Possible Psychophysiology of the Yogic Chakra System.

Abstract Recent theoretical research by myself into the pineal gland as the physical locus of ajna chakra, conceived in yogic tradition as being the psychic centre of our being, is e tended here to e plore the yogic idea of ajna chakra as the command chakra, in command over all the other chakra centres. ! have come across multiple references to the importance of melatonin as the off"s#itch for the endocrine glands$ output of hormones, #orking together #ith the pituitary gland #hich is considered to be the on" s#itch. ! am suggesting that the pineal gland is the physical aspect of ajna chakra% the thyroid of vishuddhi% the breasts of anahata% the adrenals of manipura% and the gonads of s#adhistana and muladhara. &hese endocrine glands are all positioned at the traditional points of the chakras and their functions are remarkably e'uivalent to the traditional descriptions of the chakra functions. ! am therefore proposing that the endocrine system is the physiological aspect of the yogic spiritual tradition of the chakras, and that the autonomic nervous system can be e'uated #ith the yogic nadis. !ntroduction (ver the last 'uarter of a century, there has been increasing interest in )translating* the kno#ledge of one system into the language of another. +or e ample, ,-th century physicists, have been comparing 'uantum mechanics #ith mystical kno#ledge as e emplified by +ritjof Capra in )&he &ao of Physics* ./0123. &his same process has been occurring in psychology, for e ample &art$s )&ranspersonal Psychologies* ./0123, Paranjpe$s )&heoretical Psychology* ./0453, both e amining 6astern philosophies and religions from a 7estern psychological standpoint, and research e ploring a neurological basis for 8ear"9eath 6 periences and their similarity #ith the kundalini e perience .7ile, /005% :ourdan, /0053. ;uch of this translation has, of necessity, been in very general terms, since #e have to clarify the overall picture first. ! seem to be involved in this process from a rather different perspective. ! have been researching a specific topic, the pineal as a psi"conducive gland, #hich has generali<ed to the endocrine system as the physical aspect of the yogic chakra system. ! must stress that #hat follo#s is still in a speculative and e ploratory stage. &he Yogic Chakra System

&he yogic chakra system as e plained by S#ami Satyananda Saras#ati ./01,3, consists of seven chakras #hich are normally depicted as a sort of )spinal column* #ith three channels called nadis .ida, pingala and sushumna3 #hich inter#eave, the crossing"points being the sites of the chakras .See figure /3. !n #estern terms this can be readily understood as the central nervous system .sushumna3 in the spinal cord around #hich, on either side, runs the autonomic nervous system #hich has t#o aspects, the parasympathetic #hich can be readily correlated #ith ida, and the sympathetic #ith pingala, the sympathetic and pingala being the activating aspect of the system and the parasympathetic and ida the rela ing. 7here these t#o cross they form ple uses, or nodes, from #hich nerves go out to, for e ample, the heart, lungs, diaphragm, digestive system and the endocrine organs. Satyananda connects this nervous system #ith the chakras. &hese chakras are considered to be important points for the channelling of consciousness, energy nodes linking the physical #ith the spiritual. &hey have been adopted 'uite #idely into popular usage in the 7est, partly through the &heosophists at the turn of the century, and partly because of the intense interest in 6astern spirituality birthed during the si ties. &here are at present so many differing correspondences and attributes linked to them and therefore this research is presented #ith the aim of achieving greater clarity. &able /= 9ifferent Correspondences Popularly >inked #ith the Chakras /3S#amiSatyananda$scorrespondence ,3+or Comparison ! Sho# An Alternative Set of Correspondences As (utlined by :ohn 9avidson ./0403 &he Pineal ?land= Ajna Chakra As a parapsychologist ! am interested in the !ndian lore surrounding ajna chakra #hich is held to be the psychic centre. &his corresponds very closely #ith our 7estern lore #hich considers the pineal gland to be the )third eye* or the )seat of the soul.* +or e ample, S#ami Satyananda ./01,3 states that= )&he name Ajna comes from the root )to kno#* and )to obey and to follo#*. >iterally the #ord Ajna means )command* . . . . Yogis, #ho are scientists of the subtle mind, have spoken of telepathy as a )siddhi*, a psychic po#er for thought communication and clair"audience etc. &he medium of such siddhis is Ajna chakra, and its physical terminus is the pineal gland.* ! have found that his concept of the pineal gland as the psychic chakra and as the command chakra has a sound psychoneuroendocrinological basis. &he pineal gland is situated in the centre of the brain and its main function is to make neurohormones #hich affect both the brain and the body. &he pineal #orks together #ith the pituitary through the hypothalamus controlling the endocrine system. @asically it is one of the regulators of our circadian rhythm, is implicated in our emotional state, reproductive function, possibly dream sleep and in certain psychoses. ;elatonin is the best studied of the pineal neurohormones and #as first isolated from cattle in /0AB. @efore this the pineal #as generally considered in the 7est to be vestigial. Amphibians and reptiles have light sensitive cells in the pineal gland #hich for them is literally a light sensitive third eye at the top of their brain just belo# their skull. !n humans fibres from the inferior accessory optic tract go to the pineal% these are separate from the main optic tract bundle, #hich suggests that the light sensitivity of the pineal is not necessarily related to sight .6ichler, /0423. ;ost people have heard of the pituitary gland, #hich is often kno#n as the )master gland* in that the hormones it makes e ert a controlling effect on the endocrine organs. 7ell, #e can think of the pituitary as being an )on s#itch* and the pineal as being an )off s#itch* .the mistress gland3 in that it #orks #ith the pituitary by s#itching off the endocrine organs. &he form of ajna chakra is traditionally depicted as bilobed and #e can understand this to be the joining of the t#o glands, pituitary and pineal, #hich makes very good sense from a neuro"endocrinological point of vie#. &o me this makes much

better sense than assigning the pituitary to sahasrara, the cro#n chakra, as some systems do, since sahasrara is better understood as the culmination of everything, the #hole rather than any of the parts. :ust as muladhara is considered by Satyananda to be the top chakra of animals and the bottom of humans, so sahasrara can be understood as the top chakra of humanity and the bottom chakra of the ne t order of being, #hatever that may be. &he Psychic Chakra= Pinoline &here is a large body of neurochemical and anthropological evidence #hich suggests that the pineal gland may produce a neuro"modulator that enhances a psi"conducive state of consciousness. An abstract of this research #as presented at the Parapsychological Association Convention in /042 .Roney C 9ougal, /04A3. +or full details of this research please see Roney"9ougal ./044, /040, /00-, /00/, /00B3. !n brief, the pineal gland has been found to synthesise various beta"carbolines and peptides, and to contain en<ymes that produce psychoactive compounds such as 2"metho y dimethyltryptamine .2;e(9;&3 )&he t#o precursors that are most likely to be involved in the synthesis of such compounds are serotonin .2"hydro ytryptamine, 2D&3 and tryptamine* .Strassman, /00-3. &hese have #ide"ranging effects throughout our brain and body, affecting the gonads, adrenals, pancreas, thyroid, and other emotional and endocrine activities. (f most interest here are the neuromodulators called beta"carbolines #hich are ;A( inhibitors that prevent, amongst other effects, the breakdo#n of serotonin. &his results in an accumulation of physiologically active amines #ithin the neuronal synapses #hich may lead to hallucinations, depression or mania depending on the amines being affected .Strassman, /00-3. @eta"carbolines are also found in the retina of the eyes, in the adrenal glands and in the gut. &he pineal contains the greatest concentration of serotonin in the brain, this being accentuated in those #ho suffer from psychoses. &he pineal also contains en<ymes that inhibit synthesis of these compounds, thus suggesting a regulating mechanism #ithin this gland. &here is a suggestion that it is the action of the pineal beta"carbolines, in particular A";etho ytetrahydro"betacarboline .A;e(&D@C, no# being called pinoline3, on serotonin that triggers dreaming .Calla#ay, /0443. Spontaneous case collection studies .e.g. Rhine, /0A03 have found that most .more than A-E3 spontaneous psi e periences occur during the sleeping and dreaming state of consciousness, #hich suggests that the dream state is a state of consciousness #herebey #e are most likely to have psi e pereinces, and pinoline is suggested to be the neurochemical that triggers this particular state of consiousness. +urther, there is no# a considerable body of research into the action of serotonin and melatonin in relation to psychiatric disorders such as manic"depression .Dalaris, /0413 and schi<ophrenia .;iles F Philbrick, /0443. )At a psychopharmacological level, carbolines are central nervous system inhibitors via the gamma"aminobutyric acid .?A@A, a neurotransmitter3 system. &his action is similar to that of ben<odia<epines, .e.g. dia<epam or )Galium*3, #hich relieve an iety, have anticonvulsant action, are hypnotic and muscle rela ants and are used for all these C8S pharmacological actions. &hus pinoline may also act as a physiological tran'uilliser and hypnotic, and the latter effect #ould be in keeping #ith the nocturnal secretion pattern of pineal activity.* Anthropological data also suggest that these beta"carbolines are psi"conducive because their chemical structure is very similar to a naturally occurring group of chemicals called harmala alkaloids #hich occur in an Ama<onian vine, @anisteriopsis caapi, used by Ama<onian tribes for psychic purposes .Roney C 9ougal, /04A F /0403. &he Ama<on has a huge variety of psychotropic plants, yet all the tribes throughout that vast area use this same vine mi ed #ith Psychotria viridis .8ai ka#a3 #hich contains dimethyltryptamine .9;&3 .(tt, /00B F /0053, for healing, out"of"body e periences, clairvoyance and precognition. !t is traditionally used only #hen psi e periences are desired, though no#adays it is also used for general initiatory purposes. &hus the tribal people make a mi ture of harmala alkaloids and 9;& #hich mimics the tryptamine"pinoline mi ture ascribed to the night time

output of the pineal gland. ;y speculation is that #hen the pineal gland is stimulated to produce pinoline #e are more likely to enter an altered state of consciousness #hich is psi"conducive. !n the /0A-Hs a Chilean psychotherapist, Claudio 8aranjo ./01B, /0143 used a variety of hallucinogens including harmaline .one of the harmala alkaloids3 in the psychotherapeutic setting, and came to the conclusion that= )Darmaline may be said to be more hallucinogenic than mescaline . . . both in terms of the number of images reported and their realistic 'uality. !n fact some subjects felt that certain scenes #hich they sa# had really happened and that they had been as disembodied #itnesses of them in a different time and place. &his matches the e perience of South American shamans.* .8aranjo, /0A13. (tt ./00B3 considers that the harmala alkaloids are not actually hallucinogenic in their o#n right but that they permit the 9;& in the ayahuasca mi ture to be absorbed into the blood stream so that these create the entheogenic effects. &his is still a matter of debate. &here is e tensive evidence from many anthropologists #hich suggests that the @anisteriopsis vine together #ith Psychotria Giridis is a psi" conducive drug, particularly #ith regard to remote vie#ing, clairvoyance and precognition but so far there has been no e perimental test of these claims .Iensinger, /01B3. Ayahuasca has recently been investigated by 9on et al ./00A3 #ho suggest that its action is consistent #ith their other research into brain function and psi e perience. &hus, the anthropological evidence suggests that harmala alkaloids mi ed #ith 9;& stimulate a psi" conducive state of consciousness% the neurochemical evidence suggests that the harmala alkaloids are an analogue of pinoline #hich is produced in the pineal gland, noting that in the comparison bet#een the action of the harmala alkaloids and pinoline it must be remembered that a one"position change in metho y grouping can be profound in its action. &he Yogic and occult teachings and common folk lore all say that the pineal gland is the psychic centre and ! suggest that the pinoline made by the pineal gland at night time, through its action on serotonin, stimulates a dream type state of consciousness #hich is psi"conducive. &he Command Chakra= ;elatonin Do#ever, the yogic lore not only e'uates ajna chakra #ith the psychic centre of our being, but also as the command chakra. +or an understanding of the pineal gland as command chakra #e have to look to its main action #hich is the production of the neurohormone melatonin. ;elatonin is found in proto<oans, suggesting that it dates back a thousand million years, and is found in all animals. !t is important in bird migration cycles, dogs$ moult cycles, and frog colour change. !n this article ! refer both to research #ith humans and #ith animals in order to obtain as full a picture as possible of the relationship bet#een the pineal gland and the endocrine organs since there has been relatively little research #ith humans, #hilst being very a#are that one should not e trapolate too much from animal data as is the tendency so often these days in biological and psychological research. &herefore, as far as possible #henever the data come from animal studies ! state this e plicitly. &he most important function of the pineal gland is maintaining the biological clock, both on a daily basis according to the sun, on an annual basis according to length of day, and on a lunar basis as #ell. &he study of the biological rhythm is called chronobiology and it has been found that there is a genetic connection, a basic inner clock, and an environmental connection through the retina= light stimulates the monosynaptic retinohypothalamic path#ay #hich leads directly to the anterior hypothalamic suprachiasmic nucleus .SC83, pineal and hypothalamus. 7ithin the pineal the circadian rhythm regulation is achieved through the actions of serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin is made during the day and melatonin at night. Acute e posure to light at night suppresses melatonin production. &he intensity of light re'uired to suppress production varies bet#een species and in humans is ,--- lu . !t has been suggested that perhaps rhodopsin is the photopigment that mediates the suppressive effect of light on pineal. @lue light seems to be ma imally inhibitory .2-C 2,- nm3. Acute e posure to nonvisible, non"ionising radiation, e.g. e tra lo# fre'uency .6>+3 A- D<

electric and magnetic fields also suppresses melatonin production as does pulsed static magnetic field e posure. &here is speculation that these effects are also mediated via the eyes .7etterberg, /002, Reiter F Richardson, /00,3. Serotonin is a very important neurotransmitter in the brain and its action has been linked #ith mental states such as psychosis, #ith entheogenic plants, #ith our mood circuits and therefore #ith illnesses such as appetite disorders .anore ia and bulimia3. !t is a very comple neurotransmitter #ith 2 or A different receptor sites, #hich means it has many different modes of action. ;elatonin is made from serotonin through the action of t#o en<ymes, serotonin n"acetyl transferase .8A&3 and hydro y"indole"("methyltransferase .D!(;&3. ;elatonin production is determined primarily by neural activity from the hypothalamic suprachiasmic nucleus .SC83 and there is a feedback relationship #ith the endocrine glands. ?onadal steroids, pituitary gonadotrophins, thyro ine, prolactin and the adrenal hormones intervene in the mechanisms governing meltonin synthesis. All humans have a circadian rhythm though the magnitude of 8A& production varies greatly. !n general there is good correlation bet#een pineal 8A& activity and pineal and plasma melatonin rhythms. &he rhythm at birth is linked to that of the mother% maturation of the cycle accompanies gro#th of sympathetic nerve fibres into the gland% melatonin production peaks just prior to puberty at #hich time there is a sudden and dramatic drop, and from then on it gradually decreases into old age. !n people #ho suffer from depression the circadian rhythm is disrupted. &he most important neuronal function of melatonin is as a sleep inducer. !t has been found to ease insomnia because it causes dro#siness, and also to combat jet lag because it helps to reset the biological clock= 2mgs per day helps induce sleep and helps airline #orkers adjust to ne# time <ones. .Co#ley, /0023 !s there a genetic component in early or late risersJ Dypophysectomy .loss of the pituitary gland3, #hich causes depressed metabolic activity, and bilateral adrenalectomy blunt the nocturnal melatonin rise though the rhythm stays the same. @eing forced to e ercise .s#im3 at night causes a rapid drop in pineal melatonin levels in rats, but not in 8A& or D!(;& activity. ;elatonin production stays as normal, and blood levels rise dramatically suggesting it is being rapidly released from the gland into the blood system. Removal of adrenals doesn$t change this so normal stress hormones are not implicated. &his finding has profound implications for the health of night #orkers .Reiter F Richardson, /00,3 because melatonin also modulates release of stress hormones, thereby controlling heart attacks and stomach ulcers. :ogging or other e ercise is a mood enhancer since it stimulates endorphins. 6 ogenous opiates increase melatonin levels, and beta"endorphin levels decrease #hen melatonin is administered. (piates stimulate basal prolactin secretion. (pioid receptor antagonists also decrease prolactin concentrations although continuous administration does not affect circadian rhythm of prolactin, #hich is related to melatonin levels. Recent research suggests that melatonin is involved in the aging process and that giving /0 month old mice melatonin each evening in their #ater improved their #eight, their vigour, their activity levels and their posture #hen compared #ith the untreated mice and they lived almost ,-- days longer on average .,-E3 .;aestroni et al, /0403. &ouitou et al ./0403 measured melatonin levels in people in +ebruary, ;arch and :une and found that old people have half the amount of melatonin that young men do .#e make half as much by age 52 as #e do #hen children3, that senile people sho# far less circadian rhythm, #ith elderly #omen sho#ing least variation. +or all groups, all through the year melatonin production peaks bet#een , C Bam #ith the largest amplitude in :anuary. !nter"individual variations are large in all groups. Since pinealocytes and en<yme activity are not altered in the pineal of the elderly, the decline of plasma melatonin levels may #ell be related to a modification in the release of the hormone andKor to an increase in its metabolism or e cretion. An increased sensitivity to light could

also e plain the relatively lo# levels of plasma melatonin in the elderly. ;elatonin production decreases as #e age, the thymus gland shrinks and #e produce fe#er antibodies and &"cells. &here are special melatonin receptors on cells and glands of the immune system. A recent controversial speculation is that nightly melatonin supplement boosts the immune system thereby preventing cancer and e tending life. Research has suggested that melatonin protects cells from o idation by free"radicals, #hich contribute to at least A- degenerative diseases, including cancer, heart disease, cataract and Al<heimers. !n this respect melatonin differs from other natural antio idants, @" Carotene, vitamin 6 and vitamin 9 in that melatonin is absorbed into target cells and e erts its action from that intracellular position #ith much greater effect .Reiter, 023. ;elatonin reduction is linked to the calcification process that starts at puberty. People taking chlorproma<ine, an anti"psychotic medication that raises melatonin and prolactin levels have lo# rates of breast cancer. Prolonged e posure to high oestrogen levels raises breast cancer levels and melatonin inhibits oestrogen release. !t thereby also helps to prevent pregnancy because of its interaction #ith the reproductive system as a hormone inhibitor. &his inhibitory action means that melatonin controls puberty% #ithout it #e #ould be se ually active at 5 C 2 years old. Parapineal tumours, those that lie ne t to the pineal, stop the pineal from functioning and lead to percocious puberty and progeria .accelerate aging3% #hile pinealomas, tumours of the pineal gland itself, produce e cess melatonin secretion and delayed puberty. &hus melatonin functions to affect the body in #ays #hich are traditionally connected #ith yogis= yogis are said to live for many years longer than normal% are considered to be rela ed and stress"free people% to be able to control many of their physical functions, such as heart rate, circadian rhythm and metabolic rate% celibacy is linked to the religious life, and #ithin yoga there is also the tantric path% and they are considered to enjoy e cellent health. &hrough the light sensitivity of the pineal gland and its primary role #ithin the biological clock system, regulating the rise and fall of the metabolic system and s#itching off the endocrine glands, #hich ! am going to e pand on ne t, #e can see that the concept of the pineal as the command chakra is as strong as the concept of the pineal as the psychic chakra. &he &hyroid ?land= Gishuddhi Chakra According to Satyananda ./01,3, vishuddhi chakra is located in the throat and is the centre of )the nectar of immortality.* !t is connected #ith the sense of hearing and thus #ith the ears, and of course #ith the vocal cords and #ith self"e pression. &he thyroid makes thyro ine #hich regulates the metabolic rate of the body, i.e., it controls ho# fast the body runs= an overactive thyroid means that the heart beats fast, one becomes thin, se ual desire increases, and the mind #orks overtime% #hilst an underactive thyroid has the opposite effect. 8eurochemically, the thyroid is under the inhibitory control of the pineal gland, removal of the pineal resulting in thyroid enlargement and increased hormonal secretion rate. &he pineal is also under feedback control by the glands #hich it influences. Pineal cells respond to thyro ine, the response being particularly strong at night. Synthetic melatonin has the effect of inhibiting iodine uptake and the secretion of thyro ine, and, given at the correct times, can reproduce the daily and annual biological rhythms since iodine uptake naturally decreases during the night. &hus, evening injections of melatonin are more effective than morning ones, sho#ing that the time of day #hen hormone supplementation is given is a significant factor, the influence of the circadian rhythm once again. .:ohnson, /04,3. &he effect of synthetic melatonin on the secretion of thyro ine decreases after puberty. &he hypothalamus makes thyroid releasing hormone .&RD3, #hich stimulates the pituitary to make thyrotropin .&SD3, #hich stimulates the thyroid to make thyro ine . &here is a circadian variation in human &SD levels, &SD beginning to rise several hours before the onset of sleep, reaching ma imum

levels bet#een //.--pm and 5.--am, declining gradually #ith a minimum at //.--am. People #ith hypothyroidism also sho# a seasonal variation and circadian changes in plasma &SD, #hich suggests that the circadian rhythm of &SD is not related to the negative feedback control e erted by thyroid hormones under normal conditions= serum thyro ine levels sho# ma imum concentration in late morning and minimum concentration in early morning. Sleep deprivation results in larger and broader &SD peaks. Pinealectomy does not result in changes in serum &SD or hypothalamic &RD content, nor does it produce alterations on the diurnal rhythms of hypothalamic &RD C so there is little firm evidence for significant interactions bet#een melatonin and rhythmicity of &SD secretion, yet chronic melatonin treatment decreases pituitary &SD content and increases plasma &SD concentration. &SD is, together #ith melatonin and the adrenals, involved in coping #ith long term stress. Alpha" adrenergic path#ays play a role in the stimulatory control of &SD release. Circadian changes in cortisol levels follo# an opposite pattern to those of &SD. ?lucocorticoid administration has an inhibitory effect on &SD secretion and rhythmicity, but there does not seem to be a close relationship bet#een the daily profiles of each hormone and abolition of the circulation rhythm of cortisol does not disrupt the &SD rhythm. ?lucocorticoids inhibit &SD release, and so the circadian rhythm of &SD is abolished in patients #ith hypercortisolism .:ohnson, /04,3. Stress is intimately connected #ith metabolic rate, heart rate, an overactive mind, and also #ith age as an older person cannot cope #ith stress as #ell as a younger person. >ong term stress is very different from short term stress .#hich is dealt #ith by the adrenals3 and it is interesting that ajna, vishuddhi and manipura are all concerned #ith stress C #hich also affects the heart C #hen the mind just #on$t stop going in circles around the problem .the beta"rhythm mental chatter3, #hich is one of the #orst aspects of long term stress. &hese are all the negative aspects of vishuddhi and #e learn through meditation to overcome these aspects and so to become peaceful, still, calm and to live to a ripe old age #hich is another #ay of saying that the thyroid is connected #ith immortality. Rela ation is the first step in meditation% slo#ing do#n, letting go, releasing the stress, stilling the endless internal chatter as is e emplified so #ell by the Chinese symbol of immortality, the tortoise% the slo#er you go, the longer you live. Yogic lore states that it is perfectly possible to regulate the functioning of the endocrine system, thus learning ho# to control one$s metabolic rate. !t is feasible that yogic e ercises designed for the ajna chakra do physically regulate the pineal gland and so influence the functioning of the other endocrine organs. &he Deart Centre= Anahata chakra According to Satyananda, anahata chakra is concerned #ith #ill and #ith feeling, touch, the skin especially the hands, manifesting in such arts as painting, poetry and music, #hich are aspects of heart. &he &hymus As a result of the #ritings by &heosophists, many people consider that anahata chakra is connected #ith the thymus gland, #hich physiologically is most active in children and is concerned #ith the immune system. Recent research suggests that there is a connection bet#een the pineal gland and the thymus because of its interaction #ith the immune system, as mentioned in the section on the pineal gland as command chakra. +unctional connections bet#een the immune and the neuroendocrine systems are being increasingly recogni<ed. &hus stressful effects, distress, from psychological or neuro" endocrinological causes may adversely affect the immune system and vice versa. Circadian synthesis and release of melatonin e erts an important immunomodulatory role, in that it appears to be a physiological up"regulator of the immune system and to operate via the endogenous opioid system on antigen activated cells. 7hen given in the evening to mice it increases the primary antibody response to &"dependent antigens, buffers the depression of antibody production and thymus

#eight induced by the acute restraint of mice innoculated #ith sheep red blood cells, and confers resistance against injections of a virus, not by protecting the thymus corte but because it enlarges the thymus medulla. &he anti"stress action of melatonin appears to be antagoni<ed by administration of the opioid antagonist naltre one, suggesting that melatonin operates via the endogenous opioid system .6(S3 even though the opioid system is not itself involved in the immunological effect of acute stress. 7hen administered in the morning no effect on the immune system #as found .;aestroni et al, /0403. &hus, it is possible to see melatonin as an anti"stress hormone since melatonin reverses the depression of antibody production induced by corticosterone in drinking #ater. +ailure to cope #ith distress may be dependent on an e hausted 6(S and melatonin may restore the 6(S. So there is some connection bet#een the pineal and the thymus in animals, and yet #hilst there is a certain link bet#een keeping healthy and the normal concept of the emotional aspect of heart in our culture, there is another hormone connected #ith this region in humans #hich e presses heart emotion much more strongly= the hormone prolactin #hich is connected #ith lactation in the breasts. Prolactin ! have noticed in my research into the pineal that melatonin is the off"s#itch for a hormone called prolactin #hich is made by the pituitary, is involved #ith pregnancy and stimulates lactation, and is implicated in manic"depression. ;ost of the research #ith prolactin has been #ith animals, but there has been some research #ith humans sho#ing once again the link #ith the pineal gland. !n seasonally breeding species in #hich both hormones sho# a seasonal variation, melatonin mediates the influence of light on prolactin release. All ruminants .e.g. co#s, sheep3 sho# a marked seasonal fluctuation in plasma prolactin concentration, i.e. high in summer and lo# in #inter, and certain animals become impregnated in autumn at the end of the long day light hours .7urtman, /0103, this fluctuation being controlled by melatonin. &his inhibition of prolactin secretion in ruminants inhibits implantation of the blastocyst during the #inter, so that the foetus does not implant into the #omb until spring time, even though mating and fertilisation occurred in autumn. Prolactin secretion in #omen is also controlled by the ovarian steroids, its level being modified by the fluctuating oestradiol levels of the menstrual cycle. 7hilst fe# clinicians #ould accept a seasonal basis for reproduction in humans, older epidemiological data, and data more recently derived from conditions of borderline fertility, both support a seasonal change. &he e act link to melatonin is as yet unestablished but seasonal changes in plasma melatonin have been described .;atthe#s, /04/3 for #omen, but not for men. ;artikuinen et al ./0423 found peaks in both summer and #inter, and &ouitou et al ./0453 found differences bet#een young and old people .see Gishuddhi chakra3. 7ebley ./0443 #orked #ith // young men intermittently over a 0 month period. De found that, like melatonin, prolactin sho#s a night time peak around B C 5.-- am. and that, #hilst inter"individual variations are large, there are no changes in the amplitude of the peaks across the +ebruary, ;arch and :une samplings. &his significant positive correlation bet#een melatonin and prolactin concentrations is greatest at night and strongest in :une. ;elatonin concentrations decrease earlier than prolactin in the morning and increase before prolactin in the evening .see &able B3. Prolactin concentration increases #ith sleep. &he dependence on sleep is independent of time of day, so night #orkers #ill make some of their prolactin during the day, but prolactin also sho#s a circadian pattern of high levels at night. &here #ere inconsistent changes in the circadian pattern of melatonin for the individuals, #hich suggests that environmental factors other than the lightKdark cycle can influence the circadian pattern in men, and as ! am suggesting here, stressKrela ation is one of these factors C other factors may be sleepKactivity pattern, different social cues and physical e ertion. 7ebley found that melatonin doses given both morning and evening stimulated a significant increase in

prolactin concentrations. &here is a diurnal rhythm in sensitivity to melatonin= melatonin given in the morning stimulates a constant increase in prolactin concentration across the sampling period, #hereas in the evening a peak in prolactin #as evident after 0- "/,- mins. &his leads to the conclusion that it is possible that melatonin may control directly the nocturnal increase in prolactin, but in some cases if melatonin concentration is increased, prolactin concentration is decreased% for e ample, a decrease in melatonin by pinealectomy results in an increase in prolactin release and the nocturnal increase in prolactin is absent in a pinealectomised human #ho had no nocturnal increase in melatonin. &he observed stimulation of prolactin after melatonin injection in the human is also at odds #ith the inhibition of prolactin release in seasonally breeding animals C this may be indicative of a difference bet#een the response to acute and chronic melatonin administration as is also seen #ith thyro ine, or may be indicative of the different responses to the hormones bet#een humans and animals. !n rats acute administration of melatonin stimulates prolactin, #hereas prolactin is inhibited #ith chronic melatonin. ;elatonin can inhibit dopamine release from the rat hypothalamus, the degree of response sho#ing circadian variation. Since dopamine is kno#n to inhibit prolactin release, the influence of melatonin on prolactin may therefore be via a dopaminergic mechanism. Such a mechanism #ould provide a central site of action for melatonin on human reproduction .7ebley,/0443. >ike &RD, prolactin secretion during the day follo#s the opposite pattern to that of cortisol. ?lucocorticoid administration reduces pituitary prolactin content and release as #ell as prolactin responses to &RD, but does not affect circadian rhythm. (estrogens stimulate prolactin secretion, so #omen have higher basal levels, particularly during reproductive years and pregnancy. &here is a close parallel bet#een plasma oestradiol and prolactin. 7omen have higher sleep"related prolactin elevations. +urther, hypersecretion of prolactin and the related pituitary hormones, luteinising hormone .>D3 and human gro#th hormone .D?D3 may be associated #ith affective .mood3 disorders such as manic depression and recurrent depression C here #e see clearly the link bet#een emotional, physical and psychological state of being through its disturbance. +urther, dopamine antagonism is a feature of major tran'uillisers #hich may cause high prolactin levels% dopamine neurotransmitter dysfunction is associated #ith schi<ophrenic disorder and Salvador ./0443 considers that dopamine is the most important inhibitory regulator of prolactin and &SD synthesis. ! am suggesting that the hormones are the physical aspect of the chakras. 6very hormone appears to have a physical component #hich affects the #orkings of the body. &hey also appear to have an emotional component, and ! am suggesting that prolactin is the hormone of the emotion #e associate #ith love, #hich most cultures associate #ith the heart. Prolactin is made in men as #ell as #omen and children, for all of our lives, and has functions other than the primary one of lactation. !t is intimately connected #ith melatonin and hence ajna chakra, #ith &RD and hence #ith vishuddhi chakra, #ith glucocorticoids and our stress levels and #ith oestrogen and hence female se uality. As the hormone of love this makes perfect sense. &he Solar Ple us= ;anipura Chakra Satyananda says that manipura chakra is located behind the navel and causes old age, decay and emaciation by burning up the nectar of immortality. !t is also connected #ith the sense of sight and the eyes and it is the organ of action and hence is also connected #ith #alking, the legs and the feet. &he solar ple us is the locus for our )gut feelings* about people and situations, and is connected #ith digestion and assimilation. !t has also been linked #ith ambition, #ill, self"assertion, vital energy, po#er struggles, anger and jealousy. ;anipura is the uppermost of the )earthly* or base chakras. &here are t#o possible endocrine organs in the gut #hich could be linked #ith manipura= the pancreas

and the adrenals. &he Adrenals &he adrenals are the endocrine glands ! consider are most strongly related to manipura. ;ost people kno# these as the )fight or flight* glands in that adrenaline is produced #hen #e are in a stressful situation and #e burn up our body energy in order to cope #ith a crisis% adrenaline is the hormone of action. 7e feel the fire in our belly. &he pineal is connected #ith the adrenals, and in particular #ith adrenaline and the corticosteroids in many #ays. &he adrenals comprise t#o parts= the corte and the medulla. &he corte secretes glucocorticoids such as corticosterone, on a rhythmic light"dark cycle linked #ith hormones from the pituitary and the hypothalamus. &he glucocorticoids are involved #ith sugar metabolism and as stress protectors% &he corte also secretes mineralocorticoids #hich are involved in mineral balance, and also an iety% &he third sort of hormones produced by the corte are the androgenic steroids #hich include testosterone, are involved in body building and anger% there is a steroid surge in the morning to help #ake up. &hese are the stress"related hormones. &he adrenal medulla secretes adrenaline. &he pineal inhibits release of all of these hormones, thus controlling our physical level of immediate short"term stress C as it does #ith the thyroids on a long" term basis. ;elatonin is actually found in the gut as are the beta"carbolines. @eta"carbolines interact #ith adrenaline and noradrenaline uptake and outputs as #ell as #ith corticosterone secretion, thus interacting closely #ith the adrenal functions. Constant administration of small doses of beta"carbolines causes the #eight of the adrenals to increase, #hilst removal of the pineal gland causes enlarged adrenals. &he significance of this enlargement of adrenals, as #ith the thyroids, #hen for some reason or other there is no pineal, is that the inhibitory effect on these glands has been removed so that they #ork overtime. And, as a result, one burns up. &his can be understood in the spiritual as #ell as in the physical sense. &he Pancreas Some systems consider that the pancreas, #hich is involved in digestion and the input of energy and energy maintenance .the !slets of >angerhans #ithin the pancreas make insulin, a glucose using hormone, and glucagon, a glucose saving hormone3, is the endocrine organ of manipura chakra. &his #ould make very good sense in terms of our 7estern concept of the solar ple us, and is certainly to be considered. 9avidson ./0403 mentions insulin and glucagon in this connection as the food factory of the body, that #hich gives us our physical energy. Do#ever, there is a connection #ith the adrenals because the pancreas is turned off by adrenaline and noradrenaline, and adrenaline regulates the uptake of glucose. &herefore the pineal is connected #ith the pancreas via the adrenals. &he Root of the Spinal Cord= S#adhistana Chakra S#ami Satyananda states that s#adhistana is connected #ith all )the phases of the unconscious*, the subliminal mind. )S#adhistana is made up of all the rubbish #hich you never #anted, #hich you never needed, #hich you never desired but #hich got in.* .Satyananda, /01,3. &raditionally it has also been linked #ith se uality, sensory pleasure, li'uid, taste, procreation, self"indulgence, the kidneys and the prostate gland. ! think that s#adhistana is connected #ith the generative aspect of se uality embodied by the #omb in #omen, #ith follicle stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone, oestrogen and androsterones as the hormones of this chakra. &hese hormones are central to the development of the secondary se ual

characteristics C that #hich makes a man a man and a #oman a #oman C they define our gender, our selves as se ual people, the pitch of our voice, the shape and strength of our body, #hether or not #e have a beard, and the differing emotional characteristics related to oestrogen and testosterone C that #hich is the essence of man or #oman. &here is a strong link bet#een the pineal gland and the generative aspect of se uality. ;elatonin levels in the mother are e ceptionally high during pregnancy reaching a peak at birth. &he diurnal rise in plasma melatonin appears enhanced as pregnancy progresses, supporting the idea of a role for the maternal pineal in entraining foetal body rhythms. !n animals, there is a biological clock oscillating in the SC8 during foetal life before circadian rhythms are overtly e pressed and before the retino"hypothalamic path#ay has innervated the SC8. .i.e. A uni'ue form of maternal communication coordinates the phase of a developing circadian clock until the developing mammal can respond to light directly through its o#n eyes.3 &he foetal SC8 sho#s circadian variation in metabolic activity that is in time #ith the rhythm in the mother and #ith the e ternal lighting cycle. Research by Reppert et al ./0443 has found that this foetal circadian rhythm can be detected in rats as early as the /0th day of gestation. Pineal 8A& is the first measurable circadian rhythm evident, accurately reflecting circadian output from the SC8. Pups reared in an environment #ith no light cues e press a 8A& rhythm that is in phase #ith the circadian time of the mother. !n humans circadian rhythms are not obvious until #ell into the postnatal period. Duman SC8 neurons are formed by the ,4th #eek. A significant fraction of incident light is transmitted into the uterus of a pregnant #oman. !t is possible that direct photic entrainment augments or even replaces maternal"foetal coordination of circadian phase since the foetus can synthesise and store melatonin. Also after birth social cues are very important in entrainment of sleep"#ake cycle. .Reppert, /0443 Gasopressin messenger ribonucleic acid .mR8A3 can also be used as an intrinsic marker of the oscillatory activity of the SC8 during foetal life since a circadian rhythm of vasopressin levels in cerebrospinal fluid originates in the SC8. Gasopressin mR8A levels e hibit a prominent day"night variation in adult rats, #hich begins in the foetal SC8 on day ,/ of gestation in phase #ith the mother$s rhythm. !n mothers #hose SC8 has been destroyed on day 1 of gestation, the entraining signal for the foetus no longer #orks, and the foetal SC8 metabolic activity has no day"night rhythm. Also the pineal 8A& activity for /- day old pups born to SC8"lesioned mothers and reared in constant darkness is completely disrupted and they have no daily rhythm. @ut, if the mother$s SC8 is lesioned after foetal neurogenesis of SC8 then foetal synchroni<ation is not disrupted. 9estruction of the maternal SC8 also eliminates a circadian rhythm to birthing. Possibly also the developing circadian clock is involved in initiating parturition, as different species have different times of day #hen birth is more likely to happen. 7hen pups are fostered #ith a mother #hose circadian rhythm is opposite to that of their natural mother, their rhythms change to become synchronous to that of the foster mother. !n these cases entrainment of rhythm is possibly linked #ith feeding activity #hich occurs on a rhythmic basis. (ne needs to have the pup entrained so that its feeding cycle is in tune #ith the mother and the other pups. &his ensures that its activity cycle is such that it emerges from the burro# at a safe time of day. 7hen litters #ith many pups are born they need to all be synchronised in their activity. &hus the strong connection bet#een the pineal gland and the gonadal system is very apparent in connection #ith pregnancy and birth. &he glandular connection of s#adhistana is #ith the gonads and related systems so that to some e tent it overlaps #ith muladhara chakra, and so ! look to other aspects of our se uality C puberty and the menstrual cycle C in the discussion of muladhara. &he Coccygeal Ple us= ;uladhara Chakra

According to Satyananda, muladhara chakra is the root chakra, intimately connected in the male #ith the testes, and in the female #ith the cervi , and #ith the perineum and anus for both se es. &his chakra is connected #ith the sense of smell, the nose and the earth element, #ith passion, the animal instincts, anger, greed, e cretory functions, secretory and se ual aspects, attachment, material security, survival and materialism. 7orking on this chakra releases suppressed emotions and unconscious memories, and causes e treme s#ings in mood. !t is the seat of kundalini, and has obvious and direct connections #ith se ual energy in its most earthy aspect. Some systems link the root chakra #ith the adrenal glands even though the adrenals are located above the kidneys back of the navel. &he only information ! have come across #hich justifies this idea is that in embryology the gonads and suprarenals all start in the same place, and the adrenal corte makes small amounts of androsterones. Do#ever, ! consider that the yogic description of muladhara chakra and particularly its connection #ith kundalini suggests se uality as its primary physical manifestation and therefore ! link this chakra #ith the gonads, #ith testosterone in men #hich is primarily made by the testes .7ilson F +oster, /00,3, and #ith oestrogen and progesterone in #omen. As #e have already seen the pineal and the gonadal system interact e tensively. Satyananda considers that there is a special connection bet#een ajna chakra and muladhara, and there are certainly e tensive connections bet#een the pineal gland and the gonads. &he pineal synthesises antigonadotropic peptides. !n their turn the gonadal hormones, inhibit the biosynthesis of the pineal hormone melatonin, although gonadectomy has little influence on magnitude of melatonin increase or on phasing of the rhythm, and prolactin secretion is inhibited by ovarian steroids, suggesting that there is a physical as #ell as spiritual, mental and emotional links bet#een mind, heart and se . ;elatonin inhibits gonadal development in children and regulates the onset of se uality at puberty for humans. &here is a fall in plasma melatonin associated #ith male human pubertal development. &he pineal normally becomes calcified at puberty .8g F 7ong, /04A% Gaughan F Reiter, /04A3, and there is a sharp decrease in melatonin production at this time. &he pineal nighttime melatonin concentration decreases progressively during the menstural cycle, #ith an increase at ovulation and peak values during menstruation. ;elatonin seems to be )taken up* by the ovaries, testes and uterus. &hus #omen sho# a ,4 day melatonin rhythm, though many #omen have a menstrual cycle that is more closely correlated #ith the ,0.2 day lunar cycle and menstruate every full moon. &hose using the contraceptive pill have less melatonin since there is a positive relationship bet#een melatonin and progesterone. ;elatonin secretion is significantly higher during the late luteal phase than during the preovulatory phase and melatonin levels fall before ovulation= this could be the determinant of the menstrual cycle. &he onset of the >D surge is in the early morning #hen melatonin levels are falling .@r<e<inski F 7urtman, /0443. Continuous light, #hich causes a decrease in melatonin production, also causes a decrease in ovarian melatonin concentration, #hilst injections of melatonin result in smaller testes. ! consider that these studies linking the pineal gland #ith the gonadal endocrines aids understanding of the lore surrounding se uality and psychic functioning. Children and celibates #ere almost universally those chosen as temple seers and prophets, the oracle at 9elphi being an e cellent e ample of this. Some research suggests that children are more psychic #hen they are younger, and much of the research into poltergeists suggests that adolescents are often the focus for this #ild uncontrolled psychokinetic storm. Conclusions (ur kno#ledge of the endocrine system, the chemistry of our body"mind and emotional system, is still meagre. &he neurochemists have only just isolated pinoline from the pineal and are still learning about melatonin and serotonin. Do#ever, partial as our kno#ledge may be, it does fit together #ith #hat the

yogis, )scientists of the subtle mind,* tell us about the yogic chakra system. (ur disciplines, apparently so different in language and method, appear to corroborate each other. !n conclusion, pinoline can be seen as the physical aspect of ajna chakra as the psychic chakra, and melatonin as the neurohormone of ajna chakra as the command chakra in that it has an inhibitory role for the endocrine organs, many of #hich are found physically at the traditional places #here the chakras are located. &hus vishuddi at the throat links #ith the thyroid #hich is the metabolic regulator, anahata at the heart #ith the breasts, manipura at the navel #ith the adrenal glands involved #ith our reactions to stress, and s#adhistana and muladhara at the root of the spinal cord #ith different aspects of the genital system. &here are a be#ildering number of versions of the yogic chakra system= attempts to correlate the chakras #ith 7estern physiological models may not only help us understand physiology, but also help us find the version of the chakra system that makes the most sense physiologically. Perhaps by linking this spiritual system #ith 7estern psychoneuroendocrinology #e can create a deeper understanding of the links bet#een mind, body and spirit for the benefit of all of us. References Airaksinen, ;.;. F Iari, !. ./04/3. @eta"carbolines, psychoactive compounds in the mammalian body, ;edical @iology, 20, ,, C BB F /0- C ,//. Arendt, :. ./0143 ;elatonin Assays in @ody +luids. :. 8eural. &rans. Suppl., /B, ,A2 C ,14. @arker, S.A. et al. ./04/3 !dentification of various beta"carbolines as in vivo constituents of rat brain and adrenal glands. @iochemical Pharmacology, B-, 0 C /1. @ilger, @../0023. +orever Young, &he Sciences, B2.23, ,A"B/ @r<e<inski, A. F 7urtman, R.:. ./0443. &he Pineal ?land= !ts possible roles in human reproduction. (bstetrical F ?ynaecological Survey, 5B .53, /01 C ,-1. Calla#ay, :.C. ./0443. )A proposed mechanism for the visions of dream sleep,* ;edical Dypotheses, ,A, //0 C /,5. Capra, +. .L0123. &he &ao of Physics, 7ild#ood Douse, @ritain. Co#ley, ?. ./0023. ;elatonin, 8e#s#eek, Aug.1, 5A C 50 9avidson, :. ./0403. Subtle @iology= &he 7eb of >ife, :. 9avidson, Cambridge. 9on, 8.S. et al ./00A3. Psi, @rain +unction and )Ayahuasca,* Proceedings of Presented Papers. Parapsychological Association B0th Annual Convention, San 9iego, August /00A. 6ichler, G. ./0423. &he Pineal= ;odern Gie# of an Ancient ?land, &he &heosophical Research :ournal, //.B3. Dalaris, A. .ed.3 ./0413. Chronobiology and Psychiatric 9isorders, 6lsevier, 8Y. :ohnson, >.Y ./04,3. &he Pineal as a modulator of the Adrenal and &hyroid A es. !n Reiter, R.:., &he Pineal ?land, Gol. !!!= 6 tra"reproductive 6ffects. C.R.C. Press !nc., @oca Raton, +lorida, MSA. :ourdan, :"P. ./0053. 8ear"9eath and &ranscendental 6 periences= 8europhysiological Correlates of ;ystical &raditions. :. 8ear"9eath Studies, /,.B3, /11 ",--. Iensinger, I.;. ./0143. @anisteriopsis Msage Among the Peruvian Cashinahua, !n Darner, ;. :. .ed.3, Dallucinogens and Shamanism. ( ford Mniv. Press. >eaton, @.R., ;alin, S.R. F +inch, D. +. ./0A,3. &he Solar and >uni"Solar 9aily Gariation of the ?eomagnetic +ield at ?reen#ich and Abinger /0/A"/021, Royal (bservatory @ulletin, AB. ;aestroni, ?.:.;. et al ./0403. Pineal ;elatonin, its fundamental immunoregulatory role in aging and cancer. Annals 8e# York Academy of Sciences, /5- C /54. ;artikuinen, D. et al ./0423. Circannual concentrations of melatonin, gonadotrophins, prolactin and gonadal steroids in males in a geographical area #ith a large annual variation in daylight. Acta 6ndocrinol..Copenh3 /-0, 55A"52-. ;atthe#s, C.9. et al ./04/3. ;elatonin in Dumans. !n @iran 8. F Schloot, 7. .eds.3, ;elatonin= !ts current status and perspectives. Advances in the @iosciences, ,0, Pergamon Press.

;iles, A. F Philbrick, 9.R.S. ./0443. ;elatonin and Psychiatry. @iol. Psychiatry, ,B,5-2"5,2. 8aranjo, C. ./0A13. Psychotropic properties of the harmala alkaloids. !n 6ffron et al..eds.3, 6thnopharmacologic search for psychoactive drugs. 8!;D, MS 9ept. for Dealth, 6ducation and 7elfare. 8aranjo, C. ./01B3. &he Dealing :ourney= 8e# approaches to consciousness. @allantine @ooks, 8Y. 8aranjo, C. ./0143. Psychological aspects of the yage e perience in an e perimental setting. !n Darner, ;.:. .ed.3, Dallucinogens and Shamanism. ( ford Mniv. Press. 8g, &.@. F 7ong, C.;. ./04A3. Pineal lipid metabolism, :. Pineal Res., B, 22"AA. 8ishchalanda, S#ami ./00,3. &he Chakras. Satyananda Ashram 8e#sletter, 0. (tt, :. ./00B3. Pharmacotheon= 6ntheogenic drugs, their plant sources and history, 8atural Products Co., 7A, MSA. (tt, :. ./0053. Ayahuasca Analogues= PangNan Antheogens, 8atural Products Co., 7A, MSA. Paranjpe, A.C. ./0453. &heoretical Psychology= &he ;eeting of 6ast and 7est, Plenum Press. Reiter, R.:. ./0023. !ntracellular actions of melatonin #ith a summary of its interactions #ith reactive o ygen species. !n +raschini, +. et al .eds.3, &he Pineal ?land and !ts Dormones, Plenum Press, 8Y. Reiter, R.:. and Richardson, @.A. ./00,3. Some Perturbations that disturb the Circadian ;elatonin Rhythm. Chronobiol. !nt., 0.53, B/5"B,/. Reiter, R.:. ./04/3. &he Pineal, Gol. A. Annual Research Revie#s. 6den Press, MSA. Reppert, S.;. et al. ./0443. ;aternal Communication of Circadian Phase to the 9eveloping ;ammal, Psychoneuroendocrinol., /B, AB"14. Rhine, >.6. ./0A03. Case Study Revie#. :. Parapsychology, BB, ,,4 C ,AA. Roney C 9ougal, S.;. ./04A3. Some speculations on a possible psychic effect of harmaline. !n 7einer, 9.D. F Radin, 9.!. .eds.3, Research in Parapsychology /042, Scarecro# Press, ;etuchen, 8:, p./,- C /,B. Roney C 9ougal, S.;. ./0443. &he pineal gland$s possible role as a psi"conducive neuromodulator. !n Proceedings of !nt. Conf. on Paranormal Res., Colorado State Mniv., Colorado, MSA. Roney C 9ougal, S.;. ./0403. Recent +indings relating to the possible role of the Pineal ?land in affecting Psychic Abilities. :. Soc. Psych. Res., 2A, B/B"B,4. Roney C 9ougal, S.;. ./00-3. ?eomagnetism and the Pineal ?land= Some Speculations. !n Denkel, >.A. F Palmer, :. .eds.3 Research in Parapsychology /040, Scarecro# Press, ;etuchen, 8:, MSA. Roney C 9ougal, S.;. ./00/3. 7here Science and ;agic ;eet, 6lement @ooks, @ritain. Roney C 9ougal, S.;. ./00B3. Some Speculations on the 6ffect of ?eomagnetism on the Pineal ?land, :. Soc. Psych. Res., 20, / C /2. Salvador, :. et al. ./0443. Circadian rhythms of thyroptropin and prolactin secretion. Chronobiol. !nt., 2./3, 42 C 0B. Satyananda, S#ami Saras#ati. ./01,3. &he Pineal ?land .Ajna Chakra3. @ihar School of Yoga, @ihar, !ndia. Satyananda, S#ami Saras#ati. ./01,3. Iundalini Yoga. @ihar School of Yoga, @ihar, !ndia. Strassman, R.:. ./00-3. &he Pineal ?land= Current 6vidence for its Role in Consciousness. !n >yttle, &. .ed.3, Psychedelic ;onographs and 6ssays. Gol. 2. P;F6 Pub., @oynton @each, +lorida. &art, C.&. ./0113. &ranspersonal Psychologies. Routledge F Iegan Paul. &ouitou, Y. et al. ./0453. Patterns of plasma melatonin #ith aging and mental condition= stability of nyctohemeral rhythms and differences in seasonal variation. Acta 6ndocrinol, /-A, /52"/2/. Gaughan, ?.;. F Reiter, R.:. ./04A3. Pineal dependence of the Syrian hamster$s nocturnal serum melatonin surge, :. Pineal Res., B, 0"/5. 7ebley, ?.6. et al. ./0443. Positive Relationship bet#een the nocturnal concentration of melatonin and Prolactin, and a stimulation of Prolactin after ;elatonin administration in young men. :. Pin. Res., 2, /0 C BB.

7etterberg, >. ./0023. Seasonal Affective 9isorder, ;elatonin and >ight. !n +raschini, +. et al. .ed.3, &he Pineal ?land and its Dormones, Plenum Press, 8.Y. 7ever, R.A. ./0103. &he Circadian System of ;an, Springer"Gerlag, ?ermany. 7ile, >.C. ./0053. 8ear "9eath 6 periences= A Speculative 8eural ;odel. :. 8ear"9eath Studies, /,.B3, /BB C /5,. 7ilson, :.9. F +oster, 9.7. .eds.3 ./00,3 7illiams &e t book of 6ndocrinology, 4th ed., 7.@. Saunders, MSA. 7urtman, R.:. ./0103. Rhythms in ;elatonin Secretion= &heir possible role in reproductive function. !n Oichella, >. F Pancheri P. .eds.3, Psychoneuroendocrinology in Reproduction, 6lsevier, 8orth Dolland @iomedical Press. Ackno#ledgements &hanks are due to all those people #ho have helped me collect and amass this body of kno#ledge, most particularly to Anne Silk for searching ;edline for me% to !an Pearson for a fascinating afternoon$s conversation, for correcting my errors in the first draft of this paper, for assistance in the details of the second draft, and for the gift of a valuable book% to 6li<abeth 7hitehouse for her eternal supply of interesting information and ideas% to 6llis Snitcher for sharing his e pertise in neuroendocrinology #ith me.

rbita microcsmica: Aprendiendo a reconocer nuestra energa sexual

Cuando estP mal dirigido, el impulso se ual puede ser tan fuerte y apremiante 'ue llegas a arriesgar todo, incluso libertad y reputaciQn, para e presarlo. Cuando esta fuer<a es transmutada y dirigida de manera positiva puede ser una fuente inspiradora y creativa en cual'uier aspecto y actividad artRstica, profesional, de relaciQn amorosa yKo se ual, o para desarrollar una presencia fuerte, irresistible y magnStica. 6l humano es el Tnico animal capa< de dirigir su energRa se ual donde desee por medio de la imaginaciQn. 6s la Tnica especie 'ue consigue alcan<ar las cimas del S tasis se ual desde su cerebro. >a cuestiQn es cQmo dirigir esa energRa para conseguir un manantial de constante creaciQn. Algunos deciden usarla abusiva y negativamente% otros, simplemente, la desperdician, indiscriminadamente, entregPndose a todo tipo de e cesos, y dispersPndola. 6so deviene en el dese'uilibrio emocional y el desgaste de la salud y la vitalidad. Day muchos modos de e presar esta energRa. Si est bien canalizada, la energa sexual puede ser la mayor fuente de pasin, de alegra, de felicidad, de sanacin, de creacin Podemos usarla para generar, regenerar y mantener cual'uier cosa 'ue nos propongamos= para transformar una vida mediocre en admirable, para transmutar la tensiQn y el fracaso en pa<, S ito y reali<aciQn, para escribir un libro, para fregar los platos o preparar una comida, o para curarnos cual'uier enfermedad. >a energRa se ual es asR de poderosa. ?racias a la energRa se ual podemos generar, regenerar y mantener cual'uier cosa 'ue nos propongamos Day un sin fin de tScnicas para activar e incrementar estas vibraciones mentales. >a mente responde con facilidad al amor, la amistad, la mTsica, la dan<aU, pero tambiSn responde al miedo, los celos, las drogas, al dolorU Sin embargo, el estRmulo mPs intenso 'ue late en nosotros es el deseo de e presar la energRa se ual. uando la combinamos con el amor, se con!ierte en la energa ms potente y poderosa de todas. Y, sQlo es impecable cuando la e presamos con discriminaciQn y sabidurRa% con

comprensiQn y compasiQn. Somos seres sociales y necesitamos referencias para vivir. &odos estamos interconectados% de modo, 'ue nada es mPs importante 'ue las relaciones. "stablecer relaciones armoniosas en todos los mbitos de la !ida es el ob#eti!o de aprender a reconocer y canalizar, adecuadamente, nuestra energa sexual. 6ste proceso nos lleva al e'uilibrio de todos los opuestos aparentes= masculino y femenino, lu< y oscuridad, actividad y reposo, electricidad y magnetismoU Y cuando esa armonRa se instaura en nosotros, estamos centrados y no desbocados, y nos convertimos en maestros de la al'uimia. Cuando esa armonRa se instaura en nosotros, estamos centrados y no desbocados, y nos convertimos en maestros de la al'uimia >as energRas masculinas y femeninas 'ue hay en la naturale<a C y 'ue tambiSn estPn en mR" siempre se mueven hacia el e'uilibrio. >a naturale<a estP llena de energRa se ual creativa y vivificante, la vida surge cuando e'uilibramos esas fuer<as= lo masculino y femenino, siva y shakti, el yin y el yang. 6stos mismos principios son aplicables a las relaciones humanas.

rbita microcsmica
6l objetivo de esta tScnica es alinearnos con la estructura del universo. Somos tres fuer<as, la fuer<a del cielo, la fuer<a de lo humano y la fuer<a de la tierra. 6ntonces, necesitamos, primero, establecer la simetrRa de esas tres fuer<as 'ue soy yo. 6s igual 'ue decir 'ue necesitamos unificar nuestras partes aparentemente separadas= ideas, emociones, pensamientos, cuerpo fRsicoU 6l primer paso para trabajar con la energRa interna es la meditaciQn de la Qrbita microcQsmica. 6sta meditaciQn nos entrena a sentir, dirigir y cultivar la energRa, y es esencial para todas las demPs tScnicas. >a Qrbita microcQsmica nos entrena a sentir, dirigir y cultivar la energRa, y es esencial para todas las demPs tScnicas. >a Qrbita microcQsmica es el principal canal energStico y nutre al resto de canales y meridianos del cuerpo. PodrRamos decir 'ue este es el primer canal 'ue se forma cuando un ser es engendrado como un soplo con"formado. >a circulaciQn fluida de la energRa dentro de este canal es indispensable, elimina blo'ueos y activa el 'i .flujo vital3 'ue reaviva el cuerpo. Con esta prPctica reconocemos la sensaciQn 'ue produce el 'i cuando movemos la intenciQn de la energRa por los nadis principales= sushumna, ida y pingala, el centro microcQsmico donde se conectan y superponen el cuerpo fRsico y el energStico. >a Qrbita microcQsmica incrementa drPsticamente nuestra cantidad de energRa interna.

$a %rctica:
%arte & ' conectar: 8os sentamos con la espalda recta, los hombros relajados y las manos sobre el rega<o con las palmas abiertas hacia arriba en seVal de aceptaciQn y de entrega a la e istencia. >os ojos estPn cerrados% o semicerrados, perdidos en el infinito. 6s importante atender a la respiraciQn abdominal, siempre aspirando y e halando por la nari<, suave y silenciosamente. AsR, llevamos el aire directamente al abdomen y sentimos como Sste se abomba y e pande, luego, el aire hacia arriba, a los pulmones y clavRculas. >a mente debe estar suelta, dejando 'ue los pensamientos se sustituyan uno tras otro sin 'uedarnos enganchados en ninguno, como si de un rRo de pensamientos se tratase. %arte ( ' darse cuenta: Ahora, con la mente mPs calmada y centrados en la respiraciQn, emprendemos viaje hacia las profundidades. Si sostenemos este estado de rela#acin y atencin, tendremos la oportunidad de !er como emerge el )bser!ador *ue todos lle!amos dentro, y 'ue nos ayudarP a dar nuestros primeros pasos hacia una nueva forma de Consciencia, pero eso serP poco a poco, como fruto de la constancia en la prPctica diaria. 9e momento, nos vamos a conformar con no descuidar la atenciQn en la respiraciQn, puente 'ue nos une al inconsciente y a la vida, y con mantener el ritmo y el centramiento. Cada ve< 'ue nos demos cuenta de 'ue estamos pensando, podremos regresar al Centro,

restableciendo el ritmo de la respiraciQn abdominal. 6sto nos ayudarP a dar nuestros primeros pasos hacia una nueva forma de Consciencia, pero eso serP, poco a poco, como fruto de la constancia en la prPctica diaria. %arte + ' mo!imiento: 8o es difRcil mover la energRa. ,o se necesita de ning-n esfuerzo extraordinario ni de un poder especial, todos tenemos ese poder y, de .ec.o, todos lo utilizamos continuamente, aun*ue no seamos conscientes de ello. >a energRa se mueve con nuestra intenciQn. AllR donde colocamos nuestra atenciQn estP nuestra energRa de inmediato, e incluso, cuando ya hemos comprendido el mecanismo, percibimos 'ue mucho antes 'ue el propio pensamiento. @usco una posiciQn de 'uietud donde establecerme y relajarme% desde la 'ue contemplo desde mi templo el ritmo de mi respiraciQn y me hago consciente de cQmo la energRa vital bPsica vibra en todo mi ser. 6n cada inspiraciQn tomo el aliento de la vida y me doy a la e istencia en cada espiraciQn, mientras 'ue en el intervalo de ambos movimientos puedo recuperar el recuerdo de 'uiSn soy y 'uS he venido a hacerU Ahora sQlo 'ueda sentir, sentir y sentirU Y no ju<gar nada.

/iagrama de relacin entre c.a0ras y asanas. .a0ras asanas correlation

>os Chakras son vQrtices de energRa a travSs del cual fluye la fuer<a de vida a travSs de nuestro ser. Cada uno de lo chakras corresponden a diferentes aspectos de nuestro ser e influyen en los aspectos fRsicos, mentales y emocionales. >a mayorRa de los terapeutas e presan 'ue es buen indicio 'ue nuestros chakras estSn abiertos por'ue nosotros nos sentiremos en sRntonRa con el Mniverso y nuestras e periencias con el entorno y con otros. Cuando los chakras estan blo'ueados o cerrados tenemos una sensaciQn de blo'ueo de energRa en el cuerpo, la energRa no llega adecuadamente y los Qrganos relacionados con los chakras 'ue se encuentran cerrados. Cuando nos sentimos go<osos con la vida nuestros chakras se abren para recibir la energRa de la alegrRa y del Amor. Cuando e perimentamos dolor, rabia y emociones bajas nuestros chakras tienden a cerrarse como un modo de protecciQn, especialmente cuando nos encontramos en entornos caQticos o de estrSs. Cuando nosotros estamos en comuniQn con nosotros mismos nuestros chakras brillan, e irradian una

magnifica energRa lumRnica 'ue nos permite conectarnos en sincronRa con la vida. 8osotros e perimentamos una sensaciQn de bienestar, de e'uilibrio, estimulaciQn y cone iQn con el &odo. Por lo tanto, al )Abrir la mente y @uscar atentos*% los sRntomas de nuestro cuerpo y emociones, encontraremos seVales 'ue nos permitan dilucidar el estado de nuestros chakras. W>os Chakras y su lenguaje Primer Chakra= Yo tengo derecho a tener Segundo Chakra= Yo tengo derecho a sentir &ercero Chakra= Yo tengo derecho a obrar Cuarto Chakra= Yo tengo derecho a amar y ser amado Xuinto Chakra= Yo tengo derecho a decir y a escuchar la verdad Se to Chakra= Yo tengo derecho a ver SSptimo Chakra= Yo tengo derecho a saber >as tScnicas para desarrollar y mantener el e'uilibrio de los chakras son innumerables. Se puede encontrar mucha informaciQn de buena calidad sobre estos temas. W&est para saber si los Chakras estPn abiertos o cerrados Chakra de la RaR<= Y;e siento fRsicamente vibrante, saludable y de gran alcance en el mundoJ Y;e siento como en casa a'uRJ Y;e siento como si me perteneceJ Y&engo un fuerte deseo de vivirJ Y;e amo a mi cuerpo y apreciar como un tesoro maravillosoJ YSoy una persona de alta energRa, en movimiento con audacia por la vidaJ Chakra Sacro= Y&engo un fuerte impulso se ual saludableJ Y;e siento confiado y se ual plenaJ YPuedo e presarme se ualmente, y dar y recibir placerJ Chakra del Ple o solar= YSS lo 'ue 'uiero, y tengo confian<a en ser capa< de manifestarloJ YPuedo tomar decisiones y actuar sobre ellosJ Y6stoy consciente de mis emociones y poder controlarlasJ YSoy capa< de resolver a travSs de mis sentimientosJ 6stoy emocionalmente cumplidoJ Chakra del Cora<Qn= Y&engo mis relaciones sanasJ Y;e Amo a mR mismo, amigos y familiares, y tienen un fuerte sentido de la compasiQn para todos los seres vivosJ YPuedo aceptar a los demPs como son, sin necesidad de 'ue cambienJ Y9ebo esperar lo mejor de la gente, y buscar lo mejor de ellosJ YSoy bueno en la cooperaciQnJ YPuedo 'uedarme en el momento y los resultados de la entrega para el MniversoJ Chakra de la ?arganta= YPuedo e presarme con habilidad y facilidadJ YDago las cosas prPcticas 'ue tengo 'ue hacer para estar saludable, feli< y e itosaJ Y9ebo asumir la responsabilidad de mi vida en ve< de culpar a otros por mis problemas y esperando 'ue otros cuiden de mRJ Y9ebo tratar de hacerlo lo mejor posible, y me siento digna de recompensa o compensaciQn por mis esfuer<osJ Y&engo suficiente fe en mR mismo a asumir riesgos, aceptar los desafRos, y crear vRas de reali<aciQnJ Chakra del &ercer ojo= Y6stoy mentalmente fuerte y capa< de resolver las cosasJ Y&engo un montQn de ideas creativas, y el hPbito de tomar las medidas necesarias para hacerlas realidadJ 8o respuestas o ideas vienen a mR como mentalmente tratar de entender las cosasJ YSoy capa< de visuali<ar mis metas y sueVosJ CQmo puedo definir objetivos realistas y alcan<ablesJ Y;is e periencias de apoyo y validar mis creencias sobre la vidaJ Chakra de la Corona= Y;e siento como si yo fuera parte de algo grande y maravillosoJ Y;e siento conectado a 9iosK6spRritu del Mniverso, y siento 'ue mi vida tiene un propQsitoJ YSoy capa< de ver a

mR mismo con honestidad, y para descubrir las lecciones de mis e periencias con el fin de desarrollar la sabidurRaJ WSignificado de Chakras @lo'ueados Primer Chakra cerrado= >a persona esta desvitali<ada, su voluntad de vivir esta muy disminuida. Segundo Chakra cerrado= >a persona tiene dificultad para recibir y dar Amor. 8o hay potencia se ual &ercer Chakra cerrado= 9ificultad para sentir, blo'uea sus sentimientos. 8o sentirP Amor y aceptaciQn por si mismo. Sentimientos de recha<o personal y desinterSs de la propia salud. Cuarto Chakra cerrado= &iene dificultad para Amar sin recibir nada a cambio. Ausencia de propQsito y significado de su e istencia. &enemos la idea e'uivocada de 'ue 9ios y todos se oponen a nuestra voluntad. Xuinto Chakra cerrado= >a persona no puede hacerse cargo de su vida. >a comunicaciQn no fluye. Profesionalmente esta frustrado, no hace lo 'ue 'uiere. Se to Chakra cerrado = 6 iste confusiQn, ideas blo'ueadas. >as ideas no tienen salida al plano material. Se convierte en frustraciQn. SSptimo Chakra cerrado= >a persona no ha conectado su ser espiritual a su ser fRsico.

$a terapia de *uelacin, 1fraude o re!olucionaria terapia m2dica3

Columnas Z 6l psicoscopio Por :avier Akerman lunes /A de junio de ,--4 -=5/ C(&

8adie puede poner en duda 'ue nuestro organismo contiene cientos de sustancias tQ icas 'ue se han instalado en Sl a travSs de lo 'ue respiramos, bebemos y comemos. Demos absorbido desde dio inas y metales pesados hasta mPs de tres mil contaminantes 'ue se han detectado en la atmQsfera de la mayorRa de las ciudades del planeta. >a tierra estP gravemente enferma y nuestro cuerpo, maravilloso microcosmos biolQgico, corre la misma suerte. Doy en dRa, tenemos en nuestros cuerpos entre 5-- y 1-- veces mPs cantidad de metales pesados 'ue la generaciQn 'ue viviQ hace /-- aVos. ;uchas investigaciones mSdicas ya apuntan a 'ue la causa probable de muchas enfermedades pueden tener una etiologRa tQ ica"ambiental o por lo menos ser parte importante de ella= Al<heimer, trastorno por dSficit de atenciQn con hiperactividad y ciertas formas de arteriosclerosis pueden ser parte de la larga lista 'ue poco a poco va saliendo a la lu<. 9ado 'ue a pesar de los esfuer<os de muchas personas sensibili<adas con el medio ambiente el tiempo corre en contra nuestra, un grupo de mSdicos ha desarrollado una terapia y aseguran 'ue puede ser de gran ayuda para )limpiar* de nuestro organismo muchas sustancias venenosas y disminuir ademPs el ateroma u obstrucciQn en las arterias, 'ue son la principal causa del infarto de miocardio= 6s la &erapia de XuelaciQn.

14u2 es la terapia de *uelacin3

$a terapia de *uelacin naciQ en la Spoca de la segunda guerra mundial, aun'ue ya se venRa desarrollando desde /0,-. (riginalmente se creQ para tratamientos por into icaciones por metales pesados como= plomo, mercurio, cromo, cadmio, vanadio cobre, arsSnico, aluminio y otros como el calcio. >as personas 'ue acudRan a ese tratamiento para liberarse de esos metales perjudiciales a su organismo, descubrieron 'ue tambiSn se curaban de otros problemas 'ue sufrRan, como la insuficiencia vascular y artritis. Se cree ahora 'ue la patologRa de los radicales libres es el proceso 'ue estP detrPs del desarrollo de la mayorRa de las dolencias relacionadas con el envejecimiento, problemas de cPncer, demencia, artritis y arterioesclerosis. AsR 'ue el beneficio primario del 69&A es 'ue reduce la producciQn continua de radicales libres dentro del cuerpo al remover acumulaciones de catali<adores metPlicos, acelerando el proceso del envejecimiento. Consiste bPsicamente en la administraciQn endovenosa del aminoPcido sintStico "/5A .cido etilen diamino tetractico3, el cual elimina los iones de metales 'ue causan la obstrucciQn de las arterias, entre ellas el calcio, aumentando la permeabilidad de las arterias mejorando la circulaciQn sanguRnea. Protege tambiSn al endotelio vascular y tiene una acciQn denominada )antiagregante pla'uetaria*, es decir, fluidifica la sangre. 6l 69&A entra en la circulaciQn sanguRnea y se une a los metales del cuerpo y los elimina por la orina. ;etales contaminantes de la nutriciQn 'ue aceleran los daVos por radicales libres y metales tQ icos como el plomo son mPs rPpidamente eliminados por el Acido Etilen Diamino Tetracetico. >a AsociaciQn por el Avance de la ;edicina de la ;edicina, ACA;, ha recogido alrededor de /-.--- de estos estudios y se calcula 'ue cerca de 2--.--- pacientes han recibido esta terapia. 6n 6uropa y :apQn ha sido e tensamente usada, pero por diversas ra<ones no ha sido implementada en los 6stados Mnidos ni en otros medios de forma oficial.

6 iste ademPs una forma de )'uelaciQn oral*, es decir, la ingesta de ciertos productos dietSticos con el mismo fin 'ue la endovenosa% en este caso hay discusiones entre sus defensores y los 'ue critican por inefica< esta forma de aplicaciQn. Argumentan 'ue la 'uelaciQn oral no e trae el calcio de la placa arterial y lo elimina por la orina .'ue es lo 'ue hace la terapia de 'uelaciQn 69&A3 y gran parte del calcio 'ue se libera de la placa arterial por medio de la +>A .)+Qrmula de >impie<a Arterial*3 vuelve a ser utili<ado por el cuerpo. >os defensores, por su parte, muestran estudios 'ue demuestran la disminuciQn del ateroma en las arterias a travSs de eco"9oppler y arteriografRas.

6eneficios *ue aporta la terapia de *uelacin

>a controversia estP servida. >os defensores afirman 'ue los resultados de la terapia de 'uelaciQn no se limitan a la funciQn cardiovascular. Aseguran 'ue todos los Pmbitos de la fisiologRa se benefician. Por esta ra<Qn se hi<o un estudio 'ue cuantificaba el estado clRnico de los enfermos sometidos esta terapia aplicando un conocido y probado instrumento de evaluaciQn= el Cornell Medical Index Health Questionarie (CMI). 6ste es un listado de /55 preguntas usado para evaluar la acciQn de medicamentos, terapias, cambios durante enfermedades, y otros eventos clRnicos. 6n una muestra de /B0 pacientes 'ue recibieron en promedio ,A sesiones de 69&A .B gramos3, se observQ mejorRa en el funcionamiento de todos los sistemas. >os mejores resultados se vieron en el mTsculo"es'uelStico 'ue tuvo un porcentaje de reducciQn de sRntomas del ,2E, el neurolQgico y cardiovascular /0E, los menores fueron el gastrointestinal y el urinario con una reducciQn del //E en ambos. 6stamos hablando de mejorRa clRnica y de la calidad de vida del paciente y no de una curaciQn total en patologRas graves como esclerosis mTltiple, por ejemplo. AdemPs en este ensayo clRnico no se desarrollQ el protocolo con la tScnica del )doble ciego*, es decir, con un grupo al 'ue se le administre un placebo.

6n el ,---, un investigador muy respetado revisQ la literatura de la terapia de 'uelaciQn y concluyQ. [6l resultado mPs destacado es la casi total ausencia de evidencia efica< convincenteU SQlo dos estudios controlados fueron locali<ados. 6stos no proporcionaron evidencia de 'ue la terapia de 'uelaciQn sea efica< mPs allP de un poderoso efecto de placebo. 9ado el potencial 'ue tiene la terapia de 'uelaciQn de causar efectos adversos, este tratamiento debe ser considerado hoy en dRa obsoleto. Posterior a esta revisiQn, un estudio mejor diseVado comparQ la terapia de 'uelaciQn con un placebo en 45 personas con enfermedad de las arterias coronarias. >as personas 'ue recibieron la 'uelaciQn con 69&A mostraron mejorRa% sin embargo, a'uellos 'ue recibieron el placebo tambiSn mejoraron \hasta el

mismo puntoL 6ste resultado nos recuerda por'uS los estudios doble ciego, controlados con placebo, son necesarios para establecer la efectividad de un tratamiento. Si los investigadores hubieran reali<ado este estudio sin un grupo de placebo, ellos habrRan llegado a la conclusiQn de 'ue la 'uelaciQn con 69&A realmente funciona. 6n lugar de esto, el hecho de 'ue el mismo nivel de beneficios se haya observado en el grupo de tratamiento falso indica 'ue la terapia de 'uelaciQn no funciona como muchos defensores de la misma aseguran. (tro estudio doble ciego evaluQ los beneficios potenciales de la terapia de 'uelaciQn cuando se agregQ a la terapia convencional en el tratamiento de personas con enfermedad de las arterias coronarias.>os investigadores estaban buscando mejorRas en la habilidad de los vasos sanguRneos del bra<o .la arteria bra'uial3 para dilatar, pero no encontraron ninguna. Sin embargo, este estudio tiene varias limitaciones en su diseVo, haciendo 'ue los resultados sean menos significativos de lo 'ue podrRan haber sido. Por eso hay 'ue cuidar los protocolos clRnicos de forma imparcial y cientRfica. >os doctores del Centro ;Sdico de la Mniversidad Rush estP buscando pacientes cardiacos para participar en un estudio cuyo fin serP el de probar si la terapia de 'uelaciQn puede evitar ata'ues cardiacos y se estP desarrollando un prometedor estudio denominado National Trial Chelation Therapy .ensayo nacional para evaluar la terapia de 'uelaciQn3. >a American Heart Association .AsociaciQn Americana del Cora<Qn3 tambiSn ha comen<ado un estudio sobre la terapia de 'uelaciQn aplicada a las enfermedades cardiacas.

7eflexiones finales sobre la terapia de *uelacin

>legados a este punto considero 'ue se deberRa seguir estudiando la efectividad de la terapia de 'uelaciQn para despejar cual'uier duda. @ien es cierto 'ue se han publicitado tantos beneficios, incluyendo en algunos casos la cura del cPncer, del autismo, la impotencia se ual y la gangrena, 'ue han jugado un papel en su contra, ocultando con afirmaciones tan osadas e inverosRmiles los verdaderos beneficios 'ue se pueden obtener con la aplicaciQn endovenosa u oral .o de ambas3 de esta tScnica. 6n medicina no e isten panaceas. Mna absoluta falta de Stica profesional es )prometer imposibles* y dar falsas esperan<as a personas desesperadas, 'ue se aferran a cual'uier posibilidad de curaciQn. 6l mSdico 'ue apli'ue la terapia de 'uelaciQn debe ser claro e informar de forma vera< y rigurosa al paciente, despuSs de conocer su patologRa. .7eferencias: 6ste resumen de algunos protocolos de investigaciQn se refiere tanto a los 'ue apuntan a la ineficacia de la terapia de 'uelaciQn como a los 'ue indican 'ue se han obtenido buenos resultados=

1. Ernst E. Chelation therapy for coronary heart disease: An overview of all clinical investigations. Am Heart . !"""#1$":$ % &. !. 'n(dtson )*+ ,yse D-+ -albraith .D+ et al. Chelation therapy for ischemic heart disease: a randomi/ed controlled trial. A)A. !""!#!01:$01 % $02. 3. Anderson T + H(bace4 + ,yse D-+ et al. Effect of chelation therapy on endothelial f(nction in patients with coronary artery disease: .ATCH s(bst(dy. Am Coll Cardiol. !""3#$1:$!" % $!&5# 67ree 8adical .athology in Age9Associated Diseases. Treatment with EDTA+ N(trition and Antio:idants6 ;.atolog<a de 8adicales *ibres en Dolencias 8elacionadas con el Enve=ecimiento5 ;Tratamiento con EDTA N(trici>n y Antio:idantes5 por los doctores Elmer ) Cranton y ames .. 7rac4elton # 6The Chelation ,ay6 por el Dr. )orton ,al4er ;*ibro completo sobre la Terapia de ?(elaci>n5. -arden City .ar4+ New @or4+ A.B.A# 6Chelation E:tends *ife6 ;*a Terapia por ?(elaci>n e:tiende la vida5 por el Dr. (lian ames+ Hollywood+ C. A.B.A# 6The Healing .owers of Chelation6 ;El .oder C(rativo de la Terapia por ?(elaci>n5 por los doctores Trowbridge ohn .. y ,al4er )orten Btamford+ Ct. A.B.A# 6The Bcientific Casis of EDTA Chelation Therapy ;*as Cases Cient<ficas del EDTA y la Terapia por ?(elaci>n5 Halstead Cr(ce Colton+ Ca. -olden ?(ill .(blishers+ Dnc. 1E1E A.B.A# 6Treatment of occl(sive vasc(lar disease with EDTA6. American o(rnal )edicine Bcientific+ !3E:13!+1E2" ;Tratamiento con EDTA en las enfermedades vasc(lares ocl(sivas# 6Treatment of angina pectoris with EDTA6. American o(rnal )edicine Bcientific !3!:2&$+1E&2 ;Tratamientos de angina de pecho con EDTA5. .(blicaciones Fstas dos Gltimas del Dr. Clar4e NE. 6stas publicaciones, asR como otras similares pueden ser obtenidas a travSs del Colegio Americano de Avance de la )edicina ;A.C.A.).5+ o en American Coard of Chelation Therapy ;Asociaci>n Americana de Terapia por ?(elaci>n5 1" ,est H(ron Btreet+ Chicabo+ Dllinois+ 2"21" A.B.A. Tlf: 31! !22 1!$2+ Centro de Bal(d Ambiental y .reventivo de Atlanta+ 3033 8oswell 8d. B(ite 11"+ Atlanta+ -a. 3"3$! A.B.A. Tlf. $"$ 0$1 2$123.