Pranayama and health

Introduction:
Pranayama is a form of systematic breathing pattern practiced by the Siddhars of Tamil Nadu and described in Siddha System of Medicine, a form of Scientific Medicine or Native Medicine in Tamil Nadu practiced for thousands of years.Pranayama is one in which the breathing is done by a single nostril (say-right) after closing the other nostril (left) and have to take a deep breathing. After a gap of few seconds up to which the person can tolerate, the nostril (left) through which breathing was not done is used for expiration of the air. Then the other nostril (left) is used the same way by closing the first used nostril (right). There are patterns of using right or left nostril described in Siddha Medicine depending on the day, month and so many time schedules (there is a separate poem available regarding the way in which it should be practiced in Tamil). But in simple terms, any nostril whether right or left can be used. The effect of pranayama in most of the explanations given is related to its effect on the lungs as a form of exercise for expansion of lungs.
Observation:
I have made several studies and observation in which pranayama is having entirely different effect apart from the routine effect on the lungs. This was reported even during 1986 to our medical journal namely Journal of Association of Physicians of India (JAPI).Unfortunately at that time, there was no acceptance regarding the native information in India by the Indian Doctors practicing in India. So, it was rejected by the referee of the Journal.
1. When deep breathing is done in one nostril, the pressure effect on the olfactory nerve endings in that nostril due to the air is transformed through the olfactory tract to Limbic System of the brain. The Limbic system is the rheostat of emotions of the brain (reference-Gray’s Anatomy). When that is stimulated, it produces a calming effect towards the stress related life and is responsible for the stress reduction and related effects on the body in a positive way towards the individual. This reduces the stress induced diseases and stress increased effect on the diseases like Diabetes and hypertension and will definitely have an effect on the prevention of heart attack in anybody.
2. Before sowing seeds in a land, ploughing is a must. The same way, unless pranayama is practiced and then meditation is done then only the effect of Meditation is better appreciated. Otherwise there is a possibility of opposite effect on the brain. That is why the Maharishi Mahesh yogi’s Transcendental Meditation is not very effective in which the pranayama was not very much stressed.
3. By means of pranayama the sinusitis can be improved and also at times cured.
4. By means of doing pranayama even By Pass surgery can be delayed since it increases the collateral development like the EECP (by Enhanced external counter pulsation) used by some group of therapists to avoid CABG.
Conclusions:
The pranayama needs to be done only for few minutes every day and can be done anywhere and at anytime and with any dress without resorting to straining and can be simply learnt by everybody. Once taught in a proper way it will help the stress laden life of today. Even the cumulative effect of pranayama and meditation done is also to be noted and even not doing them for some time will not affect the already got effect-a fact of much importance not noticed and reported by anybody. This is a tonic to the mind and unlike the body tonic which will cease its effect once stopped, this will not occur with pranayama practice. This a gift to the world by the great Siddhars of Tamil Nadu who were worried about the life’s sufferings of human individuals and created a way to solve it in the form pranayama and meditation .