20260801 USH India Webinar Information

This page contains information about the USH India Webinar held on 1st August 2026.

Title: "How can Yoga and Naturopathy Help Families Affected by Usher Syndrome by Dr KM Kavana | USH India Webinar"

Youtube link: to be added ...

Contents:

• Summary
• Youtube Video Description
• Full Transcript

SUMMARY

Key Outcomes

Dr. K.M. Kavana, a yoga and naturopathy physician with three relatives affected by Usher syndrome, presented evidence-based mechanisms by which yoga and naturopathy can slow disease progression and support mental health in Usher syndrome patients. The session emphasized that yoga cannot cure RP or restore lost vision, but consistent practice can slow progression, improve balance, and reduce stress-driven deterioration. Naturopathy and conventional (allopathic) should go hand in hand , not competing systems.

Decisions Made

• Yoga and naturopathy should be practiced alongside allopathic treatment, not as replacements

• No yoga asanas — especially balance postures — should be attempted without clinical supervision
• General pranayama and meditation are safe for broader self-practice; asanas require individual prescription

Core Concepts Covered

1..Naturopathy Principles

• Body has an innate healing capacity; the practitioner's role is to create the right environment for healing
• Health is a "symphony" of sleep, exercise, emotional balance, and diet — imbalance in any one disrupts the whole
• Root cause is always addressed before symptoms

2..Yoga & Eye Health

• A 2021 study (Nims Hospital, Rajasthan) showed 55% improvement in low myopia patients after a 30-min/day, 5-day/week, 3-week ocular yoga protocol
• Key ocular exercises: blinking, eye washing, directional movements, and trataka (candle gazing for concentration and circulation)
• Early-stage intervention yields significantly better outcomes than late-stage

3..Yoga & Neuroprotection (RP)

• Yoga stimulates smooth muscle contraction → releases myokines → produces BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor)
• BDNF attaches to retinal ganglion receptors → increases retinal and choroidal blood circulation → slows RP progression
• Goal is progression delay (e.g., extending functional vision from 15 to 30 years), not reversal

4..Mental Health & Usher Syndrome

• A 2015 study (Domaniscus) using CT/MRI found structural brain changes in Usher patients linked to mood, memory, concentration, anxiety, and depression
• Chromosomes 8 and 14 — involved in Usher syndrome — are also linked to mood and behavioral regulation
• Chronic stress creates allostatic overload, disables the body's self-healing mechanism, elevates cortisol, increases oxidative stress, and further accelerates retinal degeneration
• Yoga reduces cortisol via the hypothalamic-Pitutary-adrenal axis and improves interoception (body-mind awareness), directly regulating the emotional center

5..Balance

• Usher syndrome causes vestibular dysfunction → mismatched signals to the brain → impaired balance 
• Yoga postures (e.g., vrikshasana/tree pose) train single-point concentration to stabilize balance
• Walking exercises (straight line, crisscross, reverse) progressively challenge and retrain the balance system

Caregiver Role

• Family members should practice yoga themselves first, then practice alongside the person with Usher — not merely supervise
• Caregiver mental health must be maintained to provide effective support
• Allow open conversation about fears and frustrations; support independent decision-making; avoid judgment

Monitoring Progress

• No blood test exists for balance or vision field changes; progress is tracked via routine eye assessments, symptom observation and self-reporting
• Routine eye assessments (refraction, visual field tests) with a retina specialist provide objective data
• Example shared: Geri's son had no eyeglass prescription change for 4 years after combining Ayurvedic treatment with retina specialist monitoring, versus annual changes previously

Action Items

• Dr. Kavana: Share research papers, book/website links, and yoga resources in the Usher India WhatsApp group
• Geri: Post naturopathy/yoga content on the Usher India blog for centralized access. Post recording of the webinar in the USH India Youtube channel with corrected captions. Post transcript in USH India Blog (language translation available there).
• All members: Contact Dr. Kavana directly for individualized consultation (in-person in Bangalore/Mumbai or home visits available)

YOUTUBE VIDEO DESCRIPTION

to be added ...

FULL TRANSCRIPT

to be added ...