Fingertip touching or Hasta mudras may well be one of the easiest ways to enhance our mind-body-soul wellness. Research on the effects of Yoga hand (hasta) mudras practice- though not fully conclusive, point to that direction.
The science of Yoga Hasta Mudra agrees that the Brain is King and controls it all, including the fingers – But this yogic science also suggest that the fingers/hands also have the uncanny ability to shape the brain.
We have always known this, haven’t we. Getting absorbed in a painting, a piece of writing, clay moulding, guitar strumming etc all feel so meditative …so unerringly right.
On the same lines ancient Yogic wisdom says practising Hand Mudras or hasta Mudras can promote self-awareness and creativity in our self-healing and self-improvement endeavours.
Hasta Mudras keep us centred by deeply connecting us with our life force (Prana), our subtle energy pathways (nadis) and subtle energy centres (chakras). Yogic science believes hand mudras can trigger automatic healing through manipulation of subtle energy circuits.
Sadguru on the science of Yoga hasta Mudras:
As Sadguru says ‘Mudra is the subtle art of arranging your body in a certain way. The way your system functions can be altered just by changing the positions of your palms. By holding a certain mudra, the energies tend to move in a certain way. This is a whole science by itself that involves geometry and circuitry of the body.’
The Science of Yoga Hasta/Hand Mudras explained in detail
1.The fingers are one of the most sensitive parts of our body
The fingertips are amongst the most sensitive parts of the body. They are packed with thousands of nerve endings estimated at around 3000 nerve receptors per finger.
The Guardian publication- basis research by Andrew Pruszynski and Roland Johansson states that each finger nerve ending, branches just beneath the skin forming a 5mm area of elliptical receptive field with up to 8 highly sensitive zones distributed unevenly within
2. Fingers/hands take up a large part of the cortex.
While different body parts occupy regions of the brain, their physical size does not determine the size occupied. But the sensitivity of those regions determines the brain-space they occupy (called cortical magnification in scientific language)
Body area with most sensitivity such as fingers/hands/tongue extend over the largest cortical area.
As per a Frontiers neuroanatomy report, the sensation in the fingers constitute over one sixth of the total surface area of the primary somatosensory cortex. Somatosensory cortex is that part of the brain which is responsible for receiving and processing sensory information from the body.
(Source NIH Report: Somatotopic mapping of fingers in the somatosensory cortex using functional magnetic resonance imaging)
3. Fingertips have extra sensitive receptors.
The human hand is full of cutaneous and subcutaneous mechanoreceptors. The combined action of all the four following receptors creates the sensation of touch.
- Meissner’s corpuscles respond to low frequency vibration and dynamic skin deformation.
- Pacinian corpuscles are sensitive to high frequency stimuli.
- Ruffini corpuscles are responsive to low frequency pressure/vibration.
- Merkels discs are sensitive to light touch and spatial structure.
When an external stimulus meets the required threshold intensity and is detected by these receptors, the electrical signal is transmitted through the spinal cord into the somatosensory cortex.
4. There is a two- way movement between the fingers, heart and organs.
The signals are a two-way process – from the brain to the fingers and back from the fingers to the brain.
· Signals from the Brain/organs to the fingers
The spinal cord (connected at the brainstem) is the main conduit for brain signals from the brain to the rest of the body.
The finger nerves start from the spinal cord and pass through the brachial plexus- a network of nerves at the shoulder. These nerves then travel down to the fingers providing motor support and tactile sensations.
Further, motor neurons from the brain stem control the muscles that move the fingers. Additionally, the fingers are connected to the heart and other organs through blood vessels.
· Electrical signals from the fingers to the brain/organs
The fingers send electrical impulses to the brain through a system called as the somatosensory system. The sensory receptors in the fingertips send these electrical signals first to the spinal cord, that now moves to the brain stem and finally to the somatosensory cortex that further processes this information
How is all this related to the science of yoga hasta mudras ?
Fingertip joining triggers multiple positive responses from the brain. This is because when we join our fingertips we activate the Vagus nerve, which is a long nerve from the Brain stem to the abdomen. The Vagus nerve is involved in a variety of functions such as digestion, rate of heartbeat, mood etc.
Joining of fingertips activates the Vagus nerve which in turn releases neurotransmitters associated with feelings of happiness, well- being and relaxation. (like dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin etc)
When Stress releases cortisol it can disrupt blood pressure and heart rate. Fingertip joining can reduce cortisol and thus fight toxins
Why do different Yoga Hasta mudras practiced with varied fingertip combination give different results?
Different nerves control different fingers thereby providing a different set of stimulation when a combination of fingertips are joined together.
Eg : the ulnar nerve controls the little finger and the medial half of the ring finger. The median nerve controls the index finger, the ring finger and the lateral half of the ring finger while the radial nerve controls the thumb and the lateral half of the index finger.
So when we apply pressure to different parts of the fingers/hands we stimulate related brain areas thereby creating or enhancing brain patterns and corresponding energy circuits.
Studies conducted to test the efficacy and science of Yoga Hasta Mudras:
1.Lung specific Yoga Hasta Mudras showed improved respiratory parameters
A study on a group of 25, out of 50 stable asthma patients, who practiced yoga hand postures for 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week upto a period of 6 weeks showed a marked improvement v/s the other 25 in the control group.
The Hasta mudras practiced were Atmanjali Mudra, Bronchial Mudra, Asthma Mudra, Bhramara Mudra and Linga Mudra.
The observations recorded on the following parameters showed a positive improvement in respiratory efficiency after the 6 week program v/s the previous scores.
- The PEFR- The Peak Expiratory Flow rate.
- The BHT – Breath Holding time.
- ST – Sniders Test
- EBT- Expiratory Blast test
- RET- Respiratory Endurance test
(Source: Proquest report by Saravanan and team on ‘Lung Specific yoga mudras on respiratory function on asthma patients)
(Source: Kuldeep Singh , Hasta Mudras and respiratory system)
2. Yoga Hasta mudras can help alleviate anxiety / stress
In a study, 25 male and 25 female students aged 18-25 students were put on a Gyan mudra (Jnana Mudra) practice session for 15 minutes daily (except Saturday/Sundays) for 4 weeks .
Their pre and post program scores of anxiety levels using the SCAT (Sports Competition Anxiety test) questionnaire showed a marked reduction.
(Source: IJPESH report by Naman Kumar and Dr Sandeep titled ‘Effect of Jnana Mudra on anxiety level among young adults)
3. Yoga Hasta mudra can positively impact the personal subtle energy field
Electrophotonic Imaging (EPI) can capture the energy field around water, plants, essential oils and even us.
Here Electrophotonic imaging helps capture the electrical discharge around the fingers by capturing the number of electrons around them.
This study saw 18 participants practising Prana mudra consecutively for 3 days post which they showed greater EPI parameters as compared to the control group that also sat quietly, but without mudras.
Additionally EPI parameters were significantly enhanced when the study group practiced Prana mudra for 20 mins on the 3rd day, v/s both – 10 mins (1st day) and 15 minutes (2nd day).
Source: NIH : Classification of Electrophonic Images of Yogic practice of Mudra through Neural Networks by Kotilkalapudi Shiva Kumar et al)
4. Yoga Hasta Mudras as a complement to high blood pressure control and cardiovascular health.
In this study, 14 heart patients and 27 regular subjects between ages 35-65 were asked to first relax and then practice Yoga Hand Mudra for 15 minutes. Their cardiac and neurological parameters were recorded before doing the Mudra.
Post the Mudra practice, there was a substantial reduction in the systolic, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and blood viscosity of the heart patients. A positive for the heart and normal blood pressure.
(Source : Research journal on recent sciences – ISCA study by Tripati et al titled ‘ Effect of Yoga Hand mudra on cardiac and neurological parameters)
In Conclusion
Yogic Science believes that Hand Mudras along with Body Mudras, Pranayama, Asanas and Meditation can facilitate self-healing by balancing the inner energies and elements.
But Hard core conclusive medical evidence of Yoga hasta mudras efficacy as the primary treatment is missing.
Hence, we advise you to consult your doctor and incorporate hasta mudras only as a complement to your daily healing routine or medication.
