Yoga Makes You Younger -The Third Eye and it's effects on the pineal gland's

production of melatonin
Christian Paaske, November 24th, 2002

The pineal gland is considered one of the body's greatest

mysteries. Today we know that it is an endocrine gland which
secrets the hormone melatonin. It is shaped like a pine cone and
placed exactly in the middle of the brain. The french philosopher
Descartes suggested that the pineal gland, or the cone gland, as he
called it, was the dwelling place of the soul, and the gateway to the
spiritual world. But apart from this comment, western science has
mainly ignored this gland and considered it more or less useless.
Since Darwin it has been described as remnicents of an eye which
no longer is in use, and originates from earlier history of evolution
when we were a more primitive species.
It is not until the last 50 years that science has started to uncover
some of the pineal glands great secrets. After seven years of age small layers of
calcification appears in the gland, and makes it look like a small cone in x-rays. Because it
is situated in the middle of the brain, it is used to detect tumours of the brain, because this
would displace the pineal gland from it's centre.
With the exception of the kidneys, no other place in the body receives as much supply of
blood as the pineal gland, and there is several indications that this gland plays a much
greater role than previously thought. New discoveries have now shown that the hormone
secreted by this gland, melatonin, has several effects:
-

Decreases the aging process

Starts off puberty
Strengthen the immune system
Regulates body heat
Regulates oestrogen level among woman
Regulates sleep function

The pineal gland is light sensitive, and is one of the reasons it is part of the body's biological
clock, both in humans and animals, and has a regulating effect in sleep function. Melatonin
has in fact also psychedelic effects, and can release special ecstatic and transcendental
experiences, among meditators and mystics.
The mystical third eye
According to several occult traditions, the pineal gland is
connected to "The Third Eye", which is situated in the middle of
the forehead, on a straight line from the pineal gland. With
Shiva and The Buddha, the third eye is found described as a
"shining spot" and "a flaming pearl", symbolising unity,
transcendental wisdom and spiritual consciousness.
This point is often used as point of concentration in meditation, because it is one of the
places in the body where it is most easy to hold a steady focus, as well as it activates
psychic energy. Concentration on this point will sooner or later give strong impressions of
inner light, and is a method to get in contact with the energy dimension beyond the physical
body.
In the Bible there is a saying that refers to the third eye:
"Let thine eye be single. That thy whole body shall be full of light."
(Mark 6:22 and Luke 11:34. This is from the King James version of the Bible which was
written in the time of Shakespeare. Later editions have other translations which often

looses this interesting point made out by Jesus.)

The tantric yogi, Swami Satyananda gives this description of the third eye:
"This chakra is called the third eye or the command centre. It is a point in the psychic body
where information from the outer world is perceived, and where the guru in more advanced
forms of practice guides the student through instructions. It is the famous eye of intuition,
where the psychic developed can observe everything that goes on both on the physical and
psychic planes of existence."
Melatonin and cancer
Although the pineal gland is not bigger than a pea, it is still the organ in
the body producing most melatonin, even though small amounts also are
being produced in the eyes and in the intestines. Normally the secretion
of melatonin is low during the day, and high during the night. By
exposing the body to light during the night it will decrease the melatonin
production, because the eyes are neurological connected to the pineal
gland.
An Australian researcher, Swami Sannyasananda writes in a research report on melatonin:
"Reduction of melatonin during the night increases the celles' vulnerability towards cancer
causing substances. It has been reported increased cancer incidents in areas with
unnormally high electric power fields, which results in decreased melatonin production
during the night. Melatonin is an active cancer protecting substance, which both prevents
cancer and the development of cancer, and is an important part of the body's imunesystem.
It is particularly in its function as an antioxydant that melatonin has this effect. Melatonin
also influences the production of T- cells which counteracts stress and is one of the
imunesystems most active substances."
Melatonin decreases with age
According to two scientists at the Macquarie University in Australia, professor Keith
Cairncross and professor Arthur Everitt this gland is a pure fountain of youth. After three
years of research they are convinced that the hormones secreted by the pineal gland plays
a central role in the mechanisms controlling stress in primates. They presume that the
reduction of melatonin with age, is a central cause for many of the diseases occurring in the
elderly. They therefore suggest to give many elderly hormone supplements in the form of
synthetic melatonin to counteract diseases and prolong life.
Because of melatonin's powerful effects there is today a lot of research being done. Often
this includes experiments on animals, which often does not correlate to reactions in the
human body.
Yoga and melatonin
There are natural means to increase the production of melatonin, and particularly simple
yoga techniques. Swami Sannyasananda by Adelaide University Medical School has through
research found that the tantric yoga techniques, Alternate breathing or Nadi Shodan
pranayama, and particularly Candle gazing or Tratak, has a dramatic effect on melatonin
production. Tratak is concentration on an external object and in this case, the flame of a
candle. Experiments on persons doing Tratak every evening before sleep showed a
significant increase of melatonin.
On this background it is a highly recommended practise to do Tratak before bedtime to calm
down, and secure deep sleep and a strengthening of the imunesystem, and other benefits
of increased melatonin production.
The two practises are good in combination, Alternate breathing followed by Tratak takes 15
minutes. It can be uses also in the morning, as well as a preparation for meditation, or as
described before bedtime.
Alternate breathing

Sit in a comfortable position where you can sit with a straight back,
either in a meditation pose on the floor, or on a chair.
- Close the eyes and concentrate on the spontaneous flow of air
through the nostrils.
- When the breath has calmed down, place the index- and middle
finger of the right hand on the third eye, 2-3 cm above the
eyebrows in the middle of the forehead. Use the thumb to open
and close the right nostril, and the ring finger to open and close
the left nostril.
- Keep both nostrils open, and take a deep calm in breath.
- Then close the right nostril and exhale through the left.
- Now begins the alternate breathing:
- Breath slowly, deeply and without sound in through the left.
- Exhale through the right.
- Inhale through the right
- Exhale through the left.
This was one round of Alternate breathing.
If you managed without getting short of breath or feeling choked, continue another round,
otherwise, take a break and breathe through both nostrils until calm.
Count the rounds, and do this for 5 minutes.
This is the first stage of this exercise, and there are many other levels. After some time you
can start holding the breath, and include different ratios of counting, like in breath 1, hold 4
and exhale 2. But do not go on to higher levels before it feel comfortable and relaxed to do
so. No force should be used in this practice, the approach should be gentle.
Tratak
Sit in a comfortable position where you can sit with a straight back,
either in a meditation pose on the floor, or on a chair. Place a
burning candle appr. 30 cm from the eyes in a horizontal line.

it fades away.

- Close the eyes and concentrate on the spontaneous flow of air

through the nostrils.
- When calm, open the eyes and gaze at the candle.
- Sit for 5-10 minutes. Try not to blink. If you can avoid blinking
the mind will be calm and free of thoughts, the moment you blink,
thought comes.
- Then close the eyes and concentrate on the light impression until

There are many other forms of Tratak, using different objects of concentration. For
example; place a red dot on the third eye, and sit in front of a mirror, or in front of another
person also with a dot on the forehead. Do Tratak for 10 - 15 minutes.
With both practises you are in for a surprise.