PerceptualandMotor Skills, 2003,96,79-80.

O Perceptual and Motor Slulls 2003

EFFECT O F YOGA-BASED AND FORCED UNINOSTRIL

BREATHING ON THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM '
P. RAGHURAJ AND SHLRLEY TELLES
Vivekanando Yoga Research Foundation, Bangalore, India

Sirmmay.-Some reports have described the effects of forced uninostril breathing

on autonomic activity as sex-specific, while other reports described selective effects of
breathing through a specific nostril on the two divisions of the autonomic nervous sys-
tem, irrespective of sex. There are also yoga breathing techniques which involve vol-
untary uninostril breathing. These techniques also influenced the autonomic activity
based on the patent nostril rather than sex. These descriptions were in line with expe-
riential observations of the ancient sages described in classical yoga texts. This paper
summarizes these perspectives on uninostril breathing.

A study of the effects of unilateral forced nostril breathing on intraocular pressure of both
right-handed men and women (4) suggested that, especially in men, the intraocular pressure
decreases significantly by unilateral forced nostril breathing through either nostril, whereas in
women the changes were inconclusive. The authors speculated that the observed effect could
be due to more active sympathetic nervous system activity in men, whereas in women estrogen
is associated with inhibition of sympathetic nervous system activity. Similarly, it was reported
that unilateral forced breathing through either nostril significantly increased the systolic blood
pressure in men and the heart rate in both sexes (3).
These results describing sex-specific effects of forced uninostril breathing irrespective of
the nostril are different from other studies which have claimed that right uninostril forced nos-
tril breathing causes functional vagotomy and left unilateral forced nostril breathing causes
sympathectomy, with no sex-specific effect (2). Specifically, described was a functional vagot-
omy induced by right unilateral forced nostril breathing which decreases intraocular pressure in
open and closed glaucoma irrespective of their sex (1).
Certain yoga breathing techniques (pranayamas) also involve selective uninostril breathing,
with the other nostril voluntarily occluded using the f~ngersof the right hand in a specific ges-
ture (mudro) (6). The longitudinal effects of practicing right., left-, and alternate nostril yoga
breathing over a 1-mo. period were studied in male volunteers exclusively (7). Right nostril
yoga breathing caused a 37% mean increase in the oxygen consumption and a mean increase in
heart rate by 6 beats per minute. Following left nosrr~lyoga breathing the basal skin resistance
increased by an average of 130 kR. The results suggebted that right nostril yoga breathing
increased sympathetic activity, while left nostril yoga breaching reduced it. In another study of
volunteers of both sexes, the immediate effects of 45 min. of right nostril yoga breathing were
compared with 45 min. of normal breathing (8). In the period following right nostril yoga
breathing there was a significant increase in systolic blood pressure (mean increase 9.4 mmHg)
and in oxygen consumption (mean increase 17%). There was also a decrease in both digit pulse
volume and skin resistance, suggesting an increase in sympathetic vssomotor and sudornotor
activity, respectively. Hence right nostril yoga breathing appeared to increase sympathetic activ-

'Please address correspondence to Shirley TeUes, Ph.D., Vivekananda Yoga Research Founda-
tion, 9, Appajappa, Agrahara, Chamarajpet, Bangalore 560 018 India or e-mail (anvesana@vsnl.
com).
80 P. RAGHURAJ & S. TELLES

ity in diFferent subdivisions of innervation, e.g., vasomotor, sudomotor, and possibly cardiac
subdivisions, irrespective of sex ( 8 ) .
It is interesting to note that these effects of uninostril breathing have been described in
ancient Indian yoga texts, where the flow of air through the nostrils in the form of energy is
called swara (in Sanskrit) ( 5 ) . Hence, Swara Yoga explains how the flow of subtle energy
through the nostrils changes at regular intervals and also describes its importance. When the
breath flows through the left nostril (lunar swara), it is said that the energy is flowing through
the left subtle energy channel (ida nadi), when breathing through the right nostril (solar swara),
it slows through the subtle energy channel on the right (pingala tzadi), and when breathing
through both nostrils, it flows through the middle channel (nrshurnna). These subtle energy
channels (nadis) are not anatomically recognized but are described based on experiential
observations of the ancient sages. Energy flow through ida is supposed to be 'heat dissipating
(cooling)' whereas through pingala is 'heat generating'. Swara Yoga specifically mentions that
certain activities should be perforn~edaccording to the activities of either ida or pingah. When
the breath flows through ida, one should carry out 'pass~ve'acr~vities,for example, building a
temple, rendering service, cultivating the land and p e r f o ~ m ~religious
n~ rites (Shiva Swarodaya,
V: 102.113). When the breath flows through pingala, onc >hould perForm 'energetic' activities,
such as studying the scriptures, hunting, scaling a fort or mountain, c o n t r o h g an elephant,
horse, or chariot (Shiva Swarodaya, V: 114-123). When the breath flows through both nostrils
(sushumna), it has been mentioned to avoid any activity (Shiva Swarodaya, V: 128). None of
these descriptions are sex-specific, although ida is considered as the feminine principle, while
pingala is considered as the masculine principle, and sushumna is neutral.
Hence uninostril breathing practices appear to influence significantly the autonomic ner-
vous system, although further systematic research is essential to understand whether the effects
are sex-specific or not. This is of interest as the effects of h e s e breathing practices on auto-
nomic activity suggest therapeutic applications in conditions in which there is autonomic irnbal-
ance.

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Accepted November 30, 2002.