"Science and Magic are one and the same. When the methodology behind a phenomenon is understood, it science. When the methodology behind is not understood, it is magic." As science evolves, more magical phenomena become scientific principles, theories, and laws. When the radio (the talking box!) was first introduced, many who hadn't seen it rejected the idea as fiction. The ones that saw the Radio working (talking) thought it was magic. The ones who understood how it worked called it a scientific invention. But irrespective of whether you understand how the radio works, if you turn it on and tune in a station it works -- you listen to music or talk show from the sound waves coming from the radio! If you don't turn it on no sound waves come out of the Radio and you hear nothing!
Whether you understand the science behind Sooryayog or not, it works for those who practices it. If you want know what modern science has discovered read below. If you are more inquisitive and want more details, also read the page "More on Science Behind Sooryayog" .
There are plenty of scientific evidences that Sooryayog will lead to a healthy living, void of diseases and worries.
Science also supports that Sooryayog will prevent and cure many diseases, including cancer. Sooryayog is a holistic approach to healthy living – healthy body, mind, and spirit. Science, especially modern/western science, is not holistic. Often, its reach is limited to exploring single cause and effect phenomena. Modern science can identify and explain several individual benefits of practicing Sooryayog (absorbing Sun’s energy directly), but cannot explain all the benefits that a Sooryayogi (one who practices Sooryayog) feels, realizes, and enjoys since the results of practicing Sooryayog are holistic.
The science that explains the benefits of Sooryayog is primarily attributed to two main parts of the human body – the eyes and the skin. While performing Sooryayog at sunset or sunrise, with eyes wide open looking directly at the Sun, the full spectrum of sunlight enters the body through the eyes, while the skin is exposed to light, directly and indirectly through the clothing. How does it affect the human body? How does it influence the health and well-being? What really happens physiologically that triggers or causes the body to fight diseases?
Modern scientists have (re)discovered many physiological reactions of skin that is exposed to sunlight. The dominant one being the production of Vitamin-D, which is attributed to preventing many diseases, even reversing cancer. They have also (re)discovered that human eyes have other critical functions apart from giving us the ability to see. These functions of the skin and the eyes were known to many ancient cultures; the Mayans, Indians, Chinese, Aztecs, ancient Egyptians, and pre-Christian Essenes. The process of what we call Sooryayog today has been given various names by the ancient cultures. All these ancient cultures used the Sun’s energy, also referred to as life-force energy, to cure many diseases as well as promote holistic healthy living of the body, mind, and spirit. However, the modern world, driven by corporate profits and greed, tries to suppress further research and understanding of Sun’s healing powers by not adequately funding research in this field and by ostracizing the scientists who publish their findings about the healing powers of the Sun. If only the health industry and the pharmaceutical companies find a way to sell sunlight, the world will be told, unequivocally, about the healing powers of sunlight through CNN, NBC, and the New York Times!!
Nevertheless, the pursuit of science is to find the truth, and many scientists have published their findings and have managed to incorporate the Sun’s energy into modern medicines and procedures. Here’s how modern science explains the miracles of the Sun’s energy:
The Pineal Gland and the Skin Duo
The pineal gland (also called the pineal body, epiphysis cerebri, epiphysis or the "third eye") is a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain. It is activated by light and produces serotonin and is the richest site of serotonin in the brain. It metabolizes serotonin into melatonin, a hormone that affects the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and photoperiodic (seasonal) functions.
Sunlight that enters the body through our eyes reach the pineal gland. When light enters the retina of the eyes, this signal is sent through the optic nerve to a region of the hypothalamus called the suprachiasmatic nucleus. This pathway is called the retinohypothalamic tract. From the suprachiasmatic nucleus, nerve impulses via the sympathetic nervous system travel to the pineal gland and inhibit the production of melatonin. At night, these impulses stop (because no light stimulates the hypothalamus) and melatonin production ensues and is released into the body. The amount of sunlight exposure regulates the Pineal glands function’s of serotonin and melatonin production.
The exposure to sunlight activates a skin hormone called solitrol, which is a form of Vitamin D3. Working together, Solitrol and Melatonin affect the regulation of the whole body including the immune system, mood, circadian rhythms and seasonal responses. (Stumpf, W. (1988). "Vitamin D - Solitrol the heliogenic steroid hormone: Somatotrophic activator and modulator." Histochemistry 89: 209-19.) Vitamin D is known as the "sunshine vitamin", and although vitamin D can be obtained from milk and fish, this form is not as biologically effective as the vitamin D produced by sunlight. Vitamin D3 is a skin hormone called solitrol, which works in conjunction with the pineal hormone, melatonin, to control the body's response to light and darkness. Solitrol works antagonistically with the melatonin to produce changes in mood and our 24 hour bodily rhythms, as well as affecting our immune system.
Vitamin D enters the blood stream and goes to the kidneys and liver where it plays a key role in the absorption of calcium from foods, as well as the utilization of the mineral phosphorus. Nutritionally oriented physician Dr. Elson Haas states that since vitamin D is intimately related to the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, it is important to the growth and development of bones and teeth in children. Dr. Haas adds that D3, because of its effect on calcium levels, is important in the maintenance of the nervous system, heart functioning, and blood clotting.
Sunlight entering the eyes prevents the pineal gland from inhibiting the pituitary, and thereby provides a counterbalance to the hypoglycemic effect of sunlight hitting the skin. (Relkin, R. (ed), The Pineal Gland, Elsevier, New York, 1983. 13Tanaka, Y., "Effect of 1,2S-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 on Insulin Secretion: Direct or Mediated", Endocrinology: 118(5); 1971-1974, 1986). Thus, the eyes (via Pineal gland) and the skin working as duo, producing hormones in response to sunlight exposure, govern our general health, mood and immune system. One of the main benefits of practicing Sooryayog is that it helps the body produce and regulate Vitamin-D levels in the body at a balanced level.
Below is an amazing list of benefits of Vitamin D, just one aspect of practicing Sooryayog, according to modern science. More being discovered and added constantly.
Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphorus
The first intimation of vitamin D's vital role was in 1782, when it was discovered that cod liver oil cures rickets (a disease of growing children whose bones bend due to lack of strength). Of course, they didn't know then that it was vitamin D in the oil that did the job.
Vitamin D itself was isolated in the 1920's, but for several decades, all that was known about its usefulness was that it prevented rickets.
In fact, vitamin D plays a major role in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and in their proper utilization. This helps keep our bones and teeth strong, and stops calcium depositing where it shouldn't (for example in our blood vessels, heart and kidneys).
Vitamin D is essential to a healthy immune system
Vitamin D helps the immune system to fight infections. With a near-optimum blood level of vitamin D, you can expect fewer colds, 'flu, and other unwelcome opportunists (including Swine flu). Not only does Vitamin D enhance your immunity, but it inhibits the development of destructive auto-immune diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis.
Vitamin D is a major inhibitor of cancer, and part of this effect may be attributed to the increased vigilance of the immune system.
Vitamin D promotes cellular differentiation
Vitamin D encourages cell differentiation (differentiated cells are needed to perform specialized functions effectively) and also slows down the rate at which cells multiply, or proliferate. Both of these effects contribute to vitamin D's cancer-fighting ability. Cancer cells are characterized by a lack of differentiation and by rapid proliferation.
Vitamin D is a potent anti-inflammatory
Chronic inflammation is coming into prominent focus as a cause of many disease processes, including major killers such as heart disease and cancer.
Vitamin D is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, which may also contribute to its effectiveness in reducing some types of muscular pain.
Vitamin D helps regulate blood sugar levels
Optimum levels of vitamin D protect against diabetes (both type 1 and type 2), insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Diabetes is usually associated with very low levels of vitamin D.
The pancreas also needs sufficient vitamin D in order to make and secrete insulin.
Getting enough vitamin D helps blood sugar control. It may also help prevent serious diabetic complications.
Vitamin D helps lower blood pressure
Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D helps reduce the risk of hypertension. And optimum levels actually tend to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive people.
Vitamin D benefits, or helps prevent, diseases
Maintaining a good vitamin D level may help to reduce your chances of acquiring any of these conditions. If you already suffer from one or more of them, vitamin D may still help:
Bones weak (easy to fracture)
Cancer (all types)
Colds and 'flu
Dental cavities and misaligned teeth
Diabetes (types 1 and 2)
Low back pain
Mental illness and mood disorders
Muscle weakness and pain
Osteomalacia (softening of bones)
|Parkinson's disease |
Peripheral artery disease
Pelvic floor disorders
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Vitamin D protects against low-level nuclear radiation
Dr Daniel Hayes PhD describes many ways in which vitamin D may protect the body from the effects of low-level radiation, such as may occur after a nuclear accident. His paper was published in the International Journal of Low Radiation (Sept 2008)