Yoga in a bottle?
Scientists have identified the specific part of the brain that controls mindful slow breathing and meditation techniques — and say the breakthrough could lead to a whole new class of anti-anxiety drugs they’re calling “yoga’s Calling it “bullet”.
According to neuroscientist Sung Han, this pill can automatically slow and deepen the breathing of a person suffering from panic attacks or anxiety, without forcing them to think or do breathing exercises. told the Los Angeles Times.
Han’s research – Published in the scientific journal Nature Neuroscience Earlier this week – marking a major discovery in the field of neuroscience.
For the first time, the study identified the group of cells in the brain cortex that are responsible for conscious breathing, rather than the automatic breathing that humans and other animals do around the clock without thinking.
It is also scientifically proven that breathing exercises, meditation and yoga help reduce anxiety and explains how it all works.
“As a scientist, it’s always exciting to discover something never known before,” he said Told the LA Times. “This top-down breathing circuit has been a long-standing question in neuroscience. It is exciting to discover the neural mechanisms to explain how slowing breathing can regulate negative emotions such as anxiety and fear.
According to Han, the potential for scientific development is huge. This could mean the creation of new anti-anxiety drugs that are far more targeted than those currently available – and potentially with fewer side effects.
“This could potentially create a whole new class of drugs that could specifically target anxiety disorders,” the neuroscientist told the newspaper.
Future medications could mimic the experiences and results of yoga and other meditative activities – so Han came up with the name “yoga pill”.
Anxiety medications currently on the market, such as Will target the circuit, which will probably make it more stupid. And with fewer unintended effects.
As their next step, Han and his team are trying to locate the part of the brain that has the opposite effect, increasing breathing speed and anxiety, he told the LA Times.
“To target the slow breathing circuit, we need to understand the opposite circuit, so we can avoid targeting it,” Han said. “To relieve anxiety.”
The development and availability of the “yoga pill” is likely to take a decade, but scientists are hopeful it will be on the way soon.
“I can’t say that this discovery is directly related to the discovery of the new drug,” Han told the outlet. “But I can say that this is an important step. Now we know the way. This is exciting. That is the first step.”
According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, more than 40 million adults in the US have an anxiety disorder.
