In a six-month study that evaluated the effect of Yoga Nidra on anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with menstrual disorders, 126 women were divided into either an intervention or a control group. The authors conclude that “the patients with mild to moderate anxiety and depressive symptoms improved significantly with ‘Yoga Nidra’ intervention. There is no significant improvement in the patients with severe anxiety and depressive symptoms.”
Comment from Amy Weintraub: I would hypothesize that the instruction to lie down in yoga nidra practice for someone with severe anxiety and depressive symptoms, does not meet the current mood, and could actually exacerbate those symptoms. If someone is highly anxious, it may be best to meet that anxiety with a vigorous physical practice before lying down for the Yoga Nidra intervention.
Rani K, Tiwari S, Singh U, Singh I, Srivastava N., “Yoga Nidra as a complementary treatment of anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with menstrual disorder,” International Journal of Yoga2012 Jan;5(1):52-6.
Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22346067
This summary was kindly provided by Amy Weintraub http://yogafordepression.com/
Women’s Health interview with Dr Claudia Welch
Dr. Claudia Welch is a medical doctor and specialist in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has specialised in women's health with a focus on hormonal balance. In this article she discusses how to restore hormonal balance, the cause of women's disorders and her book on women's health