Yoga Treatment of Arthritis

MEANING OF ARTHRITIS

Arthritis is a disease that affects a large part of the population. In medical terminology, it is described as the swelling up of joints. It is a painful condition and, if left untreated for a long time, it can lead to permanent disability. The origin of the word lies in the Greek terms “itis,” which means inflammation and “arthro” which stands for joint. Thus Arthritis is a disease which causes inflammation of joints. In most cases, Arthritis affects the elderly population. However, at times even younger people fall prey to it.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF ARTHRITIS

• Stiff, creaky and painful joints.
• Deformation of the ailing organ.
• Intense pain and, in extreme conditions, disability

CAUSES

• In Osteoarthritis, the cartilage of the bone is depleted. The erosion of the cartilage occurs due to regular wear and tear of the body joints.
• While the aged are usually victims of this painful malaise, even younger people can be affected by this disease.
• Rheumatoid arthritis happens when the body's immune system attacks the lining of the joint.

YOGIC MANAGEMENT OF ARTHRITIS
By doing Yoga regularly, patients of arthritis can get some relief from the pain. This is because when one performs a Yogic posture, the muscles are stretched and the pain is relieved. Yogic exercises also strengthen the immune system and this helps the patient.

• Asanas like Makarasana, Bhujangasana, Trikonasana and Vrikshasana are good for arthritic patients.
• Simple Pranayama can also benefit them.
• Exercises like deep breathing and use of nostrils can help the patients.

HOME REMEDIES FOR ARTHRITIS

• Consumption of food that is rich in minerals, vitamins and proteins can help one fight arthritis. Patients can benefit immensely from fiber-rich fruits, green vegetables, raw vegetable juices etc.
• Taking ginger juice is also beneficial for arthritis patients. Herbal remedies like Rose-hip help in treating Arthritis. It strengthens the ligaments and body tissues.
• Another useful home remedy for arthritis is rubbing hot vinegar and sandalwood paste in the affected areas. Eating walnut and coconut is beneficial for strengthening of the bones.

AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF ARTHRITIS
Ayurveda suggests performing certain exercises and Asanas.

• There exist some natural drinks that can be prepared at home for arthritis patients. Every morning the mix of 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey can be taken.
• Apart from that, one can also try drinking carrot and cucumber juice. Turmeric is also useful for arthritis and the victims can take a glass of warm water with one teaspoon of turmeric.
• Garlic also has some healing properties that are beneficial in the treatment of arthritis.
• Try applying garlic paste to the affected areas. Besides, patients can also benefit by eating garlic slices.

CONCLUSION
It is quite evident that the diet of a person plays a role in controlling arthritis. Therefore, arthritis patients should adopt a healthy diet and stay away from junk food. They should also abstain from overeating.

(All the information in this document is well researched but general. To know more about remedies of these diseases please contact our specialists)

Yoga for Constipation

MEANING

Constipation refers to a condition when a person is unable to clear his or her bowel. It is quite common among people of all ages. A person suffering from constipation finds it difficult to pass faeces and, consequently, experiences a lot of pain and discomfort.

Constipation might often result in anal canal rupture. Diarrhea is also a common fallout of this syndrome. However, for many people, passing stool after two days is a common affair and hence cannot be termed as constipation.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Children suffering from constipation do not have the habit of passing stool regularly.
• The stool is hard and it often results in rupture of the anal canal skin. This can lead to blood loss.
• After meals, one might have the feeling that the stomach is bloated and that may lead to general discomfort.
• Intense pain often accompanies bowel movement.
• Cramps, poor appetite and vomiting are common symptoms of constipation.
• Children who suffer from constipation have a tendency of bed wetting.
• Urine’s normal flow is also affected. So, children suffering from constipation often do not want to urinate.

CAUSES

• There are many reasons that lead to constipation.
• Dehydration often leads to constipation.
• Rupture of the anal canal skin evokes fear in the mind of child and thus she/he refuses to pass faeces. The rupture causes great pain and blood loss.
• Mental stress often causes constipation.
• Improper food habits also lead to constipation.

YOGIC MANAGEMENT

• Asanas have proven to be helpful in overcoming constipation.
• Bhujanghasana helps in digestion and curing constipation.
• Trikonasana assists the individual to pass stool normally.
• Ardha Matsyendrasana increases the digestive fire and relieves a person from constipation by allowing easy bowel movement.
• Supta Vajrasana helps in digestion and thus cures constipation.
• Laghushamkha-Prakshalana is a deep cleaning of the small intestines. It is a series of asana done under the supervision of an expert. This entails complete digestive track cleansing and provides relief from constipation instantly.

HOME REMEDIES

• You can eat two apples every morning.
• Drink a glass of lemon juice in water and add a pinch of salt in it.
• Eat papaya every morning on an empty stomach. A fruit salad containing papaya and guava can be taken any time of the day.
• Warm lime water is beneficial for preventing constipation.
• Soak dry grapes overnight and take them early morning on an empty stomach.
• Add a tablespoon of flax seeds in a glass of water and keep it aside for about 3 hours. Drink this flax seed water before sleeping.
• Take orange juice anytime of the day.
• Spinach taken in cooked or raw form is quite beneficial in cleaning the bowel system.

AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT

• Take ripe bael fruit.
• Pulp of ripe fruit of the cassia tree is used for treating constipation.
• Castor oil is also an effective laxative.
• Chebulic myroblan’s pulp is taken with rock salt or flavored with cinnamon and cloves.
• You can also take a glass of water with a tablespoon of phyllium husk early morning on an empty stomach.
• Termnalia chebula normalizes functioning of the colon and improves the digestive tract.

CONCLUSION
The treatment of constipation must focus on doing Yogasanas everyday. Home remedies are also beneficial. Apart from these, holistic management can correct irregular evacuation of bowels and treat constipation successfully.

(All the information in this document is well researched but general. To know more about remedies of these diseases please contact our specialists)

Halasana - The Plough Pose

"Hala" means "Plough" in Sanskrit. The body position maintained in this posture gives an impression of the Indian plough and that is wht it is called 'Halasana'.

Sequence:

• Fold the body in Ardha Halasana posture without taking help of the hands.
• Breathe out slowly, push the palms against the ground and lift up the posterior, hips and lower back off the ground and, simultaneously, lower and move your legs right over your head without bending the knees to the extent the toes touch the ground at the nearest point beyond your head.
• Breathe in and take free inhalations and exhalations.
• Slide away the toes together straight along the floor, bending the spine to the highest extent to form a curve.
• Balance your body in this position and breathe out fully.
• Breathe deeply few times.
• Breathe out slowly, keep the legs straight and slide away the toes together straight along the ground moving away from the head to the extent the lower parts of the thighs are brought opposite the forehead.
• Breathe in and follow normal inhalations and exhalations.
• Push the chest against the chin and maintain a tight chin-lock.
• Raise your arms and move them gradually and make sure they rest on the ground on any side of your head.
• Maintain a finger-lock and keep the clasped hands encircling the top of your head.
• Breathe deeply few times.
• Breathe out; slide the toes forward to the maximum distance from the head as possible.
• Ensure the legs are straight and together.
• Make sure the knees are stiff and the toes pushing the floor.
• Stay in this position to the extent you feel comfortable, breathing at normal pace.
• Bring the arms to their original position on the respective sides.
• Breathe in, bring back the legs together to the perpendicular position ensuring knees are not bent.
• Breathe out, bring down the legs to the extent heels touch the floor.
• Breathe normally and feel comfortable in Sarvasana.

Caution:

• It is recommended to try this asana on an empty stomach.
• If you notice any persistent pain in the liver or spleen or feel extraordinary pressure on the abdomen, immediately stop this asana.
• Patients of hernia, high blood pressure or heart ailments must avoid it.
• Women should not practice it during menstruation and after the third month of pregnancy.

Benefits:

• If practiced regularly, Halasana cures the tension in the back, neck and legs and treats different types of rheumatism.
• It reduces pain in the shoulders and the waist.
• It helps to get rid of belching, gastritis, flatulence and enteroptosis.
• It also cutres headache, bronchitis and asthma.
• Disorders of the uterus and ovaries and menstrual ailments are treated effectively by the regular practice of this asana.
• Halasana stretches and exercises the posterior muscles of the entire body. The asana makes strong the intercostal muscles. The asana improves efficiency of the heart muscle and thus makes the heart healthy and increases circulation.
• The muscles at the back of the neck are stretched and relaxed.
• The alternate contraction, relaxation, stretching and the slow unwinding of the spinal column work on holistic approach to exercise for the different areas. If practiced regularly under guidance, the entire spine gets elasticity and becomes flexible and the spinal nerves, muscles and ligaments are toned up due to additional supply of arterial blood.
• This asana gives thyroid and parathyroid a better health and improves their functioning
• It also improves the functioning of the gonad glands.
• The asana is a boon for the Musicians and teachers because this asana works as good massage for the throat. The throat gets cleared up after the practice and the neck muscles become strong.
• If anybody wants to burn extra fat in the chest, lower abdomen, hips, thighs, legs and the backside then it is advised to practice this asana regularly. It helps to get rid of excessive weight and trim a flabby abdomen.
• It teaches us to follow a correct standing posture and grow toour full stature.

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High Blood pressure or Hypertension

Hypertension happens when the pressure in your system gets high enough leading to risks in your system. It is also commonly known as high blood pressure, which refers to the amount of pressure in your arteries. In diagnosing hypertension, several readings must be taken. If the rate of blood pressure reaches to as high as 140/90, then hypertension is present. Hypertension is also related to other diseases like stroke, heart attack, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), and may also lead to death. The two types of high blood pressure are as follows:

Primary Hypertension – also known as essential hypertension; commonly caused by stress. Primary hypertension has no specific symptom. Other causes comprise emotional disturbance, hereditary, race, climatic condition, Obesity, smoking and alcohol intake.

Secondary Hypertension – may lead to kidney infection, malfunctioning of the Endocrine Gland, arterial problems like arteriosclerosis.

Hypertension was known as the silent killer as it had no specific symptom. If not detected at an early stage it can lead to a heart attack.

In order to manage hypertension a life style change including yoga would be beneficiary as both body and mind needs to be treated. It has been proved that regular practice of yoga asana and pranayama can bring down HBP.

We encourage you to do the following practices and wish you a healthy lifestyle.

Tadasana (palm tree pose)

• Stand with your feet together, and arms by the side.
• Raise the arms over the head and interlock the fingers and turn the palms upward. Inhale and stretch the arms.
• Exhale and bring the hands to the side.
• Repeat 5-10 rounds.
• Shoulder stretches.
• Shoulder stretches are great to relieve tension on your shoulders and entire upper back.
• Stand erect with the feet slightly apart.
• Keep pulling your arms upwards gently to accentuate the stretch on the shoulders and chest.
• Remain in final position for 5- 10 seconds.
• Relax the arms.
• Repeat up to 5 times.

Bidalasana (Cat pose)

• Start on your hands and knees on the floor with fingers spread out.
• Make your back horizontal and flat.
• Inhale and arch your spine inwards with your head raised,
• Exhale and arch your spine outwards by pulling your abdominal muscles inwards towards your spine.
• Curl your head inwards.
• Repeat the sequence 5 times.

Caution: Avoid doing if you have back pain.

Meru Vakrasana (sitting spinal twist)

• Sit with the legs outstretched, back straight.
• Bend the right knee.
• Bring the left hand to the outer side of the right leg twisting the trunk.
• Place the left hand on the floor near the right ankle.
• Place the right hand behind the back on the floor for support.
• Turn the back and look over the right shoulder.

Caution : People with severe back problems, ulcer and hernia should avoid this posture.

Pawanmuktasana (Wind relieving pose)

• Lie down on your back on the floor.
• Bend both knees and bring them to the chest. Interlock your fingers around the shin and hug
• them closer to your chest.
• Exhale when you bring the knees to the chest.
• Hold the position for 10-15 seconds. You may breathe normally while holding the posture.
• Practice 3 times.

Bhujanga Asana

• Lie straight on your stomach, keeping the palms on the floor below the shoulder blades and the
• elbows touching the middle part of the body. Keep the heels together and toes flat on the floor.
• Breathe normally.
• Bend the head and neck backward.
• Inhaling slowly, raise the head and chest, above the naval area, upwards. Retain your breathe
• and hold in the same position for about 6 to 8 seconds.
• Exhale and simultaneously lower the head towards the floor.

Anulom-Vilom Pranayam

• Sit comfortably with your back straight.
• Bend your forefinger and middle finger of your right hand.
• Place ring finger between eyebrows, press right nostril with thumb. Inhale through the left
• nostril.
• Now place thumb in between eyebrows, leaving ring finger on left nostril. Exhale through the
• right nostril.
• Now, repeat inhaling, and exhaling in the opposite direction– starting from the right nostril.
• This completes 1 round.
• Practice 5 rounds, and slowly increase with time।

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Lose Weight through Yoga

Yoga for Weight Loss
In medical terminology, Obesity is defined as a state of metabolic disturbance resulting from the imbalance between the intake and expenditure of energy in the body.

Increasing obesity especially among the children and youths is the main cause of concern for medical fraternity in today’s rapidly moving world. More dangerous than the growing population rate, it is the curse of the changes in our life style.

Though we all are well aware of the risks and dangers of obesity, do we ever think what role yoga can play to overcome these dangers? Even though yoga was never been practiced for weight loss in the ancient times, but still the yoga gurus of today are advising lose weight through yoga.

We have complied here brief description of few asanas which have been proved useful for those who want to loose weight without using any medication and want to avoid sweating for longer hours in gym.

Ardhachakrasana

Benefit : works on the waist and side muscles of the body.

How to do the aasana?

1. Raise your right arm and place it next to the ear.
2. Exhale and bend your body to the left with your arm stretched out.
3. Inhale and come up. Repeat the same on the other side.

Natrajasana
Benefits :

• Reduces thighs.
• Shapes calf muscles.
• Strengthens ankles.

How to do the aasana?

1. Spread your feet apart
2. Bend your knees and raise your heals and stand on the ball of your feet.
3. Raise your arms over your head and pull yourself.
4. Hold for 10-15 counts. Breath normally.

Caution: People with knee injuries should avoid this asana.

Naukasana

Benefit : Helps to strengthen the entire abdominal area.

How to do the aasana?

1. Lie down flat on the back.
2. Raise your upper body and lower body upwards together to take the form of a boat.
3. Exhale as you take position and hold as long as you can.

Caution: Do not strain your neck when doing this asana

Purna Vyagrasana

Benefit : Tones hip and back thigh muscles.

How to do the aasana?

1. Be on your knees and palms on the floor.
2. Look straight ahead.
3. Raise one leg straight up and parallel to the floor.
4. Inhale and bend the knee of the raised leg and slowly raise the knee as high as possible.
5. Contract the hamstring and hip muscles as tight as possible.
6. Maintain the posture for 30 seconds to a minute .
7. Repeat on the other side.

Bhunaman Kakasana

Benefits : Improves upper body strength and Tones biceps and triceps

How to do the aasana?

1. Lie flat on the stomach.
2. Keep your hands by the side of the chest.
3. Raise your entire body by straightening your arms and doing a push up.
4. Place your left knee on the floor and raise your right leg up and bend the knee towards the ceiling.
5. Bend your elbows and go down towards the floor without touching it.
6. Hold position for 30 seconds.
7. Repeat on the other side.

Caution: People suffering from wrist and elbow injuries should avoid this asana.

Obesity in itself is not a risk to life in any form but it poses danger to our health in the form of different diseases like High blood pressure, Diabetes, coronary Heart disease, Gall Bladder Disease etc. contrary to the popular myth that these diseases attack in old age many young people of today’s generation are caught in the web of obesity linked disorders.

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