Stress, among other things, triggers the frequency of epileptic fits a disorder of the central nervous system characterised by loss of consciousness and convulsions. There is evidence that shows stress results in sudden and unexplained deaths in epileptic patients. A study conducted at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, suggests certain forms of yoga, along with regular treatment, can help reduce seizures in patients suffering from refractory epilepsy. Patients suffering from refractory epilepsy get more than two seizures every month. Epilepsy affects 40 million people worldwide. But effective treatment is not yet available. On an average, 15 per cent of patients remain epileptic despite taking more than two drugs. One of the reasons for frequent seizures is that high levels of stress lead to release of hormones that excite brain cells, resulting in seizures. "Yoga maintains the functional harmony between body and mind, lowering stress levels,' says Sumitra R K, yoga therapist with Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bangalore. The study, funded by the Central Council of Research in Yoga and Naturopathy, was conducted on two groups