All World
Gayatri Pariwar

  Colitis and severe gastro-enteritis are the major diseases of digestive system. Colitis denotes many intestinal disorders. This is also called pus-filled stool, which is caused by a parasite called Entamoeba.This is also known as chronic amoebiosis. In many countries chronic form of this disease is a psychosomatic disease called Ulcerative Colitis. In this disease, millions of small ulcers crop up to cause swelling in the intestines and increase the secretion of mucus. There are two reasons for Colitis – one is a specific cause but causes for the other are not known. The diseases caused by specific known reasons are – Amoebiosis and Tuberculosis. There are some other diseases, etiology of which is not known till this day. These types of diseases are – Ulcerative Colitis and irritable colon. In both of these diseases the psychosomatic causes play a major role.

The symptoms of the Disease
 
The major symptoms of Colitis are – stool combined with water and pus. Stool has bad odor and there are frequent motions. Severe stomach ache which increases by touch or pressure. In chronic cases pus and blood get combined in stool. Generally the intensity of the disease keeps changing. For some years the symptoms disappear giving a false notion, as if the disease has been cured but later it reappears. This succession continues. The patient becomes weak and anemic.

The causes of disease

The main cause of the disease is tension and pressure. The stressful circumstances play a significant role in causing the disease. This is the reason for considering the psychosomatic reasons in treating the disease. In this context the ‘students Diarrhea’ caused by anxiety, disturbances and agitated mental state in college students can be cited as an example. This is a mild and short-term disease and generally occurs in students a few weeks before examinations. In this disease frequent motions occur, which not only disturb the studies but also force the patient to develop dependence on tranquilizers.

Drug therapy

Modern therapeutic science has remained unsuccessful in diagnosing the causes of the disease correctly. And hence, complete cure has not been found yet. Doctors are successful in controlling the disease but are helpless in finding a permanent cure. To control the motions in colitis, antibiotics are prescribed. With medication, the activity of the nerves is suppressed to some extent, but the main cause remains unattended.

Corticosteroids are considered as good remedies and do help in controlling the disease to some extent but the side effects of the steroids pose grave problems. In chronic ulcerative colitis the large intestine is removed through surgery. This surgery disturbs the life style of the patient to a large extent and imposes many a restrictions.

Reviving digestive power

According to the science of Yoga, the colitis is the result of reduced digestive capacity. The capacity of digestion is connected to the fire element and Manipooraka chakra. The slowing down of Jatharagni results in the increase of disease causing organisms leading to the weakening of chemical and muscular processes. This in turn weakens the immune system in the body enhancing the occurrence of diseases. Failure of functioning of intestine results in incomplete digestion of food and this undigested food comes out along with stool. This becomes the cause of bad odor. Through yoga therapy both, Prana urja and Jatharagni can be enhanced. With this the balance is re-established in the entire disorganized system.

Yogic cure of Colitis

Once the acute state of disease is overcome, yoga practice can be initiated according to the capacity.
Start with Pavanmuktasan Part 1 and 2. Then the practice of group of Shaktibandhs should be started. Begin with simple practice of Vajrasan, and then gradually proceed to Bhujangasan, Dhanurasan, Shalabhasan, Pashchimottasan, Sarvangasan, Halasan, Mastyasan, Chakrasan, Ardhamastyendrasan, Mayurasan, Padmasan, Shavasan and finally Sheershasan.

The procedure of Bhujangasan – Lie down on your stomach with legs fully stretched. Palms should be placed on the floor below the shoulders. Let forehead touch the ground. Carefully loosen the entire body, especially relax the back muscles. Slowly raise head and shoulders and bend backwards to the extent possible. Now stretch arms and straighten them along with bending the back backwards making a circle. Body should be lifted up beyond naval. In the final stage stay for a while and slowly perform all the movements in reverse and come back to the initial stage.

The procedure of Dhanurasan – Bend the feet at knees and catch the elbows. Keep the arms straight and pull the muscles of feet as if you want to lift them above buttocks. Simultaneously try to lift head and chest from the ground as upward as possible. In this position swing the body to and fro.

The procedure of Paschimottasan – Sit on the floor stretching the legs forward, feet together and hands on the thighs. Slowly bend the body forward, try to grasp the big toes with the fingers and thumb. If this is not possible, hold the heels, ankles or any part of the legs that can be reached comfortably. Let the forehead touch the knees. Do not exert extra pressure on the body. Stay in this final position as long as you can. Thereafter, relax the body and return to the starting position.

The procedure of Ardhamastyendrasan – Sit with the legs stretched out in front of the body. Bend the right leg and place its foot flat on the floor on the outside of the left knee. Bend the left leg and bring the foot around to the right buttock. Pass the left arm through the space between chest and the right knee, and place it against the outside of the right leg. Hold the right foot or ankle with the left hand so that the right knee is close to the left armpit. Right arm should be placed around the back of the waist. Slowly twist to the right, simultaneously moving the arm, trunk and head to the maximum. Stay in this posture for a while and reverse the movements to come out of the posture and repeat on the other side.

The procedure of Mayurasan – Adopt the posture of Hansasan. Maintaining pressure on the body bring trunk and legs into such a position that the body stays parallel to the ground. The whole body should be balanced on palms alone. Without stress remain in this position for a while. Thereafter slowly return to the starting state. After regularizing breath the posture can be repeated.

Pranayam – In this case one should practice Sheetali, Sheetakari, Nadishodhan and Ujjai.

The procedure of Sheetakari Pranayam – Fold the tongue backwards so that the tip of the tongue touches the upper palate. Hold the teeth lightly together. Lips should be separated exposing the teeth. Perform poorak through teeth.

The Procedure of Ujjai – Practice Kechari Mudra, i.e., fold the tongue backwards so that tip of the tongue touches the palate. Now contract the muscles of the neck and take deep breath, the sound should resemble the soft snoring of a child. It should be felt that breathing is taking place through throat and not through nose.

Shatkriya – One can practice Laghu Shankha Prakshalan, Kunjal and Neti and Agnisar kriya.(not for the patients of Ulcerative Colitis. In the previous issues the details of these kriyas have been mentioned).

Meditation – Practicing inner silence is an important aspect. Through this the patient succeeds in diagnosing and eliminating the reasons hidden in the layers of the subconscious. This plays an important role in preventing the attack of colitis.

Some other suggestions

In this disease diet should be such that it supplies the needed nutrition without causing pressure on the diseased intestines. In the absence of pressure on intestines, the capacity of digestion is enhanced.  The normal consumption of salt and water should be minimized and this can be substituted by intake of milk. Milk is the best diet in this case. Milk frees large intestine from any type of discomfort and heals the intestinal injuries. Besides this, plain Khichadi or Daliya can be taken. In case of amoebic dysentery take 200 grams of curds mixed with 3 glasses of cold water and 2 spoons of sugar. Stir the mixture well and filter through a cloth in a clean vessel. Take this mixture several times. Take no other food or drink with water, until the loose motions are controlled.

The regular and regulated practice of the above will provide adequate relief from the disease and restore good health. In the next issue, we will discuss, in detail, the yogic cure for Diabetes.