Hello Prana Explorers,

If you’ve been with us for a while, you know my core message: the breath is your brain’s remote control. We’ve shown how it can increase Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a vital protein for brain health. Today, I want to share another foundational piece of our research that shows how your breath can actively calm the “fire” of inflammation.

Our second published paper, titled “Yogic breathing when compared to attention control reduces the levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers in saliva,” was a crucial step in validating the stress-reducing power of Pranayama.

The Scientific Discovery: Calming the Storm Within

For this study, we wanted to find out if a short session of yogic breathing could reduce the molecular signals of stress and inflammation in the body. We focused on pro-inflammatory biomarkers—molecules that are known to be elevated during times of stress, and in many chronic diseases.

Our randomized controlled trial revealed a powerful and measurable effect:

In just 20 minutes of yogic breathing, we observed a significant reduction in the levels of key pro-inflammatory biomarkers (IL-1β, IL-8, and MCP-1) in the saliva of our participants.

This was a groundbreaking finding because it showed a direct, biochemical link between intentional breathing and a reduction in inflammation.

Why This Matters for Your Well-being

This research validates what practitioners of ancient yogic traditions have long known. It’s a key part of our mission at PranaScience to provide a scientific foundation for these ancient practices. Our findings demonstrate that Pranayama is not just a practice for relaxation—it is a powerful tool to directly influence your physiology, helping to manage the root causes of stress and inflammation.

By choosing to practice yogic breathing, you are giving your body and mind a scientifically-backed pathway to calm, health, and resilience.

This research, like all our work, is deeply connected to the Thirumoolar Tamil Chair, a project dedicated to ensuring this ancient wisdom is preserved and validated for future generations.

If you’re interested in a more technical deep dive into the study’s design and data, you can read the full, original paper here.

Breathe, Love, repeat – Sundar