Therapeutic potential of Omkara chanting in cardiovascular disease with special emphasis on Hridroga: A narrative review

Abstract

The mortality figure of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in India has risen to 4.77 million by 2020 from 2.26 million in 1990. The surge in CVDs over the last three decades is certainly alarming. In Ayurveda, the cardiac conditions are related to Hridroga. The heart, known as Hridaya in Ayurvedic language, is not merely a physical organ of the body, but it is an important citadel for Prana, a vital force that sustains life. From this, one can understand the role of the heart in shaping the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of a person.

It is known from the clinical findings that mental states like stress, anxiety, and depression are closely linked with the health of the heart, which not only affect life but also worsen the course of cardiovascular conditions, leading to illness. Therefore, the psychological dimension needs to be addressed properly in CVD management. The chanting of Omkara, about which a lot of descriptions are found in the ancient yogic traditions, is considered a better option for bringing down the alarming mental states. The utterance of the syllables A, U, and M in the Omkara activates the parasympathetic nervous system, thus increasing variability of high-frequency heart rate, besides bringing a state of good relaxation to the body.

The chanting of Omkara effectively connects the mind with the body. It helps lessen the mental disturbances and increase clarity in mental work. The benefits accrued from chanting of Omkara go beyond the individual and strengthen self-consciousness and internal harmony, which are regarded as cardinal qualities responsible for bringing about balance in society.

The importance of chanting Omkara as a non-pharmacological therapy to help the patients of cardiovascular disorders, supporting their mental welfare, has been described in this article. To achieve sustainable health care in connection with cardiovascular problems, this article describes how to integrate the Omkara chanting into the modern health systems.

Focus has been given to Omkara chanting, cardiovascular disease, mental wellness, sound therapy, holistic approach, and non-pharmacological management.