hour and a half or two hours, she was aggressive,
impulsive, irresponsible and wicked with the surrounding
people. During the next period of one hour and a half or two
hours,she used to express guilt about what she had said or
done, recanted, apologized, and was shy and obedient.
Clinicians found that in the first, aggressive phase, her left
nostril was closed and the right one open.
She was oversensitive to odors with this open right nostril.
On the right side, there was less saliva, no transpiration from
the palm of the hand and the sole and an inhibition of the
abdominal reflexes, while it was just the contrary on the left
side.
Ischolondsky, N. (1955) The inhibitory process in the
cerebrophysiological laboratory and in the clinic, Journal of Nervous
and Mental Diseases, 121, 5-18.
Darlene Osowiec : her Ph.D. thesis shows the links between the
ultradian nasal opening alternation, stress, anxiety and the process
of self-realisation. (1992)
Techniques with nostrils to rebalance the sides of thebody
-The main technique consists in breathing in by the closed
nostril, feeling it is opening, and breathing out by the open
nostril, feeling it is closing. The result is an impression of
complete symmetry between the two nostrils.
-There is no need that the closed nostril opens completely.
The sensation of aperture is enough.
Hypothesis to explain the positive effect of nostril
opening.
-cheating the brain to have it release endorphins.
When the brain feels both nostrils are open, it associates
this sensation to a condition of sustained physical effort,
such as after a few minutes of jogging, when endorphins are
released, hence it actually does release them.
-Inhibiting the brain center of obstacles and stimulating the
one for the experience of pure space :
D’Aquili and Newberg were pioneers to scan the brain of
meditators. One of the main thesis of their book The
Mystical Mind (Fortress, New york, 1999) is that the deep
mystical experience inhibits the center for the perception of
obstacle and stimulates the center for the perception of
pure space. Most of practitioners who describe deep
experiences compare them to the direct and intense
perception of pure space. The problem with beginners is
that they are unable to stop the automatic functioning of the
perception of obstacles. In actuality, this center is quite
active in daily life, because we should be attentive not to
stumble in any object when we move. But it continues to be
active and to be parasitic for the meditative mind when we
try to practic
Side-effects :
-Just as really effective drugs and remedies, svara-yoga has
its side-effects : it stimulates directly the inner energy, and it
may embark on the wrong channel when people are not
prepared enough : for instance, if a person is irritable and
did not understand in depth the necessity of overcoming
anger, this new energy will probably go in this direction, a
tendency which will not improve the overall situation of the
meditator.
-Svarayoga in a part of a global yoga path which is based
on the foundations of yama-niyama, i.e. the discipline which
prevents the scattering of one’s own inner energy and
fosters the development of an acute sense of altruism. In
other terms, it represents a sense of adulthood applied to
inner life.
Use of the asymmetry of nostrils to
induce sleep.
-Lack of sleep is an epidemics in modern world, and has
been linked not only to diabetes and cardiovascular
diseases, but also to cancer, especially breast cancer.
Kakizaki, m., et al., “Sleep duration and the risk of breast cancer:
the Ohsaki cohort study”, British Journal of Cancer, 2008. 99: p.
1502-1505.
-Among the series of advice such as lifestyle changes,
etc. useful to improve sleep, svarayoga can make a
contribution :
Technique : the principle is quite simple, sleeping on the
side of the closed nostril. The idea is to increase the
dissociation between the two sides. In short, this is just the
opposite of the usual meditation, where the aim is an
awakening and the means is the sensation of equalization
of the air flow in both nostrils.
Practically, the fetus posture with the forward bent of the
body is rather natural. To add to the relaxation of the neck
which is important to induce sleep, its bent can be
increased, and any towel or cloth can be put on its back,
to produce its relaxation through the feeling of warmth.
-For people who sleep on the back, it will help breathing in
through the open nostril, and breathing out through the
closed nostril imagining it still closes further.
-People who sleep on the belly may put the cheek of the
side of the closed nostril on the mattress.
-Why does it work for falling asleeep?
The lung which is on the side of the closed nostril is blocked
by the mattress, and can’t expand fully, while the upper one
can. Probably, the air paths dilatation in this lung stimulates
by reflex association the dilatation of the nostril on the same
side. Now, this nostril is already open, hence there is no
change and the brain is not afraid of something new. It can
go to rest. On the contrary, If the subject lies on the other
side, there will be a message of change of sides in the
nostril, and the brain will stay awake.
-During the night, the same nostril remains close for around
five hours, and in sound sleep, one does not changes sides
often. On the contrary, while awake, walking with rignt and
left legs and manipulating object through the right and left
hands lead to change sides every now and then.
-Psychologists have observed that falling asleep had much
to do with a regression to the fetal condition. In the womb,
the baby does not change sides often, hence another reason
for the correlation between sleep and not changing sides.
-When they are difficult problems or situations in life, the first
temptation is eschewing them and escaping into sleep. It
may be a reason for the following correlation : both when
there are difficulties and when there is drowsiness, there is
an increase in the asymmetry between the two nostrils.
A therapeutical application of the asymmetry ofhemispheres regarding emotions. The Transcranial
h
Magnetic Stimulation (Repetitive)
The Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Repetitive) TMSr
was discovered by Mark George and alias in 1995
Georg Mark S., and Post, Robert. “Daily Prefrontal Repetitive
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Acute Treatment of
Medication-Resistant Depresssions” The American Journal of
Psychiatry 168 p.356-364 April 2011, an article which continues
publications dating from 1995.
-David Richardson and alias had shown that the left upper
prefrontal center was connected with positive emotions, the
symmetrical one on the right to stress and anxiety.
-This repartition is somehow understandable, inasmuch as the
right hemisphere manages the left body, including the heart.
Heartbeats are accelerated during stress and anxiety, hence the
tendency to manage also these two reactions. Out of
compensation, the left hemisphere will manage the opposite, i.e.
the positive emotions.
-The idea of therapy is to stimulate this ‘center of positive
emotions” with a magnetic pulsating field. Good results even on
depression resistant to medicines have been observed.
-By changing the frequency of the magnetic pulsation, it is
possible to inhibit a given brain center. If applied to the symmetrical
center of negativeemotions on the right site, patients come also out
of their depression. Treatment lasts in average three weeks every
day, and the improvement is usually stable.
-Good results may also be obtained by the traditional yogic
technique of focusing on the subtle heart on the lower right side of
the chest. This attracts the sensations towards the right side of the
body and probably stimulates the center for positive emotions in
the left upper prefrontal cortex. This could be the topic of a study
by cerebral functional imagery, for instance MRIf.
Concentration on the area symmetrical of the
heart on the right and stress management.
-Some techniques of yoga focus on feeling some areas on
the right side, it maybe the symmetrical area of the heart
which is usually termed as “subtle heart”, or the right eye
and the right ear. In this case, focus is on this slight noise,
like a physiological tinnitus, which is heard in the ear when
everything is silent around. It comes mainly from the
movement of the blood next to the inner ear, but is taken in
yoga as a support of concentration. Because this murmur is
here before and after any external soundor word, it is taken
as a symbol of the absolute.
-Hypothesis : the absorption of attention in the “subtle
heart” on the right in particular stimulates the upper
prefrontal cortex, ie the center for positive emotions
Practices to develop the perception of the
visualized heart on the right :
-There are many ways, in particular visualizations which
help to feel the subtle heart, usually as a mass of light on
the lower anterior and right part of the chest. Traditionally,
it is for instance visualized as a sun while the physical
heart is like a moon, probably because of the constant
changes of the latter.
-A light contact between the right molars at the back of the
mouth and a slight interval between the left ones helps
also to shift the sensations towards the right side of the
upper body.
-The rapidity of action and efficiency of this method
depends largely on the previous training in relaxation and
concentration of the patients. Capacity and duration of
previous practices in this field are very different and
unequal from one case to another.
-This technique was the only Yoga taught by the vedantic
sage Ramana Maharshi, who otherwise used to advice to
as a main practice to ask oneself the question “Who am I?”
Conclusion
There have been different waves of encounters between
eastern practices and modern psychology and science.
Studies on the effects of hatha-yoga, of the mantra in the
Transcendental Meditation movement, of the visualizations
with the sophrology, of body scan with the MBSR, of non-
dual consciousness with conferences such as the ones
organized by the SAND society. One of the next chapter of
this already consistent history may be the systematic study
of the opening of the channels of energy and their many
effects on body and mind.