EFFECT OF SAHAJA YOGA PRACTICE ON SEIZURE CONTROL AND EEG CHANGES IN PATIENTS OF EPILEPSY

The effect of Sahaja yoga meditation on seizure control and electroenc ephalographic alterations was assessed in 32 patients of idiopathic ep ilepsy. The subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group I (n=1 0) practised Sahaja yoga for 6 months, Group II (n=10) practised exerc ises mimicking Sahaja yoga for 6 months and Group III (n=12) served as the epileptic control group. Group I subjects reported a 62 per cent decrease in seizure frequency at 3 months and a further decrease of 86 per cent at 6 months of intervention. Power spectral analysis of EEG showed a shift in frequency from 0-8 Hz towards 8-20 Hz. The ratios of EEG powers in delta (D), theta (T), alpha (A) and beta (B) bands i.e. , A/D, A/D+T, A/T acid A+B/D+T were increased. Per cent D power decrea sed and per rent A increased. No significant changes in any of the par ameters were found in Groups LI and III, indicating that Sahaja yoga p ractice brings about seizure reduction and EEG changes. Sahaja yoga co uld prove to be beneficial in the management of patients of epilepsy.