Yoga can cure Asthma

July - Aug 2010

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    Asthma is a disease that causes immense discomfort and suffering. The patient suffers from difficulty in breathing, suffocation, coughing etc. because the respiratory tracks inside the lungs contract due to asthma. As the inhaled air passes through contracted tubes with increased velocity, sounds like whistle can be heard while breathing. This is called ‘wheezing’. The respiratory tubes get narrowed and obstructed because of excessive secretion of thick phlegm. A highly aggravated condition of asthma is called Statuts Asthmaticus. This can prove to be very severe and may even lead to death.

Asthmatic attacks and Symptoms

An asthmatic attack is a very traumatic and terrifying experience. Early symptoms of impending attack can be felt a few hours before the actual attack. In children, a slight whistle-like wheezing sound can be heard before the attack and indicative symptoms through a pattern of behavioral changes can be recognized. Some of these are – increased irritability, unexplained crying, withdrawal and quietness, introspective mood etc. Appearance of spots over the skin and swelling on face and lips are also some common symptoms. Most patients also develop signs of sudden attack of common cold and cough, like nose blockage, irritation, sneezing etc.

During asthmatic attack the reduction in total airflow into lungs is felt by the patient and breathing becomes labored. This causes a lot of unease and discomfort. Phlegm begins to thicken and gets attached in large quantity, which causes severe coughing. Due to difficulty in breathing, the patient begins to exhale at a slower pace along with a whistling sound. As the severity of attack increases, the colour of mucous membranes begins to turn bluish due to lack of oxygen. The longer the time the patient struggles while breathing, that much more the attack appears to be prolonged, intense and painful. The escalation of this discomfort peaks up and then automatically weakens. This is an amazing psychological nature of this disease.

Problems due to long-term (chronic) Asthma

When the disease gets prolonged, several other complications also arise. The body becomes weak and thin. In children suffering from asthma physical deformities like permanent expansion of rib cage, drooped shoulders, hunch in the back etc. also begin to show up. Asthma can also lead to psychological problems. The patient becomes so completely dependent upon family members that he prefers to remain ill, because in that period he gets increased attention of all members. This makes him get entangled in the endless trap of disease and his capability to fight disease diminishes.

Causes of Asthma


There can be many causes of asthma, the most prominent being hereditary, psychological, allergic reaction etc. Among physical causes the significant ones are pollution, medicines, dust, smoke, animal fur, wings of birds etc. When elders in the family like parents or ancestors have this disease, it is commonly found to also occur in children or young adults due to heredity. The psychological cause of asthma is also very important. Suppression or inhibition of negative emotions like jealousy, anger, hatred etc also causes asthma. Fear of loneliness, need for love, excessive emotional or sensitive nature, fear of disrespect or disregard, hesitancy etc. are also reasons that can enhance susceptibility to asthma.

Asthma can also arise during change of seasons.  Increased sneezing, hay fever, wheezy bronchitis and eosinophilia are found to transform into asthma with passage of time. Eosinophilia is even called ‘initial asthma’. Unhealthy food and undisciplined life style also produce asthma. Bread, cake, ghee, oily foods, milk and milk products can lead to asthmatic attack. In addition, less intake of fruits, vegetables, and natural grains is also considered as a cause.

Modern Medical Treatment


In modern medical science, many strong and effective medicines have been invented which can control asthma and reduce the recurrence of its attacks. For this, steroids are generally used, but it is not possible to completely cure one from asthma using these medicines.  In fact, sometimes after taking these medicines the patient feels more sick and weak. The person becomes psychologically and sometimes also physically dependent upon these medicines. Most affected persons fear to face adverse circumstances without taking support of medicines. These have strong side effects also. So for permanent solution of asthma we must take recourse to its yogic treatment.

Yogic treatment of asthma


Yogic therapy frees the weakened and blocked pranic energy and gives a new lease of life to energy channels (nadis). The blocked flow of pranic energy is released using yogic therapy. The main cause of all the diseases is the discrepancy in the flow of prana in a specific body system. Asans and Pranayams reestablish the flow. When a particular pranic flow is blocked which disease would occur and what must be the proper yogic treatment in that process are the topics of intense, deep and great research. Students interested in carrying out this research may contact the Department of Yoga in Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya. Here we are only presenting the directions to yogic treatment of asthma. The process is the following.

Asan-

Persons whose joints are stiff can start practicing pavan muktasan series of asans in the beginning. Then they must practice the following asans under the expert guidance of a yoga teacher up to their capacity – Hastottanasan, Dwi-konasan, Marjari asan, Makarasan. Gomukhasan, Sarvangasan, Matsyasan, Simhasan, Baddha Padmasan, Lolasan, Tolangulasan, Parivrutta Janushirshasan. These asans bring into order the arrangement of lungs, breathing tracks and other related organs. They strengthen the spinal cord and muscles. Their practice opens the blocked flow of electric current through the nerves of the nervous system and the entire body becomes vibrant. These are extremely helpful in successful treatment of asthma.

Surya Namaskar –

Practice these slowly and with conscious attention to breathing. Increase the practice to seven rounds at sunrise. Pragya Yog can also be performed along with.

Pranayam-

Nadi-shodhan Pranayam helps in increasing awareness of and control on acts of inhalation and exhalation. Performing Bhastrika Pranayam with Kumbhak and Jalandhar Bandh enhances the strength of lungs and increases the breathing capacity.

Shat-Kriya –
Practice Kunjal and Neti using salted and warm water early in the morning. It is possible to cure asthma with these Kriyas because they help in liquefying and egesting the viscous and thick phlegm stuck on the mucous membranes. Vastra Dhauti is another good practice for this, but do that only under expert supervision. Shankh Prakshalan helps in re-vitalizing the power of digestion of the asthma patient and relieves constipation.

Shithalikaran–

Yog nidra provides immense benefit to asthma patient. Practice it daily. If sufficient time is not available for its practice then lie down in Shavasan and try to practice awareness of breathing right down to the stomach.

Dhyan –
Ajapa Jap Practice revolving the movement of breath up and down from throat to navel along the outer extra-sensory path of breath while chanting Soham mantra. This practice helps in removing the root causes of disease hidden in the unconscious mind.

Upvas –
Fast for at least one whole day in a week. If that is not possible, skip at least one evening meal. Drink a lot of water. In one glass of warm water, mix the juice of half a piece of lemon and two spoons of honey, and drink. Along with that, boiled and cooled solution (kadha) of lemon juice, agya-ghas, tulsi, ginger and black pepper can be taken.

Food –

Take simple and Sattwic food, mostly consisting of sufficient quantity of fresh fruits, lightly boiled and green leafy vegetables. Substances that enhance phlegm like rice, sweets, milk products, maida, dry fruits, heavy and oily foods, packaged fast-foods etc. should be strictly avoided. Heavy food can be taken at lunch but dinners should be very light. Take fruits and fruit juices at breakfast.

Other Useful Suggestions

1.    When asthma attacks stop taking all food. Take recourse to Kunjal and Neti Kriyas and lie down in Shavasan.

2.    Practice swimming. It is the most beneficial exercise for asthma patients. Limited amount of running and jogging are also helpful.

3.    Take daily morning bath with cold water. Pour cold water especially on neck and shoulders.

Thus a continuous practice of these yogic activities, along with a balanced lifestyle and eating habits, can help in completely curing asthma. All patients of asthma must start practicing these activities with a firm resolve. They would definitely benefit immensely from them. In the next article we shall explain in detail the yogic treatment of sinusitis.

A beautiful woman once made an amorous entreaty to king Chhatrasal that she wanted   to beget a son like him. Chhatrasal touched her feet and said: “From today, I am your son”. For his high esteem for women and sparkling character, Chhatrasal could earn glory and greatness and get his name inscribed in golden letters in history.

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