CMA - 1
Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes for Management
of Chronic Health Problems

Dr. Vinod Kochupillai & Dr. Narendra Bhardwaj
Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, AIIMS, New Delhi

Dr. (Mrs.) Vinod Kochupillai, presently is the Chief, Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital and Professor & Head,

Department of Medical Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. She did her MBBS from Jabalpur
University in 1967, MRCP from UK in 1972, Fellowship in Hematology-Oncology at Birmingham (Alabama) and was
conferred fellowship of National Academy of Medical Sciences in 2004. Some of her major accomplishments are, Creation
of Department of Medical Oncology at IRCH, AIIMS and initiation of DM and PhD programs in Medical Oncology. 

She has been a guide to as many as 40 DM, MD and PhD students with more than 180 research papers. She is the recipient of many
International and National awards.

 To name a few, Roll of Honor International Union Against Cancer (UICC), 2002;
conferred Honorary Citizenship of Houston & selected Goodwill Ambassador for city of Houston, 2004; Mahila Shiromani
award, September 1995; Dr. B. C. Roy National award, 2004 in category of Eminent Medical Teacher; Scroll of Honour for
distinguished services in the field of oncology by the hand of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2000;
Doon Ratna 2002; Delhi Ratan, 2004; Ranbaxy Research Award in the field of Medical Sciences - Clinical Research, 2004
and recently selected for Dr. J.C. Bose Research Award by UGC, 2005-06 adding to her credit. Her service extended as
Member, Advisor, Chairperson, President and Coordinator in different Medical Research Institutes since 1991.


Abstract :

Modern pace of life leaves little or no time to relax. Stress accumulates which lead to mental and physical disorders, including heart attacks, stomach ulcers, arthritis and even cancer, and many more.

Yoga, meditation and Pranayam (P) are well known methods to eliminate stress. Recently, Sudarshan Kriya (SK) has been introduced by H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. 


This is a rhythmic breathing process where 3 rhythms of breath are followed in a cyclic fashion. SK is preceded by Pranayam. To learn these processes one needs to undergo a 24 hour program called as Art of Living (AOL) spread over 6 days.


Studies carried out on SK & P reveal changes in electroencephalogram (EEG). Also one achieves optimum state of cognitive functions.

Resting EEG revealed increased beta wave activity consistent with alertness. During SK & P, alpha wave activity also increased consistent with relaxation. Thus a state of relaxed alertness could be achieved (1). Relaxation effect of SK & P was further confirmed on police trainees by the demonstration of fall in blood lactate. Antioxidant enzymes increased within 5 months of practice of SK & P (2). 

Increase in natural killer (NK) cells was demonstrable both in normal
individuals and those suffering from cancer (3). Blood cholesterol decreased within 45 days of SK & P practices.