BIHAR YOGA®

2013 Golden Jubilee edition

Yogic Management of

Yogic Management of Common Diseases

®

Common Diseases
SATYANANDAYOGA
BIHARYOGA

Yogic Management of Common Diseases deals with 36 com­mon

as well as serious diseases afflicting the human body. Diseases
covered include those affecting the head and neck, the cardio­
vascular and respiratory systems, the gastro-intestinal tract, Dr Swami Karmananda
the joints and musculo-skeletal system, and the uro-genital
system.

Basic information is provided about the causes and effects of

each condition from both the yogic and medical view­points.
In depth yogic management of each disease is also presented
along with the current medical treatment, dietary recommen­
dations and other advice.This informa­tive text offers a way of
managing disease and regaining health the yogic way.

Dr Swami Karmananda

[bar code here]

ISBN : 978-81-85787-24-4

Yoga Publications Trust, Munger, Bihar, India

Yogic Management of
Common Diseases
Yogic Management of
Common Diseases

Dr Swami Karmananda
MBBS (Sydney)

Under the Guidance of

Swami Satyananda Saraswati

Yoga Publications Trust, Munger, Bihar, India

© Bihar School of Yoga 1983, 2010

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

transmitted or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any
means, without permission in writing from Yoga Publications Trust.
The terms Satyananda Yoga® and Bihar Yoga® are registered trade­marks owned
by International Yoga Fellowship Movement (IYFM). The use of the same in
this book is with permission and should not in any way be taken as affecting the
validity of the marks.

Published by Bihar School of Yoga

First edition 1983
Reprinted 1986, 1992

Published by Yoga Publications Trust

Reprinted 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008
Second edition 2010
Reprinted 2013

ISBN: 978-81-85787-24-4

Publisher and distributor: Yoga Publications Trust, Ganga Darshan,

Munger, Bihar, India.

Website: www.biharyoga.net
www.rikhiapeeth.net

Printed at Thomson Press (India) Limited, New Delhi, 110001

Man today is sick because he thinks he is sick. Sickness and
disease have no place in the life of a person who does not
accept and tolerate the self-limiting thoughts which are the
real seeds of our myriad ailments. We stand hypnotized by
the belief that disease and illness are our fate and destiny,
rather than health and bliss, which are truly our birthright
and heritage. In order to emerge from our mass hypnosis
and collective hysteria and to experience health, joy and
creative fulfilment, we must make a systematic application
of yoga in our daily lives.
—Swami Satyananda Saraswati
 Dedication
In humility we offer this dedication to
Swami Sivananda Saraswati, who initiated
Swami Satyananda Saraswati into the secrets of yoga.

0603 sivananda dedication.indd i 20/05/2012 11:14:04 AM

 Contents

Introduction 1
Head and Neck
Short and Long-Sightedness 9
Headache 17
Thyroid Disease 22
Cardiovascular System
The Heart and Circulatory System 31
The Respiratory System
Disorders of the Respiratory System 49
The Common Cold 55
Bronchitis and Eosinophilia 59
Asthma 64
Sinusitis and Hay Fever 73
Tonsillitis 79
Gastro-Intestinal Tract
Disorders of the Digestive System 87
The Upper Digestive Disorders 91
Peptic Ulcer 97
Constipation 103
Colitis 110
Acute Gastro-Enteritis 114

ix
 Malabsorption States 117
Diabetes Mellitus 121
Hepatitis 129
The Problem of Obesity 134
Joints and Musculo-Skeletal System
Arthritis 141
Cervical Spondylitis 150
Back Pain 153
Slipped Disc and Sciatica 158
Urogenital System
The Urogenital System 167
Kidney Stones 171
Prolapse 175
Urinary Tract Problems in Women 179
Menstrual Disorders 184
Leucorrhoea and Vaginal Infections 192
Disorders of the Male Reproductive System 200
Sterility and Impotence 208
Prostatic Disease 214
Hernia 218
Hydrocele 223
Miscellaneous Disorders
The Skin in Health and Disease 231
Varicose Veins 240

x
 Introduction

The Yogic Management of Common Diseases is a series of short

essays on the common diseases which plague humanity. The
range of topics covers the majority of mild chronic diseases
which are most amenable to yogic therapy.
Each essay is designed to highlight certain key points of
the disease in question so that the reader, whether a doctor,
therapist, healer, yoga practitioner, patient or interested
layperson, can perceive the overall clinical picture and
gain under­standing of the physical, emotional, mental and
psychic factors underlying its cause from the yogic point of
view. The yogic path to freedom from each condition is given
at the end of each chapter.

The aim of this book

This book is intended to inspire people to practise yoga and
to raise themselves out of their condition, which seems to
surround them like an impenetrable and inescapable wall.
It aims to inform people that a way out exists. It is this very
information which is so important, for it carries energy and
becomes the idea in the mind which, when put into practice,
becomes the vehicle for the cessation of their suffering. It is
also intended as a guide to doctors and therapists seeking new
alternatives and indicates to them the broad range of yogic
practices applicable for conditions which have, until now, not
proven amenable to conventional medical therapies.

1
 Many diseases have been left out of this book because
they do not fall into the category of ‘common’ and, no doubt,
these will be included in a full textbook on yoga therapy. It
is also not our intention to give all the details of the diseases
discussed in this book. Doctors and therapists already know
the anatomy, physiology and pathology of these simple
problems and to include these aspects would necessitate
a volume far beyond a book of this kind. The interested
layperson should consult the relevant medical reference texts
for fuller information, if so desired.

The necessity of a guru

We cannot emphasize strongly enough that all therapy
should be undertaken only under expert guidance and not
just from books or inexperienced practitioners. At the same
time, therapy that has been undertaken with a half-hearted
attitude, with irregular practice and a distracted mind is
worse than useless, for the practitioner usually ends up
blam­ing yoga for his or her own failure. When the practices
are taught and learnt correctly, the practitioner must at
least halt the progressive deterioration of his condition
and gain some degree of improvement, if not total freedom
from disease.
Much depends on the degree of severity of the disease
and its duration. There can be no doubt that yoga is much
more effective when applied to a newly occurring condition
in a young person than when undertaken as a last resort
because all other methods have failed. In this regard it is up
to the therapist, in conjunction with an empathetic medical
practitioner, to choose those techniques from the long list
at the end of each chapter which suit the individual’s needs
and which solve the inevitable difficulties which arise as the
cure progresses. The teacher is necessary, for he or she can
recognize these difficulties as they come up and before they
give rise to another disease which may be more difficult
to cure than the first. It should be noted that it is always
dangerous to treat yourself.

2
Yoga and medicine
It is essential that before undertaking yoga therapy a full
medical examination be performed by a qualified practi­
tioner. This is imperative in order to:
1. Ascertain the exact nature of the condition.
2. Find out whether there are complications. For example, if
someone with diabetes also has high blood pressure, the
programme of yogic treatment will be quite different from
that of the diabetic with no complications.
3. Decide whether yogic or medical treatment should be
the first line of approach. Many inexperienced therapists
jump in with yoga when medical therapy would prove the
faster and more efficient means to a cure, and vice versa.
This is the typical one-sided approach of a closed and
narrow mind.
Only a qualified professional in the healing or medical
world can decide whether a disease can be treated by their
particular discipline.
Anyone who has experience in yoga therapy will that a
guru or qualified teacher is vital. For example, it is often
necessary to continue medical treatment for some time
before the yogic practices are established and working
effectively. Only an experienced individual or doctor can
indicate when medicines can be reduced and yoga practices
relied on for the maintenance of health. The teacher
instructs the patient in preparatory practices for the yoga
techniques specified for each individual condition.
Though yoga and medicine work hand in hand to
safely re-establish health, only yoga can truly bring about
and maitain health, for yoga views life and disease in a
revolutionary light. Instead of seeing disease as something
to be feared and quickly eradicated, yoga teaches us that,
from a spiritual point of view, disease is our teacher and
friend.
Disease indicates that we have been making an error in
our lifestyle or thinking and have become unbalanced. It
shows us that we must make some changes if we are to live

3
a healthier, fuller and more joyous existence. Yoga teaches
us that we must learn to use and value our sufferings as
springboards in our spiritual evolution. Somehow we have
lost our awareness of who we are and how we can lead useful
and aware lives. Loss of awareness allows disease to creep
in. When we are sick, we are forced by nature to wake up to
our transgressions of natural laws. Re­gaining our awareness
through yogic practices is the key to health. The yogic
process brings about rebalance, insight, understanding and
appreciation of the universal, natural laws which operate in
the world we live in.

Ashram life
One of the most powerful and useful aspects of yogic therapy
is ashram life. For the sincere individual who really wishes
to regain positive physical and mental health, and insight
into the fundamental errors of lifestyle and thinking which
have led to disease, a short stay in an ashram is a shortcut
to learning a new and healthy lifestyle and offers one of the
most intense exposures to yoga.
Any therapy undertaken in the positive atmosphere of
the ashram is supercharged with pranic, vital energy and
supported by the glowing, cheerful health of the inmates
who are living examples of what yoga allows us to achieve.
Yogic therapy involves all aspects of ashram life, both
formal and informal. Formal training in asanas, pranayama,
cleansing practices, meditation and yoga nidra forms the
basic therapeutic program. Equally beneficial, however, is
the informal exposure to the practices of satsang, karma
yoga perhaps in the form of structured, light work within the
ashram and bhakti yoga, usually in the form of nada yoga,
the chanting of mantras and kirtan at night. The natural,
relaxed atmosphere of ashram life provides an ideal setting
for emotional and physical renewal.
In Ganga Darshan ashram at Bihar School of Yoga,
Munger, Bihar, India, we have seen time and again that
when individuals come for therapy they are amazed at

4
how easy and simple yogic therapy can be. They quickly
begin to feel recharged and revitalized and soon appreciate
that there is another and better way of approaching their
bodies, attitudes and ways of relating to the world. When
these people return home and place the simple, powerful
and effective ashram principles within the framework of
their daily lives, dramatic changes take place far beyond
what most people dreamed possible. The human organism
realigns and becomes harmonized to natural cycles and
energies. Changes take place beneath the purely intellectual
or conscious mind, within the powerful subconscious and
intuitive spaces dormant in all of us. We feel good, even if we
do not consciously understand exactly why.

Beyond yoga therapy

After yoga therapy has been instituted and practised for
some time, it becomes easier, in retrospect, to see what has
happened. Even if we leave the yoga practices when a cure
has taken place, the memories and impressions remain
and eventually we realize that yoga transcends the purely
thera­peutic approach to disease, and we begin to see it as a
valuable aid to healthy living and spiritual evolution.

Further reading
All the practices of yoga suggested in the Yogic Management
of Common Diseases are fully described and illustrated in the
two basic and complete yogic textbooks, Asana Pranayama
Mudra Bandha and Meditations from the Tantras, both by Swami
Satyananda Saraswati and published by the Yoga Publications
Trust. These textbooks provide a basis for both therapist and
patient, describing the practices, explaining their benefits
and contraindications and acting as reference guides for
future yogic development.
Other books in the therapy line published by Yoga
Publications Trust are: Yoga and Cardiovascular Management,
The Effects of Yoga on Hypertension, Yogic Management of Asthma
and Diabetes, The Practices of Yoga for the Digestive System,

5
Exploring Yoga and Cancer and Yogic Management of Cancer.
These books give fuller descriptions of the body system
involved, the disease process and the use of yogic therapy in
combination with other systems.
Texts such as Teachings of Swami Satyananda, Yoga from
Shore to Shore, Sure Ways to Self-Realization, Hatha Yoga
Pradipika, and the other Yoga Publications Trust publications
put yoga therapy into perspective and give a broad view
of the application of yoga to healthy living and high
thinking. They are the basis for the total regeneration and
transformation of the individual from a purely sensual life
and its enjoyments, with its inherent diseases and suffering,
to a spiritual and yogic based life which leads us to health,
joy and eventually self-realization.
The Yoga Research Foundation, established by Swami
Satyananda Saraswati at Ganga Darshan Ashram, Munger,
Bihar, in 1984, has an extensive collection of books dealing
specifically with yoga as a healing system. One of the main
aims of the foundation is to act as a focal point, inspiring
and correlating international research on this and related
topics. Facilities are also being established for independent
investigations into the effects of yogic and tantric techniques
on both physiological and psychological levels, with the help
of qualified doctors and scientists from the international
community. As the research is centred within the ashram,
opportunity is also given for dealing more deeply with both
exoteric and esoteric practices, moving from basic issues of
sickness and health to realization of our potential faculties
and inner nature.

6
Head and Neck
 Short- and Long-Sightedness

“The eyes are the mirror of the soul and reveal much of our
essential nature. At the same time, vision is our most precious
sense. We rely on the eyes for a large percentage of our
information about the outside world and our understanding
of life.” The phrase “Do you see what I mean?” implies that
a large part of our mental functioning relies on the visual
sense. At the same time it has been reported by yogis that
they do not need the eyes to see, being able to know in detail,
through the higher strata of consciousness, of events which
take place at great distances from their physical bodies. Vision
is indeed a mysterious thing.

Structure of the eye

The eye is the only part of the brain which projects outside
the cranium, the bony box which protects the brain.
The white area of the eye is called sclera. This becomes
transparent centrally and is called the cornea. Behind the
cornea is the iris, which gives the eye its characteristic colour.
The centre of the iris is a hole, called the pupil, which allows
light into the eye. The iris constantly contracts and dilates
in order to adjust the amount of light coming into the eye.
Behind the cornea is the lens which adjusts our vision to
distance. The inside of the eye is filled with fluid.
Light passes through the lens and falls on the inner
back wall of the eye, which is called the retina. The retina

9
has specialized sensory receptors called rods and cones,
which react to shading, black and white, and colour. The
images projected onto the retina pass via the optic nerves to
the back (occipital) part of the cerebrum of the brain. The
cerebrum integrates the images coming from both eyes.
Because we have binocular vision, two eyes focusing on an
object, we can appreciate depth and distance, size and spatial
relationships. More and more we see that vision is indeed a
miracle of creation.

Short- and long-sightedness

The lens is situated in the centre of the eye and is
responsible for the bending of incoming rays of light so
that they converge onto the retina and thereby stimulate
nerve cells to produce a clear and accurate picture of the
image being viewed. The process of bending light is called
refraction. If the lens fails to focus light exactly onto the
retina, the picture is blurred and this is called refractive
error. This may also occur because the shape of the eye
distorts from a near perfect sphere, either elongating or
shortening. The following refractive errors are the most
common:
1. Myopia (short-sightedness), in which the lens is too thick
and the image falls short of the retina, resulting in an
inability to focus on distant objects. This is most common
in young people.
2. Hypermetropia (long-sightedness), which is the opposite of
myopia. It is more common in old age.
3. Astigmatism, which is caused by variations and unevenness
in the lens.
These distortions of eye function are so common today
that we fail to even think of them as correctable by means
other than glasses. Our hair falls out, teeth have to be
removed, the skin wrinkles, eyes need glasses. We take these
signs of ageing for granted, never for one moment realizing
that there are ways to correct certain forms of refractive error,
especially those which occur in the young.

10
 The experiences of many people disprove the notion
that eye problems are inevitable and incurable and yoga
is playing a large part in this revolution. Aldous Huxley,
the famous author, was nearly blinded at the age of sixteen
by keratitis punctato, a condition caused by opacities of the
cornea and made worse by farsightedness and astigmatism.
After a few months of special eye exercises he was able to
read without glasses and without strain.
Dr William Bates was an ophthalmologist who lived in the
early part of this century and who presented a revolutionary
method of visual re-education. As a young doctor Bates did
not believe that glasses were the only answer. Forty years
of research resulted in a sophisticated technique that has
proven effective in many cases. He developed the theory that
defective vision is not inherited but occurs when mental and
emotional stress cause the eyes to be strained. He devised a
system of exercises and a relaxation technique similar to yoga
nidra. Through his techniques, flashes of vision occur which
increase in clarity and length over a period of time until
clarity replaces fuzziness. To understand how this can occur
we need to know a little more about the cause of eye defects.

The underlying cause

The lens is controlled by ciliary muscles which accommodate
vision to far and near objects. Contraction of these muscles
occurs when we look at near objects, causing the lens to
thicken, increasing its power. When we look into the distance,
the normal eye adjusts the ciliary muscles within a fraction of
a second. This adjustment proceeds with incredible precision
to give us a constantly clear image of the world.
In short-sightedness the ciliary muscles are constantly
contracted, in spasm, preventing the lens from accommodat­
ing to distant objects. Spasm is caused by straining to see.
For example, short-sightedness is very common in young
students who are constantly straining while reading, thereby
forcing the ciliary muscles to contract for abnormally long
periods of time. It is not reading which is the problem, but

11
the straining to read and understand, long hours, fatigue and
an unhealthy, imbalanced lifestyle. Many students live in a
world of near objects and their eyes ‘forget’ how to adjust to
long distances. This may be one of the reasons myopia is so
common in the young.
Straining to see or read, or in any other use of the eyes,
is often accompanied by straining of the other facial muscles,
forehead, temples, jaw muscles and also of the neck and
shoulders. Myopia and other eye defects then fall into the
category of general mental and emotional tensions and can
be regarded as psychosomatic disorders.
Another interesting facet of facial tension and refractive
errors is the fact that we forget to blink, and this intensifies
straining. Blinking is vital for maintaining moist, healthy
eyes and for protecting the eyes from foreign objects, such
as dust and grit. At the same time blinking momentarily
rests the eyes. When we strain, the blinking mechanism
also suffers. It is an interesting exercise to sit and blink
consciously a few times in order to experience its effect on
the state of tension within the eyes.
By far the most common refractive error of the elderly is
hypermetropia. As age creeps up, the ciliary muscles weaken
and it becomes difficult for them to contract sufficiently to
allow the lens to accommodate for near objects. It is also
quite common for myopic eyes to become normal for some
time before hypermetropia takes over. Many people find
themselves in the situation where they are unable to focus
on either far or near objects and require bi-focal lenses, the
upper lens for distance and the lower for reading.
A medical examination is essential to exclude such
conditions as diabetes, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis
or nephritis, which are also common causes of poor eyesight.

Correcting the error

The obvious means of correcting the tension and weakness
of the refracting muscles of the eye is to institute a series
of exercises to initially relax and then to strengthen, not

12
only the muscles themselves, but also our control over these
muscles. At the same time we must work on our general
body tensions. This is a much more sensible method of
approaching the situation than glass lenses, which tend to
splint the eye defect and prevent its returning to a normal
state. If we become dependent on glasses we will never be
able to see without them.
Along with exercises for the eyes, a health promoting
lifestyle is necessary. Diet should be simple, light and free
from chemicals and refined and processed foods. Certain
vitamins are particularly important for good vision. These
include vitamin A, found in yellow carotene containing
food groups, such as carrots and apricots, vitamin B2 and
the essential amino acid tryptophane, found in milk, and
Vitamin C, found in fresh fruit and vegetables. These
nutrients are particularly important for children.

Asana
The following exercises neutralize eyestrain and teach us
the correct use of all eye muscles. They help smooth out
the distortion of the lens and the eye itself, and should be
incorporated into our daily routine.
The chapter in Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha, published
by Yoga Publications Trust, entitled ‘Yoga Exercises for the
Eyes’ is a complete guide for eye health and for the eye
conditions mentioned in this chapter, as well as for many
other eye conditions. Some or all of the exercises can be
performed at any time of day. For example, palming can be
practised any time the eyes are tired or when you feel fatigued.
The exercises act on the internal ciliary muscles as well as on
the external muscles responsible for eye movement. Palming,
front and sideways viewing, and distant and near viewing are
all particularly good for the ciliary muscles.
Shambhavi mudra, which is incorporated into the above
series, is by itself a powerful redirector of pranic and psychic
energies. It stimulates ajna chakra, the third eye, and by
stimulating this centre of higher intuitive awareness, it allows

13
us insight into the very potent factors at the mental and
psychic levels which are causing refractive errors in the first
place. It relaxes tension by stimulating the optic centre, a
powerful generator of alpha brainwaves, which are associated
with relaxation. By just crossing the eyes alpha waves are
generated. Shambhavi mudra leads us into meditative
states and awakens inner vision, awareness of the spiritual
dimension.
Palming is also a relaxing, alpha producing exercise in
which heat produced by rubbing the palms of the hands is
used to soothe the eyes. At the same time we gaze into the
infinite dark space of chidakasha, feeling that our eyes are
melting and releasing all their tensions. The same relaxing
effect can be obtained by sitting with the eyes closed while
facing the rising or setting sun. The rays of the sun will be
felt to penetrate deep into the eyes, associated with a very
pleasant sensation. In both exercises avoid any concentration.
Simply gaze and allow all tension to melt away.
While performing the palming exercise, it is useful to
place a card one or two feet (30–60 cms) in front of the
face with a number or some symbol inscribed on it. While
palming, mentally visualize the symbol clearly, as though
one were actually seeing it with great clarity and minus any
fuzziness. After a few minutes remove the hands, open the
eyes and gaze gently at the symbol which should appear
quite clearly for a few seconds before the old muscular habits
reassert themselves. This will retrain the muscles over time.
Sirshasana and sarvangasana are useful to promote
circulation to the eyes. Surya namaskara and surya bheda
pranayama remove physical tensions, stimulate pingala nadi,
supply us with extra physical energy and so help promote
healing of the whole physical body.

Hatha yoga shatkarma

Neti kriya acts directly on the olfactory and ocular systems,
affecting all the structures of the face via reflex nervous
activity. It is a particularly soothing and pleasant practice as

14
well as being immensely practical. One medical practitioner
has reported that it has proven useful even in the treatment
of trachoma, an infection of the eyes which often leads to
blindness. Neti is useful in all ocular conditions, as well as
for headaches, neurological disorders and coughs and colds.
It acts on ajna chakra and awakens prana in the facial area,
thereby reducing tension in all the facial musculature as well
as in the whole body-mind complex.
Amaroli benefits the eyes, especially when fresh mid­stream
urine, which may be diluted according to individual needs,
is dropped directly into the eyes. Urine neti (diluted with
water) may also be performed. If amaroli practice proves
difficult, fresh water may be substituted.
Trataka is a very powerful yogic shatkarma, which is
especially useful in myopia. If your vision improves when
you squint, or when you gaze through the tiny hole made by
curling the first finger of the hand, then trataka on a black
spot will be of immense benefit. Trataka is the best method
of uprooting the habit of straining and staring, replacing
it by gentle, controlled gazing. It acts on the whole optic
system and steadies the turbulent and erratic flow of the
neurotic, anxious mind. We know that in anxiety and mental
tension, the eyes shift about and are unsteady. In some
cases the individual cannot look directly into the eyes of the
person to whom he or she is talking. Mental tensions are the
root cause of many eye disorders, acting on the internal as
well as external eye musculature. When the gaze is steadied,
the mind as well as the muscles relax. The practice of
trataka has a very powerful influence on many levels of our
personality.
A modified or adapted form of trataka is called central
fixation. The normal eye forms images around the central
point of the retina, called the macula lutea or light spot. The
rest of the field of vision is vague and less well defined. We
can become aware of the process especially during reading
or writing. While reading, aim to keep vision just below the
line being read. As the eye shifts from one side to the other,

15
be aware that the word nearest the point of central fixation
appears more distinct than the others. While writing, be
aware of the pen tip where clarity is greatest as well as the
rest of the page. This tends to expand the field of vision,
so that we can take in not only the central area but also the
outer, less well-defined spaces. Relaxation occurs.

Relaxation
Yoga nidra is one of the most scientific methods of
relaxation yet devised. It acts at the deepest levels of our
being, reducing those tensions which cause most of our
diseases and problems in life. In dealing with eye problems
directly, we can spend more time working on the eyes and
facial structures during the rotation of consciousness in the
body. During breath awareness the movement of the breath
should be felt in the facial region, or as coming in and out
of ajna chakra and moving in a line from bhrumadhya, the
eyebrow centre, to the back of the head. A triangle can also
be visualized, with the nostrils and the eyebrow centre as the
three corners. The breath can be felt flowing up the sides,
from the nostrils to the eyebrow centre and back down again.
A combination of the above methods is a powerful
approach to remove refractive errors, to regain normal vision
and to awaken inner vision and higher intuitive awareness.

16
 Headache

H eadache is one of the most common symptoms a doctor

is asked to treat. There are several types of headache,
and the origin of pain is slightly different for each one. The
brain itself is insensitive to pain, but many other structures
both inside and outside of the skull have sensitive pain fibres.
These include the arteries and venous sinuses of the brain,
the dura mater or membrane surrounding the brain and the
external scalp muscles.

Clinical features
There are some causes of headache which should be treated
by a medical expert, such as tumours, meningitis or acute
fevers. The types of headache described below also have a
number of different causes. Therefore, in all cases of chronic
head­ache a medical check up is essential.
• Vascular headaches are the typically throbbing type and
are due to dilation of blood vessels. The headache which
accompanies fever and systemic infections is typical. It
is due to dilation of the intracranial blood vessels, as
are throbbing headaches which occurs at high altitude
or which follow a blow to the head, an epileptic fit or
excessive consumption of alcohol.
• Migraine and hypertension headaches, on the other hand, are
thought to be due to dilation of the extracranial arteries,
outside the skull.

17
• Muscle spasm is one of the most common causes of
headache. The muscles of the scalp or the neck go into
a spasm due to emotional tension. This produces per­
sist­
ent and continuous type of headache which varies
in in­tensity from a feeling of tightness to a true pain.
It is usually bilateral. Painful, tender areas can often be
felt in the tight scalp muscles, or in the neck muscles.
Cervical spondylitis and poor spinal posture in general
are frequent causes.
• Referred headache from the eyes is also common. It often
accompanies eyestrain and glaucoma. Similarly, inflam­
mation or irritation of the sinuses and nasal passages
often manifest as a headache.
• Psychogenic headache is the term used to describe head­
caused by emotional or mental tensions. It is often a
vascular or tension headache, being experienced as a
sense of pressure at the top of the head, or as a tight band
around the scalp. Migraine belongs in this group.

The most common headaches

The two most common forms of headache are migraine and
tension headaches.
Migraine: This severe form of headache occurs more
com­ monly in women than men. It is characterized by
periodic headaches which are usually one-sided and are often
accompanied by visual disturbances and vomiting. Migraine
is thought to be caused by swelling of the arteries outside the
skull due to instability of the autonomic nervous system which
controls the flow of blood into the head. Pain is caused by the
stretching of pain nerve endings in the arterial wall.
Migraine is found to have a family predisposition, with
three in four migraine sufferers having close relatives who
are similarly affected. It is uncertain whether this pre­
disposition is genetic or is behaviourally inherited.
Migraine usually starts after puberty and continues
until late middle life. Acute attacks are often related to
emotional stress, occasionally occurring during the period of

18
relaxation when the stress appears to be over. Attacks occur
at intervals varying from a few days to several months. The
first symptom of an attack is commonly a sensation of white
or coloured lights, moving spots, wavy lines or visual defects.
Loss of sensation or weakness of one half of the body may
be ex­perienced or there may be numbness of both hands
and around the mouth. These symptoms may last up to half
an hour. This period is known as the ‘migrainous aura’. It is
followed by the actual pain of the headache, which usually
begins in one spot and subsequently involves the whole
of one or occasionally both sides of the head. The pain is
usually severe and throbbing in character, and is associated
with vomiting, photophobia (aversion to light), pallor, sweat­
ing and prostration, which may cause severe loss of muscle
tone and necessitate the patient taking to bed in a dark­ened
room. The attack may last from a few hours to several days,
leaving the patient weak and exhausted.
A migraine attack may be precipitated by many factors, but
for each sufferer there is usually a characteristic one. It may be
a response to a particular food, especially the tyramine rich
foods, such as cheese, chocolate and red wine. It is not always
easy to locate the cause immediately but the sufferer should
seek to locate factors which precipitate the attack.
Similarly, there are many phases of migraine. Some
people have migraine with the rising sun, and it gets better
as the sun falls towards the horizon. They may be completely
free of attack when conditions are cloudy. In other people,
the incidence of migraine appears to be related to the lunar
cycle. The site of migraine attack also varies. Some sufferers
will experience the attack in only half of the head, while
other sufferers experience the pain at the top or at the back
of the head.
Tension headaches: Tension headaches are related to
migraine but manifest through the somatic nervous system
instead of through the autonomic nervous system. These
head­aches are produced by sustained contractions of the ex­
ternal scalp muscles. These headaches are usually constant

19
and non-pulsatile and may be unilateral or bilateral. The
sufferer often describes a feeling like a tight band around
the head, or a feeling of the head being in a vice or under
great pressure. Migraines usually last for a few hours, but
may extend much longer. With prolonged headache, the
muscles of the head, jaws, neck and upper back may become
tender and tight and movement may be limited. In addition,
hardened, localized, painful areas in the scalp muscles
commonly arise. Generally poor posture is a major factor.
Tension headaches commonly follow emotional stress,
but sustained muscle contraction may also be a factor in the
pain associated with vascular headaches, and with diseases
of the eyes, ears, nose, teeth and sinuses. Similarly, the type
of headache which is found to be associated with cervical
arthritis (spondylitis) or disc degeneration generally stems
from muscular spasm.
Tension headaches and migraine often occur in the
same person. Headache is also a common symptom of
constipation and menstrual irregularity. These headaches
disappear when the underlying condition is recognized and
treated.

Medical treatment of headaches

Many headaches disappear when an underlying cause such
as fever, eye disorders, or sinusitis has been removed. Others
may respond well to osteopathic treatment or removal of
allergenic foods. Otherwise the treatment is symptomatic, as
conventional medical science has been unable to provide a
cure for psychogenic headaches such as migraine or tension
headache.
Symptomatic treatment using various drugs which
provide temporary relief is all that is currently prescribed
in the first instance. Muscle tension headaches sometimes
respond to aspirin or tranquillizers, psychotherapy, massage
and heat. For migraine type vascular headaches the
commonly prescribed drugs are derived from ergot alkaloids.
These must be taken at the first sign of the attack if they are

20
to be of any benefit. Rectal aspirin suppositories also help.
In general, however, the medical management of chronic,
persistent headache symptoms at the present time is fairly
ineffective, and the conditions present a real problem for
both the patient and the doctor.

Yogic management
Yogic practices fill the gap in managing these types of head­
ache which medical science finds difficult to treat. Psychogenic
headache, vascular headaches, including migraine, and
muscle tension headache can often be eradicated completely
through yogic practices alone.
Fundamental practices for migraine and tension head­
aches are the hatha yoga shatkarmas, kunjal and neti. If they
are performed at the beginning of an attack of migraine, the
sufferer gains immediate relief. These practices release the
build-up of psycho-emotional tension which is precipitat­ing
the attack. In eradicating headaches these shatkarmas should
be practised daily each morning, in conjunction with the
following program for two or three months.
1. Asana: Pawanmuktasana part 1, surya namaskara.
2. Pranayama: Bhramari, nadi shodhana, gentle bhastrika.
3. Shatkarma: Kunjal and neti daily. Laghoo shankhaprak­
shalana once a week. Shankhaprakshalana (full prac­tice)
should be undertaken in an ashram environment prefer­
ably before commencing the program.
4. Relaxation: Yoga nidra daily.
5. Diet: A simple vegetarian diet is recommended. Avoid rich
foods, especially cheese, chocolate and wine. Avoid over­­­
eating.
6. Fasting: Skipping a meal and relaxing for ten minutes in
shavasana will often avert an impending headache if it is
due to mental stress.

21
 Thyroid Disease

W e all know people who can eat and eat and never get fat,
while others need only to think of food to put on
weight. Some people fly through the day with energy and
vitality to spare while others have to drag their bodies around
like dead weights. These are all examples of variations in
metabolism, the energy system of the physical body.

Metabolism
Metabolism is the sum total of the conservation and expen­
diture of all body energies and is divided into two:
1. Anabolism: The build-up and replacement of tissues and
the storage of energy; for example, glucose is taken from
the digestive tract and stored in the liver as glycogen.
2. Catabolism: The breakdown of tissues and the use of energy.
The process of metabolism is extremely complex and
science has not yet found the keys to unlock all its mysteries.
It is known, however, that the thyroid gland is the regulator
of metabolism in the body and is itself regulated by the pitui­
tary gland in the skull. Regulation of metabolism in a healthy
person occurs in response to physical and emotional demands
relayed through the brain and its hypothalamic centres.

The thyroid
The thyroid gland lies in the front of the neck, wrapped
around the trachea. It is divided into two lobes, one on either

22
side of the neck, and secretes hormones into the blood­
stream. These hormones, which are called thyroxin (T4) and
triiodothyronine (T3), determine our metabolic rate. Their
manufacture depends upon the presence of various nutrients,
including essential fatty acids, the amino acid tyrosine, zinc
and iodine. The absence of any of these substances can lead to
underactive thyroid function and cause an enlargement of the
thyroid gland, known as goitre. This occurs most commonly in
mountain­ous areas, such as the Himalayas, and other regions
far from the sea.

Thyroid diseases
In regions where there are no obvious deficiencies of the
essential nutrients, thyroid disorders are still very common.
Here, the two major forms of thyroid diseases are hyperthy­
roidism (overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (under­
active thyroid).
Hyperthyroid or thyrotoxicosis: In this condition the
gland secretes excess hormones. It is eight times more likely
to be found in women than in men, and most commonly
between the ages of thirty and fifty. Thyrotoxic individuals
become thin, tremulous, irritable, anxious and even
hysterical. Because the metabolism is raised, they experience
rapid heart rate and palpitations, rapid shallow respirations,
frequent bowel motions and diar­ rhoea, flushing, heat
intolerance, sweating, menstrual disturbance, and sometimes
bulging of the eyes (exophthal­mos). Such people suffer the
paradoxical situation in which they feel fatigue and lack of
energy and yet they are compulsively active. They are restless
and fidgety and the slightest remark may set off an inap­
propriately angry response.
Conventional medical management of this condition
in­­cludes drugs, such as carbimazole, radioactive iodine and
surgery.
Hypothyroidism: This condition occurs when there is
insufficient hormone secretion. The symptoms of hypothy­
roidism are those of decreased metabolism with the slowing

23
of mental and physical activities, constipation, slowing
of movement, tiredness, vague muscle pains, deafness,
hoarseness, weight gain despite poor ap­petite, dry skin and
hair, disordered menstruation and forgetfulness.
The onset of this disease is gradual and its symptoms
are often mistaken for signs of ageing. Listlessness, dullness
and apathy can be so marked that the patient does not care
for herself or even want treatment, having to be persuaded
by family or friends to seek medical assistance. Frequently
the doctor will recog­n ize the condition on meeting the
patient by chance after a long interval. An advanced case
characteristically has swollen, puffy eyelids, thick lips and an
enlarged tongue. The skin retains fluid, becoming pale and
turgid, sweating is absent and the skin is flabby and dry, the
speech slow, monotonous and husky. Later in the disease,
heart failure occurs. The replacement of thyroid hormone
in these patients has dramatic effects.

Holistic medical management of thyroid disorders

Both underactive and overactive thyroid dysfunctions are
autoimmune disorders. This means that our immune system
is producing antibodies to our own tissues. There is increas­
ing evidence that when our digestion is not function­ing
properly and the food is not broken down fully in the gut, the
incompletely digested proteins become immunogenic; that
is, they are large enough for the immune system to recognize
them as foreign entities and produce antibodies for protection.
Unfortunately, the antibodies can cross-react with our own
tissues and in this case attack the thyroid gland.
A comprehensive assessment by a physician skilled in both
allopathic and naturopathic therapy could be very beneficial.

Yogic management
The thyroid is also related to vishuddhi chakra, the psychic
centre which purifies the poisons of the body, vish, and turns
them into amrit, the nectar of immortality. Long before
medical science ever knew about the exist­ ence of thyroid

24
glands, the yogis had devised practices which not only
maintained healthy glands and metabolism, but also formed
part of a system of enlightenment. The good health of the
neuro­endocrine system was understood to be vital to higher
awareness.
Sarvangasana (shoulder stand) is the most well recog­
nized asana for the thyroid gland. An enormous pressure
is placed on the gland by this powerful posture. As the
thyroid has one of the largest blood supplies of any body
organ, this pres­sure has dramatic effects on its function,
improving circulation and squeezing out stagnant secretions.
Stimulation of the area draws the awareness to the area,
and with attentive awareness comes prana, the vehicle of
healing. This means that as we concentrate on the area, the
sensory nerves are stimulated, setting relays within the brain
into motion. As the whole process is health giving, the brain
tends to readjust its regulatory centres and a corresponding
readjustment of muscular states, blood flow and nervous
activity in the neck area follows. Therefore, the practice of
sarvangasana is useful in both mild over and under-active
states, as its overall effect is to rebalance. The effects of
sarvangasana are enhanced by feeling the normal breath
moving in and out of the throat while in this position.
After sarvangasana, we should perform matsyasana,
and from sarvangasana we can practise halasana, pashinee
mudra, padma sarvangasana, and other variations. All these
practices are positive influences for better health of the
thyroid gland. At the same time, all these practices should be
avoided in severe thyrotoxicosis, physical debility or a very
enlarged goitre, where medical therapy is obviously the first
line of treatment to be given.
Vipareeta karani mudra, though not placing as much
pressure on the thyroid gland area, is more powerful than
sarvangasana because it incorporates ujjayi pranayama and
awareness of psychic passages. It is also more useful in goitre,
though once again adding iodine to the diet is the first
obvious step.

25
 Other effective asanas include surya namaskara, pawan­
muktasana with emphasis on the head and neck exercises,
yoga mudra, supta vajrasana and all backward bending asanas,
sirshapada bhumi sparshasana, kandharas­ana, grivasana,
simhagarjanasana. Pawan­m uktasana is useful for initial
therapy in severe thyroid disease and for older patients.
The most effective pranayama for thyroid problems is
ujjayi. It acts on the throat area and its relaxing and stimula­
ting effects are most probably due to stimulation of ancient
reflex pathways within the throat area (associated, for example,
with vomiting, breathing, swallowing) which are controlled
by the brain stem and hypothalamus. This practice also
gives us direct access into the pranic and psychic net­works,
the substructure of metabolic activity. Ujjayi is the basis of
vishuddhi shuddhi and ajapa japa, which are very powerful
yogic procedures and should be taught after the patient has
acquired the initial skills thoroughly.
Nadi shodhana pranayama is useful in rebalancing metab­
olism through its effects on ida and pingala. Sheetali and
seetkari, cooling breaths, are valuable in the hyperthyroid state
in order to cool the overactive hypermetabolic and therefore
overheated body. Bhastrika pranayama should be used in
hypothyroidism because of its heating effects, its ability to
speed up metabolism.
Jalandhara bandha applies pressure to the thyroid area and
should be incorporated into pranayama cautiously and after
the initial exercises have been mastered. Other bandhas can
also be added to enhance the effects of pranayama. Of course,
in the long run the most powerful techniques to tune not only
the thyroid gland, but also the whole neuroendocrine system,
are the potent maha bandha, maha mudra, and maha bheda
mudra. These can be mastered only by advanced yoga students.

The role of emotional relaxation

One of the most prominent precipitating factors in states of
thyroid imbalance is long-term suppression and blockage
of emotional expression. This is closely related to another

26
condition, ‘globus hystericus’, which is also prominent
in middle-aged women. Here the major symptom is the
frequent desire to swallow so as to remove a psychic lump or
tensions in the throat area. In yogic treatment this constant,
sustained tension is sometimes experienced consciously for
the first time during the deeper stages of yoga nidra, as the
three-fold accumulated and deeply set tensions – muscular,
mental and emotional – are progressively yielded up.
Balancing of the emotions, and giving a suitable outlet
for their expression is an important part of yoga therapy
for thyroid disease. Kirtan (singing of mantras collectively
to the point of self-forgetfulness and transcendence) is one
of the most useful means. Another is ajapa japa meditation
(practice of mantra awareness in the frontal psychic passage
from navel to throat) in conjunction with ujjayi pranayama.

27
Cardiovascular
System
 The Heart and
Circulatory System

C ardiac (heart) disease and arteriosclerosis (blood vessel

degeneration) are the largest killers in the affluent
sectors of world society today. Every year, many millions
of people die from the complications of cardiovascular de­
genera­tion – including hypertension, chronic heart failure,
stroke (cerebro-vascular accident), and kidney disease. In
addition, many more experience the anguish of chest pains
known as angina pectoris, which indicate cardiac strain in the
activities of their daily life.
The causes and effects of heart strain are many and
complex, involving the nervous system, through which
mental and emotional processes influence the cardiac
function, and the metabolic, digestive and reproductive
systems, which frequently place excessively heavy demands
upon the heart.

The heart and circulatory system or the heart of the matter

The heart is a unique neuromuscular pump which is at the
centre of all human activity. It is responsible for maintaining
the circulation of blood throughout the body. Every part
of the body is dependent upon the heart, and if it ceases
to work, the whole body ceases to function within a few
minutes. The heart beats untiringly, night and day, from the
beginning of life to the last, dying breath. When the body
rests, it beats quietly and slowly. When exercising, the heart

31
immediately quickens its pace to increase the volume of
blood reaching the distant muscles and cells.
The power of the heart depends on the fibres in its
muscular walls. Damage to these fibres produces striking
changes in the pattern and efficiency of blood circulation.
Many factors are responsible for maintaining the volume
and pressure of the blood. These include the condition
of the heart valves, the influence of the nervous system in
controlling the internal diameter of the blood vessels, and
the amount of fluid in the bloodstream. However, the primary
condition of the heart muscle is most important of all.
The heart is composed of a unique type of muscle known
as cardiac muscle, which is more durable than any other
muscular tissue in the body. It enables the heart to continue
its repetitive function ceaselessly, without faltering. No other
organ works as long or as hard as the heart.

The arterial circulation

The blood circulates from the heart to the body through a
complex network of conducting pipeways known as arteries,
veins and capillaries. Arteries are the largest and strongest
type of blood vessels. They distribute freshly oxy­gen­ated
blood from the heart to the smaller blood vessels, called
capillaries. They may become hardened so that the elastic
tissue in their walls loses its flexibility. This can constrict the
arteries, raise the blood pressure and thereby increase the
work of the heart. It may also lead to insufficient oxygen
supply to the heart itself and to other body organs.

The chambers of the heart

The inside of the heart is composed of four chambers. Blood
containing a rich supply of oxygen arrives from the lungs to
be distributed to the body. It first enters the left atrium or
upper chamber, and flows from this chamber into the larger
left ventricle. This is the chamber upon which most of the
blood circulation depends. The instant the left ventricle
begins to contract, the mitral valve snaps shut, closing the

32
connecting door to the left atrium. At almost the same instant,
the aortic valve opens, allowing blood to rush through the
aorta to the other arterial branches of the body.

The coronary arteries

All main arteries of the body branch off from the aorta. The
first two branches are known as the coronary arteries, which
are about five inches (12 cms) long and 1/8 inch (3 mm)
in diameter. These arteries are responsible for supplying
blood to the left and right sides of the heart muscles itself.
If one of them should become narrowed, the whole of the
circulation system may fail, as the muscle fibres of the heart
itself are deprived of nourishing oxygen. In a healthy person
there is always sufficient blood flowing into these arteries
to meet the needs of the heart, but sometimes they become
partially or totally blocked. This can be caused by blood
clots, constriction due to nervous spasm or hardening of the
vessel walls. In these cases, heart attack and heart failure
can occur. Degeneration of the blood vessel walls is termed
arterio­sclerosis. It is related to an animal fat diet, cigarette
smoking, lack of exercise and excessive mental stress and
strain.
Regular practice of yoga can relieve and prevent this
disease by eliminating unnecessary tension from our lives.
Sensible dietary habits are also necessary as part of a yogic
lifestyle.

The venous return

The right atrium and right ventricle operate in a similar
way to the left atrium and left ventricle. They pump oxygen-
depleted blood, filled with carbon dioxide wastes, to the
lungs. This blood, that has deposited its oxygen in the cells
of the body, flows back to the right side of the heart through
the network of veins, and is pumped into the lungs. In the
lungs it gives up the carbon dioxide wastes from the distant
cells and these are expelled from the body with expiration.
In exchange, a fresh supply of oxygen is taken up, and this

33
blood flows back to the left side of the heart to be pumped
out to the cells of the body once again.

The work capacity of the heart

The amount of work done by the heart in one day is almost
beyond belief. For life to continue, the process of circulation
must go on ceaselessly. The heart must pump, 24 hours a
day, 50–80 times a minute, from birth to death. When the
heartbeat stops, life automatically ceases. This amounts to
100,000 contractions in one day, or 37 million times in one
year. In an average lifespan of seventy years, this amounts to
two and a half billion beats. No man-made machine has such
reliability and durability.
Like any other pump, the heart is subject to wear and
tear, especially if it is abused and overstrained. The key to
a long life lies in preserving the heart from excessive strain
of all kinds. This must include preservation of mental and
emotional balance, dietary control, adequate exercise and
sleep, and is best attained by following a yogic lifestyle.
If the heart has been damaged by disease, it will repair
itself while it works. If its valves become thickened because
of disease, such as rheumatic fever, the muscular walls of the
heart will thicken in an attempt to compensate for any loss
of efficiency. Under the stress of extreme exercise or fever, it
will go on pumping at a rate of up to two to three times its
normal speed to enable the body to overcome the crisis.

The pacemaker
The rate at which the heart beats is governed by the pace­
maker or SA node, a small fragment of specialized nervous
tissue located near the top right side of the heart. This node
generates a spontaneous rhythmic electrical impulse which
is conducted throughout the upper chambers of the heart
and then on to all the muscle fibres, initiating the cardiac
contraction. Thus the heartbeat is controlled by the output
of impulses from the pacemaker, which is in turn governed
by the ever changing needs of the body.

34
The seat of human emotion
The heart’s function is intimately related to our emotional
metabolism. Our emotional states directly influence the
behaviour of the heart, and heart disease is often as much
an emotional disorder as a physical disease. An anxious,
overtense mind, always gripped by worries and problems or
an unruly mind, constantly bursting into habitual states of
anger, passion or sorrow, causes wild, uncontrolled activation
of the sympathetic nervous system and floods the circulation
with the stress hormones, adrenalin and noradrenalin. The
heart rate is elevated above its optimal resting state, which
subjects it to strain.
Similarly, the stresses of interpersonal relationships,
encompassing the expression of the whole range of human
emotions, instincts and desires which must be experienced
as we evolve, place constant demands upon the heart and
the endocrine glands. When the expression of the passions
and unruly emotions is uncontrolled and unmanageable,
hor­monal secretions become imbalanced and wayward, and
the heart labours excessively. Sympathetic activation is also
responsible for sending the small arteries into a state of
spasm or permanent contraction. Consequently, the heart
must pump against a high back pressure of blood in the
arterial tree, and hypertension (high blood pressure) inevi­
tably results.
Hypertension is a serious and damaging disorder, accel­
era­ting blood vessel damage, leading to kidney and heart
failure, and posing the constant threat of sudden death by
stroke (bursting of a blood vessel in the brain).
Until recently doctors believed that heart attack (myo­
cardial infarction) was caused by a blood clot lodging in one
of the coronary arteries. However, it is now accepted that
in many cases of heart attack, there is probably no blood
clot, and that the attack is a functional crisis in the nervous
system, caused by a spasm of the coronary arteries, and is
due to overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system. The
same applies to angina, a chronic, ongoing form of partial

35
coronary occlusion where spasm of the coronary arteries is
an important factor.
It now appears that in both these common heart diseases,
the most important precipitating cause is spasm of the
coronary artery, caused by high levels of mental tension
acting through the automatic nerve fibres that supply the
arteries themselves.
Emotional tension is one prominent cause of heart attack.
Most coronary patients are found to have suffered a deep
and significant emotional hurt or disappointment during the
month before, or even one year before, the heart attack.

Relation of cardiac and sexual functions

Both our emotions and our instincts demand an outlet, and
this commonly occurs via the sexual behaviour. The human
reproductive system is controlled by the pituitary (master
control) gland.
The pituitary gland is controlled by the hypothalamus
releasing hormones from the brain which are synthesized in
response to our various mental and emotional states. This
means that the formation of semen in the male and the
menstrual cycle in the female result directly from the emo­
tional metabolism.
When certain types of emotions are elevated or
are uncontrolled, high levels of the sexual hormones:
testosterone in the male, and oestrogen and progesterone
in the female, are synthesized by the gonads (testes and
ovaries) and secreted into the bloodstream. These hormones
activate the reproductive and sexual organs, which become
the mediums for emotional expression and release.
Men are far more likely to suffer from vascular and
degenerative heart disease than women, up to the age of
menopause. Researchers believe that it is high levels of the
androgenic or masculine hormones which are responsible
both for the characteristic aggressiveness of the ‘cardiac
personality’, and for damage to the vessels of the heart itself
in coronary disease.

36
 Recent research has revealed the existence of specific
androgenic receptors in the walls of the heart chambers
and the large arteries, which are thought to mediate cardiac
damage. This may mean that men are more prone to certain
types of heart disease than women because women have
lower levels of androgens (male hormones). Oestrogen may
even protect them from heart problems and may explain
the relative health of the female heart up to the stage of
menopause.
It has been found that in the premenopausal years,
male cardiac sufferers outnumber females by a ratio of two
to one, but within a few years of completion of menopause,
the incidence of heart disease between the two sexes is
found to be virtually identical. Yogis state that by balancing
the emotional and sexual activities, the hormonal level is
reduced and balanced and a man can preserve the health of
his heart. Of course, many factors are involved.

The role of diet

Medical scientists have found that the degree of cardiac and
arterial degeneration is closely related to the amount of fat
and cholesterol consumed in the diet. Most doctors today
accept that the modern diet contains too many fats, too
much protein and excessive calories. An excessively rich diet
is believed to contribute to many of modern man’s diseases,
which result from habitual overloading and overtaxing of the
digestive organs.
In a widely reported American study of the condition of
the heart and blood vessels of fit, young soldiers who died
of accidental causes, pathologists reported that the blood
vessels of these young men in their twenties and thirties
already showed the degenerative changes of arteriosclerosis.
Their blood vessel walls were found to be coated with
white deposits of greasy cholesterol and fat, known as
atheromatous plaques. This study caused widespread alarm
in medical circles when it was published and led many
doctors to dramatically alter their own dietary habits. While

37
it was previously well-known that the blood vessels of a 55
or 60 year old who died of heart failure, stroke or infarction
were invariably found to be in a terribly degenerated and
clogged state, this study revealed clearly that arteriosclerosis
is an ongoing process, perhaps commencing even in
childhood, and certain­ly well underway by the thirtieth year
of life.
The deposition of cholesterol is now widely accepted to
be one fundamental cause of cardiovascular degeneration
and death. A high level of blood cholesterol can be lowered
by adopting a fat free, low cholesterol, vegetarian diet based
on whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables. Replacement of
animal fats such as fatty meats, butter, cream and ghee with
unsaturated vegetable oils is recom­mended. Such a diet is
routinely prescribed for heart patients, and physicians now
accept that it helps not only to arrest cholesterol deposition,
but even to reverse the horrible process of fatty arterial
degeneration by gradually remobiliz­ing cholesterol deposits
from the vessel walls.
More recent studies have shown that meditation also
ef­fec­tive­ly lowers the level of cholesterol in the serum, and
this is one reason why relaxation and meditation are con­
sidered so necessary, along with dietary modification, in the
yoga program for the heart patient. The serum (blood fluid
remaining after the red cells have been extracted) of an in­
dividual taking a high fat, high cholesterol diet is often found
to be thick, turbid and milky, while that of a low chol­­ester­ol
vegetarian is found to be clear and transparent. It is easy
to appreciate the greater burden on the heart which has to
pump this thick turbid fluid, heavily laden with fat globules,
throughout the body, day in and day out, for many years.

The cardiac personality

Cardiologists recognize that a particular ‘cardiac personality’
type, is most prone to heart disease. The sufferer is most
commonly a middle-aged man who has an aggressive, self-
assertive and competitive nature. He is usually successful

38
in his field and has done well in life by driving himself
to the limit. He sets high personal standards and expects
others to conform to these same standards. He often
becomes a ‘workaholic’, using his work as his sole means
of self-fulfilment, while tending to avoid painful emotional
encounters and responsibilities in the family.
While appearing a most strong-willed and independent
character on the surface, his inner, subjective nature may
be quite the opposite. He is frequently a highly sensitive,
percep­tive and even artistic person, but has suppressed this
softer side of his personality. This contrast often leads to
an inner conflict which lies at the root of heart strain and
cardiac diseases.
In yogic therapy, it is often difficult for the cardiac per­
sona­lity to relax and utilize yoga in a non-competitive way.
His mind is so achievement-orientated that relaxation and
the attitude of letting go, surrender and acceptance is very
unnatural for him at first. Nevertheless, if this lesson can be
learned, progress is assured.

Yoga balances the emotions

Because the emotions play such a fundamental role in the
genesis of cardiac diseases, it is not sufficient that a heart
patient adopt a low fat diet alone in order to manage his
condition.According to yogic science, it is essential for
sufferers of cardiac strain or those recovering from cardiac
crisis, to recognize their patterns of emotional response
and the effects these have upon the heart and mind. This
is achiev­ed through the practices of yogic relaxation, yoga
nidra and meditation (dhyana). Mastery of a scientific tech­
nique of re­laxa­tion like yoga nidra is the most important first
step in recovery from cardiac crisis through yoga.
This is because heart patients are often very much ruled
by their emotional states, even though they may appear on
the surface to be very calm, cool and collected personalities.
Suppressed emotions, which are held deep inside and denied
expression for many years due to feelings of shame, guilt or

39
rejec­tion, are nevertheless registered as a continuing, exces­
sive heart strain and are found to be major contributing
factors in many heart diseases.
By practising yoga, the individual is gradually liberated
from these deep emotional complexes, fears, and inadequa­
cies which are harboured in the subconscious mind. Often
they are the impressions of unpleasant experi­ences from
early childhood. These may never enter conscious awareness,
but they nevertheless generate a high level of float­ ing
anxiety in daily life, colouring interactions, responses,
attitudes and decisions. This is a root cause of constant ten­­
sion and also of constant strain upon the heart.
The yogic practices unburden the heart, leading one to
regain a child’s emotions and outlook on life: open, simple
and spontaneous. This provides enormous mental and
cardiac relief for the heart patient, who is frequently deeply
entwined in the emotional complexes of fear, self-pity, ag­
gression, betrayal or anger. As relaxation occurs, pent-up
emotions are liberated and the patient gradually learns
to live, think and feel simply and honestly and to express
feelings openly. Personality disturbance, due to suppres­sion,
is avoided, and outbursts of anger, excitement or passion no
longer overwhelm the mind and overtax the heart.
Imagine the deep relaxation the heart would experience
if it were freed from lurking anxieties and subconscious
tensions. That is what the cardiac patient needs more than
anything else and that is what yogic meditation, relaxation
and other practices bring about.

Inadequacy of medical solutions

Medical sciences have developed many powerful drugs to
control the symptoms and effects of cardiac strain, hyper­
tension and heart failure. These drugs are often life-saving
in the acute situation of a heart attack or hypertensive crisis.
They lower a dangerously high blood pressure, stabilize a
rapidly failing heart or relieve the pain of excessive cardiac
effort (angina). However, they can never be the total solution

40
to the problem because they do not get to the fundamental
cause of heart disease and correct it.
Many patients depend on drugs for relief of symptoms
for years or even decades, without realizing or coming to
terms with the root cause of their condition. They grow
tired and die before understanding what is fundamentally
wrong with their mental and cardiac health, living out the
remainder of their lives in an atmosphere of increasing
suffering and discomfort.
When the emotions are known, experienced and ex­
pressed consciously, with an increasing faculty of awareness,
cardiac strain can be reduced at its origins. This is why
it is essential for cardiac patients to practise yoga under
careful guidance, in conjunction with their medical therapy.
Then they can gradually recognize and evolve beyond the
limitation which is causing their heart and circulatory system
to de­generate and their mind to suffer.

Yoga offers the solution

Yoga offers a tried and proven method for alleviating the
emotional conflicts which impose enormous strain upon the
human heart and leads to heart disease and its complica­
tions. Yoga provides a way of life by which the heart can be
maintained in optimal condition right up to the end of life,
as well as a way of relieving cardiac strain and illness.
In order to relieve the heart of its continuing burden,
the emotional conflicts, dependencies, needs must first be
known, accepted, and expressed. Then, ultima­tely, they can
be transcended. The emotional metabolism cannot simply
be suppressed out of existence, because sup­pres­sion leads to
mental disorders and physical disease. However, by following
the path of yoga systematically, the emotions can be known and
expressed in a healthy, fulfilling way which is not detrimental
to health and which preserves the heart from crisis.
Meditation is fundamental to yogic life. It gradually
instils peace, stability and increasing awareness into the life
of the individual who is trapped in the throes of pain, fear,

41
insecurity and emotional agony which accompany heart
disease. Meditation induces a change in both body and
mind. The body temperature, metabolic rate and endocrine
secretion patterns undergo a profound, spontaneous change,
the mind becomes deeply relaxed, and the heart becomes
very, very quiet. The emotions are not extinguished, but their
ex­pression alters. Gradually, the heart rejoices as if relieved
of a tremendous burden and soars skyward, expressing
emotion in a joyful, transcendental way, no longer limited
by the instinctive personality.

Yogic program for heart and circulatory disease

A tired and overworked heart needs rest more than anything
else, for rest enables the levels of vital energy, prana, to build
up and begin the work of regeneration. Adequate rest should
be coupled with asana and pranayama, a short walk each day
and moderate lifestyle.
Asanas are vitally important, but should never be practised
beyond capacity. The heart must never be strained, and at
the slightest sign of distress or pain the practice of relaxation
should supervene.
1. Asana: Begin with pawanmuktasana parts 1 and 2.
These should be practised each morning, after a bath
which should be cold in summer but warm in winter. If
pawan­muktasana part 2 proves too hard, it should be
omitted. Shavasana should be practised whenever tired­
ness super­venes, and there should never be any hurry
to finish the practices. Yoga should be a source of rest,
relief and relaxation which will gradually spill over and
transform the whole life. These asanas should continue
daily for at least two months. Then shakti bandha asanas,
if possible, can be introduced, and the following major
asanas are recommended: vajrasana, shashankas­ana (re­
lax­ing for sever­al minutes), sarpasana, yoga mudra, bhu
namanasana.
2. Pranayama: Pranayama is very important both in the
initial recovery of a heart patient and in the subsequent

42
 rehabilitation and rejuvenation period. Pranayama
should never impose a strain on the heart and lungs.
If it does, then its purpose has been defeated. It should
be soothing to the anxious mind, relaxing to the
excited nerves and stabilizing to the irregular heart
and circulation. The most important practices are nadi
shodhana techniques one and two, and ujjayi pranayama.
Breath should be only slightly deeper than normal,
without retention, either internal or external. It should
be as natural and as quiet as possible, and the awareness
should follow the inflowing and outflowing breath very
closely. Watching the breath is watching the mind and
great relief of tension and anxiety will be experienced
immediately. Cardiac function improves and mental
stability develops week by week. The heart benefits
greatly from the more efficient oxygena­tion process and
damaged tissues are rapidly repaired. Ten rounds of
nadi shodhana and ten rounds of ujjayi pranayama are
recommended.
3. Yoga nidra: Relaxation should be practised at regular
intervals during the asana program. Shavasana, matsya
kridasana or advasana can be adopted. The full practice
of yoga nidra should be followed once a day.
4. Meditation: Meditation should be learned not as a disci­
pline but as an enjoyable pastime for the cardiac patient.
Especially while confined to bed in the initial phase of
recovery, and later on during rehabilitation, it is most
useful as a means of becoming aware of the physical,
men­ tal and emotional tensions which have wrought
such havoc upon the cardiovascular system. The most
suitable practices are ajapa japa using the mantra So-
ham, and antar mouna (inner silence). These practices
bring detach­ ment from the mental processes, fears
and imagina­tions which are the root cause of mental
agitations and tensions.
5. Shatkarma: Jala neti is an excellent practice for the heart
patient. It can be learned and practised even while still

43
 confined to bed, and should be adopted every morning.
Kunjal and laghoo shankhaprakshalana should not be
adopted by the heart patient, at least for many months,
as they impose a strain on the heart.
6. Karma yoga: Selfless service, where one works with all
atten­tion, care and creativity, but without regard to the
returns, rewards or profits of this work, can be successfully
adopted during recovery from a cardiac illness.
7. Changing the lifestyle: Heart attack and cardiac strain occur
most frequently in people who have a very rajasic, active,
competitive temperament. Businessmen who become
obsessively involved in their work are prime candidates
for heart attack, for they neglect to take time off for
relaxation and cell rejuvenation. They neglect to include
relaxing pastimes in their lifestyle, becoming totally
dedicated to their job.
Many people have lost the ability to really relax and
have replaced it with a concept of relaxation which
is usually comprised of stimulating habits such as
smoking, drinking and social activities which excite and
exhaust rather than relax the cardiovascular system.
Skipping sleep and over­eat­ing further tire out the heart,
circulatory and nervous systems.
It is an important part of recuperation that the patient
be isolated completely from work worries and stays, if
possible, in an environment which is natural and restful.
An ashram environment could be ideal. This is often the
first total holiday such people have allowed themselves
in many, many years. There they can be intro­ duced
to some new interests which are creative, relaxing and
non-competitive, more in tune with natural cycles and
processes. For example, simple manual work such as
carpentry is often a revelation and a great joy to a person
who has previously used his hands only to sign cheques!
Similarly, simple gardening, where the rate of return on
investment depends not on economic conditions but on
the blessing and abundance of the earth, can often help

44
 an anxious, ambitious person to relax and accept a pace
of life more in harmony with nature.
8. Swadhyaya: Study of various scriptures and inspiring lives
of saints who have devoted themselves to the realization
and service of the highest truth, rather than to the
acquisition of material and emotional possessions, is
often a revelation to the heart patient, setting an example
for a whole new dimension of stress-free living.
9. Bhakti yoga: The channelling of emotional energy away
from personal objectives, desires and attachments
towards the universal Self or God can also bring relief
to the cardiac patient. Chanting, kirtan and other
kinds of singing can also be very relaxing for people
whose emotions are often deeply entangled in a
mesh of attachments. Release of personal emotional
entanglement often provides immense relief and paves
the way for full recovery.
10. Diet: Diet should be light, avoiding meat, excessive pro­
tein, milk and dairy products, oil and excessive spices.
These should be replaced by whole grains, fruits and
fresh vegetables. This will reduce obesity which imposes
constant, excessive strain on the heart. Meal times
should be regular and the avoidance of eating between
meals should become a rule of life. Overeating must be
avoided, as it undoubtedly strains the heart. The evening
meal should be taken before 7 p.m. These rules ensure
that the digestive organs are not continually overtaxed,
and liberate energy from digestion into healing.
It is important that the heart patient avoid constipation,
as this leads to pranic blockage in the digestive tract.
Exces­sive straining at stool is also stressful for the heart
and for this reason, only a light, semi-liquid diet is
recom­ mended following a cardiac crisis. Diet can be
gradually normalized as cardiac function is restored,
but oils and fats and dairy products should be resumed
cautiously. Smok­ing should be discontinued.

45
The Respiratory
System
 Disorders of the
Respiratory System

T he respiratory system consists of the nose, pharynx,

epiglottis, trachea, bronchi and lungs; also the ribcage
that protects the lungs, the diaphragm and intercostal
muscles which pump air in and out of the chest, and the
nervous con­nections to the brain which activate and control
these muscles.
For descriptive purposes, the respiratory system is
divided into the upper and lower respiratory tracts. The
arbitrary dividing line between the upper and lower tracts
is considered to be in the larynx or upper windpipe, at the
level of the Adam’s apple (thyroid cartilage) at the front of
the neck.
However, this division should not be allowed to obscure
the intimate relationship between diseases of the upper
respiratory tract and diseases of the bronchi and lungs in the
chest. For example, an upper respiratory infection such as
the common cold or sinusitis may, under certain conditions,
give rise to bronchitis, or even pneumonia in the lungs
themselves.

The upper respiratory tract

The upper respiratory tract includes the nose, the nasal
passages and sinuses (nasopharynx), and the voice-box
(larynx). The nasal sinuses are hollow cavities which
communicate with the nasal passages through narrow

49
openings. These openings are frequently blocked in nasal
infection such as colds and sinusitis. Adequate drainage of
infected sinuses is often prevented by inflammatory swelling
of their mucous membranes, so healing is often slow and
incomplete.
As air is inhaled, it passes through the nostrils, the larynx
and into the trachea (windpipe). The air we breathe must be
changed before it enters the lungs because it is generally too
dry and often too cold. Such air would quickly dry out the
lung tissue. Furthermore, in the surrounding air there are
many pollutants such as smoke and dust, as well as millions
of germs. Many of these impurities must be removed before
the air enters the lungs, otherwise we would be easily
susceptible to lung infection or the lungs would become
hopelessly blocked with dust and dirt.
To counter these dangers, the body is provided with an
air purifying and conditioning system. This begins in the
nose, where hairs at the entrance to the nostrils screen out
large particles of dust and debris. Deeper passages of the
nose moisten and warm the descending air. Special bone
structures are lined with a thick, spongy mucous membrane
through which circulates a rich supply of blood. As air
passes over these tissues it is warmed, like air passing over
a radiator. On cold days the blood vessels dilate to produce
more heat and on warm days they shrink.
Disorders of the upper respiratory tract include the
common cold (acute coryza), sinusitis, hay fever, tonsillitis
and swollen adenoids.

The mucous secreting mechanism

Although the inhaled air has been filtered, it still contains
a potentially lethal burden of fine dust particles. To help
remove them, the airways are lined with glands which secrete
a sticky film of mucus that traps the dust particles. This dust-
filled mucus would clog the air passages if it wasn’t for their
remarkable self cleaning system. Microscopic hairs, called
cilia, propel the mucus and debris upward by their sweeping

50
motion towards the throat or larynx, where it is either
swallowed, being harmless in the digestive tract, or coughed
into the mouth to be spat out.

The cough reflex

At times we tax the capacity of our cleaning mechanisms, for
example, when the inhaled air contains irritating substances
such as automobile or industrial fumes or when we smoke too
much. In a futile effort to trap countless millions of smoke
particles, the throat secretes excess mucus. The mucus itself
becomes an irritant and must be coughed up. In a cough,
air is trapped in the lungs by the glottis, the valve at the
upper end of the trachea, which carries air to the lungs.
When the valve opens suddenly, air rushes out with explosive
force. Thus the cough, which we may consider a nuisance, is
actually essential to life. It is an emergency cleaning measure
which rids the body of toxic products.
The larynx prevents large inhaled particles from reaching
the lower respiratory tract by means of the cough reflex,
in addition to being the organ of voice production. It is
a frequent site of infection and inflammation (laryngitis),
result­ing in symptoms of dry cough, hoarseness and sore
throat.

The lower respiratory tract

The lower respiratory tract consists of the trachea, the
bronchi and the lungs. The trachea or windpipe begins at
the voice box and ends by dividing into two tubes, the right
and left bronchi. Each bronchus, measuring about four
inches (10 cms) in length, passes to a lung where it divides
into succes­sively smaller branches known as bronchioles.
This branching network of respiratory passages is known as
the ‘the bronchial tree’. Its smallest branches communicate
with a cluster of minute air sacs called alveoli. The broncho-
pulmonary lobules so constituted form the basic structure of
the lungs. These in­numer­able tiny air cells render the lung
tissues spongy and elastic.

51
 The alveoli look like the cells of a sponge or a
honeycomb. Each alveolus has a cobweb-like covering of
capillaries, so tiny that red blood cells must pass through
them in single file. Through their gossamer walls the blood
gives up waste carbon dioxide and takes on refreshing
oxygen. The oxygen is then distributed to all parts of the
body via the heart, and the carbon dioxide is simultaneously
expelled from the lungs and body during exhalation. Every
few minutes the body’s entire supply of blood must pass
through the pulmonary capillaries, and in the process its
colour changes from dark blue to bright red. Day and night
this all important work proceeds without interruption,
providing the energy which sustains all of the life processes
in the body.
Disorders of the lower respiratory tract include such
diseases as bronchitis, asthma, croup, whooping cough,
pneu­monia, emphysema, lung cancer, tuberculosis, pleural
effusion, pleurisy and pneumothorax.

The breathing process

Normally we breathe about fifteen times per minute,
inhaling about half a litre of air each time. During exercise,
when cells are hungry for oxygen, the rate and depth of
respiration increases and the lungs take in ten or more times
the oxygen supplied during rest.
Breathing itself is an intricate process. The lungs hang
loosely in the chest, each in a separate compartment with
the heart in between. Around the lungs is a partial vacuum.
There­fore, when the chest is enlarged by muscular contrac­
tion, the vacuum tugs the lungs outward, thus sucking in air.
Inhalation is performed by either or both of two methods:
i) the abdominal wall expands outwards due to the descent
of the diaphragm into the abdomen, or ii) the ribs expand
upwards and outwards. The process of expiration is simply a
recoil mecha­nism.
Thus inhalation is an active process, while exhala­tion
is normally a passive one. However, in states of bronchial

52
spasm and mucus plugging of the airways, such as occurs
in asthma, air has to be actively expelled from the lungs in
order to overcome the increased resistance of the airways.
Behind many instances of respiratory disorder are two
bad habits. The first is breathing through the mouth rather
than the nose, and the second is breathing in short, shallow
pants without fully expanding the abdomen or chest. These
habits of poor respiration give rise to many mental deficien­
cies and physical disorders. The yogic science of pranay­ama
(control and manipulation of life energy) is a fundamental
part of yogic therapy. It commences with full instruction in
the art and science of breathing consciously and efficiently.
The breath becomes the vehicle for energizing the body and
mind and at the same time it is the doorway into the higher
spiritual states of expanded awareness.

The yogic alternative

Yogic and medical science understand the respiratory
system very differently. For example, yoga recognizes mucus
discharge as a beneficial elimination of toxic wastes from
the body and effectively promotes the cleansing process by
using the hatha yoga shatkarmas in con­junc­tion with heat
promotion procedures. Because the symptoms of excessive
mucus discharge usually arise in cold weather and at the
change of season, the problem is recog­ nized as one of
imbalance of body heat.
The yogic approach to rectifying imbalance in the
respira­tory system is gradual and gentle, with the emphasis
on redirecting subtle energies rather than on just gross
physical manipulation. Unlike the surgical process of
antral washout, in yogic science cleansing of the sinuses is
accomplished readily and painlessly by jala neti kriya. In this
practice, warm saline water is introduced into one nostril
while the head is tilted, allowing all the sinuses to be cleared
and washed out before the stream of water emerges from the
other nostril. Cases of long standing sinusitis, for example,
respond rapidly to neti kriya, which is fundamental to the

53
health of the upper respiratory tract. It should be performed
twice a day, and more often if necessary to promote mucus
elimina­tion, by anyone who suffers from bouts of hay fever,
allergy, middle ear infections, colds, eosinophilia, wheezy
bronchitis or asthma.
The introduction of neti into medical practice will
revolu­tionize current management of ear, nose and throat
disorders, and the introduction of yoga into medical practice
will open new doorways of approach to treating many
respiratory diseases.

54
 The Common Cold

T he common cold or acute coryza, also termed catarrh, is

quite a mild disorder of short duration. In its more severe
form it is called influenza or ‘flu’. It is a highly contagious
condition and attacks produce only temporary immunity,
especially when the general level of the body’s resistance is low.
Coryza frequently occurs after exposure to sudden cold
condi­tions, drenching in rainwater, or change of season,
especially during early spring, early winter and monsoon, where
the body’s internal thermostat is adjusting to the sudden envir­
on­mental changes. We must remember that it is the natural
tendency of a healthy body to periodically discharge surplus
toxins, and a cold is one of the most usual forms of cleansing
and readjustment. Symptoms such as cough, sneezing, nasal
discharge, fever and sweating are all signs of elimination.
Other factors which can precipitate a cold are unsuitable
diet, sluggish digestion, sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise,
reduced muscle tone and sluggish circulation.

Clinical features
The onset of a cold is usually sudden with a tickling sensation
in the nose and back of the throat, accompanied by sneezing.
The throat often feels dry and sore, and a cough is often
present. The head feels ‘stuffed–up’, the eyes smart and there
is a profuse, watery, nasal discharge. A chilling sensation
is usually experienced in the beginning, followed by slight

55
fever. The skin may become hot and dry and the sufferer
feels thirst, dryness of the tongue and loss of appetite. The
urine may be darkened and of decreased volume, and the
bowels may become temporarily constipated.
In more severe cases there may be shifting pains in the
back and limbs. The mucous membrane of the nose becomes
swollen and the sufferer is then forced to breathe through
the mouth. A thin, irritating secretion flows from the nose,
making the edges of the nostrils tender and sore, due to the
need for constant cleaning of the nose. The tear ducts and
glands become swollen causing the eyes to weep and the con­
junctivae to become inflamed and reddened. Both the senses
of smell and taste are commonly lost and, if the pharynx is
involved, the voice becomes husky and a sore throat develops.
Often the inflammation extends to the eustachian tubes,
which causes the hearing to be temporarily impaired as well.
Usually, within a day or two, the nasal secretion becomes
more profuse and the swelling of the nasal mucosa subsides,
affording some relief. The sufferer is able to breathe through
the nostrils again and within four or five days the symptoms
disappear. However, in more severe cases, there is bronchial
irritation and cough as the inflammation makes its way down
the bronchial tree into the lower respiratory tract.

Complication of acute coryza

There are rarely any bad effects from a simple bout of cold,
provided proper preventive and therapeutic measures are
adopted, but where resistance is low or general health is
poor, complications may occur as the infection spreads to
other parts of the body. Severe influenza epidemics have
been known to be lethal, especially in young children and
the elderly. The most common complications of a cold are:
1. Secondary bacterial infection, where the secretions become
thick and purulent.
2. Sinusitis, infection in the sinuses which leads to swelling, con­
ges­tion, obstruction and thick purulent (yellow) discharge.
3. Middle ear infection, (otitis media), causing fever, deafness

56
 and ear pain, as bacterial infection spreads from the
nasopharynx up the eustachian tubes.
4. Lower respiratory infection, may lead to tracheitis (inflamma­
tion of trachea), laryngitis (larynx), bronchitis (bronchi)
and lobular pneumonia, as secondary bacterial infection
descends down the bronchial tree into the lungs.

Yogic management of acute coryza

Medical science has not devised a cure for the common cold
or flu and so relies on symptomatic relief, with the appropriate
antibiotics to prevent complicating secondary bacterial infec­
tion. However, a cold is a disorder which can definitely be
averted by natural means when the pranic energy or vital
resistance of the body is high and the physiological functions
are in balance.
Overeating (especially of the wrong foods) often precipi­
tates or worsens a cold. A short fast, on the other hand, is
often sufficient to avert an imminent cold. At the first sign
of a cold or sore throat, which represents a slight pranic im­
balance, one should miss a meal, practise neti and kunjal
kriya, and some energizing pranayama. Then take a cup
of hot tea with heating spices (ginger, pepper, cinnamon)
and rest quietly, perhaps performing mouna (silence) to
minimize the wastage of energy which is caused by talking.
Almost certainly the cold will never eventuate. One should
also remember that a cold is very contagious during the early
stages, especially when sneezing is prominent. Voluntary
isolation and rest by the sufferer during this period is an
important step.
If, however, the usual heavy meal is taken and work
continues, prana will be further depleted. By proceeding
with normal activities without any consideration for the im­
pend­ing cold, beyond maybe taking aspirin, one will almost
certainly succumb by the next day to a full-blown cold, which
may continue unabated for five days or more.
Many cases of cold are so mild, however, the sufferer
continues on with the daily routine as usual. In this case,

57
kunjal daily and neti once, twice or even thrice daily should
remove stuffiness, cough and discomfort. Asana and pranay­
ama should be minimized but meditation can be continued.
However, if fever and constitutional disturbances occur, one
should immediately retire to bed, taking six or more glasses
of hot water with lemon juice during the day. Kunjal and neti
should not be performed if a fever is present. The patient’s
yoga sadhana should definitely be confined to yoga nidra
practice and antar mouna only.

Problems of recurrent common cold

People who experience colds or coryza several times a year,
almost certainly have an impairment of their immune
system. This can be due to any number of factors, including
food allergies, vitamin and/or mineral deficiencies and, very
commonly, protein deficiency which, in itself, may be due to
inadequate dietary intake or an inability to digest, absorb or
metabolize the food.
Yoga practices, which improve the digestive fire, the
breathing pattern and overall immunity, as well as advice
from a competent healthcare professional, will inevitably
resolve this problem.

Further recommendations
• A light natural diet with plenty of fruit is advised, and for
weakened patients, a liquid diet is best. Hot soup prepared
from seasonal vegetables, such as carrot, spinach and
tomato, can be made, together with coriander leaves, chilli
and ginger. Foods rich in vitamins C and A are useful.
• Steam inhalation for ten minutes is advised in cases of
nasal congestion and obstruction. This cleans the head
and eases the breathing. In cases of cough, and sore and
inflamed throat, gargling with warm saline water is useful.
• Smoking is irritative to the nasal mucosa and should be
discontinued.
• Regular practice of surya namaskara to capacity builds up
resistance to coughs and colds.

58
 Bronchitis and Eosinophilia

B ronchitis is infection and inflammation of the mucous

  lining of the trachea and bronchi. It exists in both acute
and chronic forms and usually develops as a sequel to upper
respiratory infections such as cold or influenza. Other factors
predisposing to bronchitis include cold, damp living con­
ditions, foggy and dusty atmospheres, smoking and chronic
mouth breathing, which allow unfiltered and un­warmed air
to enter the bronchi. The condition occurs most frequently
amongst elderly people, children and smokers of any age.
Bronchitis would be rare if people ate the right foods
and their systems were not filled with mucus and poisonous
waste matters, and if they wore proper clothing. Where there
is bronchitis, there is usually stomach trouble or con­stipa­
tion. It is brought on by changeable weather, catching cold,
exposure, wet feet, and chilling.
Bronchitis becomes chronic when acute bronchitis is not
properly treated and relieved. When a cold is allowed to run,
it gets down into the bronchial tubes and lungs and becomes
chronic.

Clinical features of bronchitis

The initial symptom is an irritating, unproductive cough,
accompanied by upper chest pain. As the bronchi become
extensively involved, a sensation of tightness in the chest
develops, and wheezing respiration and shortness of breath

59
may also occur. This group of symptoms is also sometimes
termed as ‘eosinophilia’ or ‘wheezy bronchitis’. Respiratory
distress and shortness of breath may be particularly severe
when acute bronchitis complicates underlying chronic bron­
chitis or emphysema.
Sputum is at first scanty, mucoid and difficult to bring
up. Occasionally it may be streaked with blood. One or two
days later it becomes thick and mucopurulent. As the inflam­
mation descends down the bronchial tree, a moderate fever
usually develops. Most cases recover over the next four to
eight days without the patients ever becoming seriously ill.
Occasionally, the condition fails to resolve itself, and
shortness of breath and other symptoms worsen, and
fever continues to rise. This reflects that the body’s vital
resistance is lowered so that inflammation has continued
into the alveoli and lungs themselves. The patient is then
suffering from pneumonia and should be given high doses
of antibiotics under a doctor’s care.

Eosinophilia
Eosinophilia is a respiratory disorder with symptoms in
common with both asthma and bronchitis and it is often
difficult to decide which diagnostic label to assign to
individual sufferers. The disorder is usually interpreted as
a transition stage in respiratory diseases, when the sufferer
from chronic cold or bronchitis is gradually evolving into a
full-blown state of asthma. Eosinophilia is diagnosed when
the percent­age of eosi­nophils in the blood of the sufferer
becomes elevated. Eosinophils are the white blood cells
which mediate allergic and hypersensitive reactions, and an
elevated level suggests that the asthma-like symptoms of the
disease are an immune reaction by the lungs.

The cause of eosinophilia

The disorder is thought to be an allergic response to various
foreign proteins and drugs, and in tropical countries it seems
to appear as an allergic complication of filaria and worm

60
infections. The disorder is common in industrial areas where
air pollution is believed to be the major initiating factor. It is
frequently diagnosed in children following investigation of
persisting or recurrent cough and cold symptoms.

Medical management of chronic bronchitis and eosinophilia

Chronic or recurrent bronchial inflammation can be
improved by making sure one has an adequate intake of
fresh fruit and vegetables as well as sufficient vitamins and
minerals for the body’s metabolic needs. Fish oils have a
strong anti-inflammatory effect when taken in therapeutic
doses. Lastly, for the immune system to function at its
optimum, the intake and digestion of proteins should be
carefully monitored, as protein deficiency is a very common
cause of suboptimal immune response. Appropriate physical
exercise and deep breathing are aslso very useful.
Medical treatment of eosinophilia is far from effective.
The drug diethylcarbamazine is prescribed where filarial
infection is suspected, but this drug is minimally effective in
the long term. Where drugs or medicines are likely initiating
factors, they must be discontinued. Frequently the condition
is indistinguishable from mild asthma.

Yogic management of chronic bronchitis and eosinophilia

Yoga therapy provides effective relief in cases of chronic
bronchitis and eosinophilia and provides techniques for
strengthening the weak and hypersensitive respiratory
system. However, during an acute cough, cold or bronchitis,
no asana should be practised at all and complete rest is
necessary. Adopt the practice program gradually after the
acute bout has subsided.
1. Asana: Commence with the pawanmuktasana series.
Sufferers who are elderly or weak should practise only
this series along with makarasana. Others are recom­
mended to select a suitable practice program from
amongst the following asanas in this order: Shakti bandha
series, surya namaskara, vajrasana series (shashankasana,

61
 shashank bhujangasana, ushtrasana, marjari-asana, supta
vajrasana), pada hastasana, bhujangasana, dhanurasana,
kandhar­ asana, chakrasana, paschimottanasana, ardha
matsyendr­ asana, baddha padmasana, sarvangasana,
halasana and matsyasana.
Simhagarjanasana is especially recommended. Stand­ing and
bending asanas including trikonasana, hasta utthanas­ ana,
dwi konasana, lolasana, etc., will work to strengthen the chest.
2. Pranayama: All pranayama practices will enhance and
develop the respiratory capacity and resistance. Especially
recom­mended are ujjayi, kapalbhati, bhastrika and nadi
shod­hana (up to stage 3).
3. Mudra and bandha: Yoga mudra, prana mudra and maha
bandha.
4. Shatkarma: Neti should be practised daily and kunjal
should be performed daily for one week.
5. Relaxation: Yoga nidra provides deep relaxation and
develops awareness. Often chronic cough becomes a
characteristic habit and part of the personality of the
sufferer from chronic bronchitis. In the beginning,
the cough may worsen when yoga nidra is practised.
This is usually a psychological reaction. One who has
become accustomed to the habit of coughing does so
unconsciously as a means of tension release. When all
such activities and movements cease in yoga nidra, the
psychological cough commonly asserts itself and the
impulse to cough becomes prominent. The sufferer can
evolve beyond this disease rapidly by recognizing the
action of this coping mechanism in his or her lifestyle,
and learn to resist and overcome it.
6. Meditation: Ajapa japa, with khechari mudra and ujjayi
pranayama and rotating awareness from navel to throat
and throat to navel in the frontal psychic passage, is also
most valuable in helping to gradually recognize and
relieve a chronic cough and respiratory weakness.
7. Diet: During an attack it is best to only take fruit and
vegetable juices. Then barley water and watery khichari

62
 or vegetable broth can be taken. Avoid cold drinks and
foods. Eat plenty of vegetables, raw, steamed or lightly
boiled. Citrus fruits help to loosen and cut the phlegm,
as do onions, radishes and garlic. Hot milk with a little
ginger and black pepper will also loosen the phlegm and
facilitate its removal. This can be taken at night instead of
the evening meal.
8. Fasting: This is highly recommended. If a full fast cannot
be undertaken, it is advisable to miss the evening meal.

Further recommendations
• Avoid stuffy, overheated and unventilated rooms. Keep
the chest and throat warm, but always ensure adequate
ventilation, especially while sleeping. Avoid draughts and
sitting on cold floors.
• Bronchitis sufferers should not take cold morning
showers, and during the time of attacks, a hot steamy bath
should be taken.
• Coughing should not be suppressed, as it is nature’s way
of clearing the phlegm and infective material from the
bronchial tree. Removal of phlegm can be promoted by
hot fomentations to the back and chest, then finishing
with a cold fomentation.
• Smoking should be given up as it directly irritates the
bron­chial mucosa. Without giving up smoking, no meas­
ures will prove very effective in overcoming chronic
bronchitis or eosinophilia.
• Daily walking is beneficial and deep breathing should be
practised at intervals throughout the day.
• Steam inhalations at night are very helpful and hot foot
baths with a tablespoon of mustard in the water.
• If a person is gasping for breath, rub the arms or feet
hard in the direction of the heart.

63
 Asthma

A sthma is a common and distressing condition which is

    character­
ized by recurrent attacks of spasm of the
tubes of the lungs resulting in wheezing, coughing and a
sense of suffoca­tion. The larger airways (bronchi) constrict
and become plugged with excessive, thick mucous secretions
produced by the cells lining the airways.
Attacks of asthma may last for only a few minutes, or
may continue for hours or even days, leaving the sufferer
in a stage of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. In
rare and extreme cases, when the condition known as ‘status
asth­maticus’ supervenes, asthma can even prove fatal.

The acute attack

An attack of asthma can be a fearful and exhausting experi­
ence for both the sufferer and their family members. The
symptoms of an impending attack usually begin several
hours prior to its actual onset and are, as a rule, constant
and well recognized for each individual patient. They
are commonly precipitated by bouts of emotional or
psychological tension, by exercise, by dietary indiscretion, or
by exposure to airborne allergens.
An impending attack in a child is often heralded by a
slight wheeze, and a change in behaviour. The child may
either become irritable and cry more readily, or become
quiet, sluggish and introverted. Sometimes skin rashes may

64
appear, and lips and face become swollen, indicating that the
levels of emotional or immune stress are mounting to a level
where crisis is imminent.
In most asthmatics there is a sudden onset of cold
symptoms, such as nasal congestion, nasal irritation
and bouts of sneez­ing, indicating that the nasal mucous
membrane is becoming swollen and secretory in response to
some psy­chologi­cal or environmental trigger. As the attack
ensues, there is an increasing insufficiency of inhaled air
(air hunger), causing great subjective distress and anxiety
as respiration becomes more and more laboured. Mucus
secretion becomes thick and sticky and a moist cough
develops. The chest becomes hyper­expanded and the lungs
hyperinflated. Expiration especially demands a continuous
muscular effort in order to overcome the added resistance of
thick sticky mucus plugging the respiratory tree. The patient
may partially accomplish this by exhaling with pressed lips or
while whistling, as this builds up the expiratory pressure in
the lungs. As the attack continues, the colour of the mucous
membranes may become bluish, which indicates that there
is not enough oxygen entering the body.
An untreated attack usually continues in a vicious circle.
The longer the sufferer fights to breathe, the longer the
attack continues, and the more severe it becomes. The
more severe the attack, the more distressed and anxious the
sufferer becomes, and the less able to relax.

Long-term complications
The complications of asthma increase with the duration of
the disease. The body becomes weak and debilitated. Asth­
matic children commonly lag behind their peers in body
weight and height. In addition, defects of posture, with
permanent expansion of the ribcage and hunching of the
shoulders, commonly accompany long-standing asthma.
The capacity to enjoy a fully active life and to participate
in normal social and personal relationships is therefore
reduced as the asthmatic is forced to lead an extremely

65
sheltered life, with innumerable restrictions. Some asthmatics
will have to take special medicines and avoid sports and
other outdoor activities, and may derive secondary benefits
by living up to the expecta­tion of others and unconsciously
fulfilling a sick, weak role. Thus the sufferer becomes
increasingly entrapped in the web of illness and resistance
to the disease diminishes.

The cause of asthma

The cause of asthma is multifactorial. Psychological, heredi­
tary and allergic factors have all been implicated and are
found to overlap variably from one patient to another. At
the psychological level, suppression of negative emotions
such as jealously, anger, resentment and hatred is often a
precipi­tat­ing cause, as are loneliness, longing for affection,
emotional hypersensitivity, fear of rejection and hesitation
in life. In management of asthma through yoga, these
psychic factors are brought before the conscious mind. The
sufferer learns to recognize, accept and gradually resolve
these difficulties.
Asthma can arise at any age, but it is especially common
in children and adolescents. Its onset may be gradual or
sudden. Asthmatics often report that the disease developed
soon after the some loss, rejection or major threat to
personal security. Examples include the loss of a parent,
child, partner or important job opportunity.
Another causative factor is exposure to allergens, that is,
substances causing heightened sensitivity. These may be food
products, drugs, medicine, different types of dust, animal
hair, environmental and atmospheric pollution.
Asthma can also arise during changing climatic conditions,
and incidence of attacks is higher in the winter and rainy
season in the tropics. Bouts of sneezing, hay fever, ‘wheezy
bronchitis’ or eosinophilia may progress towards overt asthma
over a period of time. Eosinophilia is really a stage of pre-
asthma and shows that the body’s self-defence system is being
aroused against an irritant, either some psychic threat or

66
fear-inducing factor, or increased exposure to some physical
allergen, like industrial smoke or diesel fumes.
Unhealthy diet and lifestyle also play a role in the genesis
of asthma. A low residue, mucus producing diet consisting
of excessive refined carbohydrate products like bread and
cakes, ghee, oily preparations, milk and milk products,
while deficient in fruits, vegetables and unrefined grains, is
commonly incriminated. Besides producing mucus, this diet
is exces­sively taxing on the asthmatic’s pre-weakened diges­
tive processes.
The hereditary factor in asthma is also well recognized,
for the disease frequently appears to be passed on from
one generation to another within a family. Even where no
positive family history of asthma is detected, there is often
a family tendency to some other hypersensitivity, allergic or
psycho­somatic disorder such as eczema. It is a disease of low
energy which is frequently observed to develop secondary
to digestive weakness, where intestinal sluggishness and
constipation have become chronic problems.

Psychological factors
Generally the asthmatic is one who has undergone some
form of painful rejection or loss early in life, which he has
been unable to accept subconsciously, even if his conscious
mind has come to terms with it. For example, a young child
who has been deprived of his mother and left alone to
confront the world can learn to trust no one but himself, for
he finds no solace or wisdom in trusting the natural order
that has dealt him such an unacceptable and painful blow.
As a result, he may grow up excessively sensitive to what is
his, for he fears that again he will mercilessly lose his most
valuable possession.
A small child deprived of the enormous security of his
mother feels deprived of any reality. He clutches at anything
which will give his life meaning and so it is that he begins
to clutch for his breath at times when he feels threatened,
either by psychological or environmental agents. Paradoxi­

67
cally, the more anxious he becomes, the more he clutches
for his breath, and the more elusive it becomes. This is an
emotional ordeal as well as a physical one. The sufferer feels
he is all alone without anyone to depend on, fighting for his
very existence, as symbolized by his elusive breath.
For a complete cure of asthma it is necessary to open the
heart, express the emotions and develop trust.

The role of drugs

Medical science has developed a range of powerful drugs
which effectively avert the symptoms of an acute attack, and
also decrease the incidence of attacks. However, they do not
cure the condition and may make the sufferer weaker and
sicker. They also create psychological and, in some cases,
physiological dependence. Most asth­matics have a great fear
of being forced to confront an attack with­out resort to drugs.
In yoga therapy, the first step is to give sufferers the
experience of successfully managing the condition using
yoga techniques along with recourse to medicine only when
it is absolutely necessary. As confidence in their own abilities
to avert and control the symptoms of an attack increases,
they are able to gradually discontinue the drugs and
medications upon which they are depending.
Anti-asthma drugs should not be discontinued suddenly
without proper guidance, as this often allows asthma pre­
viously suppressed by drugs to ‘bounce back’. It is best
accom­plished in a hospital or yogic ashram, especially when
the patient is depending on drugs such as cortisone, which
not only suppress the body’s own hormonal capacities and
create physiological addiction, but also have severe side
effects. These drugs should be avoided in all but the most
severe cases.

Nutritional management of asthma

The main pathological changes in asthma consist of
inflammation of the bronchial lining and spasm of the
smooth muscle surrounding the bronchi. There is good

68
clinical evidence that addressing both these issues will help to
diminish the severity and frequency of attacks. Inflammation
can be worsened by poor immune function, exposure to
allergenic food and deficiency of anti-inflammatory nutrients.
These include vitamin C, the B complex, zinc, calcium,
vitamin D3 and quercetin. Another key anti-inflammatory
substance is omega-3 fatty acids, ideally derived from oily
cold-water fish, such as tuna, sardines as well as cod liver oil
and flaxseed oil.
To lessen the degree of bronchospasm, increase the
intake of magnesium.

Yogic management of asthma

An essential part of yogic management is restoration of de­
pleted and blocked pranic energy channels. This is achieved
gradually by the combined influence of yogasana, pranayama
and shatkarma. These should be learned during a residential
stay in an ashram and practised with determina­tion. Only
with consistent and regular daily practice is complete and
lasting drug free recovery possible. In this way, cure of
asthma in the shortest time, with the minimal amount of
suffering will be attained.
It is not possible to attain lasting relief or cure in an
asthmatic in whom constipation remains. In seeking to cure
the disorder in these cases, it is first necessary to remove
constipation and to increase digestive heat in the body. In
this way the inherent low energy tendency which predisposes
a person to asthma can be overcome. Constipation is not
only a condition of the intestines, but also of the mind. Its
relief brings about a welcome release of previously bound up
mental and emotional energy. The following practices relieve
constipation from the bowels, lungs and mind.
1. Surya namaskara: Perform it slowly and with breath
awareness. Practise up to 7 rounds each morning at sunrise.
2. Asana: Those whose bodies are stiff should first practise
the pawanmuktasana series for a few weeks. Then
commence some of the following:

69
 Hasta utthanasana, dwi konasana, marjari-asana, shashank
bhujangasana, dhanuras­ana, pranamasana, kandharasana,
makarasana, gomukhas­ana, sarvangasana, matsyasana,
simhagarjanas­ana, baddha padmasana, lolasana, tolangu­las­
ana, parivritti janu sirshasana. These asanas help to reshape
the chest, improve posture, strengthen the spinal column,
promote the flow of inhibited and blocked nervous energy,
and re­balance and restore the whole body. Practise all the
asanas with full awareness of the breath as well as the body.
3. Pranayama: This is important in averting acute attacks by
strengthening the entire nervous system, restoring balance
to a depleted and imbalanced autonomic nervous system
and enhancing voluntary control over the respiratory
mecha­n isms. Nadi shodhana develops awareness and
control over the inflowing and outflowing breath. Bhastrika,
with both kumbhaka and jalandhara bandha, strengthens
the lungs and improves respiratory capacity. With regular
practice of pranayama, the asthmatic learns to be more
and more aware of the breath and, automati­cally becomes
aware of thoughts, feelings and mental states.
4. Shatkarma: These are the most important part of the therapy.
Warm saline water is profoundly effective in dissolving and
removing thickened accumulated mucous wastes from the
nasal mucous membranes, the respiratory tree, the stomach
and the lower digestive tract. Kunjal and neti should be
performed each morning before any other sadhana.
By practising kunjal kriya, an acute attack of asthma can
be terminated and a threatened attack can be averted by
directing the build-up of nervous energy that is causing
the attack, towards expelling the water from the stomach.
Nervous spasm and tension in the smooth muscles of the
respiratory tree are released by the reflex action of the
vagus nerve. Vastra dhauti is also an excellent practice,
but it should only be attempted under expert guidance.
Neti kriya removes obstructions from the nasal passages,
facilitates nasal breathing and averts the allergic and
hypersensitivity responses mediated through the nasal

70
 mucous membrane and its autonomic nervous connec­
tions, precipitating bouts of asthma.
Shankhaprakshalana is vital in restoring the asthmatic’s
depleted digestive energy and in eliminating constipation.
The full form is time-consuming and tiring and should
only be performed once under guidance in an ashram
at the commencement of therapy. Laghoo shankhaprak­
shalana can be practised each alternate morning for a
week and then repeated whenever there is constipation.
5. Relaxation: Yoga nidra provides an effective means for
defusing an acute attack of asthma. It is also useful in
inducing the state of mental relaxation in which yogic self-
analysis can occur. Practise it daily, and if there is insufficient
time for the full technique, practise abdominal breath
awareness in shavasana. This will enable the asthmatic to
become familiar with his or her estranged breathing process.
6. Meditation: Ajapa japa, ascending and descending the
consciousness in the frontal psychic passageway from the
navel to the throat in conjunction with the mantra So-ham.
The practice slows and releases the breath, allowing the
deeper subconscious psychic factors which initiate and
underlie asthma to surface. It is an essential part of the
cure that an asthmatic learns to recognize and accept what
has been suppressed for so long.
7. Diet: Simple, nourishing, non-stimulating foods, including
plenty of fresh fruit and lightly cooked vegetables, parti­
cularly greens. Take wholemeal grains and pulses in place
of meat and eggs. Mucus forming foods such as rice, sweets,
dairy products and refined flour products should be com­
pletely avoided. Heavy, oily and dried foods should not be
taken as they excessively tax the already weakened digestive
energy. All chemically treated, processed, fla­voured and
preserved foods, as well as any foods which are known to
initiate an allergic reaction, should be strictly avoided.
It is best to have the heavier meal at lunch time and a small
light meal in the evening. It is good to take fruit juice or fruit
only for breakfast or to take nothing but fruit for a few days.

71
 Heating spices such as chilli, pepper, garlic and ginger
are recommended, especially in the colder months when
kapha (the mucous element) increases in the body.
8. Fasting: If a full fast cannot be undertaken, it is a good habit
to miss the evening meal and take only hot lemon juice
and honey, herbal tea (lemon grass, tulsi, ginger, black
pepper) or a special preparation of karha can be prepared
by boiling together heating spices (ginger, black pepper,
cinnamon, cardamon, tulsi and vanfasa). This mixture is
prepared by boiling away half the liquid on a simmering
fire. Honey can then be added just before drinking.

Further recommendations
• As soon as an attack appears to be imminent, instead of
reaching for drugs, the asthmatic should perform kunjal
kriya or, in the case where a meal has recently been
eaten, vyaghra kriya. This should be followed by neti
and the practice of abdominal breathing in shavasana.
This provides a means of maintaining union between the
mind and breath, so that alienation or separation from
the breath, which is the basic psychic experience of the
asthmatic during the attack, is avoided.
• Physical fitness should be developed and excess weight
removed, as it accentuates the respiratory difficulties of
an asthmatic. Swimming provides excellent exercise for
asthmatics. Running and jogging are also useful in mod­
era­tion. Never perform them competitively, but use them
as a means of developing spontaneous breath and mantra
awareness.
• A cold shower should be taken every morning, paying
particular attention to apply cold water to the neck and
shoulders.
• An effective remedy can be made by laying very thin slices
of raw onion and garlic on a plate and spreading honey
on each slice. Cover with an inverted plate and let it stand
all night. Take a spoonful of the resultant syrup four times
a day.

72
 Sinusitis and Hay Fever

S inusitis and hay fever are troublesome conditions which

tend to recur each spring or monsoon season in
susceptible individuals. Medical scientists view these upper
respiratory tract disorders as being caused by viruses or
defects in our immune system. The underlying cause is
recog­nized by yogic science as an excess of the mucous
element in the body.

Sinusitis
Sinusitis is a state of inflammation of the sinus cavities in the
cheeks and frontal bones. These cavities, which are lined by
mucous membrane, open into the nasal passages. During a
bout of cold, the narrow entrances into the sinuses become
blocked, and headache and stuffiness are experi­ enced,
together with swelling and tenderness over the cheek bones
and forehead. Sometimes, pain in the sinuses can become
very severe and it can be accompanied by aching in the eyes.
However, these symptoms should clear up to­gether with the
cold within a week, given rest and proper care.

Chronic sinusitis
Sinusitis may become a chronic condition lasting for two
weeks, a month, or even more. This usually occurs when an
acute cold is neglected, wrong eating habits continue and
auto-intoxication develops due to constipation. As a result,

73
bacterial infection, production of mucopurulent sputum and
descent of symptoms into the lower respiratory tract (bron­
chitis) occurs. Facial swelling and bone tenderness usually
pass off, but a persistent mucopurulent discharge into the
front and back of the nose from the congested, infected
sinuses, accompanied by nasal obstruction and re­ current
headaches, become the prominent symptoms.
In chronic sinusitis, a deep-seated infection has become
estab­lished which proves extremely difficult and troublesome
to overcome by conventional medical measures. Apart from
problems of reinfection, chronic sinusitis serves as a constant
source for other respiratory diseases.
Nervous stress and emotional upset also have a prominent
role in persistent sinusitis, chronic cold and recurring
head­aches. Physicians note that sneezing attacks and nasal
irritation often accompany periods of emotional upset. Sinus
troubles of this kind respond rapidly to yogic therapy.

Hay fever (allergic rhinitis)

Hay fever is closely related to sinusitis. It typically comes
on suddenly, and at about the same time every year. There
is a tickling in the nose, sneezing and irritation down into
the bronchial tubes. Symptoms are like those of a cold but
more severe. The eyes are filled with tears and there is acute
swelling and irritation of the nasal mucous membrane and
sinuses, profuse mucus discharge and headache.
Medical scientists classify hay fever as an allergy which
may develop following exposure to some inhaled irritant
such as pollen or house dust, or it may be precipitated by
an allergen taken in the diet. Chocolate, milk, bananas,
strawberries and and oranges are some of the substances
known to precipitate hay fever in affected indivi­ duals.
However, according to yogic understanding, when the
digestive organs and the nasal membranes are in good
health such irritants cannot affect us.
Hay fever occurs due to hypersensitivity of the individual’s
immune surveillance system, perhaps due to sensitization to

74
the offending allergen in the past. When the individual comes
into contact with the allergen, a violent inflammatory reaction
is set into motion, precipitated by the release of the chemical
histamine into the bloodstream.
Often the hypersensitivity can be traced back to traumatic
events and experiences which generated deep subconscious,
negative influences and associations in childhood. Because
the priming of the immune system and the laying down of
subconscious impressions occur simultaneously throughout
life, especially during childhood, it is often ex­tremely difficult
to separate allergic from psychological components in
sinusitis, hay fever and asthma. Psychological programming
and immune sensitization are like two sides of a single coin,
and the immune system of an adult seems to be a kind of
cellular memory of our experi­ences.
Yogic science explains hypersensitive reactions as the
arousal of a previously developed mental samskara, or
impres­sion, which has left a deep-set memory and imprint in
both our psyche and cellular memory (surveillance system).
The person who suddenly starts sneezing either in a tense
psycho­logical situation or when exposed to house dust is
mani­fest­ing essentially the same reaction. It is a physiologi­
cal immune response to a subconscious mental impression
surfacing.

Medical management of sinusitis and hay fever

Medical management of sinusitis and hay fever normally
consists of analgesics for pain relief, anti-histamines to suppress
allergic reactions and antibiotics to protect against secondary
infections. Some of these drugs have adverse side-effects, such
as the drowsiness produced by anti-histamines, and none of
them has any effect on the root causes of the problem.
Until recently, courses of desensitizing injections to
dull the body’s increased sensitivity to specific irritants and
allergens were a popular treatment for allergies in children.
They have, however, fallen into disfavour with many
medical practitioners because they are expensive, require

75
many painful injections and rarely provide the immunity
to allergens that was originally expected. There is also an
increasing awareness of the dangers of precipitating more
severe immune disorders, hypersensitivity states and even
cancers, by injecting foreign materials into the bloodstream.
In severe chronic sinusitis, the surgical procedure of
antral washout is sometimes performed. By piercing the
bony wall of a blocked and painful sinus, saline water can
be introduced into the seat of chronic inflammation in the
sinus, and total washing and evacuation can be performed.
This is a painful, time-consuming surgical procedure which
gives only transient relief. The yogic practice of neti is far
better from both the doctor’s and patient’s viewpoints as it
is cheap, easy and enjoyable and provides better long-term
results.

Nutritional management of sinusitis and hay fever

It is essential to have good hydration and a diet high in
omega-3 essential fatty acids (i.e. fish, almonds, walnuts,
pumpkin and flax seeds), onions, fruits and vegetables (at
least five servings a day). A number of supplements are also
helpful, including vitamin C (at least 2 gm/day), quercetin,
bromelain, vitamin A and garlic.

Yogic management of sinusitis and hay fever

The cure of sinusitis and hay fever can be achieved in two
ways: by balancing the body’s energy systems or nadis, and
by throwing light upon the deeper mental impressions and
blockages which arise simultaneously with the symptoms.
Meditation, yoga nidra and objective self-analysis frequently
enable the unconscious mechanism of these conditions to be
understood and transcended.
In general, asanas are contraindicated in febrile condi­
tions but can be adopted after fever and other debilitating
symptoms have diminished.
1. Surya namaskara: This dynamic practice dramatically
raises the level of pranic energy in the body, counteracts

76
 excessive cold and overcomes many psychological and
immune deficiencies and hypersensitive states. It helps to
throw off resistant respiratory infections.
2. Asana: Pawanmuktasana is the best series to commence
with in the recovery period. Follow with surya namaskara
and shavasana, as strength improves, then paschimottanas­
ana, bhujangasana, halasana, dhanurasana and ardha
matsyendrasana can be practised one to three times each
according to capacity. Simhagarjanasana should also be
practised.
Sirshasana and sarvangasana are contrai­ndicated when
there are symptoms of cold as they may precipitate
sinusitis or complicate an existing case of sinusitis.
3. Pranayama: Bhastrika, up to 5 rounds of 50 breaths.
4. Shatkarma: Jala neti is most beneficial provided there is
no fever. It removes nasal mucus, drains and aerates the
sinuses. Practise once or twice daily, or whenever relief of
stuffiness and mucus build-up is required. Immediately
after jala neti, perform kapalbhati to clear and dry the nasal
passages and activate the frontal area of the brain. Unless
all excess water is removed from the nose, neti may have
detrimental effects, including initiation of further colds.
Sutra neti is an effective practice to desensitize the nasal
mucous membranes. In the first few days the practice may
provoke sneezing and irritation, but it will get easier with
practice.
Kunjal kriya is very beneficial in both prevention and
treatment and can be practised daily. Shankhaprakshalana
should be performed at each change of season to remove
decaying mucus wastes from the digestive system and reset
the body thermostat.
5. Relaxation: Yoga nidra should be practised daily as it is
deeply relaxing and highly therapeutic. It enables the
hay fever or sinusitis sufferer to witness the underlying
personal complexes and perceptions arising from the past
condition­ing and prior childhood experiences, which so
frequently initiate these diseases.

77
6. Diet: A light, non-mucous forming vegetarian diet should
be followed. Avoid overeating, especially heavy, oily and
sweet foods, and abstain from salt, rice and refined flour
products. Eat plenty of fruit and raw vegetables. A fruit
juice diet for three or four days is highly recom­mended.
Drink plenty of citrus or grape juice, but do not mix the
juices. After this, include plenty of vegetables in the diet
and continue to eat lots of fruit, particularly papaya.
Avoid taking cold or iced drinks, milk, ice cream and
other dairy products. Take some fresh garlic every day.
7. Fasting: Fast whenever symptoms appear to be increasing.
This is a most effective means of avoiding attacks.
Alterna­tively, substitute the evening meal each day with
tea prepared from substances such as ginger, pepper, cin­
namon and cardamon, which heat the body and promote
mucus elimination.

Further recommendations
• Keep the body warm in the winter and monsoon seasons.
Particularly make sure that the neck and chest are
protected from the cold.
• Take complete rest as soon as symptoms of hay fever or
sinusitis appear, avoid baths and don’t drink too much
water.
• A special preparation can be made for neti. Make a
solution using a rounded teaspoonful of golden seal, or
turmeric, a little salt and a heaped teaspoonful of borax
in a pint of boiling water. Shake well. Let it stand for an
hour or two shaking occasionally. Then use it in the neti
lota. Repeat until the nose is entirely clean. This is very
healing and soothing to the mucous membrane and
should be done three times a day. It is often beneficial to
use urine neti.
• Cold applications over the sinuses or alternate hot and
cold applications will give relief.
• Steam inhalations at night will ease symptoms.
• Smoking should be discontinued.

78
 Tonsillitis

T he tonsils are two areas of sensitive immune tissue lying

on either side of the pharynx, at the entrance to the
throat. These glandular structures form the first line of de­­
fence of the body’s immune surveillance system, being part
of a larger circle of protective lymphoid tissue called the
Waldeyer’s Ring, which also includes the adenoids. They
stand guard like twin sentries protecting the body from in­
vasion by micro-organisms, such as bacteria and viruses,
and are also responsible for recognizing and responding to
poten­tial allergens and any foreign substances, foods and
chemicals.

Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis means inflammation of the tonsils, which become
red, swollen, tender and may be covered with creamy white
pus and decaying material. This disorder of children and
ado­lescents usually re­curs at intervals during growth and
development as the immune system is exposed to new micro-
organisms and other environmental substances. Tonsillar
in­flam­mation frequently precedes severe systemic infections
and may precede serious diseases such as rheumatic
heart disease, arthritis and kidney disease. Gen­ eral­
ized
febrile states and conditions such as constipation may also
precipitate tonsillitis, as well as other immune and lymphatic
tissue responses including appendicitis and lymphadenitis.

79
 Bouts of tonsillitis are often precipitated by dietary
abuse in susceptible individuals. Cold foods and drinks are
especially implicated. Exposure of the body to wet and cold
conditions is another frequent precipitating factor.
The onset of tonsillitis is preceded by chilly feelings
and pains in the back and limbs. Fever rises rapidly and
in young children may reach 105 degrees on the evening
of the first day. Sore throat and difficulty in swallowing are
prominent. The breath becomes heavy and foul and the
tongue becomes furred. The voice often becomes nasal
and swelling of the cervical lymph glands in the side of the
neck is common. Generally fever departs within a week
and inflam­mation gradually subsides, but the tonsils often
remain swollen.

Chronic tonsillitis
Chronic tonsillitis is long-term enlargement of the tonsils. It
occurs in children and young adults, and is usually associated
with swelling of the adenoids, a second smaller group of
lymphatic glands in the pharynx.
The habit of breathing through the mouth due to chronic
inflammation of the tonsils and adenoids is perhaps the most
far-reaching effect because it is found to adversely affect
subsequent physical and mental development. De­formation
of the chest, changes in facial expression, alteration of
mental condition and stunting of growth are characteristic
features of children who become mouth breathers. The
face may assume a characteristic vacant, dull and apathetic
expression, especially in sleep. Weakening of mental
capacities and memory and slowing down of the thought
processes are further consequences.
These major detrimental effects of mouth breathing
reveal the importance of a free and balanced flow of breath
through both nostrils in healthy physical and mental
development, and give us some glimpse of the therapeutic
value of pranayama practices such as nadi shodhana and
kapalbhati, as well as jala and sutra neti kriyas.

80
Yogic physiology
According to yogic physiology, the nostrils are the roots of the
two major nadis in the psychic body known as ida and pingala.
Ida nadi conducts chitta shakti (mental energy), responsible for
mental development and expression. Pingala nadi conducts
prana shakti (vital energy), responsible for physical action
and development. Balance of physical and mental capacities
and energies is achieved in hatha yoga and pranayama by
balancing and equalizing the flow of breath in the nostrils, and
this leads to full development and awakening of the dormant
mental and physical capacities of the individual.
Physiological discoveries closely augment the yogic con­
ten­tions. A vast number of autonomic and sensory nerves
are found to lie closely exposed beneath the nasal mucous
membrane, and these are differentially stimulated by the
twin flows of breath in the nostrils, producing widespread
physical and mental effects. The importance of arresting
chronic tonsillitis, adenoid inflammation, habitual mouth
breathing and nasal deviations and deformities is clearly
paramount in the future health, well-being and mental
development of the afflicted child or adolescent.

Medical management
Medical management of chronic tonsillitis in the past was
usually by surgical removal, termed tonsillectomy. In more
recent times the frequency of this operation has fallen
dramatically as doctors have become more aware of the
long-term dangers of surgical removal of vital organs from
the immune system. There is mounting evidence that the
likelihood of more severe lymphatic or immune system
diseases and infections is increased in those who have
under­gone surgical removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy).
Certainly modern surgeons are more reticent to remove
major lymphatic glandular structures such as the appendix
and tonsils, than they used to be. This reflects the growing
understanding of the role of these lymphatic structures in
health and disease.

81
 Antibiotics usually play a prominent role in the medical
management of tonsillitis. Courses of antibiotics are often
prescribed to quell troublesome recurrences of the symptoms
with every change of season. However, cure of tonsillitis by
this method is rare.
Acute tonsillitis may be seen as the manifestation of
underlying physical imbalance and impurity rather than
sickness. When the acute attack is over, instead of taking the
tonsils out, use yoga to cleanse and rebalance the body.
Note: Many sufferers from recurrent or chronic tonsillitis
have an impaired immune system, which is often exacer­
bated by an underlying intolerance to dairy products. A trial
of dairy-free diet for three to six months could be diagnostic
as well as therapeutic.

Yogic management of chronic sore throat, tonsillitis and

mouth breathing
Yogic techniques provide safe and effective relief of chronic
tonsillitis. Correction of habitual mouth breathing can also be
attained by regular and persistent practice of the following
program. In acute tonsillitis with fever, rest in bed until the
temperature and acute phase of the illness subsides. Antibiotic
therapy may also be required along with an analgesic such as
aspirin, during the initial attack. Relief will also be gained by
saline gargling, neti and hot fomentations on the neck region.
After the acute bout subsides, the following yoga program
should be adopted, according to capability.
1. Surya namaskara: Practise to capacity with full awareness
of the breath.
2. Asana: Simhagarjanasana, balancing asanas, trikonasana.
3. Pranayama: Ujjayi, sheetali, seetkari and nadi shodhana.
4. Shatkarma: Neti and gargling with warm salty water twice
a day, kunjal and laghoo shankhaprakshalana as required.
5. Relaxation: Yoga nidra.
6. Diet: In the acute phase take only fruit juice and mung
sprouts mixed with a little oil, lemon juice and crushed
garlic. Then take vegetable broth and light khichari.

82
Further recommendations
• The throat should be kept warm at all times. Exposure
to cold outside air during an attack is harmful as the
moisture and dust in the air inflame the tonsils.
• If the tonsils are very swollen and painful, crush some
ice. Wrap it in a towel and put it around the neck. When
this becomes uncomfortable, take it off and apply a hot
fomentation. Keep it on for three to five minutes. Then
put the ice on again. Keep this up for half an hour, then
gargle with warm salty water.
• Gargling with warm salty water or an antiseptic mouthwash
twice a day brings relief and promotes healing.

83
Gastro-Intestinal
Tract
 Disorders of the
Digestive System

M any people today are depriving themselves of one of

the most simple yet profound pleasures of life, the
possession of a healthy digestive and eliminative system.
It is fundamental to the enjoyment of life, as our digestion
influences our whole perception and appreciation of life. The
intimate relationship between the functioning of the mind and
body has now become widely accepted in all forms of healing.
A healthy digestive and eliminative system is absolutely
fundamental to good physical and mental health. A vast
number of chronic degenerative and metabolic diseases are
secondary effects of long-term malfunctions and abuse of
the digestive system. In these diseases we include asthma,
diabetes, arthritis, heart and vascular disorders, skin diseases,
cancers, headaches, mental diseases, sexual disorders and
other endocrine malfunctions. These debilitating and often
fatal processes have their genesis in disturbed digestion,
assimilation and elimination.
Therefore, in attempting to ameliorate or manage major
diseases, it is frequently necessary to initially rebalance and
strengthen the primary digestive processes, because if the
shakti or vital energy can be awakened and balanced, then
regenerative processes are set in motion automatically and
self-healing will spontaneously begin. Activating the body’s
inherent healing energy is a fundamental principle of yogic
management.

87
The role of digestive power
To maintain optimal health and vitality in life, it is necessary
that we develop a most subtle yet important capacity which
most people lack, and which leads them to much suffering,
discomfort and disease. We all have to know how to eat. This
means that we have to know how to maintain our physical
body in a state of health and high vital resistance by taking
in only the right foods in only the necessary quantities at
only the correct times. This sounds so simple, but it is a
rare person indeed who has understood and mastered its
implications.
Most diseases result, either directly or indirectly, from
having failed to learn this great lesson. From the point of
view of our physical health, whenever we use the eating
mechanism for other purposes, such as the satisfaction of
emotional needs, to relieve frustration, as an outlet for greed
and so on, we are using it wrongly and have commenced to
travel the road to sickness, disease and physical decay which
first manifests as digestive disturbance.

Manipura chakra
In kundalini yoga, the digestive organs, glands and the solar
plexus of nerves are symbolized by manipura chakra. Its
element is fire and its symbol is the blazing orb of the sun.
Just as the ex­ternal sun is the source of life, energy and heat
in our solar system, so our physical body and its metabolic
pro­cesses are maintained by a healthy digestive fire, a
blazing inner sun.
We can consider the digestive process to be a fire into
which fuel, the products of the earth, are fed and which is
fanned from above by the bellows of the diaphragm and
the air element (anahata chakra) governing the heart and
respirat­ory system. It is supported by the water element (swa­
d­histhana chakra), which governs the elimination of liquid
wastes by the kidneys and sweat glands. The whole process is
grounded in the earth element (mooladhara – the base chakra
in the perineum), to which the solid wastes of the digestive

88
process are returned. Thus we have a sound model for our
consideration of digestive disorders.

The gastro-intestinal tract

The best way to consider the digestive system is as a hollow
tube or pipe which has two openings: the upper opening
at the mouth and the lower opening at the anus. Food is
placed in one end and the wastes are expelled at the other.
In between, the processes of digestion, absorption and
assimila­tion of nutrients into our physical frame, as well as
elimination of toxic and unabsorbed waste products occurs.
The gastro-intestinal tract can be conveniently divided
into three divisions: upper, middle and lower digestive tracts.
We will outline the disorders of each in this chapter and then
discuss them individually in the subsequent chapters.

The upper digestive tract

The upper digestive tract includes the mouth and salivary
glands, the oesophagus and the stomach, which are
considered in yogic physiology to be essentially under the
control of prana, the first of the five pranic subdivisions. This
force operates from the throat down to the diaphragm, and
from the diaphragm up to the throat.
Upper digestive tract disorders are essentially due to
im­bal­ance between the air and fire elements. They include
hyperacidity and hypoacidity, gastritis and peptic ulcer, and
give rise to many common symptoms, including belch­ing,
wind, heartburn and indigestion, reflux and re­gurgita­tion.

The middle digestive tract

The middle digestive tract is the segment extending from
the duodenum down to the termination of the small intestine
(iliocecal valve) where the lower eliminative segment, known
as the colon or large intestine, begins. The mid-digestive
tract is responsible for absorption and assimilation of
digested matter into the bloodstream. The division of prana
respon­sible for this central assimilation process is termed

89
samana. It circulates between the navel and the heart and
controls the body’s metabolic rate and temperature.
The middle digestive tract is comprised of three major
organs – the liver, the small intestine (ileum) and the pancreas.
Disorders of the mid-digestive tract therefore include diseases
of the liver, gastro-enteritis, malabsorption states and diabetes.

The lower digestive tract

The lower digestive tract begins at the termination of the
small intestine in the ileocecal valve. Beyond this valve, the
large intestine or colon begins. The descending liquid matter
being propelled along the tract is now considered as waste
material, as all nutrients were extracted during its passage
through the small intestine. The division of prana which
sustains the operation of the lower digestive tract is known as
apana. This prana flows downwards from the navel region to
the perineum and it is responsible for the expulsion of faecal
matter and urine from the body.
Excesses and deficiencies of apana lead to abnormal
lower digestive function, and many acute and chronic
diseases stem directly from this fundamental source. They
include constipation, diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, dysentery,
appendi­citis, colitis, diverticulitis and prolapse.

Hatha yoga
The yogis who foresaw the coming need for yoga also
realized the importance of the digestive tract and dedicated
a large part of their preliminary practices to cleans­ ing
and maintain­ ing good abdominal health. Asanas, some
pranayamas and shatkarmas, including dhauti, nauli and
basti, aim to purify and heal the digestive tract as well
as other body systems. These techniques transform the
digestive tract from being purely a food pro­cessing plant into
the source for our ascent into higher aware­ness and a more
creative, fuller life.
Complete information is contained in The Practices of Yoga
for the Digestive System, published by Yoga Publications Trust.

90
The Upper Digestive Disorders

T he wide range of malfunctions in the upper digestive

system stem from indigestion, a general term that
includes the states of excessive acid production and motility
of the stomach (hyperacidity) which occur in peptic ulcer and
gastritis, and also the opposite extreme of diminished gastric
activity and secretion (hypoacidity), such as occurs in reflux
and regurgitation. Both extremes are characterized by failure
of synchronization of secretory and motile functions of the
stomach, termed dyspepsia.

The cause of indigestion

The various digestive diseases have a multitude of causes
including mental and emotional disturbance, the habit
of swallowing air and gluttony. Other prime causes of
indigestion or dys­pepsia are a diet deficient in mineral salts,
eating too many refined foods such as those made of white
flour and cane sugar, drinking with meals, hasty or irregular
meals, late suppers, highly seasoned foods, poor mastication
and iced drinks. The result is that the digestive system is
weakened and the sufferer cannot digest the foods which
would repair the deficiency.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms which generally indicate indigestion are
heartburn, headache, heaviness in the stomach, irregularity

91
of the bowels, cold feet, weak pulse and, in chronic cases,
general prostration. In long-standing cases there will be a
hacking cough, intermittent fever, palpitation of the heart
and irritability.

Specific disorders
Hypoacidity is a state where food remains fermenting in
the stomach for several hours after it has been eaten, and
represents a failure of digestive power. There are inadequate
salivary enzymes and an insufficient amount of gastric acid
to continue active digestion, so the whole process comes to
a standstill. Food is felt to sit in the stomach for hours, and
the stomach may still be full three to four hours after the last
meal. Vyaghra kriya is highly recommended.
Hypoacidity is usually an indication that food in excess
of body requirements and capacities is being consumed. It
may occur due to long-term liver and intestinal abuse and
ex­haus­t­ion, and occurs to some extent in most people in the
hot summer and monsoon months, when dietary discretion
becomes essential.
Regurgitation is when liquid, partially digested food
materials from the stomach rise back up the oesophagus
and into the throat. In the hours after eating, sensations of
nausea, together with the unpleasant sensation that digestion
is not proceeding satisfactorily, accompany hypoacidity.
Hyperacidity is the other extreme, where the digestive pro­
cesses are constantly overactivated, with untimely secretion
and pooling of gastric acids in a churning, activated
stomach, even when it remains empty of food contents. This
is the situa­tion which leads to the development of gastritis
and peptic ulcer.
The fundamental cause of hyperacidity is constant over­
stimulation of the taste buds and salivary glands, which in
turn causes constant stimulation of digestive activity in the
stomach. This occurs through addiction to an imbalanced
diet which is selected purely on the basis of taste and oral
satis­faction, rather than with regard for its suitability and

92
health promoting qualities. A diet full of sugar, condiments,
sweets, refined and excessively rich, spicy and pungent foods
is usually incriminated, and is worsened by oral addictions
such as drinking alcohol and smoking.
These ‘tasty’ foods and compulsive habits provide oral
satisfaction, temporarily relieving a state of tension and
anxiety due to emotional frustration. Habits of smoking,
drinking and eating excessively rich foods, to provide oral
satisfaction lead to a state of constant gastric secretion and
churning of the stomach, irrespective of whether food is
present or not. They are the most common precipitators of
hyperacidity, gastritis and peptic ulcers.
According to psychologists, this problem stems from an
experience in infancy, when the individual was deprived of the
security of the mother’s breast as the source of both dietary
and emotional satisfaction. As a result, there is an unresolved
frustration, with the constant need to have some form of oral
satisfaction as a source of emotional security in adult life.
Heartburn refers to the symptom of burning irritation
and pain which accompanies hyperacidity, and is due to acid
irritation of the lower end of the oesophagus. This painful
sensation is experienced directly behind the sternum in
the centre of the chest. It occurs after eating, and may be
confused initially with the clasping chest pain caused by
coronary insufficiency (cardiac angina) which may also follow
a heavy meal.
Wind refers to the sensation of fullness or bloating in
the upper abdomen which occurs whenever food is eaten
hurriedly, without awareness, or in incorrect combinations.
When food is gulped down quickly and carelessly, while
the body or mind remain anxious and preoccupied, air is
swallowed unconsciously along with the food, which is not
chewed and masticated properly. Rapid, anxious eating can
become a habit, and frequently leads to hyperacidity and
wind formation. There is often an awareness of enhanced
stomach movement and noises, with marked upper abdom­
inal swelling and discomfort.

93
 Belching, or burping, is a closely related symptom
referring to the expulsion of wind from the stomach. Gas
rises up into the oesophagus and is expelled from the
mouth. A degree of belching is a necessary and desirable
accompaniment of successful digestion as the stomach
churns its contents again and again. However, where
excessive air has been swallowed due to hasty consumption
of overly rich food, belching becomes excessive and
troublesome in the hours following the meal. Symptoms of
wind and belching usually accompany hypoacidity.

The solution to digestive problems

The importance of elevating the eating process from a
mechanical habit to a conscious and pleasurable act in
which a moderate quantity of simple, pure food, sufficient
to maintain the body’s requirements, is eaten with full
awareness, cannot be overestimated. By cultivating this
ability, habits of overeating, hasty eating and eating overly
rich foods are slowly but surely eradicated from the lifestyle,
and better general health and vitality are rapidly gained.
The two extremes of indigestion – hypoacidity and
hyper­acidity, may occur in isolation in particular sufferers.
More frequently, the two extremes follow one another
cyclically according to the seasons, in people who suffer from
uncontrolled eating habits and unsuitable diets, especially in
hot or extreme climates. In these cases there is often a diges­
tive imbalance which demands correction through yogic and
dietary measures if more serious harm to the overall state of
physical health is to be avoided.

Yogic management of indigestion

The following practices are specific for upper digestive
disorders and will restore function rapidly if practised daily.
1. Asana: Pawanmuktasana series part 2, the antigastric
exercises, should be practised each morning. Vajrasana
should be adopted for ten minutes immediately after each
meal. This posture promotes optimal digestion.

94
2. Pranayama: Nadi shodhana stage 2, 10 rounds each
morning. Then progress to stage 3. Bhastrika should also
be practised; gradually build up to 5 rounds of 50 breaths.
3. Bandha: Jalandhara, moola and uddiyana should be
incorporated into pranayama practices.
4. Shatkarma: Neti, kunjal, vyaghra kriya and agnisar kriya.
Laghoo shankhaprakshalana should be practised for at
least a week.
5. Relaxation: Practise yoga nidra each afternoon or even­
ing. After asana, relax in shavasana and practise 100
abdominal or yogic respirations.
6. Meditation: Sit in padmasana or vajrasana and concentrate
on the movement of breath at the navel.
7. Diet: Simple, nourishing and easily digestible foods are best.
Avoid spicy, rich and pungent preparations, cakes, refined
flour products, sweets, , which are a burden to the stomach
and promote over-production of acid. The diet should
consist of freshly prepared natural foods, with simple boiled
or steamed vegetables, coarse chapatis, rice, salads, fruit
and pulses. Khichari and milk are recommended. Intake
of coffee and tea should be reduced. Alcohol and cigarettes
only aggravate the negative conditions.
8. Fasting: This is an excellent way of combating indigestion
and quickly demonstrates to the sufferer that eating habits
are the source of the problem. The habit of fasting for one
day a week is highly recommended.

Further recommendations
• Try to develop self-awareness while eating food. This
is a funda­mental yogic practice. Be regular with meal
times and strictly avoid eating between meals. Eat slowly
and masti­cate the food thoroughly without being under
any pressure to finish the meal. Try to extract maximum
pleasure from each morsel of food, rather than uncon­
sciously overeating.
• Always try to have the right nostril (pingala nadi) flowing
when taking meals. This will increase the digestive fire.

95
• Never take food when you are anxious, excited or tense.
Proper digestion demands that total awareness be focused
on eating, and that the body and mind are relaxed. If
the mind remains tense or preoccupied, the necessary
digestive energies cannot be awakened and indigestion
will result. If one is anxious or tense when food is being
served, it is better to relax for 10 minutes in shavasana
before commencing the meal.
• Avoid eating late at night as indigestion and disturbed
dreams will result during sleep. A light evening meal
should be taken around sunset and, if desired, warm milk
can be taken before sleeping.

96
 Peptic Ulcer

P eptic ulcer is a corrosive sore occurring at the lower end

of the oesophagus, in the stomach wall, or in the upper
part of the duodenum, just beyond the pyloric valve. Peptic
ulceration is the end result of repeated bouts of gastric
irritation, and sufferers usually have some prior history of
indigestion and gastric disorders.
Many symptoms of ulcer are identical to those of the
less severe upper digestive disorders, and as a result, it is
frequently difficult to make the diagnosis of peptic ulcer upon
symptoms alone. The definitive diagnosis of ulcer is usually
made by barium contrast X-rays, where a clearly defined
ulcer crater, filled with opaque dye and thus appear­ing white,
may appear in the gastric or duodenal wall. Doctors now use
a fibre optic gastroscope, a tube passed via the mouth into
the stomach, to actually see and thereby diagnose the ulcer
without having to perform major abdominal surgery.
Medical science recognizes two distinct types of peptic
ulcer, depending on the site at which they have developed.
• Gastric ulcer (in the wall of the stomach).
• Duodenal ulcer, with slightly different symptoms and pat­
terns of incidence.

Gastric ulcer
The major symptoms of gastric ulcer are gnawing mid-
sternal pain aggravated by food, tenderness at the pit of the

97
stomach, vomiting and haemorrhage (internal bleeding).
There is usually an associated loss of appetite and weight.
The condi­tion develops after frequent or long-standing bouts
of less severe gastric inflammation (gastritis). The pain and
the con­­di­tion are aggravated by a rich, spicy diet, alcohol
and smoking, while temporary relief is obtained from milk,
bland preparations and by fasting.
The patient is commonly a young to middle-aged person
who is thin or underweight with a tense and anxious personal­
ity. Gastric ulcer frequently occurs in an individual with a
highly competitive and compulsive personality, who lives with
a high level of tension. This person has a very low tolerance
of frustration and is unable to forget achievement-orientated
anxieties even for a moment. Unfortunately, such people
often aggravate their condition by indulging in excessive
smoking and/or drinking in order to ‘calm down and relax’.
Both these habits are gastric irritants in their own right, and
serve only to further irritate the ulcer.
Ulcer victims are worriers through and through. They are
eaten up by obsessive anxieties, which may be projected onto
anything, including success, failure, performance, projects,
fidelity, illness, betrayal, etc. The object of worry will vary
from person to person but the factor of unrelenting worry is
common to everyone.

Duodenal ulcer
Duodenal ulcers occur in the wall of the first part of the small
intestine into which the gastric contents are emptied via the
pyloric valve. The pain associated with a duodenal ulcer is a
deep central abdominal one, which is relieved, rather than
aggravated, by food. For this reason, the sufferer usually
has a tendency to overeat and is consequently over­weight.
He or she frequently wakes up early in the morning with
pain. Temporary relief may be gained by drinking milk,
which has a soothing effect on the lining of the stomach and
duodenum.

98
The cause of ulcer
Medical science and yoga are in accordance in recognizing
that peptic ulcer is a psychosomatic disease. Experiments
have shown that the lining of the stomach is an extremely
sensitive recorder of our emotional states. It has been
observed to blanch when a fearful or threatening situation
arises and to blush red when rage and anger are expressed.
Physiologists now recognize that emotional tensions and
psychic stress factors, including high levels of frustration,
are relayed to the digestive organs and glands via the sym­
pathetic (solar plexus) and parasympathetic (vagus) nerve
pathways.
In an individual possessed with gnawing worries, fears
and constant frustrations, a constant stream of nerve impulses
from brain centres in the limbic area and hypothalamus
enters the autonomic nerves to stimulate a constant gastric
acid secretion and turning over of the stomach. This goes
on night and day, irrespective of whether or not there is
food present in the stomach. Simultaneously, the same
mechanisms are constantly being activated by oral stimulation
of the digestive tract by smoking, drinking, and/or eating rich
foods or continually ‘grazing’.
Frequent bouts of indigestion, inflammation and irrita­
tion of the gastric mucosa result. Sensations of pain and
irritation arise as the corrosive action of the highly acidic
gastric juice (containing hydrochloric acid and pepsin)
irritates the inflamed surfaces. Scarring and hardening
of the mucosa ultimately occur. As a result, the mucosal
resistance of the gastric or duodenal walls gradually dimin­
ishes and acid begins to burn a hole through the protective
surface and into the wall.
Just as a sore anywhere on the body surface will not heal
while it is constantly being aggravated, moved, rubbed and
ir­ritat­ed, so a peptic ulcer, once formed, fails to heal while it
continues to be irritated by acid secretions and the muscular
wall continues to churn upon itself.

99
The mechanism of ulcer pain
The characteristic gnawing pain of peptic ulcer is produced
when the acidic secretions find entry into the ulcer pit, where
they cause intense irritation to nerves lying bare and exposed
in the ulcer floor, like live electric wires behind a wall panel.
The whole psychophysiological process of ulcer pain can
be summed up by the expression ‘what’s eating you?’, for
sufferers are literally eating themselves up by transferring
un­resolved mental conflicts, emotional tensions and
anxieties into addictions and poor eating habits.

Possible fatal complications

Two rare but potentially fatal complications of peptic ulcer
are perforation and haemorrhage. Perforation occurs when
the ulcer penetrates right through the wall, spilling gastric
contents into the sterile abdominal cavity. Haemorrhage
occurs where the ulcer exposes and penetrates a major
blood vessel, causing an enormous amount of blood to be
rapidly lost. Both these complications result in shock and
are surgical emergencies, which may prove fatal if proper
medical care is not initiated immediately.

Treatment of ulcer
The ulcer sufferer is thus in a messy situation from which it is
difficult to gain the necessary objectivity to escape. Medical
measures alone are usually enough to bring a temporary
remission of symptoms and anxiety, but ulcers inevitably
recur when the former occupation, habits and lifestyle are
resumed. For this reason, many doctors recom­ mend the
surgical removal of persistent gastric ulcers. Ulcer surgery
usually involves severance of the para­sympathetic nerves
to the digestive organs and removal of part of the stomach
itself. Even then ulcers frequently recur.
Doctors who utilize yoga in their practice have found that
a combination of conservative medical management and
yogic practices is the most effective way in which an ulcer can
heal. Crippling anxiety problems can be effectively resolved,

100
addictions overcome and a more balanced lifestyle evolved,
even in the midst of the pressure and demands of modern
life. The addition of yogic practices to conventional medical
management enables the ulcer sufferer to implement specific
lifestyle alterations which prevent a recurrence of the ulcer
and the prospect of major surgery.

The role of drugs

Medical management of ulcers is largely concerned with
relieving symptoms. It includes the use of antacid preparations
which neutralize gastric acids and other agents which coat the
gastric mucosa or inhibit the churning of the stomach muscles.
These can be safely discarded under yogic management when
healing takes place and symptoms disappear.
Yoga can definitely help the ulcer sufferer. It will show
the way to a more balanced, enjoyable lifestyle based on daily
practice of asana, pranayama and relaxation, a sound simple
diet, freedom from bad habits and the anxieties and tensions
that create them. Disease appears when such a lifestyle is
lost, and disappears when the vital pranic energy needed for
regeneration and good health begins to increase.

Yogic management of ulcer

Complete rest and a change of environment is highly recom­
mended as the first step in ulcer therapy. This will enable
the sufferer to completely forget about the tension of work,
relationships, etc. A minimum of one month is usually
necessary, and an ashram environment is ideal.
Initially, the ulcer sufferer should take a complete rest,
sleeping on inclination, walking as desired but without
exertion, and should be totally freed from any former
commit­ments or responsibilities. Enormous mental relief will
be experienced almost immediately.
1. Asana: Simple relaxing asanas can be introduced after
two weeks, when initial healing has occurred and
pain has been relieved. These must be performed in
a non-competitive, enjoyable way, with emphasis on

101
 relaxation and awareness. Pawanmuktasana parts 1 and
2 should be practised daily for two weeks, followed by
surya namaskara to capacity in the second two weeks.
Shashankasana and shavasana are recommended.
2. Pranayama: Bhramari and nadi shodhana will induce
relaxation, if practised daily and without any strain.
3. Shatkarma: Neti and laghoo shankhaprakshalana can be
introduced after some time, but kunjal is contraindicated
in all ulcer cases because of the risk of disturbing the
healing ulcer. Any patient with a history of vomiting blood
or passing blood with the stool should not be prescribed
kunjal kriya unless under expert guidance.
4. Relaxation: Daily practice of yoga nidra, which induces a
state of mental and emotional relaxation, is most important
in the resolution of anxieties and inner conflicts.
5. Karma yoga: Performance of some simple task in a non-
competitive environment, e.g. carpentry or gardening for
a few hours, is an excellent prescription for a formerly
tense desk worker. Karma yoga brings mental release,
relaxation and the potential for creative expression.
6. Diet: Initially a diet consisting of milk and non-acidic fruit
is highly recommended to promote healing. Alternatively,
a light liquid diet of vegetable broth, khichari, milk and
bland fruits is acceptable. At all costs, spicy and heavy
foods, smoking and alcohol should be avoided.

102
 Constipation

C onstipation is a very common chronic disorder of the

lower digestive system in which the elimination of solid
wastes from the body becomes slow and inefficient. As a
result, there is a build-up of digestive and metabolic wastes
in the large intestine, which becomes flaccid as it loses its
muscular tone. As the disorder continues to develop, rotting
wastes are held in store for longer and longer periods, result­
ing in a build-up or backlog of the body’s wastes through­out
the body tissues. The body begins to be poisoned by the
build-up of its own wastes, just as a city chokes and becomes
paralyzed if the garbage it produces is not con­tinually taken
away for disposal. Good health, high vitality and freedom
from disease demand that the wastes be expelled regularly
and efficiently.

Who is constipated?
There is no precise definition of constipation. The concept
of ideal bowel function varies in different countries,
climates, cultures, diets and individuals. No set rules can be
laid down, but a number of guidelines can be recognized.
Constipation has become an accepted way of life for many
people today. Because of poor community education about
basic health laws, they are unknowingly tolerating a degree of
constipation for months and years, and this is rendering their
bodily systems toxic and their minds dull, listless and heavy.

103
Simultaneously, their vitality and resistance to infec­tions and
degenerative diseases becomes very low.
A number of factors have combined to place modern
men and women in this predicament. These include:
• Sedentary lifestyle: Constipation most commonly occurs
in those who sit at an office desk all day. This leads to
muscular stiffness, joint inflexibility, circulatory stagnation
and blockage of pranic energy flow in the body.
• Lack of proper exercise: Many people today are either too
busy, lazy or preoccupied to enjoy even a few minutes walk
or exercise in their daily routine. They become averse
to it. As a result, their muscles become weak and flabby,
circulation becomes slow and irregular, and digestive and
eliminative functions slowly deteriorate.
• Poor dietary habits: The quality of whatever enters the body
via the mouth surely plays a decisive role in the quantity
of the wastes expelled from the other end of the digestive
tract. A diet which contains insufficient bulk or fibre,
in the form of whole grains, fruit and fresh vegetables,
inevitably leads to the infrequent and difficult passage
of small, hard stools. The bowel works optimally when
it has a large mass to contract against and propel along
towards the anus, and such a bulk is provided by the
fibrous cellulose residues of vegetables, fruit and whole,
unrefined grains. In this respect it is the traditional
poor man’s diet which is most suitable for healthy bowel
function.
The modern diet, based upon meat, eggs, oil, fats,
cheese, milk and refined starch products such as bread
and cakes, has little bulk but excessive protein, it takes
a lot of energy to digest, and proves very constipating
and heavy. In hot climates it proves particularly
unacceptable. In colder, snowbound climates where it
evolved, a heavier diet is required to maintain body tem­
perature and insulation. Nevertheless, it necessitated
the parallel consumption of alcohol as a mental
stimulant, in order to overcome the resulting lethargic

104
 and heavy physical and mental state. It is a case where
the detrimental effects of two individual poisons, when
used concurrently, partly overcome one another. Many
people on such a diet consider a bowel evacuation every
two or three days to be normal, but this is too infrequent
by yogic standards, especially when one considers that
meat putrefies within twelve hours.
• Toilet position: The modern commode style toilet position
for bowel evacuation is not the optimal one. It contributes
to constipation by inhibiting the full relaxation of the
lower colon and pelvic muscles. The best toilet position is
the natural crouching or squatting pose, which allows full
expression of the expulsive apana, providing more com­
plete bowel evacuation.

Holistic medical approach

As has been noted previously, many people are constipated
due to inadequate intake of high fibre foods, insufficient
fluids and low levels of exercise. However, there is a very
common disorder, called the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS),
which does not respond to these measures. People who suffer
from IBS inevitably have one or more of the following: a) a
food intolerance, b) an imbalance or deficiency of healthy
gut bacteria (called probiotics), or c) an insufficiency of
digestive enzymes, most commonly found in people who are
protein depleted.
An appropriate investigation by a holistic physician or a
competent naturopath will look for food antibodies of the
IgG group and perform an assessment of gut function called
Complete Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA), which should
provide the necessary metabolic information.

Mental constipation
Constipation is not only a physical condition, it is also a
state of mind. A person whose thinking and lifestyle are
uninspired, listless and non-creative is a frequent sufferer
from sluggish digestion and constipation. Similarly, fixed

105
ideas and inflex­ible opinions, stubbornness and the inability
to accept change gracefully often characterize the individual
who accepts constipation as a fact of life.
‘Constipation neurosis’, or preoccupation with and fear
of constipation, often occurs in individuals who have a great
mental fear of letting go and accepting life’s unpredictability
and the certainty of change. Once the transitory, ever chang­
ing nature of our relationships and experiences is accepted,
the bowels release their burden readily.
Students and people of intellectual temperament and
occupa­tion often complain of chronic constipation and bowel
slug­gish­ness. This is only natural as they dwell so much in
their minds, usually at the expense of physical activity. The
resulting imbalance between manas shakti (mental energy)
and prana shakti (vitality) leads to their predicament. If
some time is devoted in the morning to a simple asana
program, and an evening walk is incorporated into the daily
routine, the problem is often eliminated.

Yogic management of constipation

Even the most difficult and long-standing cases of constipa­
tion will be relieved by practising yoga techniques and taking
a sensible diet and plenty of fluids.
1. Surya namaskara: Practise up to 12 rounds each morning
at sunrise.
2. Asana: Pawanmuktasana part 2, kawa chalasana (crow
walking), trikonasana, all forward and backward bending
asanas, the vajrasana series of asanas (especially shashan­
kas­ana), halasana, tadasana and tiryak tadasana, kati
chakrasana, tiryaka bhujangasana, udarakarshanas­ ana,
matsyasana, ardha matsyendrasana, mayurasana. Sit in
vajrasana for 10 minutes after each meal.
In cases of mild constipation, drink one or two glasses of
warm water before practising these asanas.
3. Pranayama: Bhastrika with kumbhaka and maha bandha,
5 rounds each morning. Surya bheda should also be
practised, 10 rounds.

106
4. Mudra and bandha: Pashinee mudra, yoga mudra, ashwini
mudra, uddiyana bandha, maha bandha.
5. Shatkarma: Agnisar kriya, nauli, basti and moola shod­hana.
Laghoo shankhaprakshalana should be prac­tised each
morning for up to 10 days, then twice weekly. Shankha­
prakshalana should only be done under expert guidance.
6. Meditation: Antar mouna.
7. Diet: Eliminate starches from your daily diet and substitute
fruits, vegetables, lots of salads and bean sprouts, whole
grains and dried fruits such as figs and prunes. Prunes
have an indigestible residue and thus provide bulk to
exercise the intestinal muscles. Eat your food dry. If food
is dry and then thoroughly saturated with saliva, it helps
to lubricate the bowels. It will make the system alkaline
and will greatly increase the rapidity of diges­tion. Drink
plenty of fluids, including fresh juices which provide water
in its purest form. Reduce the intake of salt.

Further recommendations
• The bowels should move at least once in twenty-four
hours. On waking up visit the toilet until this habit of
early morning evacuation is established.
• Moderate exercise after meals is very helpful. Never lie
down or go to sleep immediately after eating, rather sit in
vajrasana for a short while and then go for a short walk.
• Taking plenty of outdoor exercise, brisk walking, swim­
ming, cycling and so forth, is essential for healthy
digestion.
• Take cold baths only, both in the morning and evening.
• Laxative drugs should be avoided as they are very harmful
and it is easy to form an addiction and become dependent
on them for all bowel movements.
• After alleviation of constipation, adopt a routine of
laghoo shankhaprakshalana and kunjal kriya once a
week. Sunday morning may be the best time for these
practices. Then let the next meal be mung khichari. This
will prevent the recurrence of constipation.

107
Yogic management of haemorrhoids (piles)
This is a painful and troublesome condition in which
one or more rectal veins become dilated and distended,
prolapsing through the anal opening, especially at the
time of defecation. This causes pain, bleeding and mucus
discharge. The con­dition most commonly occurs as an effect
of long-term bowel sluggishness and constipation, leading
to excessive strain­ ing to pass the stools. As a result the
drainage of blood from the anal area becomes stagnant and
the veins become dilated and engorged with blood. Bleeding
is precipitated by irritation when the hard stools are passed.

Natural history
Because of pain upon straining, the sufferer often avoids
defecation, thus becoming even more constipated, and
worsening the condition. After defecation, the piles can
usually be manually replaced, at least in the earlier stages.
Later on, this becomes increasingly difficult. Loss of blood
is usually not severe, but may be sufficient to render the
sufferer slightly anaemic, especially if it is chronic.

Surgical management
Haemorrhoids are commonly excised surgically by a variety
of simple procedures, which give at least temporary relief
from the condition.
Yogic therapy offers an effective alternative. Anyone suf­
fering from piles and considering surgery is advised to apply
yogic therapy for one month. During this period, many cases
will disappear and surgery often proves unneces­sary.

Yogic management
The first step in yogic management is to correct any under­
lying tendency to constipation. Without this fundamental
restoration of normal function, little hope of relief from piles
can be entertained.
Subsequently, a program of asanas, pranayamas and
bandhas, followed by relaxation, should be adopted. The

108
practices include moola shodhana (also known as Ganesh
kriya), cleaning and massaging of the anus after defecation
is completed. This should be performed by inserting the
index finger well into the rectum and circulating it vigorously
around the anal rim or margin. This stimulates the flow of
prana to the region and promotes the drainage of pooled
blood out of the haemorrhoids and back into general circula­
tion. It should be performed up to 50 times in clockwise and
anticlockwise directions, each time the rectum is emptied.

Yoga program for management of haemorrhoids

1. Asana: Pawanmuktasana part 2, shakti bandhas series,
bhujangasana, ardha shalabhasana, shalabhasana, pas­
chimot­ t an­
a sana, sarvangasana, halasana, vajrasana,
marjari­-asana, shashankasana, supta vajrasana, padmas­
ana, yoga mudra. Sit in vajrasana for 10 minutes after
each meal.
2. Pranayama: Nadi shodhana pranayama with jalandhara
and moola bandhas, antar and bahir kumbhaka.
3. Moola shodhana: Daily, 50 times.
4. Ashwini mudra: anal contraction and relaxation, 50 times.
5. Shatkarma: Agnisar kriya, shankhaprakshalana, laghoo
shankhaprakshalana.
6. Relaxation: Yoga nidra in shavasana.

109
 Colitis

C olitis is a general term indicating an inflammatory

condition of the large bowel. In India, the term is often
used to indicate the mucus and diarrhoea which occurs with
chronic amoebic dysentery, while in the affluent coun­tries
it refers to the chronic, psychosomatic disease of ulcerative
colitis.
Two broad categories of this condition are usually seen
– specific and idiopathic. The specific type of colitis arises
from infections or infiltrations, such as amoeba and tuber­
culosis, though the latter form is quite rare today, so that
amoebic colitis (amoebic dysentery) forms the majority of
cases. The idiopathic variety is that type which cannot be
traced to a specific cause, and its two most common types are
ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome, both of which
have a heavy psychosomatic component.

Signs and symptoms

The main symptoms of colitis are diarrhoea (frequent loose
or watery motions often accompanied by mucous discharge),
abdominal pain, tenderness and foul odour. In more severe
cases, passage of blood and pus are additional symp­toms.
The natural history of the disease is one of alternating
attack and remission which often extends back for many
years. During acute attacks the patient loses weight and
becomes weak and anaemic.

110
The cause of colitis
Recent studies have shown that stress and strain are the
major contributory factors in causing and aggravating the
disease. Environmental stress, personal stress and stress
resulting from natural calamities are important initiating
factors. For this reason, the psychosomatic component of
the disease must be considered in undertaking its treatment.
A mild, temporary form of colitis can be recognized in
‘student’s diarrhoea’, which afflicts many anxious college
students in the weeks before major examinations, often
forcing them to take recourse to the use of mild tranquillizers
to see them through this tense period.

Medical management
Medical science has as yet made little progress in under­
standing and isolating the cause of colitis, and present
management of the condition remains unsatisfactory. The
physician is far more able to control the disease than to
cure it. The control of diarrhoea via antibiotics, intestinal
disinfect­ants and drugs to slow down the intrinsic nervous
activity of the bowel have been the chief medicines used so
far in treatment.
It was hoped that the introduction of the corticosteroids
would revolutionize the management of diseases such as
ulcerative colitis; however, the side-effects of these drugs
are often found to be more serious than the disease itself,
while their ability to control the primary condition remains
limited.
The surgical approach to severe ulcerative colitis is to
remove part or all of the colon. When the rectum is also
removed along with the colon, the construction of an alter­
native opening in the abdominal wall is necessary. These
procedures cause permanent and severe restrictions in the
patient’s lifestyle and if they can be avoided by using yogic
practices, then both doctor and patient would agree that
yoga should first be attempted for at least six months, if the
condition allows.

111
Restoration of digestive power
According to yogic science, colitis is a syndrome which
develops when the digestive power, agni, becomes imbal­
anced. As a result, disease producing micro-organisms can
grow and the chemical and muscular processes deteriorate.
Poorly digested wastes accumulate in the intestine and are
passed in the stools. These micro-organisms and wastes are
responsible for the foul odour. Yogic management aims
at enhancing the digestive power so that formation of the
offensive undigested wastes will be reduced and good health
will supervene.

Yogic management of colitis

This program is recommended for these suffering from
dysentery, ulcerative colitis, mucous colitis, irritable colon
syndrome and nervous diarrhoea. It can be adopted to
capacity, after the acute phase subsides.
1. Asana: Commence with the pawanmuktasana series parts 1
and 2, then the shakti bandha series. Begin the vajrasana
series of asanas, then slowly progress to bhujangasana,
dhanurasana, shalabhasana, paschimottanasana, sar­
vangas­ ana, halasana, matsyasana, chakrasana, ardha
matsyendrasana, mayurasana, padmasana, shavasana,
sirshasana.
2. Pranayama: Sheetali, sheetkari, nadi shodhana and ujjayi.
3. Mudra and bandha: Vipareeta karani mudra, pashinee
mudra, yoga mudra, ashwini mudra, moola bandha.
4. Shatkarma: Laghoo shankhaprakshalana, kunjal and neti.
Agnisar kriya but not for ulcerative colitis, and only when
the healing process is well and truly under way.
5. Relaxation: Yoga nidra should be practised daily and
abdominal breath awareness in shavasana can be done
whenever there is insufficient time for yoga nidra.
6. Meditation: Antar mouna has a prominent role in therapy,
enabling the patient to recognize and counteract the
subconscious psychic factors which are playing such a
major role in attacks of colitis.

112
Dietary recommendation
In treating ulcerative colitis, a special diet which provides
rest for the ulcerated colon is required. During the period
of yogic therapy, the digestive power builds up most rapidly
if the normal digestive processes are minimally activated.
This applies to all forms of colitis. This is provided for by
restricting the intake of normal foods, salt and water. In their
place take milk.
Milk is an ideal replacement for the normal diet, which
should be discontinued during the therapy period. Milk is a
complete food which supplies all essential dietary elements,
while leaving minimal waste residue. In recovery from colitis,
the colon should remain free from irritation and therefore
milk is the ideal food as it leaves the ulcerated colonic wall
to heal itself in peace.
Simple khichari (rice, mung dal and vegetables cooked
together) or porridge, place minimal demands upon
digestive energy and can be taken in conjunction with a milk
diet, though milk should be taken one or two hours before
or after these light and easily digested foods because it does
not mix well with other foods, even in normal situations.
In cases of dysentery (amoebic colitis), take 250 grams
of curd (yoghurt), two teaspoons of sugar and three glasses
of cold water. Stir the mixture and then strain the liquid
through a clean piece of cloth into a clean vessel. To the
same mixture add two or three glasses of water and follow
the same straining process. It should be taken as frequently
as possible. No food or any other drink (including water)
should be taken until the dysentery has finished. Then
gradually adopt the daily yoga program outlined.

113
 Acute Gastro-Enteritis

A cute gastro-enteritis is a common acute illness with

symptoms of abdominal pain and cramps, fever,
vomiting, diarrhoea and loss of appetite. It occurs frequently
in children when they have eaten unsuitable foods, or more
than they need. Similarly, in adults it is a sign of dietary
indiscretion or food poisoning. This form of illness is not
a disease and should not be interpreted as such. It is a sign
that some dietary abuse has been committed and that the
body is seeking to heal itself. It only asks to be given a rest,
including a rest from food for as long as the symptoms last.

General treatment
General fevers and diarrhoea of this simple kind should not
be suppressed by drug management, as this only serves to
prevent the body’s efforts to eliminate waste matter. Rather,
the best way to help is to conserve energy by fasting as long
as the fever continues. This will ensure that the elimination
is effective and recovery occurs rapidly over one or two days.
However, if the fever continues without dropping, or if
marked dehydration is occurring due to continuing severe
diarrhoea, or if the patient seems to have taken a turn for the
worse and appears to be getting sicker, then expert medical
guidance should be sought. It may be that the patient has
contracted a more serious infection. A patient with cholera
or typhoid is easily recognized and differentiated; he appears

114
to be very sick and seems to be getting worse. This is the
time and place to call a doctor, whose powerful drugs, which
have no proper place in simple cleansing diarrhoeas and
temporary fevers, may well save a life now. The difference
between the two states is a matter of experience and common
sense.

Yogic management of gastro-enteritis

Fasting with total bed rest in a quiet place is the best way to
cure a simple fever, while eating is a sure way to prolong it.
Short bouts of fever coming periodically, especially during
a change of season, or following a period of overeating or
indiscretion, are truly nature’s blessings. They compel rest
and enable the body to quickly readjust. They should not
cause alarm as they are not sickness and no treatment is
needed except rest. They are to be enjoyed, because they are
a sign that health is strong and vital resistance is high.
During the fast, pure or boiled water should be taken. In
cases of continuing fever or diarrhoea, a watery preparation
of sweetened boiled barley can be safely taken. This
interferes minimally with the elimination process, while
helping to bind the loose bowels. When the fever has passed,
the fast can be broken with fruit or vegetable juices or thin
vegetable soup, followed by light khichari.
In general, the hatha yoga shatkarmas are contra­
indicated during states of fever and acute illness. It is better
to allow the body to eliminate wastes and purify itself at its
own rate. Neti, kunjal and shankhaprakshalana are useful
in more chronic states of disease or degeneration, where
the body’s ability to mount an acute purifying reaction is
reduced. Here the need is to slowly and gradually build
up the depleted vitality levels so that the body will again
be capable of mount­ing its own purifying crises and acute
reactions. This process of rejuvenation from states of
debility and chronic illness can be greatly accelerated by
yoga practices including intel­ ligent use of the cleansing
shatkarmas.

115
 Asanas such as matsya kridasana and shashankasana
are useful in relieving stomach cramps and pain. The best
posture in which to sleep is matsya kridasana. Yoga nidra
or abdominal breath awareness should be practised daily.
Anuloma viloma and japa provide an effective means of
diverting the mind away from pain and discomfort.

116
 Malabsorption States

M alabsorption states refer to long-term disturbances of

the processes of absorption and assimilation by the
small intestine. These include sprue, Whipples disease
and coeliac disease. They are characterized by gradual loss
of appetite, indiges­tion, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Sufferers usually loses weight, finding normal foods
distasteful or repulsive. Their digestive powers become
progressively weaker, and at the same time they lose interest
in food and often in life as a whole. Anaemia, physical
weakness and mental lassitude are common charac­ter­istics.
Malabsorption syndromes have much in common with
cases of chronic hepatitis, in which listlessness, mental
depression, loss of energy and interest in life are prominent
mani­festations.

Holistic outlook at malabsoption

Malabsorption is the end-stage of a process whereby the
digestive system becomes so inflamed and depleted that
it can no longer perform its function. It is a disease which
may take many years, or even decades to manifest fully.
Quite often, in the early stages, the inability to absorb is
subtle, with only some nutrients being affected and the
patient may just feel not as energetic as before. If the cause
of this problem is not assessed properly and methodically,
the digestive function will continue to deteriorate till the

117
symptoms become so severe that the individual begins to
visibly waste away.
A comprehensive nutritional assessment, including
digestive function, food allergies, vitamin, mineral and
enzyme deficiencies as well as a detailed evaluation of
protein status, will lead to an amelioration and eventually
resolution of the problem.

Yogic management of malabsorption states

This yoga program is devised to help those suffering from
poor digestive power, loss of appetite, weight loss, unex­
plained anaemia and failure to thrive.
1. Asana: Start by perfecting the pawanmuktasana part 1
series, then part 2. These are specifically designed to
restore strong digestive function. They will awaken energy
and relieve weakness and listlessness.
After two weeks, change your program to the shakti
bandha and vajrasana series, including shashankasana,
shashank bhujangasana, marjari-asana and parvatasana.
These will remove energy blockages in the lower psychic
centres and direct it towards the middle digestive organs
where failure of assimilation is occurring.
Commence surya namaskara, working up to 10 rounds.
Follow with total relaxation in shavasana, developing
aware­ness of the abdominal breath. During this practice,
centre your awareness on the abdomen and create the
sensa­tion of a mighty power being developed there.
Finally, adopt five major asanas which activate the digestive
mechanism controlled by samana. These are paschimot­
tan­asana, halasana, chakrasana, ardha matsyen­drasana
and mayurasana. In the final poses, direct your awareness
powerfully to the seat of digestive energy. After each meal,
sit in vajrasana for 10 minutes concentrating your awareness
on the digestive process. Try to consciously enhance it.
2. Pranayama: Nadi shodhana pranayama stage 1 should
be practised, 5 rounds to start with. Try to equalize and
balance the flow of breath in each nostril.

118
 After two weeks, commence stage 2 (alternate nostril
breathing), 15 rounds. Try to develop control of the
breath, which should remain silent and subtle. Work
towards establishing the ratio 1:2 for inhalation, exhala­
tion. Continue for one month. Then commence stage 3
with antar kumbhak and jalandhara bandha. Aim for the
ratio 1:4:2, but do not strain. Continue for one month.
Finally, practise stage 4. With antar kumbhaka, practise
jalandhara and moola bandhas, and with bahir kumbhaka,
maha bandha. Aim for a ratio of 1:4:2:2. This is extremely
powerful in awakening the digestive prana and great inner
heat will be generated during the practice.
Bhastrika pranayama with antar and bahir kumbhaka
should be perfected next. Centre your awareness on the
rising and falling diaphragm and visualize it as a bellows,
fanning the digestive fire. Practise up to 5 rounds of 50
breaths.
3. Shatkarma: Kunjal and neti should be practised daily for
the first two weeks. Learn to efficiently perform vyaghra
kriya, the expulsion of undigested food remaining in the
stomach, two to three hours after eating.
4. Relaxation: Yoga nidra should be practised with awareness
of the abdominal breath, counting 50 to 100 breaths.
Follow with chest and nostril breath awareness each for
50 to 100 breaths.
5. Meditation: Antar mouna stage 3, conscious creation
and visualization of thoughts and feelings, should be
practised while deeply relaxed. Generate the internal
experience you feel when foods are consumed and
visualize your digestive processes working optimally. Try
to overcome your negative feelings towards foods. Feel
them being absorbed into your body and feel energy
flowing throughout the body as you digest them. Try to
consciously overcome this psychological blockage.
6. Diet: Do not become fussy about food. While eating, do
not allow yourself to lose awareness of the sacredness
of what you are doing, and try to consciously grasp and

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 maintain the sensation of hunger. Do not allow it to slip
away. Focus your awareness on the food you are eating
and be aware that it is the product of the earth. Eat it
joyfully, as prasad, a gift of the Divine Mother.
Eat simple vegetarian food. Do not cultivate whims for
fancy foods and spices. Appreciate the nutritive value
rather than the transitory taste sensations.
7. Fasting: Sometimes when you experience great hunger,
deny it and avoid eating until the next meal. This is a
most powerful way of removing psychological blockages,
which inhibit a healthy appetite.

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 Diabetes Mellitus

D iabetes mellitus is a disorder in the metabolism of

sugar. In the diabetic, the primary problem is the
defective utilization of sugar by the body. Dietary sugars
and starch are broken down to glucose by the processes of
digestion, and this glucose is the major fuel for the various
processes, organs and cells of the body.
Glucose metabolism is under the control of the hormone
insulin, which is secreted by the pancreas, a large gland
behind the stomach. When this gland becomes stressed
or ex­hausted, the hormone insulin becomes deficient in
quantity or sensitivity and the blood sugar level becomes
high and un­controlled as a result. The symptoms of diabetes
are due to excessive sugar in the blood.
Diabetes is a very common disease today, especially in
our affluent communities. Its incidence has paralleled the
rising affluence of our lifestyle.

The cause of diabetes

Yogic science recognizes two interrelated causes of diabetes.
Firstly, long-term devitalization and sluggishness of the
diges­tive processes due to dietary abuse, overeating, obesity
and lack of exercise. High intake of a sugar and carbohydrate
rich diet is especially implicated.
If a person takes a large amount of sugar, sweets or
chocolates, etc., their pancreas is ready to respond by

121
pouring out a large amount of insulin to rapidly manage the
rocketing blood sugar level without incident.
However, if such a sugar-rich diet is eaten every day, the
pancreas is being called upon constantly to secrete enormous
amounts of insulin, and sooner or later it begins to tire and
become depleted. Insulin production in response to sugar
stimulation becomes increasingly inadequate. As a result, the
blood remains saturated with sugar for long periods of time.
It is then only a matter of time before diabetes is diagnosed.
This usually occurs when the patient attends the doctor for
investigation of one of the symptoms of high blood sugar, for
example, an excessive thirst or urination, a resistant skin or
urinary infection, or failing eyesight.
The second causative factor is that diabetes is stress related.
The stresses and frustrations of modern sedentary humans are
largely manifest on the mental and emotional planes, unlike
those of our ancestors who had to wage a physical battle for
survival. Nevertheless, the adrenal glands are in a constant
state of activation, spilling the ‘stress hormone’ adrenalin
into the bloodstream. This is a potent stimulus to the body to
mobilize glucose into the blood. In this way a constant heavy
burden of worries and anxieties imposes a constant demand
for insulin secretion which can ultimately precipitate diabetes,
especially in conjunction with a diet rich in sugar.

Two types of diabetes

The less prevalent but more severe form of diabetes occurs
in young people. This is juvenile onset diabetes where the
capacity of the pancreas to produce insulin has been partially
or even completely lost. This may be due to a genetic defect,
or may follow a viral infection or a severe psychic, mental
or emotional trauma. This form of diabetes tends to occur
in thin, sensitive, intelligent people. The medi­­cal treatment
consists of daily injections of replacement insulin.
The more common form is late onset diabetes, which
develops gradually in middle-aged, stressed, overweight,
underexercised persons, whose diet contains an excess of

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sugars, starches and fats. This long-term overloading of the
digestive system, especially the pancreas, leads to progressive
deterioration of the insulin secreting mechanism and desen­
sitivity of the body tissues to insulin.
In this form of diabetes, insulin is released in insufficient
quantities and too late. Because some insulin producing
capacity remains, this form of diabetes can be initially
controlled through dietary restrictions alone. When this
becomes insufficient, oral hypoglycaemic drugs, which
decrease the blood sugar level directly are prescribed.
At some later stage, due either to diminishing control or
increas­ ing side effects, these drugs are abandoned and
the patient is put on daily injections of insulin, which will
almost certainly be needed for life. However, with a system
of regenerative yogic practices, it is often possible to cure this
form of diabetes.

The dangers of diabetes

Because insulin is required to push sugar from the blood­stream
into body cells, insulin deficiency causes high blood sugar but
low intracellular sugar. Though sugar is freely circulating in
the blood, it is useless because it is not being put to use by
the body’s cells. Therefore, the cells may actually be starving.
It is a case of “Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to
drink!” The muscle cells which form the walls of the blood
vessels are particularly affected by sugar starvation, leading
to a whole range of degenerative vascular changes, including
heart disease, arteriosclerosis, hyper­tension and kidney failure.
Secondary effects of poor circu­lation, which are frequently
seen in poorly controlled diabetes, include skin infections,
gangrene, retinal destruction leading to blindness, loss of
sensory nerve functions in the extremities, and impotence.
A blood sugar level which drops below normal, hypo­
glycaemia, poses a further dangerous problem for the
diabetic. This can occur for a variety of reasons, such as
excess insulin injection, and is probably the most dangerous
situation the diabetic faces. Because the brain is totally

123
dependent on a constant supply of glucose, brain cells
immediately begin to die of starvation when this supply is
cut off. Unconsciousness (diabetic coma) and even death,
will result unless sugar is rapidly replaced. Furthermore,
when blood sugar is unavailable, the body releases fats from
the storage tissues as a source of fuel. In burning this fat to
produce energy, a state of high acidity (metabolic acidosis)
results, which severely disturbs the delicate acid/base balance
of the body. This is another frequent cause of death in
uncontrolled diabetes.

The role of insulin

Before the advent of insulin replacement therapy, the diagnosis
of diabetes was equivalent to a death sentence; its victims
rapidly wasted away and died from starvation. They drowned
in a sea of sugar. Insulin has certainly saved or pro­longed
many lives in the past fifty years. However, in the intervening
decades it has been recognized that insulin therapy has
certain drawbacks, as well as the inconvenience of lifelong
dependence on daily injections. In recent years, yogic science
has been found to offer an effective alternative treatment in
controlling diabetes, especially before complica­tions set in.

Holistic management of diabetes

The first important principle is nutrition. Many diabetics are
overweight. This often causes the body’s tissues to become
resistant to the effects of naturally secreted insulin. Evidence
shows that a diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates
assists in increasing muscle bulk (which increases insulin
sensitivity) and thus helping to diminish the fat mass. These
changes alone can eliminate diabetes in some sufferers.
In addition, a number of nutrients assist in improving the
process of sugar metabolism and prevention of damage to the
eyes, the nervous system, the kidneys, and the cardiovascular
system, which are inevitable in any diabetic patient. These
include vitamin C, lipoic acid, magnesium, zinc, chromium
picolinate, vitamin E, B complex and selenium.

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The yogic alternative
While medical science claims diabetes is incurable, many studies
have proven that it responds very well to yogic manage­ment.
In clinical trials, newly diagnosed diabetics have reduced blood
sugar to normal levels and insulin dependent diabetics have
been able to either discontinue insulin usage completely or
have been able to considerably reduce their insulin con­sump­
tion. The newly diagnosed diabetic has excellent pros­pects of
completely controlling and correcting his condition if he adopts
yogic practices and lifestyle under guidance.
Yoga does not accept that a lifestyle based on excessive
consumption of rich food, obesity and lack of exercise is a
natural or desirable state. To simply prescribe insulin or other
drugs to counteract the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle is a
disease promoting rather than a health promoting practice.
The yogic treatment of diabetes is directed at the underlying
causes of the disease as well as to its symptoms. It is based
on the internal readjustment of the whole organism through
stimulation of the body’s own regenerative processes.
The yoga practices are thought to act in two distinct ways
to overcome diabetes. Firstly it seems that the cells of the
Islets of Langerhans, the secretory portions of the pancreas
which have been prematurely exhausted due to oversecretion
of insulin, are rejuvenated. This would mean that insulin
production is stimulated and that its release is better timed
so as to be appropriate to the level of sugar in the blood.
This occurs gradually as depleted levels of pranic energy in
the mid-digestive tract are restored.
Secondly, yoga seems to bring about a more general
resensitization of muscle and fat tissues to the body’s own
(endogenous) insulin. This is achieved specifically by the
anti-rheumatic series of pawanmuktasana, which removes
blockage of energy in the peripheral muscles and tissues,
and by the anti-gastric series of pawanmuktasana part 1,
which selectively activates and mobilizes the body’s fatty
adipose tissue stores. Surya namaskara is a powerful pranic
generator which also helps to restore a balanced metabolism.

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Rejuvenating the pancreas
Rejuvenation of sluggish pancreatic secretion patterns in
the diabetic occurs gradually by the performance of specific
asanas, pranayamas, shatkarmas and bandhas, including
uddiyana and nauli. These probably act by increasing
the diminished flow of blood to exhausted and atrophied
glandular segments of the pancreas.
Performance of the hatha yoga shatkarmas of laghoo
shankhaprakshalana and kunjal kriya on a daily basis greatly
aids the process of pancreatic restoration by removing toxic
wastes from the whole gastrointestinal tract, and by cleaning
and irrigating associated ducts and glands.
Provision of physiological rest is the greatest of all
medicines in recuperation from diseases of depletion
and exhaustion in any bodily system. The pancreas is no
exception and restriction of dietary starch and sugars enables
the gland to rest and recuperate from past abuse. Restoration
of normal insulin levels in the Islets of Langerhans gradually
occurs. This is aided by gradual withdrawal of external
insulin injections in cases where the body has become
accustomed to them. It is hoped that withdrawal will further
stimulate the regenerating Islets of Langerhans to produce
insulin in increasing quantities, until near normal levels are
restored. Simultaneously, continual excessive mobilization
of insulin is halted by adoption of correct diet, regular meal
times, no snacks and not overeating.

Yogic management of diabetes

Yogic management of diabetes is demanding and it is best
under­taken while the patient is fully resident in a properly
equipped yoga ashram. At least one month should be
allowed for the initial period of training and treatment,
so that the new attitudes and practices can be thoroughly
integrated into the patient’s lifestyle.
It is important that diabetics undertake yogic therapy in
conjunction with qualified medical supervision. Laboratory
facilities should be available, so that progress in therapy

126
can be objectively measured by serial assessment of blood
and urinary sugar levels. This is especially important in the
period of training when blood sugar levels begin to drop.
The gradual withdrawal of daily insulin can be a danger­
ous proce­dure, and in our opinion should not be attempted
lightly, as the risks of precipitating the patient into keto­
acidosis and hypo­glycaemic coma are considerable. However,
with the proper medical collaboration this objective can be
safely achieved.

Simplified one month yoga program

The yoga sadhana and progress will vary for each individual.
This program should not be considered absolute for all
diabetics, but should serve as a general guide­line from which
programs can be devised according to individual needs and
capacities. Here is a general program of prac­tices for diabetes
man­age­ment, modifiable according to individual needs.

First week
1. Asana: Pawanmuktasana parts 1 and 2, vajrasana.
2. Pranayama: Bhramari and nadi shodhana stage 1.
3. Shatkarma: Neti.
4. Relaxation: Abdominal breathing in shavasana.

Second week
1. Asana: As for the first week plus shakti bandha series.
2. Pranayama: Nadi shodhana stage 2; bhastrika (20 breaths).
3. Shatkarma: Kunjal and neti.
4. Relaxation: Yoga nidra.
5. Meditation: Ajapa japa stage 1

Third week
1. Surya namaskara: Practise according to capacity.
2. Asana: Vajrasana series.
3. Pranayama: Nadi shodhana stage 3 with jalandhara and
moola bandhas. Bhastrika (30 breaths), with antar kum­
bhaka and jalandhara bandha. Sheetali and sheetkari.

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4. Shatkarma: Full shankhaprakshalana once. Laghoo shan­
kha­prakshalana each subsequent day. Kunjal and neti.
5. Relaxation: Yoga nidra (full one hour practice).
6. Meditation: Ajapa japa stage 2.

Fourth week
1. Surya namaskara: Up to 12 rounds.
2. Asana: Practise sarvangasana, halasana, matsyasana, pas­
chimot­tan­asana, ardha matsyendrasana, mayurasana,
bhujangasana, gomukhasana.
3. Pranayama: Nadi shodhana stage 4 with maha bandha.
Bhastrika with antar and bahir kumbhaka and maha
bandha. Sheetali and sheetkari.
4. Shatkarma: Laghoo shankhaprakshalana, kunjal and neti
daily.
5. Relaxation: Yoga nidra and prana vidya.
6. Meditation: Ajapa japa stage 3.

Further recommendations
• Diet: A low carbohydrate, sugar free, natural vegetarian diet
should be adopted from the outset of therapy. Avoid rice,
potatoes and all sugar products. Minimal spices, oils and
dairy products. Eat wholemeal chapatis, leafy and watery
vegetables, lightly boiled or steamed, salads and fruit.
• Exercise: Daily walking is recommended.
• Insulin: Withdrawal should begin in a stepwise manner at
some stage in the first two weeks when laboratory results
show that yoga is effectively lowering blood sugar levels.
Continue reduction under medical supervision according
to serial tests.
• Drugs: Oral drugs should be reduced and then stopped
once yoga therapy commences.
• Time: Yoga program and dietary restrictions should
con­tinue for at least six months, and longer to prevent
recurrence.
• For further information see Yogic Management of Asthma
and Diabetes, published by Yoga Publications Trust.

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 Hepatitis

H epatitis means ‘inflammation of the liver’ and refers

to the acute derangement of the liver’s structure
following overexposure to specific chemicals, drugs or
poisons and also after certain viral infections. As a result,
the liver’s myriad pro­ cessing, detoxifying and excretory
functions are tem­porarily suspended, as millions of its liver
cells break down and die.
However, the situation is not nearly as gloomy as it
sounds, for the liver possesses a remarkable regenerative
ability and almost all patients will make a full recovery from
a bout of hepatitis within a few months.

Specific causes of hepatitis

The liver can cease to function for a number of reasons. The
most common causes are viral infections, poisoning with
alcohol, and overexposure to specific drugs or chemicals.
Medical science has differentiated two distinct types
of viral hepatitis. The first, type A or infectious hepatitis, is
believed to be spread by faecal-oral contamination and
occurs in epidemics. It is associated with poor sanitation
and personal hygiene and commonly occurs in schools and
institutions.
The second viral infection, type B or serum hepatitis is
relatively rare and is considered more serious. It spreads by
direct inoculation of the virus with transfer of blood or blood

129
products by injection or transfusion. It is characteristically
seen in health workers who deal with blood products and in
drug addicts.
Drug-induced hepatitis is commonly encountered, parallel­
ing the increased use of drugs and chemicals in both industry
and the home. Most foreign substances, including modern
drugs which are injected or taken orally, end up in the liver,
which has the task of detoxifying them and preparing them
for elimination from the body. A wide variety of modern
drugs have been found to precipitate clinical hepatitis when
given in high doses to experimental animals. They include
several types of tranquillizers, steroid agents, antirheumatic
medications, oral contraceptives and antibiotics.
In many cases, hepatitis has no obvious immediate cause,
but it may occur due to long-term overstrain upon the liver’s
purifying and detoxifying mechanisms by an unsuitable diet
which produces excessive metabolic wastes. These dietary
factors include alcohol, meat proteins, rich fatty foods, spicy
and refined foods, chemical preservatives, synthetic agents
and drugs.

Symptoms and signs of hepatitis

The initial symptoms of hepatitis are fairly non-specific.
The patient loses appetite and suffers increasing weakness
and malaise. After a few days these symptoms give way to
marked nausea, a rising fever, pronounced body pains and
headache. At this stage the patient feels very weak, dis­
orientated and nauseous, and the urine usually turns a dark
yellow-orange colour, while the faeces become pale, bulky
and smelly, due to absence of bile. In addition, the liver often
becomes enlarged and tender beneath the right rib margin.
Finally, jaundice supervenes; at first the sclerae (whites) and
the mucous membranes of the eyes, and later the whole skin
surface, take on a yellowish pigmentation.
Jaundice is an indication that the body can no longer
metabolize bile or that the liver is no longer capable of
processing the waste products of blood cell destruction. As

130
a result, the level of these highly pigmented wastes in the
blood continues to rise until they spill over into the tissues,
staining the whole body in the process. The skin usually
becomes itchy as a result.

The process of recovery

Fortunately, the process of hepatitis is usually self-limiting.
The acute phase of the disease usually lasts for two or three
weeks, after which a period of six weeks or more is required
to restore depleted energy levels. Possessing remarkable
regenerative capacity, the liver rapidly rebuilds itself. The
most important factor in making a complete recovery is that
the liver should be completely protected from harmful toxins
during the crucial period of cellular regeneration. Total rest
is essential throughout this period.
In isolated cases, recovery of the liver is postponed or the
acute disorder recurs. This can continue for months or years,
with a state of chronic digestive weakness, physical tiredness
and malaise, nausea and an aversion and distaste for life.
This is known as fulminant or chronic active hepatitis.
Where no known hepatic poison is being taken either
in the diet or as alcohol, the cause can usually be traced to
a deep-seated emotional disturbance. Often sufferers feel
incapable of living up to the expectations set for them in
life and are unable to express negative emotions overtly.
They are forced to suppress anger as they attempt to live up
to the expectations of those to whom they are emotionally
attached. They may cling to sickness as the best way of
avoiding confrontation with a distasteful reality. In such
cases, the most effective therapy for this ‘jaundiced’ view of
life is meditation.
Opposing the liver’s natural healing processes on a long-
term basis ultimately leads to chronic liver failure, with death
by self-poisoning the inevitable result. This occurs as body
toxins and metabolic waste accumulate and fluid balance
is increasingly disrupted. The medical solution is a liver
transplant.

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Yogic management of hepatitis – the initial treatment
Yoga has a limited role to play in the initial recovery from
hepatitis. The fundamental prescription is total rest, while
avoiding any activities, foods or drugs which will hinder the
process of liver regeneration. The healing process should
be supervised by a suitably qualified person. The only yoga
practices which are recommended in the recovery period are
japa and yoga nidra with abdominal breath awareness, which
promotes relaxation and healing. Asana and pranayama are
contraindicated for at least six weeks.
During the initial period of recovery, fasting should
be undertaken for a few days. Citrus fruits or juices and
ripe papaya should be taken to relieve the nausea which
arises as highly alkaline fluid from the liver and pancreas
pours into the duodenum. Astringent foods such as radish
should be taken regularly. Meat, eggs, spices, oil, butter and
ghee should be avoided for at least six weeks and should
be taken only sparingly after that. Meat eating and heavy
protein foods treble the work of the liver. Alcohol should be
scrupulously avoided for at least six months to a year and, if
possible, so should most therapeutic drugs. Vegetable soup,
boiled or streamed vegetables and fruits are recommended
during the first two weeks of treatment. Then starches and
grains can be slowly incorporated into the diet.

After the recovery period

Physical activity should be resumed according to capacity.
Light physical exercise with slight exposure to the sun to
promote sweating is advised to facilitate elimination of
toxic residues during recovery from hepatitis. For two weeks
or more, pawanmuktasana part 1, followed by abdominal
breath awareness in shavasana and gentle nadi shodhana
pranayama should also be performed daily.

Yogic program after full recovery

1. Surya namaskara: 3 to 7 rounds should be practised at
sunrise.

132
2. Asana: Paschimottanasana, vipareeta karani mudra and
shashankasana are particularly recommended for optimal
recovery of liver tissues. Other exercises having a direct
influence on the abdomen such as ardha padma padmot­
tanas­ana, yoga mudra, halasana, merudandasana and
its variations should also be practised when the healing
process is under way.
3. Pranayama: Bhastrika, surya bheda, nadi shodhana.
4. Mudra and bandha: Vipareeta karani mudra, pashinee
mudra and yoga mudra. The liver can be steadily
strength­ened by daily practice of uddiyana bandha (or
agnisar kriya) according to capacity, commencing with 3
rounds.
5. Shatkarma: Laghoo shankhaprakshalana should be done
soon after recovery; kunjal kriya and vastra dhauti can
be performed twice a week. They ensure strong digestive
capacity, high resistance to disease and maintenance of
digestive fire.
6. Relaxation: Yoga nidra.
Provided all precautions are observed, one eventually
recovers from a bout of hepatitis stronger and more purified
than before, and the newly generated liver is more capable of
effectively purifying the blood stream. It is an example of an
evolutionary disease and after recovery every effort should
be made to preserve optimal digestion and cleanliness of the
blood by following a sensible diet in conjunction with a yogic
lifestyle.

133
 The Problem of Obesity

O besity means excessive body weight. This imposes

unnecessary strain on the body’s various physiological
systems, especially the heart, circulatory, respiratory and
elim­ina­
tive systems, and predisposes the person to the
develop­ment of many serious metabolic diseases, including
diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and arthritis. In
addition it leads to lowered vitality, mental dullness and
depression.
The most common cause of obesity is overeating, pure
and simple. The problem is not only too much food, but
also that the wrong type of food is taken. A diet composed
of exces­sive oil, spices, starches, sugars and refined products
leads to excess weight, while a diet based on natural grains,
fruit and vegetables leads one automatically towards correct
body weight and optimal health.
Obesity typically occurs in two types of people. The first
type is the competitive, passionate, acquisitive person who
eats too much too quickly, using food as a channel to release
pent-up mental energy, unfulfilled ambitions and desires.
Here there is an excess of rajo guna, the activating principle
in the personality. The second type is the housebound person
who overeats out of boredom. Here there is an excess of tamo
guna, the principle of inertia, where lethargy and dullness
predominate. As people put on weight, they tend to become
even less happy with themselves and their appearance, and

134
thus eat still more. In general we can say that overeating is
due to frustration, where unfulfilled creative energy becomes
wrongly channelled into excessive desire for food.
All obese people suffer from glandular deficiency in that
their endocrine glands cease to function correctly, leading to
mental, emotional and hormonal imbalance. A small number
of obese people, however, suffer from a primary glandular
disturbance or imbalance, usually of the thyroid, adrenal or
reproductive glands.

Treatment of obesity
Almost all people with obesity will return to a normal
body weight and an inspired life if a daily yoga program
is followed with determination. The problem is that the
obese individual needs inspiration and willpower. He or she
needs to lift themselves out of a rut of habits and patterns
based wrongly in food, and redirect their energies into more
healthy, creative outlets. Yoga practice provides an excellent
means for achieving this goal.
The tense rajasic overeater benefits especially from
yoga nidra. He or she habitually sits to eat with a tense,
preoccupied mind, takes an enormous meal wolfishly without
really relaxing, tasting and enjoying it at all. They should
learn to relax for ten minutes in shavasana before each
meal, dropping the mental preoccupations and relaxing the
digestive and other bodily organs. In addition, an object of
awareness while eating helps enormously. For example, one
may follow a formula of filling the stomach one half with
food, one quarter with water and one quarter empty, or
one may fill the mind with the idea that with every piece of
food placed into the mouth, one is feeding Agni, the deity
of fire. “I am feeding Agni. This is the mouth of Agni.” This
transforms eating into a form of meditation and awareness,
which automatically ensures a reduction in the amount of
food consumed.
On the other hand the bored, tamasic overeater should
be initiated into karma yoga, some mode of self-expression

135
which will get him or her out of the kitchen, out of the
house, away from the constant temptation of food and into
some more stimulating and useful activity. As other interests
awaken, the obsession with food will fall away.

Holistic management of obesity

Here, one uses the same approach as when dealing with
late onset diabetes mellitus. Please see the chapter ‘Diabetes
Mellitus’.

Yoga program
1. Asana: These are essential to remove blockages, liberate
prana, revitalize the mind and activate the endocrine
glands. Obese people should be encouraged to practise to
their limit, but never to exhaustion. Let them practise with
enjoyment, relaxation and awareness, and their problems
will fall away. It is not necessary to try to sweat off excess
pounds. This is not the way to lose weight. The obese
person has poor stamina and willpower and will soon
drop out of such a demanding and exhausting regime.
Permanent loss of weight demands a total overhaul of the
pranic energy structure of the body and mind.
Asanas build up vitality slowly but surely. They rebalance
the nervous and endocrine pathways gradually and
effortlessly. In yoga the slimming and rebalancing
process occurs on an altogether different level from
the gymnastics program aimed at sweating off a few
kilograms, at best a temporary measure. Weight will
surely re­accumu­late quickly unless the psychic and pranic
energies are rebalanced and glandular mechanisms
readjusted. Best practices are pawanmuktasana and the
shakti bandha series, followed by surya namaskara. Major
asanas, es­ pecially useful in balancing the endocrine
glands and spinal nerves, can be adopted after some
months of daily practice of these simple ones.
2. Pranayama: Bhramari and nadi shodhana are especially
useful in awakening diminished vitality. Excessive

136
 pranayama, which stimulates appetite, should be
avoided. Mild bhastrika helps speed up the metabolism
and reduce fat.
3. Shatkarma: Kunjal and neti should be practised daily, and
poorna shankhaprakshalana should be practised once
under guidance in an ashram. Laghoo shankhaprakshal­
ana should continue once or twice weekly. These practices
will relieve a clogged up and devitalized digestive system,
overtaxed bowels, depleted liver and pancreas. As a result,
long forgotten mental and physical lightness, increased
vital energy and clarity of mind are experi­enced.
4. Relaxation: Yoga nidra is essential each day. A negative
sankalpa (resolve) should not be adopted, as this is
suppressive and may lead to overeating on the rebound.
A positive resolve, in a form such as, “My vitality is in­
creasing daily” or “My creative energy is being liberated
from food more and more each day” is a powerful means
of overhauling a faulty, uninspired lifestyle.
5. Diet: Fasting is not recommended for obese people as it is
extremely difficult to maintain a proper fasting program,
free from the inevitable rebound reflex of overeating.
Rather the daily diet should be made wholesome
with simple food, regular meal times and no snacks
in between. Sugar, sweets, oils, spices, milk and milk
products, rich and refined foods which overtax the liver,
digestion and heart, should be vastly reduced, in favour
of whole grains, fruit and green vegetables.

Obesity education
The community needs to be educated on the importance of
eating for hunger and physical need rather than for taste.
The fashionable belief that a fat baby is a healthy one should
be discarded, as this penalizes the child, leading to a weight
problem in adolescence and later life. A child who lives in
a house where frustrations and creative energy are wrongly
channelled into overeating develops a similar samskara and
carries it into later life.

137
 Diversion of the creative impulse and energies into
eating leads to physical, mental and emotional heaviness
and dullness. People with creative genius are very active and
seldom obese. They are usually consumed with their work,
often forgetting to eat in the process. Daily practice of yoga
under guidance goes a long way towards rectifying wrong
eating habits and towards the proper expression of instincts
and desires in creative, inspiring, healthy ways.

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 Joints and the
Musculo-Skeletal
System
 Arthritis

A rthritis is inflammation of the synovial joints of the

   body and is one of the most common of all disabling
diseases, afflicting an estimated one out of ten people,
thirteen million in the USA alone. Arthritis is a crippling
degenerative process which can result in irreversible destruc­
tion of the joint. The condition is characterized by pain,
swelling, redness, heat and loss of function in one or more
joints. Those most often affected are the large, weight-
bearing joints (hips, knees and ankles) and the small joints
responsible for repeated, finely articulated movement, such
as the fingers.
In the science of yoga arthritis is not considered to be
a disease in itself, but as one symptom of a widespread
metabolic and pranic malfunction which begins early in a
person’s life.
Yoga offers a way to arrest this process. In fact, in the
early stages, before irreversible damage to the joints has
occurred, a complete reversal is often possible. In the later
stages, yogic practices can reduce drug dependency, maxim­
ize remaining mobility and function in the joints, and make
the life of the arthritic more tolerable and acceptable.
Remarkable restorations of function and a vastly improved
outlook on life have been obtained in severely crippled
patients who have followed a daily yoga program with
determination.

141
The physiology of arthritis
The normal synovial joint is a remarkable self-lubricating,
living structure. The ends of the bones which form the joint
are covered with a hard yet resilient tissue called cartilage
and are bound together by ligaments which surround the
space between the bones (joint cavity). The joint cavity is
lined with a delicate synovial membrane which secretes
synovial fluid to lubricate the joint.
The cells of the joint depend on a fairly tenuous blood
supply for their vital requirements. If the circulation of
prana in a joint is blocked or deficient over a long period
of time, the supply of blood and lymphatic fluid becomes
sluggish and the joint fluid grows stagnant. When this occurs,
the waste products and poisons of cellular metabolism
build up in the lubricating fluid of the joints, rather than
being efficiently transported to the skin and kidneys for
elimination from the body.
Acidic wastes and toxins accumulating in the joint fluid
irritate the sensitive nerve fibres in the joint, causing pain
and stiffness. If the circulation of prana in the joint remains
blocked for a longer period, the structure of the joint itself
begins to degenerate. The joint fluid begins to dry up, the
soft cartilage lining corrodes and the bones themselves
begin to accumulate excessive calcium, forming new bone
growth which limits movement. As the process continues, the
whole structure of the joint is destroyed, movement becomes
impossible, pain and deformity arise and the sufferer
eventually becomes crippled.

The forms of arthritis

Modern medical science has recognized several distinct
forms of arthritis. From the yogic point of view these are
different stages of the same basic blockage of prana rather
than dif­ferent diseases. The underlying process is the same,
but varia­tions in the rate of symptom development have led
to a number of diagnostic tags being assigned to different
sufferers of arthritis.

142
 Acute arthritis: This transitory condition is well known to
all. It is a common symptom of many illnesses and infections,
such as colds, flu, fevers and diarrhoea, and occurs because
the viral or bacterial toxins liberated into the bloodstream
during the illness readily accumulate in the joint fluids. This
symptom usually diminishes soon after the purifying process
is completed or the infection is overcome.
Gout: This is a special form of acute arthritis which seems
to be due to dietary self-poisoning. Gout is suffered by people
whose intake of proteins, especially red meat, exceeds their
capacity to metabolize them. Uric acid, a toxic by-product of
the digestion of protein, is usually excreted in the urine, but
in gout it accumulates in the joint fluid also. Even­tually acid
crystals form in the joints, just as excessive amounts of sugar
crystallize in a water solution. Gout exem­plifies the significant
role of dietary self-poisoning in arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis: This severe, crippling and rapid­
ly progressive form of joint degeneration often occurs in
young and middle-aged people, and is becoming increas­
ingly common. Though the cause remains unknown in
the majority of cases, it is frequently triggered by a severe
emotional shock, or may be precipitated following the sudden
introduction of foreign substances into the circulation,
perhaps from the administration of a powerful drug, or
an acute infection. If these foreign substances accumulate
in the joint spaces, the immune system sends white blood
cells there to wage a violent inflammatory reaction against
them. Offending substances can be eliminated fairly readily
from those tissues which have a good blood supply, but in
the joint spaces, which are more isolated from the general
circula­ tory system, their removal becomes more difficult.
The joint tissues themselves are not attacked, but they are the
battleground upon which the war is waged. This fierce inflam­
matory reaction can completely destroy a major joint within
a few months. A period of remission follows, but the disease
frequently recurs in another joint, until finally the body is left
crippled and deformed.

143
 Osteoarthritis: This chronic degenerative arthritis is
commonly seen in middle and old age, especially afflicting
those who are overweight, have a heavy or toxic diet and
have avoided exercise. Osteoarthritis frequently develops in
a joint which suffered injury earlier in life, the injury causing
pranic and structural derangement which was not fully
corrected at the time. Osteoarthritis may also be associated
with an excess of calcium in the body, either due to high
dietary intake, or to imbalance of the parathyroid glands in
the neck.

Factors leading to arthritis

A number of factors, including mental and emotional stress
and faulty lifestyle and diet, are responsible for upsetting
the balance of central controlling mechanisms in the brain
and endocrine system, on which the ultimate health of the
organism depends.
• Diet: Overeating and an excessively rich diet, especially
one based upon meat, animal fat, heavy fried foods,
highly refined and synthetic foods, and excessive milk,
ghee, sugar and salt, play a large part in initiating and
aggravating arthritis. Constipation aggravates the disease.
• Exercise: Lack of regular exercise causes the joints and
ligaments to become stiff and inflexible. Habitually sitting
in chairs and rarely sitting cross-legged causes stiffness of
the legs, hips, spine and shoulders.
• Mental factors: Deep subconscious tensions, suppression
of emotion, fear and hypersensitivity can lead to
rigidity of the personality, which is then translated into
physical tenseness, allergies, endocrine imbalance and
so on. Psychic rigidity – stubbornness and fear of letting
go, leads to physical rigidity in the form of arthritis,
rheumatism, fibrositis and constipation. Individuals
with arthritis may fail to express their deeper emotions
and feelings, especially anger, adequately. They will say
things like, “Don’t worry about me; you go out and have
fun.” Yet all the while they suffer internally and this

144
 internalization of feelings creates poisons which upset the
total body metabolism.

Modern medical treatment

Modern medicine has not yet fully come to terms with the
overall dimension of arthritis. It concentrates on the relief
of arthritic pain, but fails to treat and correct its underlying
causes. A wide spectrum of drugs are prescribed, beginning
with aspirin derivatives, which act both as analgesics (pain-
killers) and anti-inflammatory agents. Aspirin is effective,
although tolerance develops and increasing doses are
required. Prolonged use of aspirin in large doses can have
damaging effects on the stomach, liver and kidneys, so the
patient is graduated to the next stage in drug therapy. More
powerful anti-inflammatory agents, such as indomethacin
and phenylbutazone, are prescribed until a tolerance once
again develops or harmful side effects again preclude
continua­tion.
The next step is the corticosteroids, which are analogs of
the hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex. These drugs
have serious side effects. The patient’s own adrenal glands
begin to degenerate or atrophy and the body becomes fat.
Diabetes and high blood pressure can occur, body hair grows
profusely, and calcium is leached from the bones, rendering
them more susceptible to fracture. The final step is the surgi­
cal removal of the afflicted joint and its replacement with an
artificial one. These joints prove quite effective, often lasting
for years. Then, a further replacement becomes necessary;
however, the patient may now be at an age when the trauma
of a major surgical procedure can barely be tolerated.

Holistic management of arthritis

Osteoarthritis can often be significantly improved with
glucosamine and adequate quantities of fish oil and flaxseed
oil, all of which have anti-inflammatory effects. It is also
worth avoiding the nightshade foods such as potato, tomato,
eggplant, chilli and capsicum, for a trial period, as these

145
foods are known to aggravate the arthritic condition in some
patients.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory
disease. There is growing evidence that it may be a reaction to
large protein molecules absorbed from incompletely digested
foods. These molecules stimulate the gut immune system to
produce antibodies, which, unfortunately, cross-react with
our connective tissues and can cause inflammation in joints
and muscles. Comprehensive assessment and management of
digestive function, food intolerances, gut dysbiosis, essential
fatty acids and antioxidants will often lead to a significant
improvement or resolution of the condition.

Yogic approach
Yogic management of the arthritic process is all-embracing
and effectively complements standard medical measures.
However, yoga will never advocate drug management of
symptoms in isolation, while neglecting to correct the under­
lying deficiencies of diet, exercise, lifestyle and so on.
All therapy should ideally be learned in an ashram
setting, to benefit from its positive and supportive energies.
This is especially important if the individual is exposed to
negativity at home or work, or if the family is creating a
dependent attitude in the sufferer, for example: “Oh the
poor thing, he is suffering so much. You must rest, dear, let
me do that for you.” Karma yoga is as much a part of the
sadhana of the arthritic individual as asana and pranayama.
A well-rounded program of yogic therapy includes the
following elements:
1. Asana: The major series of asanas for prevention
and management of arthritic conditions is the anti-
rheumatic group of pawanmuktasana, which puts the
body through its full range of movements and fully
relaxes and massages all the joints. Before commencing
pawanmuktasana, the patient should soak the limbs
in cold and/or warm salty water to encourage blood
circulation. As the flexibility of the joints increases, other

146
 asanas can be added; however, never strain or inflict
pain. Major asanas include shashan­ kasana, marjari-
asana, shashank bhujangasana and akarna dhanurasana.
Vajrasana should be practised after meals if possible.
Ultimately, surya namaskara should be adopted to
capacity. Six to twelve rounds each morning should
prove sufficient to prevent further arthritic degeneration
throughout life.
2. Shatkarma: Poorna and laghoo shankhaprakshalana,
kunjal and neti are very important in alleviating constipa­
tion and eliminating any metabolic acids and other wastes
which accumulate in the joints, bloodstream and tissues.
Arthritis will never be fully cured while constipation
remains.
3. Pranayama: Including abdominal breathing, nadi shodhana
and bhastrika bolster the digestive and eliminative
capacities.
4. Meditation: Meditative practices release pent-up mental
and emotional ten­ sions. Antar mouna stage 2, where
thoughts are observed, is especially useful in recognizing
self-limiting and fixed attitudes and behaviour patterns.
Then in stage 3 the sufferer should be encouraged to
create mental scenes in which he or she is expressing
deep-felt anger and aggression, thus releasing suppressed
emotional conflicts which contribute to arthritic rigidity,
while at the same time remaining a detached witness.
Deep relaxation and meditation will develop a positive
state of mind in the sufferer.
5. Diet: The following simple diet will reduce pain and
allow the eliminative and regenerative processes to work
at optimum efficiency. A strong, clean digestive system
readily absorbs all necessary nutrients from the following
diet:
Cooked light grains and cereals in the form of wholemeal
bread, chapatis, rice, millet, barley, etc.
Boiled pulses (dal) especially the lighter types such as
mung, are a sufficient source of protein.

147
 Boiled or baked vegetables, especially greens but not
onions.
Salads using green leafy vegetables, celery, tomato,
beetroot, carrots, cucumber, sprouted pulses, seeds and
so on.
Fruits (except bananas), both fresh and dried, and nuts
in small quantities. Instead of sugar, a little honey can be
taken.
Reduce intake of milk and dairy products such as cheese
and ghee. Avoid highly refined, processed and synthetic
foods, including white flour (maida).
As a rule, only fruit and vegetables that are in season and
grown locally should be selected. If absolutely necessary,
small quantities of white meats, chicken and fish can be
taken occasionally.
Meals should be eaten between 10 am and 12 noon
and between 5 and 7 pm. The midday meal should be
the largest one and the even­ing meal should be lighter.
This ensures that food is in the stomach when the diges­
tive energies are high and digestion is well underway by
sleeping time.
Missing a meal or fasting one day per week will ease pain,
especially during acute phases, and accelerates relief and
recovery of health. Do not take snacks or eat between
meals.
6. Amaroli: Drinking one to three glasses of fresh urine
per day, massaging the joints with old or boiled urine,
applying packs soaked in urine, can all have a place in
arthritis therapy, especially in long-standing cases which
have outlasted analgesic or steroid therapy.
7. Rest: During the acute, inflammatory stage, rest is
essential. Subsequently, periods of activity must be
alternated with periods of rest.
8. Exercise: It is very important to maintain a determined
and positive attitude towards activity and exercise, even
to the extent of pushing oneself, in order to maintain
a maintain an active, self-sufficient lifestyle. Walking,

148
 swimming, garden­ing and other gentle forms of exercise
help to keep the muscles strong and the joints limber, and
can be integrated into the daily routine in conjunction
with simple asanas.
9. Heat and massage: Total immersion in a hot bath and the
local application of moist or dry heat, especially in winter,
relaxes the muscles and loosens painful contractions.
Heat also reduces pain and inflammation, increases the
metabo­­lism, aids elimination of poisons, speeds up the
production of natural lubricants, reduces swelling and
aids in the reabsorption of undesirable calcium deposits,
bone formations in and around stiff muscles, ligaments
and joints. After heat therapy, general massage of the
joints and limbs towards the heart invigorates and relaxes
the sensory and motor nerves, promotes circulation
and irrigation of blood and lymph, and has an overall,
relaxing effect.
10. Mental attitude: Above all, the arthritic person who under­
goes yogic therapy must strive for patience and positivity,
and try not to be discouraged by the pain and discomfort
which will have to be endured at the beginning. It is well
worth the initial struggle in order to break down the
vicious cycle of disease which causes arthritis. Yoga nidra
is most beneficial here and should be mastered as a form
of pain relief and mental transformation which reduces
drug dependency and pain sensitivity. The strength of
mind gained and the joy which is experienced when the
disease process is controlled and reversed is something
that all sufferers with arthritis can earnestly aim towards.

149
 Cervical Spondylitis

C ervical spondylitis is the name given to long-term

stiffening and degeneration affecting the spinal column
in the neck. It is characterized by pain and muscular spasm
in the back of the neck and shoulders. Tension headache
is also commonly associated. The pain may radiate into
the shoulders, arms and forearms and be accompanied
by sensations of pins and needles or tingling in the same
general area. Movement of the neck is restricted, and
muscular weakness and even wasting of muscles in the arms,
giddiness and ringing in the ears are not uncommon.
In some cases of spondylitis, signs of vertebral degenera­
tion in the neck can be readily seen on X-rays. However,
paradoxically, an X-ray of the neck of many sufferers appears
normal and healthy with little or none of the classical visible
signs of degeneration. Visible degenera­tion includes narrow­
ing of the intervertebral disc space so that the area appears
worn away and new dense bony projections, called osteo­
phytes, are seen. The foramina or bony tunnels through
which the blood vessels run become narrowed. These blood
vessels supply not only the spinal cord, but also the rear
portion of the brain including the cerebellum and medulla.
Bony constriction of these vertebral arteries will cause
decreased blood flow to the brain and faintness and
giddiness will result. Similarly, bony overgrowth may impinge
on the delicate cervical nerve roots emerging on either side

150
of the vertebral column in the neck. Aches and pains in the
arms and back will result.

The cause
Osteoarthritis of the vertebral bones of the neck may be
precipitated by a previous injury. The neck is the most
delicate part of the spinal column and is also one of the most
vulnerable. Even a jerk due to a moving vehicle stopping
suddenly can cause such an injury in the neck.
Damage can also occur as a gradual degenerative
process, due to wear and tear of the joints, bones, muscles
and ligaments of the neck. Hence it is more common after
middle-age and especially in middle-aged sedentary workers
who sit with their heads held rigidly forward the whole day.

Medical management
Modern medicine mainly offers physiotherapy as a remedy
for this malady, in addition to anti-inflammatory and
analgesic (pain relieving) drugs. Intervertebral injections of
corticosteroids into the painful areas often provide effective
pain relief by damping down inflammation in the short-
term, but many sufferers report that their overall state
worsens after receiving a series of the injections, with the
pain becom­ing ultimately worse.
Physiotherapy often provides effective temporary relief,
but rarely cures the condition. It is administered in the form
of short-wave diathermy, massage, cervical traction and the
wearing of a cervical collar.

Yogic management
Yogasana prove both palliative and curative in spondylitis,
especially in early and newly diagnosed cases, where minimal
changes are detected in X-rays. Asanas act by reducing mus­
cul­ar tension and spasm and also by correcting posture. In
addition, they restore pranic balance in the neck, leading to
regeneration of damaged tissues and reversal of abnormal
bone growth.

151
 The following practice program is prescribed for sufferers
of cervical spondylitis. It should be adopted slowly and
carefully under skilled guidance, and then practised each
morning.
1. Asana: Pawanmuktasana part 1, especially poorna titali
asana (full butterfly), skandha chakra (shoulder socket
rotation) and greeva sanchalana (neck movements). The
neck rotation exercises should be performed carefully.
Vajrasana, shashankasana, shashank bhujangasana,
bhadrasana, shavasana, akarna dhanurasana, makarasana,
marjari-asana and sarpasana can be performed.
Later on, as the range of pain free movement increases,
the following asana can be gradually adopted: padmasana,
matsyasana, yoga mudra, supta vajrasana, saral dhanura­
sana, and ardha matsyendrasana.
Sitting still in padmasana, or other meditative postures,
with the spinal cord straight and the head slightly back,
for increasing lengths of time is very helpful. Avoid all
other asana, especially inverted asana, until marked
improvement in the condition occurs.
2. Pranayama: Nadi shodhana stages 1 and 2.
3. Meditation: Kaya sthairyam is most effective in spinal
diseases and deformities. The head should be held erect
but with the slightest tilt backward, the spine upright
and shoulders relaxed. An experienced yoga teacher will
demonstrate the position.
4. Relaxation: Yoga nidra in shavasana. A neck support in the
form of a soft pillow may be necessary.
5. Shatkarma: Neti kriya daily.
6. Diet: As for arthritis.
7. Additional aid: A cervical collar is often helpful.

152
 Back Pain

B ackache is one of the most common disorders today.

Every year in the United States alone an estimated two
million new members join the ranks of the multitude of
suf­fer­ers from chronic back pain, while in the United King­
dom the syndrome is second only to bouts of respiratory
disease (colds, flu, bronchitis, etc.) as the leading cause of
lost working hours in trade and industry. It is estimated that
between 50% and 60% of the population will suffer from an
incident of acute or more long-term back pain at some stage
during their life.
In spite of the magnitude of the problem, a simple
effec­ tive cure for backache has proven to be elusive to
modern medical science. For this reason, most doctors lack
confidence in treating backache patients effectively, and
therapy often becomes a long, drawn out and frustrating
affair for the doctor and the patient alike. As a result, the
attitude of the chronic back pain sufferer is commonly a
fatalistic and resigned acceptance of this painful condition –
“till death us do part.”
However, our experience is that this resignation need
not be the case, for yoga offers a simple, effective and per­
manent cure for this troublesome condition. We have found
that many chronic back pain sufferers who have resigned
themselves to a life of pain after diagnosis of incurable spinal
degeneration or early osteo­arthritis, can be liberated from

153
their problem, and from later recurrences, a few days or
weeks after adopting a simple daily yoga program. Further­
more, the small per­centage of patients (perhaps 5%) who
are actually found, upon X-ray examination, to be suffering
from prolapse of an interver­tebral disc, prove to be equally
amenable to yoga therapy.

What causes backache?

This question is hotly debated in therapeutic circles.
However, recent studies have shown that the majority of
backaches are caused simply by muscular insufficiency
and inadequate flexibility of muscles and tendons. This
clearly contradicts the popular prevailing belief that a high
percentage of back­ache is caused by slipped disc, arthritis
and degenerative joint disease, or organic conditions such
as bone cancer, Pagets’ disease and rickets.

Research studies
In one study, conducted jointly by researchers from New
York University and Columbia University, USA, a random
sample of 5,000 consecutive patients presenting themselves
to hospital casualty departments complaining of backache
were followed up. It was shown that in 81% of the cases, the
back pain was found to have no connection with herniated
intervertebral disc, tumours or organic conditions of any
kind. For over 4,000 of the patients investigated, back pain
arose simply, yet agonizingly, from muscular strain and
stiffness.
A similar study, again of 5,000 patients, conducted by Dr
W.D. Friedman of the I.C.D. Rehabilitation and Research
Centre, USA, obtained almost identical results, concluding
that in four out of five patients, acute back pain occurs
simply because functional demand upon the back muscles
exceeds their capacity.
The failure to recognize this simple fact is probably
the major reason why back pain is so poorly treated at the
present time.

154
The mechanism of common backache
The most common site of backache is the lower back,
followed by the neck and the region between the shoulder
blades. This pain arises when the muscles surrounding and
support­ing the spinal column are held rigidly and uncom­
fortably contracted over a long period of time. This situation
commonly arises from long hours in uncomfortable car
seats and office chairs. When this goes on day after day,
the muscles gradually go into a state of tight painful spasm
which becomes semi-permanent, as fibroblasts infiltrate
the trouble­some region, laying down fibrous tissues. These
fibrosed areas can be readily felt as deep hardened bands
and nodules within the tender back muscles.
Chronic backache tends to be worse at the day’s end
and is relieved by massage, heat, relaxation and bed rest.
It responds readily and permanently to a program of yoga
asana and relaxation aimed at increasing the functional
capacity of the weak muscles.

Acute backache
Acute backache is usually a variation upon this theme. This
is back pain of sudden onset and agonizing severity, which
renders the victim completely immobile and helpless. This
pain can strike at any time, especially in those leading a
sedentary lifestyle characterized by lack of exercise and
overweight, both of which contribute to functional inadequacy
of the back muscles. Acute back pain commonly arises after
a trivial jolt or insignificant movement such as a cough or
sneeze. Agonizing pain accompanies every subsequent back
movement, to such an extent that movement becomes prac­
tically impossible.
This is by no means a rare occurrence, for statistics
suggest that between 50 and 60 percent of the population
will suffer just such an incident sometime in their life.
When one is in this predicament, the first thing to do is
to get into bed as soon as possible. The muscles surrounding
the injured area quickly go into spasm to provide a protective

155
immobilizing splint, preventing all further movement of the
area. By immediately getting into bed the body demands are
reduced and the muscles can safely relax a little.
In the acute situation, severe pain can be effectively
relieved by aspirin. The bed should have a solid wooden
supporting base beneath the mattress.
Application of heat to the affected area by fomentation
or hot water bottle also brings relief. Stiffness can be avoided
by gradually moving the position in bed from time to
time. Alternatively, relief may be gained by applying a cold
compress (ice blocks in a cloth are ideal) and some patients
obtain best relief from alternating hot and cold compresses
every few minutes. Gentle massage several times a day also
facilitates recovery.
Ninety per cent of cases of acute back pain will fully
recover with a week of bed rest, with vast relief after a day
or two. The problem then becomes one of preventing
recurrence and yoga proves of great benefit.

Yoga program to eliminate simple backache

These asana should be practised for 15 to 20 minutes
each morning without fail, followed by 10 to 15 minutes in
shavasana. This program is specifically designed to increase
the functional efficiency of the various muscle groups
responsible for back pain and should be learned under
expert guidance. Reassess the state of your back and general
health after one month.
1. For lower back muscles: ardha shalabhasana, shalabhasana,
ushtrasana, makarasana, bhujangasana.
2. For shoulders and upper back muscles: dwikonasana, sarpa­
sana, bhujangasana, marjari-asana, kandharasana.
3. Relaxation in shavasana or advasana: with visualization of
tight, congested back muscles relaxing, letting go of ten­
sion and flushing the area with fresh blood. Pranic energy
is visualized flowing into the back muscles in conjunction
with the breath.

156
Dietary recommendations
Correction of back pain is facilitated when a light vegetarian
diet is consumed and excess weight is removed. Correction
of chronic constipation often brings spontaneous remission
of back pain. In this respect the optimal diet consists of
whole grains, chapatis or wholemeal bread, pulse, vegetables
(steamed, boiled or salad), fruits, nuts and juices. Avoid
excessive sugar, milk and dairy products, oil, meat and
spices.

157
 Slipped Disc and Sciatica

S lipped disc and sciatica are two painful, closely related

conditions occurring most commonly in the lower
(lumbar) region of the back, usually due to excessive
straining while bending forward.

Anatomy
The human spinal column consists of thirty-three individual
bones, termed vertebrae, stacked one on top of the other
and supported by the thick and powerful spinal muscles.
The spinal discs are cushion-like, fluid-filled pads lying in
between each pair of vertebrae. These discs act as shock
absorbers, preserving the brain, spinal cord and internal
organs from jarring and damage as we walk. They are filled
with a thick jelly-like fluid and are held in position by strong
ligaments attached to the margins of the disc and to the bony
vertebra.

Description of the condition

Slipped disc occurs where excessive strain is brought to bear
upon the lower back region, causing one of these discs to
rupture and tear. As a result the jelly-like disc fluid inside
protrudes outward and may impinge on a nerve root. The
most common sites of this painful and immobilizing injury
are in the lower back at the L4–L5 or the L5–S1 discs. The
injury most commonly occurs while bending forward with

158
the knees straight to shift a weight from the floor or while
shovelling or weeding in the garden. It can also occur simply
when releasing the clutch pedal while driving a car.
This painful and immobilizing injury usually occurs when
a person with weak spinal muscles and ligaments due to a
sedentary lifestyle applies an excessive strain to the back. It
seldom occurs in seasoned labourers or manual workers, but
is frequently seen in sedentary workers who are unused to
regular exercise.
The onset of slipped disc is usually sudden and im­
mediate. Something is felt to ‘go’ or ‘tear’ in the lower back,
followed by a sharp, well localized, low back pain which may
be agoniz­ ing. The sufferer remains incapacitated, either
unable to straighten up again or else unable to bend the
back even slightly, as this gives rise to immediate, severe
pain. He or she is usually brought to bed or for X-ray
examination soon after. Over the next few hours the pain
continues to worsen until it is constant and unremitting.
This occurs as the ligaments and tissues around the injured,
protruding disc become engorged with blood and tissue
fluids. The protective covering of the spinal muscles rapidly
goes into tight spasm to prevent further painful movement
of the area, and the delicate pain fibres supplying the torn
disc and its ligaments become increasingly irritated. The
whole area becomes inflamed, swollen and very tender.
Sciatica refers to a sharp, lightning-like pain which shoots
down the back of the leg. It occurs if the herniating material
from a ruptured lumbar spinal disc impinges on the delicate
nerve roots emerging from the lower three lumbar and first
two sacral segments of the spinal column which converge to
form the sciatica nerve.
The sciatic nerves run down the back of each leg,
supplying the skin and muscles of the back of the thighs,
calves and soles. This is why sciatic pain may be experienced
in the buttocks, thigh or calf, even though the root of the
problem lies in the lower back region. In response to this
pain the muscles of the back of the leg go into tight spasm,

159
especially if the sufferer continues to walk, because each step
stretches and further irritates the injured nerve roots.

Long-term prognosis and complications

Many slipped disc and sciatica sufferers have a long history
of recurring bouts of crippling incapacity stretching back for
many years. The slightest sudden strain, twist or bending
move­ment is often sufficient to initiate the whole injury pro­
cess once again. As a result, they no longer enjoy a full, active
life. They may easily become dependent on analgesic drugs
for pain relief and are forced to frequently take time off from
work or household duties in order to rest in bed.
Usually their employers, colleagues and even family
members are initially sympathetic, but may later come to
regard the problem as a psychological one, being unable to
comprehend a life punctuated by continual incapacitating
bouts of back pain.
Sufferers often develop personality disorders as well,
becoming depressed, niggardly or irritable. They are often
labelled as ‘whiners’ or ‘complainers’ and others avoid their
company. Marital, family and social relationships commonly
deteriorate as the problem continues to recur. Supportive
belts worn beneath the clothing are usually prescribed,
offering some relief from the physical problem but no pros­
pect of cure. This is the unfortunate predicament of many
long-term sufferers.
People who have suffered from a slipped disc for a long
time frequently come to surgery for removal of the trouble­
some disc and permanent fusion of the intervertebral joint.
This procedure, which renders the lower spine permanently
stiff and straight, may nevertheless provide relief to indivi­
duals who have come to a point of physical and emotional
exhaustion and psychic depletion after many years of
suffering. It is an alternative which is far from ideal, but
which often appears to be the only solution available.
Fortunately yoga offers an effective, less painful and far
simp­ler solution to this difficult predicament.

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Initial recovery and management
Slipped disc, with or without accompanying sciatica,
demands immediate immobilization on a hard bed. Absolute
bed rest is necessary while the ruptured disc heals and
inflammation subsides. In the first few days, relief from pain
can be gained by applying alternating hot and cold packs
over the tender, in­flamed area. Aspirin and a muscle relaxant
may also be prescribed.
It is important that the spine be kept immobilized as
far as possible, as total rest is the quickest route to recovery.
No attempt should be made to walk or leave the bed for
any reason. The sufferer should rest in a quiet room with
minimal disturbance until healing is completed. Meals
should be brought to the bed and for toilet purposes a
bedpan should be available. This regime allows healing to
take place in ten to fourteen days. However, occasionally,
months are required for a severe injury. Yoga speeds up
recovery if practised correctly.

Yogic therapy
The basic yogic practices for slipped disc and sciatica are the
backward bending asana which strengthen the posterior liga­
ments and muscles holding the disc in position and promote
the flow of blood into the lower spinal region. Back­ward
bending asana should be practised to capacity, gradually
increasing the time of practice each day in order to restore
spinal stability and regain a full range of back movement. In
this way normal activities can be gradually readopted, while
surgical intervention usually proves unnecessary. Recurrences
are prevented by regular, ongoing practice. We recommend
the following program:
1. Asana: In the acute stage of immobilizing pain, a prone
(face down) posture on a hard bed should be adopted.
Resting in makarasana for extended periods reduces
strain upon the disc and emerging nerve roots, providing
relief of pain and promoting healing. Sleeping in
advasana and jyestikasana is recommended. Matsya

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 kridasana with the affected leg drawn up to the chest to
relieve tension upon the damaged nerve roots will bring
relief. These postures should be adopted for relief of pain
in the acute situation, so that as much total, undisturbed
rest as possible can be gained.
As healing proceeds and pain diminishes, the first asana
to be attempted is the simplified version of bhujangasana,
known as the sphinx asana. Aim to relax all tension in the
lower back. If pain develops, lower yourself into advasana.
Practise this 5 times. Once the sphinx asana has been
mastered, the following asana can be adopted gradually
in this order: ardha shalabhasana, sarpasana, saral
dhanurasana, bhujangasana, shalabhasana, vajrasana,
ushtrasana, meru vakrasana, bhu namanasana. Ultimately
the program should be practised fully each morning.
Each asana should be practised a maximum of 5 times
and should be followed by complete relaxation in
advasana.
Note: Avoid all forward bending asana for at least six
months as these can precipitate a recurrence of the
original condition. After recovery is completed, they may
be reintroduced carefully under guidance, beginning with
shashankasana, marjari-asana, shashank bhujangasana
and the shakti bandha series.
Throughout the recovery period, the cross-legged sitting
postures should be avoided, especially if they cause pain
through increasing tension on the nerve roots in the lower
back region. Pranayama and meditation in vajrasana are
recommended.
2. Relaxation: Each session should conclude with deep
relaxation for 15 or 20 minutes in advasana. Later on,
shavasana can be adopted, and the longer practice of
yoga nidra can be introduced.
3. Ajapa japa: Movement of breath awareness in the spinal
passage from mooladhara chakra in the tail bone up to
ajna chakra at the top of the spinal column is beneficial
and effective in all spinal disorders, particularly slipped

162
 disc and sciatica. It can be practised in any position
with the spine straight. In the beginning, advasana will
be suitable, though shavasana is better and should be
commenced when the supine position can be adopted
comfortably. Ajapa japa can be practised as frequently and
for as long as desired as it speeds healing and brings deep
mental and physical relaxation. As recovery con­tinues, the
practice should continue in vajrasana, and ultimately in
one of the classical cross-legged meditation postures.
4. Dietary recommendations: At the outset a light, semi-
liquid diet should be adopted. Vegetable soup is ideal.
Khichari (pulse boiled together with rice or wheat) is also
recom­mended. This conserves vital energy, redirecting
it towards the important healing process. It will also
prevent constipation which often proves a major problem
for bedridden patients. Constipation invariably worsens
and aggravates painful back injuries and rheumatic
conditions.
As the condition improves, rice, pulses, and vegetables
can be added and also wholemeal bread. Heavy, constipat­
ing foods such as meat, cheese and oily prepara­tions are
contraindicated. Dairy products (eggs, milk, ghee, etc.)
should be avoided as extra protein is not required during
this recovery period.

Prevention
The incidence of both slipped disc and sciatic injuries will be
greatly reduced when those following a sedentary lifestyle,
unused to back exercise or strain, learn to practise a few
yogic asana daily to preserve strength and flexibility of the
spinal muscles, discs and ligaments. Avoiding excessive use
of chairs and back rests which weaken back muscles and
learning to lift a heavy weight from the floor correctly – that
is, from the squatting position with knees bent, so as to
protect the vulnerable lower back from excessive strain and
injury – will also preserve a healthy back.

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Urogenital System
 The Urogenital System

A ccording to yogic physiology, the urogenital system is

   governed by the water element and the pranic energy
by which it operates is derived from the psychic centre
known as swadhisthana chakra. This centre of awareness in
the psychic body can be contacted through concentration
on the sacrum, or tail bone, at the termination of the spinal
column, just above the anus, or on the bony pubic arch, just
above the urethra (urinary outlet) in the front of the body.
In the scheme of human evolution, swadhisthana represents
the stage of expression and fulfilment of subconscious desires
through the medium of the instincts and senses.
Resistant and recurring infection of the urinary and
genital systems, for example, may frequently occur following
a stage of personal evolution when instinctive life devoted
to the passions and their fulfilment has been a ruling and
predominant influence in life. The reverse situation also
predisposes the person to various disorders. There is a
failure to recognize and accept the instinctive side of human
nature, which is instead repressed and denied proper
expression due to deep-seated impressions of fear, guilt
or inadequacy. In either case the balance between manas
shakti and prana shakti, which is responsible for good health
throughout the body, is disrupted in this lower psychic
centre. As a result, the operation of the various physical
organs in this region is also disrupted.

167
 In the urinary tract the organs responsible for the
formation, collection, storage and excretion of urine from
the body are disrupted and the common urinary disorders
manifest themselves. Common urinary disorders include
disturbances of the kidneys, which can become sluggish, or
in an extreme case may stop functioning altogether. This can
result in severe fluid and salt imbalance throughout the body.
Faulty discharge of urine from the bladder, with pooling and
stasis, can also occur enabling infection from outside of the
body to gain a hold in the kidneys.
Infections, inflammations and other diseases are the
visible manifestations of an underlying deficiency, blockage
or disruptions in the flow of pranic and psychic energy
in the pranamaya kosha (pranic body) and manomaya kosha
(mental body) which form the more subtle components of
our individual human personalities.

The urinary tract

The urinary and reproductive systems are closely inter­
connected and cannot really be considered in isolation,
especially in the male body, where they share a common
passageway (urethra) via the penis for both semen and urine.
The urinary tract begins with the kidneys, two fist-sized
organs lying in the loin regions, against the back wall of the
abdominal cavity on either side of the spinal column. Each
kidney is composed of millions of tiny filtering units called
nephrons, which filter the bloodstream, removing excess
salt and water from the body and extracting waste products
of cellular metabolism, including urea, uric acid, ammonia,
oxalic acid and creatinine.
From the nephrons, the urine passes into numerous
collecting ducts within the kidney substance, where it is
concentrated. These ducts collect to­ gether in the inner
medullary region to form the ureters, one of which emerges
from the apex of each kidney. These two ureters pass down
into the pelvis where they enter the bladder, which rests on
the pelvic floor.

168
 The bladder is an expansile muscular bag into which
urine is continually being emptied from above. It has the
capacity to expand automatically as the volume of urine
increases. When the volume reaches a critical level, the brain
receives a sensory nervous impulse and relays this message
into consciousness, so that we become aware of the need to
empty our bladder. In the pranic body, this mechanism is
mediated by the flow of prana in the vajra nadi, which links
the urinary and reproductive systems to the brain.
The act of emptying the bladder is under voluntary
nervous control (expect in extreme cases of bladder overload
due to withholding of the reflex to urinate). Disturbances
of this mechanism can occur when control over release of
urine is partially lost either for psychological or psychogenic
reasons. This is known as the irritable bladder syndrome.

The reproductive tract

In both sexes, the final urinary conducting pathway, which
emerges from the base of the bladder, is known as the
urethra. In the male body the base of the bladder is encircled
by the prostate gland, which secretes a milky fluid. Entering
the gland are two spermatic cords (the vas-deferens), one
from each side, which conduct the testicular fluid containing
active spermatozoa from the testes. Beyond the gland, both
urine and semen are discharged from the body through a
single common urethral pathway through the penis.
In the female there is structural separation between
the urinary and genital tracts. The female urethra passes
directly from the bladder to the outside and is separate from
the vagina. It is much shorter than in the male and this
anatomical difference partially explains why inflammation
of the urinary tract is found to be more frequent and
troublesome in women.

Vajroli mudra
Many disorders of the urogenital systems can be systematically
overcome by the practice of vajroli mudra (for men) or

169
sahajoli (for women). This involves contraction and drawing
up of the whole urogenital apparatus, commencing with
contraction of the muscular walls of the urethra, such as occurs
when the urge to urinate is voluntarily resisted. This technique
must be learned correctly, in conjunction with pra­nay­ama and
bandhas (psychic energy locks).
In kundalini yoga and kriya yoga, vajroli mudra is
gradually mastered, giving the practitioner a high level of
control over instinctive life and enabling him to become
established in a state of consciousness where the instinctive
desires are recognized in their seed forms (vasanas) and their
energy harnessed, liberated and utilized on a higher plane
of experience.

170
 Kidney Stones

K idney stones occur due to metabolic and dietary

  imbalance in the body and reflect disturbances of the
body’s fluid and acid balance. Under different conditions,
various substances precipitate out of the urine and form
sludge, sediment, gravel or large stones. Sediments or even
stones may pass in the urine, accompanied by severe pain
and blood (hematuria).

Types of kidney stones

There are three most common forms of kidney stones:
1. Oxalate stones are likely to occur with persistently con­
centrated urine and some people assume that a diet
including too much oxalic acid enriched foods is necessary
for stone formation. Such foods are spinach, tomatoes,
rhubarb, etc., but this is yet to be scientifically proven.
2. Calcium or phosphate stones are large and staghorn shaped.
They may form rapidly under excessively alkaline con­
ditions, or where there is a disturbance of calcium
meta­bolism. This could occur due to imbalance of the
parathyroid glands, excess of calcium food such as milk,
or where calcium is being mobilized into the circulation
from the bones of the skeleton.
3. Uric acid and urate stones may form due to acidic
conditions, for example, where a diet too rich in protein
sources such as meat, fish and eggs is being consumed.

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Kidney pain
Ureteric colic is an excruciatingly severe form of pain which
arises when a stone of relatively large diameter enters the
narrow ureter and begins its passage down towards the
bladder. This pain radiates from the loin into the groin and
may occur in recurrent bouts of two or three hours, or a
single bout may continue for twenty-four hours or more. It
usually comes on acutely, causing the sufferer to draw up his
knees and roll about in agony. It is frequently accompanied
by vomiting, profuse sweating and a great desire to pass
urine (strangury), though only small amounts are passed.
This is a clear sign that the urinary tract is obstructed.
The acute bout of agonizing renal colic may require a
morphine injection for immediate relief and surgery may be
indicated in chronic cases where the presence of one or more
large stones in the pelvis or the kidney is detected.

Causes of kidney stones

A number of factors combine to lead to kidney stone
formation. They usually occur in the presence of some
metabolic disorder and when the urine remains persistently
highly concentrated. An unsuitable diet containing excessive
meat proteins, acid forming foods such as refined flour
and sugar products, too much tea and coffee, chemically
preserved and treated foods, pungent and sour condiments
and spices helps to precipitate stones. An unhealthy diet
congests and over­loads the liver, and what the liver cannot
effectively detoxify and metabolize is passed on to the
kidneys. There it may cause inflammation or gravel and
stone formation. The kidneys pass as much as possible into
the urine, which is usually foul smelling and highly irritating
to the urinary bladder. The long-term effects of this may
be inflammation, ulceration and tumour formation in the
bladder.
Other factors contributing to kidney stone formation may
include excessive salt or reduced water intake, leading to a
highly concentrated urine and obstruction to urinary out­

172
flow, and chronic urinary tract infection, leading to stagnant
urine. Lack of exercise, especially prolonged im­mobi­liza­tion
in a recumbent position during convalescence or recovery
from injury, is another precipitating cause.

Yogic management of kidney stones

Kidney stone formation can be prevented and old stones and
urinary sediments removed by adopting the following yogic
management program and general recommendations. Those
who have suffered a prior bout of mild or severe renal pain
or have recurring bouts are advised to adopt this program in
order to prevent further recurrences of the con­dition. Large
stones, however, may prove to be a difficult therapeutic
problem and if yoga fails to bring relief, surgery may have
to be considered.
1. Surya namaskara: Up to six rounds.
2. Asana: Trikonasana, vajrasana, marjari-asana, vyaghra­
sana, supta vajrasana, ushtrasana, shashank bhujangasana,
shalabhasana, ardha matsyendrasana, naukasana, ardha
padma paschimottanasana, ardha padma halasana,
chakrasana, merudandasana, hamsasana, mayurasana,
koormasana, dwi pada sirasana, tadasana, tiryaka tadasana,
kati chakrasana, udarakarshanasana.
3. Pranayama: Bhastrika with bandhas.
4. Mudra and bandha: Pashinee mudra and yoga mudra,
moola bandha, vajroli mudra, uddiyana bandha.
5. Shatkarma: Agnisar kriya or nauli practised daily. Shan­
khaprakshalana in an ashram environment. Laghoo
shankhaprakshalana once a week.
6. Relaxation: Yoga nidra and abdominal breath awareness.
7. Meditation: Ajapa japa, nada yoga.
8. Diet: A fresh wholesome natural diet is recommended.
Fruit, juices and lightly cooked succulent vegetables are
recommended to alkalinize the urine. Avoid or reduce
the intake of meat, eggs, fish and milk products as they
produce uric acids wastes in high concentration. Avoid
acid forming foods and highly refined flour and sugar

173
 products such as cakes, sweets, biscuits, etc. Restrict the
intake of tomatoes and spinach, which are high in oxalic
acid. Decrease the intake of salt. Try to drink at least four
litres of water per day, especially in the summer months.
It is claimed that pears can dissolve kidney stones if up to
a dozen are consumed per day.
9. Fasting: In conjunction with increased water intake fasting
is highly recommended in order to flush, cleanse and
purify a sluggish urinary system.

Further recommendations
• A short walk each day is recommended, particularly after
the evening meal.
• Try to get some outdoor exercise at least once or twice a
week.
• Parsley tea is said to be very beneficial. Take a small
glassful every three hours.

174
 Prolapse

P rolapse is a common problem for women and men

throughout the world, but few people are aware of the
alternatives available to help correct it. Apart from surgical
intervention there are various yogic techniques which are
designed to reintegrate the pelvic structures and which often
prove to be more beneficial in the long term than surgical
interven­tion.
Quite simply, ‘prolapse’ is a term to describe the falling
out of place of an internal organ or body part, and is used
mainly for prolapse of pelvic organs. The rectum may
collapse into or even beyond the external anal sphincter,
causing lower back pain on defecation and irritation with
some pain in the anal area. The uterus may drop from its
original position into the vagina, or in severe cases, protrude
externally. This is not painful as a rule, and only a dull ache
in the lower back is experienced. This condition is associated
with frequency or inability to control the flow of urine so it
may be passed when you laugh or cough.
Sometimes organs move from their original position and
impinge on other parts in the pelvic cavity. Normally the uterus
is anteverted, facing forward, but it may turn backward and
lie against the rectum in which case it has retroverted. This
may be a congenital condition (something which one is born
with) or it may develop later from strenuous lifting, etc. If a
retroverted uterus impinges on the rectum, it produces the

175
symptoms of constipation and an uncomfortable sensation
when seated. In pregnancy it can lead to miscarriage.
The condition of cystocoele occurs when the bladder
protrudes into the front wall of the vagina. Rectocoele is the
protruding of the rectum into the back wall of the vagina.
The symptom presented in rectocoele is constipation. In
cystocoele it is frequent urination. Because the bladder can
never be fully emptied, urine retention (known as stasis) also
occurs giving rise to recurring bladder infections.

Causative factors
Though there is not a lot of pain associated with these con­
ditions, continual discomfort is experienced which tends to
make you very concerned about yourself. An understanding
of your inner framework and what brings about these
conditions is helpful in alleviating anxiety and enables you
to confront the problem with common sense.
The pelvic contents collapse because weakened ligaments
and muscles fail to hold the organs in their correct position.
The ligaments are fibrous structures and resemble strong
ropes. These are attached to the bony pelvic wall and form a
network in the pelvic floor offering their support to organs
and anchoring them in position.
The very central point of this ligamentous and muscular
framework is the perineal body, a fibromuscular node lying
approximately two inches (five cms) inside the body above
the perineum (the area between the anus and vagina). From
this node, eight important muscles and their ligaments
arise, plus connecting fibres to the rectal and anal canal. If
this becomes damaged, the function of the whole support­
ing system is affected, and the organs drop out of place.
Gravity pulls and draws the organs downward and because
of weaken­ed impaired support they are unable to resist its
force.
Weakening of ligaments and muscles occur during preg­
nancy and labour or may occur due to straining caused by
constipation or frequent bouts of diarrhoea. At the time of

176
childbirth the downward energies maximize and a tremen­
dous amount of stress and strain is brought to bear upon the
floor of the pelvis. This is also true in cases of diarrhoea or
constipation. So these muscles need to be strong to facilitate
the tremendous strain that is brought to bear on them
during these periods.

The root cause

In kundalini yoga it is taught that the seat or source of the
body’s life force or energy lies in mooladhara chakra, the
root or support centre whose physical counterpart is the
same perineal body as previously discussed.
This node is considered to be the trigger point for
the life force or shakti which is not only the fuel for our
physical body, emotions and feelings, but also for our
spiritual aspirations. The pelvic area which centres around
the perineal body is very sensitive to emotional upsets
and conflicts which block or deplete us of energy, creative
potential and physical health and vitality.
It is extremely important to keep the perineal area strong
and active. You can begin to strengthen and rejuvenate
it through specific yoga practices which will help you to
integrate and balance the energies responsible for physical,
emotional, mental and spiritual well-being, so that you again
become a healthy, happy and whole person.

Yogic treatment
If you suffer from prolapse or its complications, here is a
specific yogic treatment for these conditions. With regular
practice of these asanas, mudras and bandhas you will find
that your condition becomes more manageable and may
even fully correct itself, but do not expect immediate or
miraculous results.
In the yogic treatment of prolapse, progress is generally
slow, especially if the structural damage is severe and
a ligament has been badly torn. Even if surgery proves
necessary, the yogic practices will help one to prepare for

177
surgery and afterwards help convalescence and prevent
recurrence. When the structural damage is less severe and
the ligament is only stretched or slightly torn, you will find
yogic therapy most beneficial. During the course of your
practice you will also discover that emotional instability,
lethargy and depression become problems of the past, and
you will enjoy a more energetic and fulfilled life.
1. Asana: Pawanmuktasana part 2 and especially naukasana,
vajrasana, shashankasana, marjari-asana, bhujangasana,
shalabhasana, vipareeta karani mudra or sarvangasana,
paschimottanasana and kandharasana.
2. Pranayama: Nadi shodhana, bhastrika and ujjayi.
3. Mudra and bandha: You may practise all of them or
choose the one which is most relevant to your specific
conditions: ashwini mudra, vajroli mudra, moola bandha
and uddiyana bandha.

Further recommendations
• Throughout the day sit in utthanpadasana, with both
legs stretched out straight in front of you, in preference
to other sitting postures. This position pulls the pelvic
organs upward.
• Avoid sitting in the squatting position as it strains
the pelvic muscles and pushes the organs downward.
Excessive use of the squatting position over a long period
of time may bring on prolapse in ladies who are weak in
the pelvic area.

178
 Urinary Tract
Problems in Women
Urinary tract infections
Urinary tract infections are classified distinctly according to
the exact focus of inflammation and infection. Inflammation
of the urethral passage which empties urine from the bladder
is termed urethritis; inflammation of the bladder is cystitis; and
infection of the kidneys, ascending from the lower urinary
tract is pyelonephritis. In general, the higher the inflammation
lies in the urinary tract, the greater is the pranic depletion,
and the more deep-seated the infection, the greater the
damage and physiological disturbance to the body as a
whole.

Bladder infection
Inflammation of the bladder frequently occurs in association
with excessive acidity. This can be caused by a diet which is
too rich in starch and sugar or by certain forms of mental ten­
sion. People who suffer from gout, rheumatism, piles, diabetes
and extreme nervousness often develop this prob­lem. One of
the immediate causes of bladder infection may be exposure to
cold after perspiring, or it could be caused by injury or a fall,
or as a consequence of an infectious disease. Sexual life can
also initiate or aggravate urinary tract infections.
Symptoms of bladder infection include burning pain in
the region of the bladder, frequent urination and a desire
to pass urine even when the bladder is empty. The urine is

179
often cloudy and acidic, may contain pus or blood, and in
many cases constipation is also present.

Kidney infection
Those who harbour long-term resilient bladder infections,
or who have proved susceptible to them in the past, risk
seriously damaging their kidneys. Pyelonephritis, kidney in­
fection, may result if the inflammatory process continues to
ascend from the bladder up the ureters to gain a seat in the
kidneys. This destructive process which affects the whole body
occurs when pranic depletion is marked, thereby lowering
resistance. Disturbances of the body’s excretion mech­­an­isms
and salt and fluid imbalance result in serious illness.
Long-standing inflammation of the kidneys, as well as
many other causes, such as obstruction of urinary outflow
and the resultant back pressure, can produce severe and
irreversible damage. The end result is the state of chronic
renal failure, where the blood can no longer be purified of its
waste products, and the whole body becomes poisoned by
the build-up of its own metabolic, toxic by-products. Death is
the usual and inevitable result due to auto-intoxication of the
body in its own wastes, unless life can be prolonged either
with the aid of an artificial kidney machine, which filters
the patient’s blood in the process known as ‘dialysis’, or by
kidney transplant. These are end-stage procedures which are
better avoided if at all possible.

The role of antibiotics

Antibiotic therapy is an effective means of temporarily
reducing the troublesome symptoms of urinary tract
infection. However, antibiotics usually fail to provide a
permanent cure, and flare-ups in the condition occur
frequently or sporadically so long as the underlying pranic
deficiency remains uncorrected. In fact, repeated courses of
antibiotics will further weaken the system in the long run.
For this reason we recommend that antibiotics be used if
necessary to initially combat the symptoms, but treatment

180
should not stop there. A more extensive program of yogic
practices which systematically restores the underlying
depletion of pranic energy should then be undertaken. In
this way, the most resistant and tenacious infections can be
overcome, es­pecially when yoga and antibiotics are combined,
and further infections avoided by regular yoga practice alone.

Urinary disturbances in pregnancy

The pregnant woman must maintain a high degree of
health if she and her baby are not to suffer from disease.
In pregnancy she is predisposed to a number of major
problems, and the life of her baby and herself can be
seriously threaten­ed. In terms of the urinary tract, urinary
stasis, ascen­d­ing infections, kidney disturbance and water
and fluid imbalance throughout the body occur more easily
when the rapidly growing uterus compresses the bladder,
causing urinary emptying to be further compromised.
Pre-eclampsia (toxaemia of pregnancy) is a dangerous and
potentially fatal disturbance of salt and water metabolism in
the final months of pregnancy. The mother’s blood pressure
rises rapidly and this is the most frequent cause of sudden
maternal and foetal death or miscarriage. Its management
remains one of the most difficult therapeutic problems
confronting obstetricians. The defect underlying eclampsia
is a latent weakness in the mother’s urinary system which is
unmasked by the added stresses and demands imposed upon
her metabolism by the pregnancy. Such disasters can usually
be avoided by practising yoga under guidance during early
pregnancy.

Stress incontinence
The involuntary leakage of urine from the bladder, incon­
tinence, may prove to be a problem for many women,
especially after multiple childbirths when the body has not
been restored and strengthened correctly, and also in old
age. In the process of delivery, the bladder and urethra are
under stress and are stretched severely.

181
 As a result, some degree of urinary continence is lost,
which may not be fully regained in the months after childbirth
when the pelvic organs remain slack and stretched. Urine
is commonly lost while sneezing or coughing, or when the
patient is unduly anxious. This is known as stress inconti­nence.
Women who practise yogasanas after giving birth
easily regain urinary control and pelvic function, far more
effectively than women who make no conscious effort to
promote healing and tightening of the displaced organs.
They are also found to preserve more shapely figures, and
the ravages caused by childbirth can be largely avoided.
However, women who are anxious to take up a yoga
program to restore their pelvic organs and preserve their
overall figure after childbirth are advised to avoid all asanas
in the immediate post-delivery period, unless under expert
guidance. This restriction should continue for forty days
after delivery, so as to ensure that initial healing is complete
and to minimize the risk of bleeding after delivery (post
partum haemorrhage). Gentle pranayama and meditation
can, of course, continue immediately after delivery.

Yogic management of female urinary tract disorders

Yogic management of urinary tract disorders aims to restore
depleted energy in the urinary and reproductive systems.
When this underlying deficiency is corrected, infec­tions can
no longer gain a foothold in the urinary passage, and the
level of resistance and health of the whole body is bolstered.
1. Surya namaskara: Start with one round and gradually build
up the number to twelve rounds each morning at sunrise.
2. Asana: Shakti bandhas, ardha padma paschimot­tanasana,
shashank bhujangasana, bhujangasana, dhanurasana, dwi
pada kandharasana, chakrasana, vyaghras­ana, sarvangas­
ana, halasana, ardha padma halasana, ushtrasana, ardha
matsyendrasana, vatayanas­ana, siddha yoni asana.
3. Pranayama: Nadi shodhana and bhastrika in combination
with internal kumbhaka, moola bandha and jalandhara
bandha, and external kumbhaka with uddiyana bandha.

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 Practise from one to five rounds. Up to ten rounds of
surya bheda should also be practised daily.
4. Mudra and bandha: Vipareeta karani mudra and pashinee
mudra. Sahajoli and moola bandha, up to thirty times
daily. Maha mudra and maha bheda mudra, three times
each at first. Later the number of rounds can be increased.
5. Shatkarma: Neti and kunjal daily. Shankhaprakshalana
should be done before commencing the yogic program,
preferably in an ashram environment, then laghoo shan­
khaprakshalana can be performed once a week.
6. Relaxation: Yoga nidra, each afternoon and/or at night,
just before sleep.
7. Amaroli: So that the urine will be bland and non-irritating,
three to four litres of water should be taken daily.
8. Diet: A light, low protein diet, free of meat and all
irritating and stimulating foods is highly recommended.
Refined foods, sweets, and spices should be avoided.
Alcohol and tobacco should not be taken, and in place of
tea or coffee a small cupful of barley water or parsley or
other herbal teas should be taken three times a day.
9. Fasting: One day per week, or missing the evening meal
every few days, provides energy required to throw off
tenacious infections. A longer fast will cleanse the whole
system, and if it is followed by a fruit diet, this will speed
up the healing process. Fruits are rich in alkaline salts and
help to overcome acidity.

Further recommendations
• Those with a tendency towards bladder disturbance or a
history of urinary inflammation are advised to drink plenty
of water to continually irrigate the urinary passages.
• It is also recommended that they urinate soon after the
sexual act, when introduction of contaminating agents
into an already weakened system is most likely to occur.
• Fortunately, yoga provides a means of arresting the
process of degenera­tion before end-stage renal failure
develops and life is threatened.

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 Menstrual Disorders

T he female reproductive system is more complex than

its male counterpart and therefore it is not surprising
that it is subject to more frequent disturbances. Unlike the
male reproductive system, where the major reproductive
organs and glands are visible externally, the major organs
and glands of the female system lie inside the pelvic cavity
and are not visible, except for the breasts and vestibule or
outer entrance to the vagina.
Disturbances of the menstrual and reproductive functions
are extremely common and are a source of continual
suffering for many women throughout their lives. In many
countries the topic of reproductive function is traditionally
veiled in secrecy and, as a result, many women do not fully
understand the natural processes and cycles occurring in
their bodies, or are misled by superstitions and false or
inaccurate informa­tion. Many are too shy or ashamed to
seek guidance and assistance when troublesome irregularities
of function occur, while many others accept their problems
philosophically or are not even aware that a disturbance is
present and that a healthier state is possible.

Specific menstrual disorders

Amenorrhea or the absence of menstrual periods is normal
in children and women after menopause, as well as during
pregnancy. Menstruation also remains suspended for a

184
variable time in women who are breast feeding their baby.
Stress and worry, fear and anxiety, change of environment
and diet can also be implicated. Hormonal deficiency and
certain tumours must be ruled out by medical examination
before yogic therapy is embarked upon.
There are two basic types of amenorrhoea:
1. Primary amenorrhoea: When a young girl does not men­
struate, it is usually caused by poor diet and lack of fresh
air, sunshine and proper exercise. Constipation and other
symptoms of tension may also be present. When these
causes are removed, menses usually appear. If the girl
still has not begun to menstruate by the age of sixteen
and a gynaecological and medical examination reveals no
abnormality, there should be no cause for alarm. Some­
times absence or delayed onset of men­struation occurs in
gifted or spiritually minded children, when there is strong
pineal control over the pituitary gland. Artificial hormonal
manipulation to induce ovula­tion and menstruation should
be avoided unless it is proven that the child lacks the
necessary hormones for full secondary sexual growth.
2. Secondary amenorrhoea: If menstruation ceases for a few
months with no underlying organic reason, the recom­
mended yoga program usually restores normal function.
Dysmenorrhoea and menorrhagia are the medical terms for
problems of painful, irregular or excessively heavy menstrua­
tion. The underlying emotional and hormonal imbalance is
readily rectified by a simple and regular yogic practice.

Disordered menstruation
Menstrual difficulty (dysmenorrhea) spawns as much wretch­
ed­ness as the common cold and medical insight into this
problem is equally limited. However, one researcher in
this field, Dr Katherina Dalton (USA), has established that
‘woman’s pain’ is not one, but two distinct problems.
Spasmodic dysmenorrhoea is characterized by cramps and
acute pain in the lower abdomen with perhaps nausea
or shakiness at the beginning of the period. It generally

185
appears in women under twenty-five and usually clears up
when the first child is born.
Congestive dysmenorrhoea is associated with the terrible
tension that doctors call the ‘pre-menstrual syndrome’. A
heavy, dull aching in the abdomen and lower back may
begin up to three or four days before the bleeding itself.
Some women notice swelling and tenderness in the breasts,
swollen abdomen or a generally bloated feeling. Greater
fluid retention may be reflected in a temporary weight
increase of up to three kilos, and there may be some nausea.
Headaches, general stiffness and constipation are common.
The worst aspects are the irritability, depression and lethargy
that make this time of the month so emotionally debilitating.
Both the physical and psychic congestion lessen in intensity
when bleeding begins and are relieved when blood flow is
most profuse. This kind of menstrual problem is common to
women of all ages from puberty to menopause and seems to
get worse with every pregnancy.
Although medical science has not been able to detect
beyond doubt the cause of this pain, Dr Dalton’s evidence
and that of Drs Carey and Pinkerton in Australia, indicate
that both spasmodic and congestive dysmenorrhea are due
to hormone imbalance. With spasmodic pain there is too
much progesterone in the body, while congestive problems
are due to an excess of oestrogen. Another researcher, Dr
Elizabeth Connel, suggests that uterine cramps could be
due to high levels of prostaglandin. This is a hormone-like
substance produced by the lining of the uterus in great
quantities just before it is shed. Lack of progesterone (i.e. too
much oestrogen) also causes the body cells to retain sodium
and lose potassium. This has severe consequences, for the
transmission of impulses throughout the nervous system
and brain depends on the correct sodium/potassium ratio. It
seems then that hormonal imbalance is also the physiological
root of emotional vulnerability during menses.
The symptoms of altering hormonal levels in the blood
and the mental and emotional reactions to them build up

186
to a crescendo in the days and hours preceding the onset
of menstruation. Their severity varies from individual to
individual depending on the state of her health and the
ability to accept and flow with the cyclical, hormonally
induced changes. A high level of pain and discomfort
associated with the menstrual cycle often reflects a high level
of physical and nervous tension in the body, and mental
and emotional opposition to the process. This is why some
women who are habitually tense and on edge tend to have
difficulty with their menstrual cycles, while those who accept
the process with calmness and poise, whose bodies are not
run down or pranically depleted and whose nervous systems
are relaxed, have no abnormal symptoms.
Doctors usually treat menstrual difficulties with pain
relievers and hormonal supplements (birth control pills) and
a certain percentage of women on oral contraceptives find
their periods easier and the flow lighter. However, the pill is,
at best, a risky business, most recently being linked to uterine
cancers, and an increasing number of women prefer not to
use it. Yoga, on the other hand, offers natural and effective
methods without toxic side effects that extend far beyond
the physical. It develops our awareness of men­struation as
a useful part of our lives, rather than a curse, and offers the
techniques to tame the hormonal cycle and use it for our
spiritual evolution.

A period of heightened awareness

The monthly hormonal cycle of menstruation serves as a
constant backdrop for the mental and emotional life of
every woman, as well as being an important factor in her
overall state of health. From the spiritual point of view, the
days around the menstrual period are very powerful and
auspicious for a woman to practise meditation and japa
yoga. The period commencing three days before the onset
and continuing for five days of menstrual bleeding and the
first five days of the new cycle is a time when a woman gains
a heightened level of awareness naturally, by virtue of the

187
altering hormonal balance. This is a time when her natural
insight and intuition become very prominent, and it is a
most powerful time for psychic awakening.
During this period sense perceptions, psychic receptivity
and intuition spontaneously sharpen; for example, a woman
may become very much more aware of smells, sounds,
textures and tastes. She may feel unusual repulsions or
attractions which really reflect her altered state of awareness.
Many women become frightened because of unusual
perceptions and experiences and may mistake them for
hallucinations or symptoms of sickness because they fail to
understand what is actually happening. Much of the pain
and suffering of menstruation is due to fear and tension.
When yoga is used to rebalance the disordered muscular
and hormonal imbalances which distort menstruation, and
fears and tensions are relaxed, the process will be seen in
a different light – as a blessing in disguise. It is a period in
which access to a higher level of awareness is temporarily
available and this should be met with confidence. Yoga and
meditation are the means of transforming the menstrual
period from a troublesome and unhappy experience into a
natural doorway to the spiritual dimension of existence.
Any woman who is taking hormonal preparations to
normalize her menstruation, or is facing hysterectomy, the
surgical removal of the uterus, to relieve such symptoms, is
advised to adopt the recommended daily yoga program for
some months. By reducing tension and directing prana to
the reproductive organs, restoration of proper functioning
follows. Women who practise yoga regularly have found that
period pain is eased almost immediately and completely
eliminated within a few months. They are generally more
relaxed and overall health and vitality are much increased.

Yogic management of menstrual disorders

Many women ask if it is safe to perform asanas during their
periods. It is essential not to strain at any time, but apart
from this usual precaution there is absolutely no reason

188
to abandon your practices. One reporter comments: “A
majority of doctors now believe that not only can women
participate in any strenuous activity at any time, but that they
actually benefit from it. A 1965 study comparing 65 women
swimmers with 138 non-athletic students revealed that the
swimmers had far less menstrual difficulty.”
Sirshasana (headstand) and sarvangasana (shoulderstand)
are not advised during menstruation, especially when it is
disturbed. Vajrasana, shashankasana, marjari-asana, vya­
ghras­ana and abdominal breathing in shavasana help to
relieve cramp. Congestive period pain is relieved when the
menstrual flow is at its peak and this flow is quickened by
contractions of the uterus such as those in orgasm. This
suggests that moola bandha could be particularly beneficial,
although you must discontinue this practice at the very first
suggestion of faintness or other unpleasant effects. Moola
bandha should also be avoided in primary amenorrhoea,
unless under expert medical and yogic guidance.
The following program should be followed throughout
the monthly cycle. Unless there is profuse bleeding or
debilitating pain, the practices can even be done during the
menstrual cycle.
1. Surya namaskara: This will increase the pranic energy
and balance nervous and endocrine functions. According
to capacity, gradually build up to twelve rounds over a
period of weeks or months.
2. Asana: The shakti bandha series is most effective in
releasing blockages of energy in the pelvic region. Then
siddha yoni asana, ushtrasana, marjari-asana, vyaghrasana,
shashan­ kas­ana, supta vajrasana, vajrasana, shashank
bhujangasana, bhujangasana, shalabhasana, dhanurasana,
sarvangasana, halasana, kandharasana, chakrasana,
grivasana (particularly for late puberty and leucorrhoea),
paschimottanasana, matsyasana, ardha matsyendrasana,
utthanasana, pada hastasana, hanu­manasana, sirshasana,
tadasana. Inverted asanas are particularly recommended
as they promote drainage of the reproductive organs and

189
 enhance pituitary blood flow. They should be avoided only
on days of heavy menstrual flow.
3. Pranayama: Nadi shodhana, ujjayi and bhramari are
effective, especially in cases of headache, migraine and
mental tension in general. Pranayama removes psychic
tensions and mental irritability. In cases of cervicitis and
prolapse, nadi shodhana stage 3, with moola and jaland­
hara bandhas, proves most effective. Bhastrika enhances
vitality and eliminates toxins and is recom­ mended in
cases of amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea.
4. Mudra and bandha: Vipareeta karani mudra, pashinee
mudra and yoga mudra. Ashwini mudra, moola bandha
and sahajoli generate vital energy in the reproductive
organs. They will also stimulate the pelvic nerves
and tone the sexual and eliminative organs. Maha
mudra and maha bheda mudra are particularly recom­
mended to alleviate premenstrual tension as they
regulate the distribu­tion of prana shakti in the body
and induce physical, mental and emotional tranquillity.
Those women who suffer from prolapse of the uterus
should practise moola bandha and ashwini mudra in
conjunction with the in­verted asanas.
5. Shatkarma: Neti should be practised daily, and kunjal and
laghoo shankhaprakshalana twice a week, as required.
Remember, constipation greatly worsens pelvic con­
gestion, pain and cramp and should be corrected as an
important initial step in relieving menstrual disorders and
leucorrhoea.
6. Relaxation: Yoga nidra is most important, especially in
the days of mounting premenstrual tension prior to the
onset of the menstrual period. It relieves mental tension,
moodi­ ness, depression and heaviness. If there is not
enough time for the full practice of yoga nidra, relaxation
in shavasana and concentration on abdominal breathing
should be practised.
7. Meditation: Japa, ajapa japa, antar mouna, nada yoga or
chidakasha dharana.

190
8. Diet: A wholesome vegetarian diet is the best for most
modern women. Meat especially is found to increase
menstrual pain, volume and duration. Fasting or taking
a very light diet, free from spices, oils, meat and milk
is particularly recommended in the days immediately
preceding the period. Many women report that dietary
changes alone have reduced the pain and heavy flow of
their menstruation by more then fifty percent.

Further recommendations
• Plenty of fresh air and exercise balanced by adequate rest
and relaxation is important in stabilizing and rebalancing
the menstrual flow.
• A light, pure vegetarian diet emphasizing fruit, grains,
lightly cooked or raw vegetables and iron enriched food
should be taken prior to and during the menstrual flow.
An alternative is to take only fruit for one day before
menstruation and one or two days into the period. Avoid
meat, coffee, stimulants, processed and artificial foods.
• The body and feet should be kept warm and not exposed
to cold weather. Application of heat to the pelvic region
relieves pain.

191
 Leucorrhoea and
Vaginal Infections

T he specifically feminine problem of leucorrhoea or

excessive vaginal discharge is one which been neglected
for far too long. From sheer lack of information and a sense
of secrecy, many women become worried, ashamed and afraid
of this essentially simple and manageable disorder. The same
applies to many simple and easily treated infections. The
underlying imbalance which causes leucor­rhoea and chemical
changes also allows infections to arise. Leucorrhea and
infection can be seen as progressively worsening im­balances
and loss of vitality in the lower pelvic region.

Natural vaginal secretions

Many women think they have leucorrhea when in fact
they do not. It must be understood that a certain amount
of vaginal secretion is normal and healthy. The walls of
the vagina contain tiny glands whose specific function is
con­tinually to produce a cleansing and lubricating film of
moisture. This secretion acts as protection for the sensitive
tissues of the vagina, preventing them from drying, helping
to wash out undesirable microbes. The vagina, like the eye, is
self-cleansing. Just as the eye is bathed with moisture at every
blink, so too is the vagina kept fresh by the constant flow of
internal secretion.
Healthy vaginal discharge is usually transparent or slightly
milky and may be a little slippery. However, the texture varies

192
with the phases of the menstrual cycle. Sometimes it is thin
and watery, at other times it is very white, and quite thick and
sticky like jelly. The amount of secretion also varies from time
to time and from woman to woman. It may become noticeable
even in young girls several years before puberty. If the vagina
is healthy, there is no smell and no irritation or redness of the
vagina and surrounding area.

Leucorrhoea
Between the two poles of normal protective secretion and
vaginal infection, lies a non-infectious, painless but excessive
discharge called leucorrhoea. Leucorrhoea is normal vaginal
secre­tion, only much more copious. It varies from woman to
woman and what is normal for one person may be excessive
for another.
While regular secretion may leave white or yellowish spots
on your underwear, it usually dries quickly and does not
cause discomfort. However, if your clothes are marked, if you
feel constantly wet or have to change your underwear several
times a day, then there is no doubt the discharge is excessive.
Some women find it so heavy that they must wear sanitary
napkins even between their periods. You might experience
pain in the back, chafing of the thighs, or a ‘full’ feeling in
the abdomen. These are similar to the early indicators of
infection, but are less severe. Moreover, infection usually
causes more frequent urination and leucorrhea makes it less.
Leucorrhea is an abnormally profuse discharge, but a clean
one and does not cause any itching or inflammation of the
vagina or surrounding area.

Predisposing factors
Leucorrhea can be the first sign of cervical erosion (sores
develop­ing on the opening to the womb). This is usually
seen in middle-aged women and it is estimated that about
95 percent of women develop such sores at some time during
childbearing years, so it is well worth medical investigation.
Generally doctors conduct a full pelvic examina­tion and take

193
a pap smear as the condition could be premalignant, that is,
it may, though rarely, develop into cancer.
Most often though, leucorrhoea is just one signal from
our bodies that we are generally run down and our resistance
is low, due to lack of sleep, bad diet or nervous tension.
Women who have diabetes or TB are particularly susceptible.
The next most common cause of excessive discharge is
hormonal imbalance. Women using birth control pills or
IUDs (loop, copper, etc.) are especially prone. It may also
become a problem just before or after menstruation, during
pregnancy or menopause, because of the natural alteration
of hormonal level at these times.
Diet is an important factor in leucorrhoea. Excess
mucus from too much milk, white flour and polished rice is
expelled in the form of bodily discharges, including those
from the vagina. Highly spiced and fatty food, and large
quantities of sugar also contribute to this problem. Diets
high in processed sugar and refined carbohydrates also
create ideal conditions for vaginal infections because they
change the acidity level of the vagina and allow harmful
bacteria to proliferate. Numerous women have reported that
simply adjusting their diet has drastically reduced vaginal
discharge. Leucorrhoea very often occurs in conjunction
with constipation which is well-known to result not only from
faulty diet but also from stress and tension.
Emotional factors are often unconscious and many women
find it hard to admit to suppressing their feelings and their
negative attitudes about their physical selves. This is particu­
larly true in connection with the reproductive organs, which
are still frequently considered unmentionable. Such uncon­
scious doubts may be then expressed as leucorrhoea, the
excess discharge being a symbolic attempt to purify ourselves.

Infectious diseases
Heavy vaginal secretion is a sign of imbalance and this
creates an excessively moist condition that is ideal for the
develop­ment of certain vaginal infections. The normal

194
friendly bacteria that keep the vaginal environment
healthy may be displaced when the natural balance is
disrupted, allowing infections to develop. At the same
time the female repro­ductive organs are very vulnerable to
ascending infections because they lie closely exposed to the
outside environment and are easily contaminated. Vulvitis
(inflammation of the outer genital region), vaginitis (of
vagina), cervitcitis (of cervix), endometritis (of uterine lining)
and salpingitis (of the fallopian tubes) can smoulder on for
months or years and may result in irreversible sterility.
In the case of infection, there is usually not only
abnormal discharge, but also mild or severe itching, burning
of the area around the vagina (vulva), irritation of the vagina
itself and, occasionally, more frequent urination. The first
signs of infection are lower back pain, cramps and swelling
of the glands in the thighs and abdomen.
The main index of infection is the nature of the discharge
itself. Irregular discharge is referred to as ‘non-specific
vaginitis’. The discharge may be white, yellow or streaked
with blood. In some cases the walls of the vagina can be
puffy with fluid or covered with a thick coat of pus. In certain
infections, discharge may not be a problem.
Sexual activity is a common means of transmission of
both urinary and reproductive tract infections from one in­
dividual to another. Excessive or unsatisfactory sexual activity
is usually based in mental and emotional tension, boredom
and frustration. It is self-centred, in that one partner
seeks pleasure without thinking of the other’s needs and
wants. This depletes energy from the lower psychic centres,
rendering both the genital and urinary tracts susceptible to
infection via sexual transfer.
Venereal diseases such as gonorrhoea and syphilis are
spread only by sexual contact and are also manifestations
of this process. For this reason they cannot really be classed
separately and distinctly from other infections of the urinary
and reproductive tracts, which may or may not have been
initiated by sexual interaction. These venereal diseases

195
are really in a separate category of yogic therapy which
should not be confused with the treatment of other more
common and less severe forms of infection. They are highly
contagious diseases and will require a combination of both
medical and yogic treatment; medical treatment always
comes first in these cases.
The two most common sources of infection are monilia
and trichomonas, both of which are normally present in the
healthy body. With monilia or yeast infections, the discharge
is thick and white and may look like cottage cheese or curd.
It has a smell like baking bread and this negative association
can make a woman feel sick at the mere smell of food.
Monilia infections are also very itchy and irritate the whole
vagina and vulva.
Trichomonas is present in the bodies of both men
and women, and about fifty percent of women have this
organism in their vaginas, but often without any discomfort.
When the trichomonas population grows too large, it gives
a thick foamy discharge that is yellowish-green or grey and
is identified by an extremely unpleasant odour. It most
often flares up after intercourse because of the irritation
of the vagina, but it can also be passed on by wet towels,
underwear or dirty toilet seats. When one sexual partner is
found to have trichomonas infection, the other partner will
also probably be a carrier, if not actually infected, and both
require treatment.
Monilia and trichomonas infections are extremely com­
mon. It is a rare woman who does not pick up such an
infection at least once in her lifetime. These disorders are in
no way to be classed with such virulent diseases as syphilis
or gonorrhoea, and there is absolutely no cause for shame
or humiliation. The secrecy and superstition surrounding
female sexuality has been known to prevent women from
seeking help in the case of infection, and the effects have
been disastrous. If treated early, vaginal disorders are a minor
nuisance; if neglected, they become difficult to cure, lead to
more complicated illnesses and can cause organic damage

196
to the point of infertility. If ignored during pregnancy, the
baby is also affected. Competent medical help backed up
with preventive yogic practices will ensure relief and rapid
recovery.
The fundamental rule in healing and regenerating any
weakened system is to provide the optimal conditions for
rest. Temporary abstention from sexual life is thus an im­
portant step in the yogic management of infections of the
reproductive system, for it removes the constant stimulation
and irritation which aggravate inflammatory disease. As
physio­logical rest is given, coupled with a daily yoga practice
program, both physical and mental relaxation occur and
sym­ptoms of pain, discomfort and inflammation diminish
as healing is initiated. Once a certain degree of health is
attained, sexual activity can be resumed and is usually found
to be both healthier and more satisfying.

Holistic management of recurrent vaginal infections

One of the most common and irritating vaginal infections
is caused by yeast, candida albicans, causing a condition
commonly known as thrush. Antifungal creams can easily
treat occasional episodes, but if the problem keeps on
recurring, it suggests an underlying disturbance of the
immune system and a high probability that there is a source
of the fungus in the gut, which keeps reinfecting the vagina.
A systematic assessment and management of nutritional
adequacy and digestive function will go a long way to help
remove this bug and at the same time support healthy
immune function and improve resilience to future infections.

Restoring the balance

The most common cause of leucorrhoea and infections are
generally low vitality and hormonal imbalance. For women
the two are so intimately linked that they can be seen as simply
two different ways of stating the same problem. Since this is
the case, yogic practices can have decided benefits in relieving
persistently excessive discharge. In the case of infections the

197
following practices should be incorporated with medical
treatment, so that while medicines remove the symptoms,
yoga removes the imbalance at the root of the disease.
1. Asana: Surya namaskara, vajrasana, shashan­ kasana,
marjari-asana, ushtrasana and shakti bandha series.
Sarvangasana, vipareeta karani mudra, bhujangasana,
shalabhasana, dhanurasana, chakrasana and paschimot­
tanasana are for the more advanced practitioners.
2. Pranayama: Nadi shodhana, bhastrika and ujjayi further
enhance vitality and balance the mind and emotions.
3. Bandha: the most relevant to leucorrhoea are moola
bandha and uddiyana bandha.
4. Meditation: Yoga nidra and antar mouna short circuit
the spiral of tension that disturbs hormonal balance and
depletes prana shakti.

Further recommendations
• Strict personal hygiene is the first step in dealing
with leucorrhoea. It not only prevents infections and
minimizes discomfort, but also helps to put the mind
at rest. Wash the anus and vulva regularly. Pat the vulva
dry and try to keep it dry. Many vaginal infections are
due to spilling organisms from the anus to the vagina, so
always wash or wipe the anus from front to back. Use the
traditional oriental squatting posture on toilet seats. It is
not only more efficient but also more hygienic.
• Avoid nylon underwear, tights or pantyhose. Nylon
retains both moisture and heat, providing a ‘hothouse’
environ­ment that encourages harmful bacteria. Wear only
loose-fitting cotton underwear or, when the discharge is
not so heavy, none at all. Many undesirable organisms are
killed simply by exposure to air, which also freshens and
cools the vaginal area.
• Douching or washing the interior of the vagina can be an
aid in preventing infection provided it is not overdone.
The healthy vagina is rather acid, and this acidity acts as
a barrier to infection. Since blood is alkaline, the acidity

198
 level drops during menstruation and women tend to be
more prone to infection. At this time douching with a
slightly acid solution will re-establish the normal pH and
may have a preventive value.
Suitable solutions are one tea­spoon of bicarbonate of soda
to half a litre of warm water, or one teaspoon of vinegar
to a litre of warm water. Coating the interior of the vagina
and the vulva with curd (yoghurt) is also recommended
by many women as an aid in curing in­ fections. This
treatment seems to be most effective when applied in the
very early stages while the symptoms are quite mild.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the signs of her body’s
functioning are the antidote to fear and an aid to every
woman’s confidence. Moreover, knowledge of the rhythms
and the workings of a healthy body is the basis of early
detection of any disturbance or disease whether physical
or mental. This awareness is fostered by practising yoga.

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 Disorders of the Male
Reproductive System

T he male reproductive system is closely interrelated with

the urinary system. The urethra is the conducting
path­way from the testicles, prostate gland and bladder. It
is shared by both systems as a common pathway for the
secretory product of the reproductive glands called semen,
which contains sperma­ tozoa, and also for the excretion
produced by the kidneys (urine).

The role of semen

The discharge of semen fulfils two important purposes in
men. Each is distinct and should not be confused with the
other. Firstly, emission of semen is necessary for the process
of fertilization of the ovum to occur within the female re­
produc­tive tract, resulting in the production of a child. This
is the reproductive function of semen. Secondly, and more
importantly, seminal discharge is a means of releasing pent-
up conscious and subconscious emotional tensions.
The release of semen for the purpose of producing
progeny is a matter of choice, and is only occasionally and
certainly not frequently required. However, the release of
pent-up emotional tensions through the medium of semen
is a regular, normal and obligatory event for most men.
Ejaculation of semen occurs in the conscious state during the
sexual act, and in the subconscious or sleep state in the form
of nocturnal emissions, wet dreams or ‘night pollution’.

200
How much is normal?
There are many misconceptions about what is excessive,
nor­mal, or deficient sexual functioning, and many men are
very confused in this matter. Some believe that any seminal
dis­charge whatsoever, whether in the waking or dreaming
state, is abnormal and a great loss to the body. Others believe
that sexual potency must be proved as often as possible, and
abundant release of semen is healthy and commendable.
Both these views are extreme, reflecting the confusion
which is the cause of many psychological problems, guilt
com­plexes and neuroses in men the world over. It is true
that excessive, uncontrolled and continuing loss of semen
over a period of time is depleting to the vitality and weakens
long-term health, but it is also true that feeling guilty about
nocturnal emissions or suppressing the release of semen is a
frequent source of mental, emotional and physical disease as
well. The truth lies somewhere between these two extremes.
It is not possible to state precisely how frequently seminal
discharge will occur in a man enjoying optimal health. This
varies according to age, temperament, marital status, emo­
tions, season, diet and so many others factors. However,
the occurrence of two nocturnal emissions in a month, on
average, can definitely be regarded as healthy for a normal
man who is single and who does not practise masturbation.

The role of the emotions

The interrelationship between the emotional and sexual
met­a­bolism must be made clear. Our feelings, desires and
fan­tasies originate in the mental plane, but their effects are
closely mirrored in our bodily systems. The pituitary gland
is stimulated to secrete interstitial cell-stimulating hormone
(ICSH) into the blood in response to this inner emotional
metabolism. This hormone in turn activates the twin
processes of spermatogenesis and testoster­one production in
the testes, which enables the desires and feelings generated
mentally to be physically expressed through the reproductive
system. This response manifests as the release of semen.

201
 Therefore, the demand for seminal release is initially
generated in the mind and semen is produced as the
end result. In this sense, semen is a waste product of the
emotional metabolism, released via the ejaculatory reflex
in much the same way that urea, a waste product of protein
metabolism, is routinely released in the urine.

Spermatorrhea
If the emotions are excessively dominant or unruly, the
production and release of semen will automatically be exces­
sive, just as a heavy protein diet will result in urine with a
high urea content. Therefore, spermatorrhoea or involun­tary
seminal discharge is a very natural process. Where wastes
accumulate in the body without release, disease results and
this is why periodic wet dreams are considered natural and
normal for men and should generate no guilt or anxiety.
However, where the emotional metabolism remains
way­ward and uncontrolled for a long period, the resulting
exces­sive seminal release can prove overtaxing on the body’s
metabolism, leading to diminished vitality, weakened health
and development of degenerative disease during the later
years of life.

Why excessive discharge of semen is harmful

In producing a continual high volume of seminal fluid,
which contains an enormous force in molecular form, the
bodily systems are heavily depleted of vital energy. The
seminal fluid discharged in one emission contains an average
of 400 million spermatozoa. When the turnover rate of
shedding and discharge of the sperms is very rapid, the body
must continually replace this loss using a constant supply of
meta­bolic energy.
Each minute sperm is packed with an enormous amount
of energy – enough to enable it to swim three thousand times
its own length. In relative proportions, that is the same as the
amount of energy used up by a six foot man swimming one
and a half miles. That is the amount, proportionally, of our

202
body’s metabolic and vital energy, packed into each sperm
cell discharged in a single seminal emission.
This energy is lost from the body, but where has it come
from? It is derived from the nutrients of the diet, broken
down in digestion, assimilated into the blood and constituted
into the fatty protein structure of the spermatozoa. Metabolic
energy is consumed every step of the way, especially in the
metabolism of the quantities of dietary fats and proteins
needed to continuously construct and energize a high
turnover of spermatozoa. When semen is being constantly
and recklessly discharged, its continual replacement
demands that a diet rich in fat and protein be consumed.
This diet consumes a far higher amount of energy in its
digestion, assimilation and metabolism than a light, low fat
and low protein diet does and thus imposes a higher working
burden on the digestive organs and glands such as the liver
and pancreas, on the heart, circulatory, transporting and
elimi­native systems.
As a result, the cells and tissues of the various organs
demand replacement more rapidly, and the higher overall
cellular turnover leads to greater expenditure of metabolic
energy, accelerates the metabolic rate and permanently
elevates the resting or basal body temperature. According to
gerontologists, who investigate the ageing and degenerative
process, elevation and acceleration of these factors, are the
major causes of rapid physical degeneration, decay and early
death of the human body.

Can seminal release be controlled?

If it is clear that semen is produced as the aftermath of
earlier emotional metabolism which activated the pituitary
release of ICSH, then we must also accept that production
and discharge of semen is the normal and inevitable accom­
paniment of our inner emotional expression. Human
emotions must be expressed and their products must have
an outlet if physical and mental health is to be preserved.
However, if a man has an emotional nature and experiences

203
frequent seminal emissions, what can he do to preserve his
health and vitality and reduce the loss of semen?
The question is not so much one of preventing the
release of semen but of controlling its formation. When
the formation of semen is controlled, the necessity for its
release diminishes and vitality is gradually conserved. This is
achieved by gradually controlling the emotional metabolism.
A man who has a problem of spermatorrhoea, or excessive
seminal dis­charge, has primarily an emotional problem, not
a physical one. Control of the emotional tendencies of the
mind is achieved through the practice of yoga, including
asanas, pranayama and meditation.

The influence of yoga practices

Yoga is tremendously effective, both in harmoniz­ing and
balancing the nervous and endocrine systems, and also in
developing awareness of the different mental and emo­tional
states and fluctuations. Out of this awareness, stability and
control develop in time. This is why a man who suffers from
uncontrolled passions, excessive emotional expres­sion and
spermatorrhea gains great benefit by adopt­ing a daily yoga
program to develop mental emotional balance, so that the
resulting pituitary secretions are reduced and the formation
of spermatozoa and testo­sterone becomes manageable.
This is the only way to eliminate the problem of excessive
seminal discharge because it gets to the root of the problem.
Many men who try to suppress the release of semen without
understanding its dependence on the emotional states are
putting the cart before the horse. Yoga is a great boon to
them for it relieves their problem and also eliminates their
guilt and anxiety about the whole subject.

Towards a balanced emotional expression

The average man committed to marriage or some form of
external emotional life should not practise yoga with an aim
to stop seminal discharge, unless both partners agree. That
would only create an unnatural situation, which would in

204
turn create tension and disease and is unfair to the partner.
Rather, he should use yoga to find balance and tread the
path between the extremes of total suppression and excessive
expression. For the average man, emotional expression is a
fact and necessity of life. It is one of the fundamental bases
of human relationship, family, social and community life.
The secret of spiritual life for men today is to live with a
spiritual awareness while participating in worldly life. What
is required is controlled expression, which develops with the
practice of yoga on a daily basis.

Mastery of the serpent power

Complete transcendence of the influence and effects of the
emotions is a state of spiritual realization attained by yogis.
They do not kill their emotions, but by increasing absorption
in the path of kundalini yoga, kriya yoga and dhyana yoga
(meditation), they are able to transcend and refine the in­
stincts and passions, so that the emotions are realized and
expressed in a more universal way. In higher states of aware­
ness, compassion (common passion) for humanity as a whole
replaces attachment and passion for particular individuals.
In the process, formation and release of semen diminishes,
and the energy is redirected and absorbed in the spiritual
quest as fuel for higher states of awareness. That is termed
mastery over the ‘serpent power’ and leads to lower dietary
requirments, decreased metabolic rate and rejuvenation and
pre­serva­tion of body tissues.

Yogic management of spermatorrhoea and excessive

nocturnal emission
In the following program, internal purification of the bodily
systems plays an essential role. The digestive, circulatory and
eliminative mechanisms must be cleaned out and operating
optimally if the metabolic processes are to be gradually
slowed down and the whole process of mental, emotional,
endocrine and reproductive waywardness is to be gradually
harmonized and balanced.

205
1. Surya namaskara: Practise up to twelve rounds daily after
taking a cold bath.
2. Asana: Begin with pawanmuktasana parts 1 and 2, vajras­
ana and siddhasana, and then perfect pawan­muktasana
part 3, the shakti bandha series.
After some months begin these major asanas: dynamic
pada hastasana, bhujangas­­ ana, shalabhasana, paschi­
mottana­ sana, sar­ vangas­ana, ardha padma halasana,
ushtrasana, shashan­ kasana, gomukhasana, eka pada
sirasana, moola bandhasana, dwi pada kandharasana,
matsyasana, ardha matsyendra­sana, sirshasana, tadasana,
pada angush­thasana.
3. Pranayama: Bhastrika with inner retention, jalandhara
and moola bandha, five rounds of fifty breaths. Sheetali
or seetkari for a few minutes. Nadi shodhana stages 1 to
4 (with maha bandha). Perfect each stage for one month
before moving to the next. Practise up to ten rounds.
4. Mudra and bandha: Vipareeta karani mudra and yoga
mudra. Vajroli mudra and moola bandha should each be
practised twenty-five times before meditation.
5. Shatkarma: Neti and kunjal each morning. Laghoo shan­
khaprakshalana daily for one week, then once a week. Full
shankhaprakshalana should be practised in an ashram
before commencing this sadhana program.
6. Relaxation: Yoga nidra should be practised before sleep,
and whenever there is time for relaxation, practise
abdominal breath awareness in shavasana.
7. Meditation: Practise either antar mouna stages 1 and 2
(learning to witness the mental and emotional reactions
of the mind) or ajapa japa every evening.
8. Amaroli: Commence with one glass of the first midstream
urine each morning.
9. Diet: Eat a light vegetarian diet with very little salt. Meat,
eggs, alcohol, oily foods and all refined, chemically
preserved foods should be avoided as they only serve to
stimulate the passions. The intake of dairy foods should
be reduced.

206
10. Fasting: One day per week of fasting or missing the
evening meal proves very beneficial.

Further recommendations
• Take a cold bath or shower every morning and evening.
• Rise from the bed as soon as you wake in the morning and
keep yourself constantly busy and occupied through­out
the day.
• Learn to witness your internal emotional metabolism.
When the mind becomes engrossed in sexual thoughts,
try to remain a witness to its influence on the reproductive
organs and glands.

207
 Sterility and Impotence

S terility and impotence are two disorders where there is

failure of sexual and reproductive behaviour for either
physiological, anatomical or psychological reasons. Approxi­
mately one third of all childless marriages are believed to
be due to sterility or infertility on the part of the husband.
Seminal analysis is a relatively simple procedure which will
indicate a lowered sperm count in the spermatic fluid, as well
as the presence of abnormal or immobile sperm forms. This
chapter deals with sterility and impotence due to mal­func­
tion of the male reproductive tract.
Yogic practices prove most effective in restoring both
fertility and potency in men who have psychological, physio­
logical or mild hormonal imbalance. Frequently a low sperm
count is only a temporary state, and lowered and abnormal
sperm counts have been corrected to within the normal
range within three to six months of persistent yogic therapy.

Sterility
Sterility, which refers to the state of infertility, occurs in
several forms. Sometimes it is due to faults arising in the
chromo­somal mechanism of sex determination as early as
conception. In other cases it may be due to later develop­
mental errors in sexual differentiation of the embryo and
foetus up to the time of birth, and after birth in the ongoing
sexual development.

208
 Our anatomical, psychological, personality and behaviour
characteristics are influenced by hormones, particularly the
levels of the androgenic (male) hormones such as testo­
sterone. Underdevelopment of the reproductive organs is
termed hypogonadism. It includes failure of production of
spermatozoa and the secretion of hormones. The defect may
involve only impaired spermatogenesis in the seminifer­ous
tubules of the testes, or it may also involve the interstitial
(Leydig) cells, causing reduced testosterone levels. Where
testosterone levels are reduced, failure of spermatogenesis
is one inevitable result. Another is the diminution of the
secondary sexual characteristics.
Sterility may be due to failure of the hypothalamic or
pituitary secretion mechanisms upon which the gonads
depend. In other cases brain and pituitary are intact, but
there has been injury or destruction of the testes themselves.
This may occur due to an accident, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea,
syphilis, malignant tumours or orchitis. Surgical castration
is another cause of sterility. Mal descent, or failure of the
testes to descend into the scrotum from the abdominal cavity
during the last months of intrauterine life, also leads to
failure of development.
Where an injury or defect is one-sided, leaving the other
testis unaffected, sterility will not result, because sexual and
reproductive behaviour can proceed normally with only one
operational testis. Cases of sterility due to organic causes
such as tuberculosis, tumour, venereal disease and surgical
castration are often irreversible. However, the vast majority
of infertile men do not suffer from any of these organic
causes and the outlook for them is more promising.

Signs and symptoms

The results of deficient or absent testosterone production
depend on the sufferer’s age at the time of onset of the
disease. When it occurs before puberty, the genital organs
and the secondary sexual characteristics such as beard
growth, deepening of voice, etc., fail to develop. The sufferer

209
is often excessively tall because of the failure of the long
bones to stop growing at puberty. The typical prepubescent
sufferer develops into a tall, thin man with a hairless face, a
high-pitched voice, small genital organs and an immature
personality.
Where the onset of sterility and testosterone failure
has occurred after puberty, the resulting changes are less
striking. Growth is not affected and there is regression rather
than disappearance of the secondary sexual characteristics.
The external genital organs undergo partial atrophy. Usual
complaints are of fatigue, loss of initiative and decrease of
sexual desire (libido).

Holistic management of male infertility

One of the major signs of male infertility is either a low
sperm count or poorly developed sperm which are incapable
of fertilizing an ovum. To produce adequate numbers
of healthy sperm, we need to minimize or (preferably)
eliminate the use of recreational drugs, avoid pollution with
heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium, and avoid
volatile organic compounds (especially petroleum deriva­
tives). In our industrialized and globally polluted world, this
can be quite difficult. However, there are some nutrients
and antioxidants which help to counter the effect of these
toxins. These include vitamin B 12 1 mg/day, vitamin C
1–2 gm/day, natural vitamin E 400 mg/day, essential fatty
acids, zinc citrate 30 mg/day and organic selenium (called
selenomethionine) 200 micrograms/day.
In addition, keep up the intake of a variety of fresh fruits
and vegetables, which have a wide range of nutrients and
antioxidants not necessarily found in some supplements.

Impotence
Impotence refers to the inability of the male to participate in
sexual intercourse because of a lack of sexual power. In the
majority of cases it is due to psychological causes rather than
to any organic abnormality of the testes or sexual organs.

210
Sometimes impotency results from dislocation or misalign­ment
of one of the sacral or coccygeal bones in the termination of
the spinal column following a fall, injury or strain. Impotence
is also one of the symptoms of diabetes. An aversion for sexual
intercourse may stem from traumatic experiences in early life
which have led to unconscious attitudes of fear, guilt shame or
inadequacy. In these cases, the technique of relaxation in yoga
nidra can remove the root problem.
Often there is an associated blockage of pranic circulation
in the pelvis and the lower psychic centres, known as
mooladhara and swadhisthana chakras, and in extreme
cases nervous weakness or paralysis in the lower limbs may
develop. These cases usually respond to regular meditation
and yoga nidra, in conjunction with asanas which specifically
tone and activate the reproductive organs. They should be
practised on a daily basis. The shakti bandha and vajrasana
series are highly recom­mended, as well as paschimottanasana
and bhujanga­sana.
The practices of moola bandha, vajroli and ashwini
mudra arouse dormant energy and overcome pranic,
psychological and mental deficiencies and blockages.
Dietary experts suggest that impotence may be caused by
a deficiency of vitamin E in the diet. Recommended foods
include olive oil, wheatgerm, sesame seed, unfired cereals
and peanut butter as well as milk and other dairy products.

Yogic management of sterility and impotence

It must be remembered that successful impregnation,
fertilization and subsequent pregnancy always involves the
cooperation and interaction of husband and wife as one.
Frequently it is impossible to determine by laboratory tests
where the defect lies in cases of infertility in marriage.
Often husband and wife are each psychologically and
physiologically normal. Yet some aspect or condition of their
sexual inter­relationship remains unfulfilled or unfavourable.
For this reason, both partners are recommended to adopt a
yoga program and practise it together.

211
1. Surya namaskara: Practise up to twelve rounds each morn­
ing at sunrise.
2. Asana: Begin by perfecting pawanmuktasana parts 1 and
2, then the shakti bandha series. After one or two months
commence the following major asanas: vajrasana series,
particularly shashank bhujangasana, marjari-asana, supta
vajrasana, and ushtrasana.
Then dynamic pada hastasana, bhujangasana, shalabhas­
ana, paschimottanasana, sarv­angasana, druta halasana,
matsyasana, gomukhasana, dwi pada kandharasana,
kandharasana, chakrasana, hanumanasana, bhadrasana.
3. Pranayama: Nadi shodhana and bhastrika with antar
and bahir kumbhaka, jalandhara, uddiyana and moola
bandha. Surya bheda should be practised at the time of
sunset for ten rounds.
4. Mudra and bandha: Pashinee mudra and yoga mudra.
Vajroli and moola bandha should each be practised thirty
times a day.
5. Shatkarma: Neti daily and laghoo shankhaprakshalana
whenever constipation is present.
6. Relaxation: Yoga nidra and abdominal breath awareness in
shavasana.
7. Meditation: Ajapa japa while seated in siddhasana.
8. Amaroli: If the man drinks the urine of his wife daily for
a minimum period of three months, as enjoined in the
ancient tantric texts, this may aid a successful pregnancy.
In many previously childless marriages, including
those in which the cause was attributed to psychological
impotence, lowered or abnormal sperm count and hor­
monal or endocrine deficiency developing after puberty,
this technique has been a boon.
9. Diet: A high protein diet is recommended and all grades
of meat may be included if desired. Milk and dairy
products such as ghee and cheese are also recommended.
This diet will accelerate the metabolic rate and provide
the raw materials for increased spermatogenesis.
However, constipation should be avoided by taking honey,

212
 fruits and nuts. More vitamin E enriched foods should
also be added to the diet. These include pure peanut
butter, olive oil, wheat germ, sesame and unrefined
cereals and grains.

Further recommendations
• Overwork, mental fatigue and physical exhaustion also
pre­dispose to impotence and unexplained sterility.
Adequate rest and a change of environment, away from
pressures, responsibility and social and family commit­
ments are important first steps. A restful and relaxing
holiday in natural surroundings is highly recommended
for the marriage partners.
• Where psychological inhibitions are a factor in impotency,
alcohol can be consumed by both partners in conjunction
with sexual activity.

213
 Prostatic Disease

I n males, urinary incontinence is a common problem in

middle and old age. It occurs as the prostate gland hyper­
trophies (increases in size) later in life. This results in pain and
tenderness in the fork of the thighs and painful urination.
Although the following factors contribute to the problem:
sexual excesses, weakness of the muscles, impurities in the
bloodstream, taking of strong cathartics and improper diet,
medical scientists have not been able to determine the exact
underlying cause, and many researchers regard a degree of
prostatic enlargement to be a normal accompani­ment of old
age in the male body. Another important prostatic condition
is inflammation or infection in the prostate, called prostatitis.

The yogic point of view

According to yogic physiology, prostatic disease occurs as a
long-term effect of excessive and imbalanced secretions of
the male hormones such as testosterone. Where the pituitary
hormones responsible for reproductive and sexual behaviour
have been released in excessive and uncontrolled quantities
during the earlier decades of active sexual life, the end result
may be chronic infection or the uncontrolled and exces­sive
growth of the gland, until it ultimately encroaches inwards
upon the urethral passageway which passes through its lobes.
As a result, the flow of urine is gradually and progressively
obstructed.

214
 Although the process of prostatic hypertrophy is usually
recognized and diagnosed in middle or old age, it is actually
the end result of a long-term process which has its origins in
the earlier years of reproductive life. Unless the male sexual
meta­bolism is balanced and controlled during these early
years, the influence of testosterone becomes wayward and
excessive later on. Overgrowth of the prostate, resulting in
loss of urinary continence, is one effect; prostatic cancer may
be another.

Further problems
With prostatic hypertrophy, the urge to pass urine becomes
more frequent, but can only be satisfied by active straining.
In spite of straining to empty the bladder, the result is
that only a small amount of urine can dribble through
the obstruc­ted urethra. No sooner is this accomplished
than the urge recurs; this also goes on at night. Thus the
passage of urine becomes a constant and time-consuming
preoccupation and the sufferer’s movements and lifestyle
are limited as he needs to be always in close proximity to
a toilet.
Since the bladder can no longer be completely emptied,
a stagnant pool of urine starts to build up behind the gland.
This can become infected, leading to further irritation and
difficulty requiring medical treatment.

Medical management
Surgical procedure for prostatic hypertrophy is known as
‘transurethral resection’. It is performed very commonly today
in elderly people. The passage through the gland is widened
by introducing a fine surgical knife via the penis, so that both
urine and semen can flow freely. This surgical procedure is
most successful in those older men who find yogic practices
impossible because of their age or general debility. However,
younger or more active men who are considering surgery are
recommended to undertake yogic training for their dis­order
and then review their state after a few months.

215
Holistic management of enlarged prostate
There is very good evidence that prostate enlargement
can be stopped and even reversed through the use of zinc,
adequate amounts of fish oil extract EPA/DHA, selenium,
vitamin D3, E and C and lycopene (best source is tomato
paste; use 1 teaspoon daily).

Yogic management of prostatic disease

Prostatic hypertrophy can be managed by yogic practices
which systematically control the wayward endocrine secre­
tions, shrinking the prostate gland and restoring proper
urinary control, especially in the early stages of the disorder.
It is often difficult for an elderly man to follow a full and
energetic program of asanas, pranayama, shatkarmas and
meditation, though we know of some cases of prostatic
hypertrophy relieved by pawanmuktasana alone. Middle-
aged men who follow the program will obtain good results,
while young men who suffer from deep-seated prostatic
infections should follow the program assiduously and reduce
their sexual activity as much as possible until the disease has
been cured.
1. Surya namaskara: Should be performed at sunrise, to
capacity, building up to twelve rounds or more. It is a
very important pranic regenerator.
2. Asana: Commence an asana program with the pawan­
muktasana and vajrasana series. Later on the following
asanas can be adopted gradually, according to one’s
capacity: trikonasana, ardha padma paschimottanasana,
gatyatmak paschi­mottana­sana, shashank bhujangasana,
shalabhasana, sarvangasana, druta halasana, chakrasana,
dwi pada kandharasana, ushtrasana, matsyasana, tolangu­
las­
ana, ardha matsyendras­ ana, bhramacharyasana,
vashish­thasana, dhanurakarshanasana, pada angush­
thasana, mayurasana, veerasana, bhadrasana. Sit in
vajrasana whenever possible.
3. Pranayama: Bhastrika to capacity, in combination with
inner retention, moola bandha and jalandhara bandha

216
 are recommended to restore energy. Nadi shodhana up
to stage 4 should be performed over a six month period.
Surya bheda should be practised once or twice a day,
up to ten rounds.
4. Mudra and bandha: Moola bandha and vajroli mudra
twenty-five times daily. Maha mudra and maha bheda
mudra up to seven times daily.
5. Shatkarma: Neti and kunjal should be practised daily and
laghoo shankhaprakshalana once a week.
6. Relaxation: Yoga nidra should be practised each after­
noon and abdominal breath awareness in shavasana
should be practised before sleep.
7. Diet: A light diet free of meat and excessive spices and
oils is highly recommended. This conserves energy,
enabling it to be redirected for healing purposes.
Overeating should be avoided and the evening meal
should be taken around sunset. Tea and coffee in
excess are harmful, and alcohol and tobacco should be
discontinued. Drink plenty of water.
8. Fasting: One day per week of fasting or missing the
evening meal every few days is highly recommended.
9. Amaroli: Can be commenced if the protein content of the
diet has been reduced.
10. Rest: Adequate rest is essential. A lifestyle based on social
activity and late nights should be suspended, at least for
some months. If possible, staying in an ashram during
this period is highly recommended.

217
 Hernia

H ernia is the protrusion of any internal organ through

an abnormal opening anywhere in the body. By far the
most common forms of hernia are those which occur through
sites of natural weakness in the lower muscular wall of the
abdomen through which a portion or loop of the intestine
may find its way under certain conditions.

Types of hernia
Hernia occurs in both sexes and is a common disorder,
affecting more than two percent (one in fifty) of British men.
Hernias are classified according to where they occur.
• Inguinal hernia is the most common, accounting for over
seventy percent of all external hernias. It is twenty times
more common in men than women and occurs when a
part of the abdominal contents pushes into the inguinal
canal. This is a narrow passage in the groin through which
the testis descends into the scrotum before birth. The
contents of the hernia may pass down into the scrotum
which becomes quite large. This form of hernia may be
difficult to distinguish from an independent swelling of
the testis or scrotum such as hydrocele, and a medical
examina­ tion is always advised in order to accurately
diagnose the scrotal swelling.
• Femoral hernia is the next most common type accounting
for seventeen percent of all hernias and usually occurs

218
 in women. Here the abdominal contents move into the
front of the thigh through an opening which carries
the femoral artery into the leg. This artery is the major
supplier of blood to the leg.
• Umbilical hernia is the third most common type, accounting
for eight percent of all hernias. Here the hernial sac bulges
out through the umbilicus (navel) where a natural weakness
in the abdominal muscles exists. This form of hernia
usually appears at birth or in infancy, but may also occur
in an obese and weak abdomen in middle age.
Hernias are also classified according to whether they are
reducible or irreducible.
• A reducible hernia is one where the protruding sac can
be pushed back inside the abdomen. Frequently the
hernia reduces itself whenever the patient lies down, but
re-emerges again when he stands up. However, some
especially large hernias have to be pushed back. Most
hernias belong to this group and can often be benefited
by a specific set of yogic asanas learned under careful
guidance.
• An irreducible hernia is a life-threatening situation and
a medical emergency. This occurs when the abdominal
contents become caught in the hernia and cannot be
pushed back. Such a situation can lead to strangulation,
gangrene of the parts in the hernia and even death.
Therefore, if this does occur, even if there is no pain one
should go immediately to a hospital.

Causes of hernia
A number of factors act alone or in combination to weaken
the abdominal muscles. In the first place there may be
a develop­mental defect or a congenital weakness of the
abdominal muscles or ligaments, so that a hernia occurs
soon after birth. A powerful, sudden, muscular effort such
as occurs while lifting a heavy weight without care, may tear
muscles and ligaments to produce a hernia and this is the
usual cause of hernia in a young man or woman.

219
 Any condition where the intra-abdominal pressure is
raised may contribute to a hernia, for example, a smoker’s
cough continuing for months or years, straining to pass
urine which is obstructed by an enlarged prostate, and
con­stipa­tion, accompanied by straining at defecation. In
constipation there is generally weakening and dissipation of
apana vayu (the aspect of prana responsible for downward
propulsion and expulsion of wastes from the body), which
necessitat­es straining. These are major causes of hernia in
middle age.
Obesity and habitual overeating, which cause the
abdominal wall to be overstretched and the intestines to be
overstuffed, cause a raised pressure in the abdomen. Another
closely related factor is flabbiness of the abdominal muscles
due to lack of exercise, and general sedentary living. As a
result of this lifestyle the muscles and skin of the abdomen
become loose and flabby. As the abdominal wall loses tone,
the abdominal organs begin to sag and the whole abdomen
starts to protrude markedly. This is termed visceroptosis.
Pregnancy and childbirth also increase abdominal
pressure, and frequently contribute to development of
hernia in women. A carefully guided yoga program in the
periods before, during and after pregnancy will prevent this
complication.

Management of hernia
The management of hernia depends on its nature and
severity. Yogic practices are the best for preventing hernia­
tion, and are often curative for hernias that occur due to
weak abdominal muscles and overburdened intestines,
especially in newly developing hernias. Most hernias will
benefit from a few months of persistent practise of specific
asanas, combined with modifications in diet and lifestyle.
However, surgical correction of hernia is often successful
and is recommended in longstanding hernias, in cases where
there is a risk of obstruction or strangulation, or if the hernia
has developed to large and unmanageable proportions.

220
 After surgical correction of a hernia, asanas can be
adopted under careful guidance and after allowing adequate
time for initial healing and recovery. This will ensure that
the ultimate outcome of the operation is a positive one.
Four to eight weeks after the operation, simple asanas like
the pawanmuktasana series part 1 should be adopted. No
pressure or strain should be applied to the abdominal muscles
for the first three months after surgery. After this time, a few
of pawanmuktasana part 2, the shakti bandha series and
vajrasana may be adopted under strict guidance. Asana which
require forward bending at the waist should not be attempted
without guidance, and those major asanas which impose a
strain upon the abdomen such as bhujangasana, dhanurasana
and shalabhasana should be avoided.

Yoga program for prevention and management of hernia

Precautionary note: No asanas should be practised while a
hernia remains in an unreduced state. Any hernia should
first be replaced inside the abdomen by expert manipulation.
1. Asana: Pawanmuktasana 1 & 2, especially naukasana,
ardha titali asana and poorna titali asana. Halasana,
pashinee mudra, sarvangasana, matsyasana, vajrasana,
shashan­kasana, marjari-asana, ushtrasana, yoga mudra,
vipareeta karani asana, supta vajrasana.
2. Pranayama: Bhramari pranayama, mild bhastrika, with
antar kumbhaka, jalandhara and moola bandha, and
bahir kumbhaka with uddiyana bandha.
3. Mudra and bandha: Ashwini mudra, vajroli mudra, moola
bandha, agnisar kriya.
4. Shatkarma: Jala neti. Laghoo shankhaprakshalana once
per week.
5. Relaxation: Yoga nidra.

Further recommendations
• Management of hernia involves restoration of proper
diges­tion, correction of constipation and balance of the
apana vayu.

221
• Hernia sufferers should not lift heavy weights. Sneez­ing,
coughing, difficulty while passing urine and stools must
be overcome if a hernia is not to recur.
• A light natural vegetarian diet is recommended, with
adequate bulk to avoid constipation. Dietary moderation
is essential. Never take so much food that stretching of the
abdomen and therefore raised abdominal pressure occurs.
• If aggravation of the symptoms of hernia occurs mild
fasting is recommended, especially the taking of one meal
less per day. This usually makes the condition manageable
again.

222
 Hydrocele

H ydrocele is a collection of clear, serous fluid in the tunic

or lining of one or both testes in the male. It may
be congenital in male infants, but the commonest type in
India occurs in adults, where long-term swelling of the
testis and spermatic cord is thought to follow repeated
acute bouts of infection of the testis and spermatic cord
(epididymoorchitis). Hydrocele may develop rapidly or
gradually and may be large or small. The disorder occurs in
men of all ages, but its onset is frequently in youth. If it is
inadequately managed, there may be progressive worsening
of the condition as age advances.
Sufferers usually give a history of fluid retention (oedema)
in one or both testes, associated with inflammation, swelling
and pain of the spermatic cord in the groin. Each bout is
associated with some accumulation of fluid about the testis,
which finally becomes hard. Gradually the testis becomes
enlarged. In cases of recurrent attacks extending over years,
where each attack has been inadequately managed, the
hydrocele never reducing or reversing itself, it becomes hard
and indurated and may become abnormally large.

The cause of hydrocele

Medical scientists recognize that hydrocele may occur due to
congenital weakness, traumatic injury or overstraining, while
in the tropics hydrocele is commonly due to filariasis, an

223
infection due to the roundworm (filaria sanguinis hominis)
which is transmitted by a mosquito (culex fatiguans) to the
human subject.
Once in the human body, the adult female worm finds its
way selectively into the lymphatic circulation and the lymph
nodes (especially the inguinal nodes in the groin). There
it attains sexual maturity over a period of six to eighteen
months, and produces vast numbers of microfilaria. Up to
fifty million of these may be circulating in the bloodstream
at one time. The earliest symptoms develop six or more
months after the initial infection when these regional lymph
nodes and the lymph vessels draining the limbs and external
genitalia become hot, red painful and tender (lymphadenitis).
There are recurrent bouts of fever. Bouts of these symptoms
continue to recur intermittently, until irreversible damage to
the lymphatic drainage system occurs. The legs or scrotum
can become enormous and grotesque as the disease continues.

The vajra nadi

According to yogic science, the failure of lymphatic circulation
in the lower extremities is a disorder of the vajra nadi, the
flow of prana between the brain and the reproductive organs.
Medical science has been unable to directly correlate the
presence of filarial infection with the occurrence of hydrocele,
and in most cases of hydrocele attributed to filarial infection,
no microfilaria are detected in nocturnal blood samples, nor
is a past history of filariasis obtained from the sufferer. On the
other hand, those whose blood shows a very high micro­filaria
count often have no symptoms whatsoever.
The most likely explanation is a combination of yogic
and medical viewpoints. It appears that excessive heating
in the reproductive system, perhaps associated with sexual
repression, leads to the cyclical vitiation and degeneration of
semen within the spermatic cords. These wastes are drained
into the pelvic lymphatic nodes where they selectively attract
the filarial parasites to leave the blood circulation and nest
in the pelvic lymphatics.

224
 Stasis of seminal fluid in the spermatic cord is the
forerunner of stagnation of lymphatic fluid, inflammation
and infection of the cord (epididymoorchitis), which leads to
swelling (oedema) of the scrotum and ultimately hydrocele.
Yoga recognizes that it is a disturbance in the sexual
metabolism associated with vajra nadi which is the funda­
mental problem in this disorder, enabling the opportunistic
filaria to manifest symptoms of lymphatic infection.

Treatment of hydrocele
Where filariasis is suspected, the drug Diethyl carbamazine
(DEC) often proves effective in the short-term eradication
of the symptoms of acute infection. However, the drug is
of marginal success in preventing recurrences. Clearly the
elimination of the cause requires a deeper yogic under­
standing of its aetiology and character.
The cycle of build-up and breakdown of semen has
to be influenced by yogic techniques, because this is the
source of the lymphatic fluid which is becoming infected.
The solution is not to increase the release of semen from
the body. This is a very short-term measure which only
results in increased forma­tion of sperm and activation of
the cycle. Rather yoga attempts to influence the psycho-
emotional processes responsible for reproductive and
sexual metabolism. This offers the prospect of a cure in the
early stages, and can be accomplished by a combination of
yoga tech­niques.
In chronic cases, where a permanent hydrocele has
developed, surgical drainage is effective; however, this is
usually a temporary measure as the fluid reaccumulates
rapidly. Surgical intervention should be followed by a daily
yoga program to prevent a recurrence of the disorder. Yoga
practices can gradually and permanently reduce hydrocele.

Yogic management of hydrocele

These practices will stimulate lymphatic drainage and
remove stasis of lymph in the pelvis and lower limbs.

225
However, they should not be adopted until the acute illness
has subsided.
1. Surya namaskara: To capacity.
2. Asana: Pawanmuktasana part 1, trikonasana, saithalyas­
ana, gomukhasana, sarvangasana, halasana, matsyasana,
paschimottanasana, brahmacharyasana, ardha mats­
yendras­ a na, vatayanasana, garudasana, sirshasana,
tadasana.
3. Pranayama: Nadi shodhana, surya bheda, and bhastrika
with antar kumbhaka, jalandhara and moola bandhas,
and bahir kumbhaka with uddiyana bandha. Practise
pranayama in padmasana.
4. Mudra and bandha: Vipareeta karani mudra, pashinee
mudra and yoga mudra. Practise ashwini mudra, vajroli
mudra and moola bandha twenty-six times each, twice a
day, preferably while in the inverted postures.
5. Shatkarma: Avoid them unless constipation necessitates
laghoo shankhaprakshalana.
6. Relaxation: Yoga nidra daily.
7. Meditation: Antar mouna each night. Try to witness the
action of vajra nadi. If this prana can be controlled at its
source in the brain, the root cause of the disease has been
grasped.
8. Diet: Restrict salt intake and avoid heavy foods, rice and
watery vegetables.

Further recommendations
• The acute bout of epididymoorchitis, testicular swelling
and fever, should be managed by complete bed rest. After
acute inflammation subsides (usually one week or more),
bed rest should continue. Return to normal life gradually,
avoiding strain, especially lifting.
• Standing and walking should be restricted. When standing,
the scrotum should be supported by suitable underwear.
• Dry heat fomentation of the scrotum with hot, dry cloth
or wild tobacco leaf is useful in reducing swelling and
inflammation.

226
• Whenever going to the toilet, either to pass urine or
empty the bowels, grasp the neck of the scrotum firmly
and push the testes down to the bottom of the scrotum.
Hold for ten seconds, then repeat the procedure three
times. This process promotes lymph drainage in the
sperm­ a­
tic cords and helps to remove blockage and
obstruction. It frequently proves effective in shortening
the acute bout and reversing chronic hydrocele.
• Recognition of seminal discharge as a natural function in
a healthy male body is an important step. Two nocturnal
emissions a month is considered healthy and normal. The
problem of hydrocele has been known to disappear after
marriage.
• Establish a yogic lifestyle. Do not depend on social life,
cinema, etc., for excitement and relaxation. Attain fulfil­
ment through meditation and karma yoga. Develop the
mind and the heart through yoga.

227
Miscellaneous
Disorders
 The Skin in
Health and Disease

T he skin which covers the human body is a unique and

complex living structure. Its outermost cell layers are
dead and are continually flaking from the body, yet it is
through them that the aura of vitality and good health is
reflected to the world like a mirror. Similarly, it is only our
skin which upholds the engrossing illusion of our existence
– that we are individuals separate from one another.
Conscious­ness is one and universal. The individual mind
is an illusion upheld solely by our perception of physical
separation. My skin forms the barrier which I believe
is the end of me and your skin does the same for you.
Physiologically speaking that barrier is nothing but a few
layers of flaking, already dead epithelial cells.
The skin is the medium for the sense of touch. It is
absolutely essential for many of the most transcendental
sensual experiences, both pleasurable and painful. Life
without each of the other senses can at least be contemplated,
but can you imagine the possibility of having no feeling or
touch experience? Touch is the medium through which many
emotions, energies and human feelings are communicated.
Apart from the subtle aspects of the sense of hearing, we
could say that touch is surely the most expressive of the sense
modalities.
It is said that beauty is but skin deep. Our physical
differences and personal characteristics are very much the

231
attributes of the skin. The skin is an index of good health.
A healthy person or yogi is radiant and has a glowing com­
plexion, while a sick person is pale and devoid of prana.
Medical students learn that medical examination com­
mences simply by looking at the patient and assessing his
complexion and general demeanor. In light skinned races,
diagnosis can frequently be made upon the basis of skin
appearance alone. Liver and blood diseases are reflected
in a jaundiced skin, pallor reflects shock, anaemia or blood
loss, a blue countenance, termed cyanosis, occurs in heart
failure and respiratory defects, a red face occurs in valvular
heart disease and alcoholism, and a wan, sallow or grey
complexion often accompanies kidney disease or cancer.

The skin is an organ

In considering the skin in health and disease, the first point
is to realize that the skin is a distinct body organ. An organ
is defined as a group of cells clustered together in order to
fulfil a specific physiological function. Secondly, the health
of the skin cannot be considered in isolation from the rest of
the body. Healthy skin is intimately related to diet, the state
of the digestive processes, the liver and bloodstream.
The restoration of skin health through yoga therapy is
often directed primarily at influencing the digestive and
circulatory functions. This is because skin eruptions so com­
monly reflect a more widespread eliminative, circulatory
or metabolic problem, which must first be corrected if skin
health is to be restored. It is not sufficient to merely suppress
skin diseases with drugs and creams which give only tem­
porary relief but no lasting cure.

The structure of the skin

Under the microscope, the skin is seen to be composed of
distinct layers. The outer epidermis, up to thirty cell layers
thick, is constantly being shed from the body surface and is
replaced by new cell layers arising from the inner layer or
dermis. It is also responsible for pigmentation or skin colour.

232
 Beneath the dermis lies the subcutaneous tissue and
insulating fat, containing the sweat glands and ducts,
hair follicles and sebaceous glands, and the sensory nerve
endings or bulbs (Pacinian corpuscles) which relay sensations
of touch and pressure to the central nervous system via the
sensory cutaneous nerves. Also within this subcutaneous
layer lie the tiny blood vessels, arteries, veins and capillaries
responsible for supplying the skin cells and glands with
oxygen and fuel, and also for carrying away their wastes. The
skin, unlike the cells of deeper tissues, also receives nutrients
and expels wastes directly to the outside environment and
atmosphere via the process of sweating.

The function of the skin

• Protection: The skin forms a wonderful protective barrier
for the body. A thin layer of natural oil secreted from the
skin pores prevents water damage. Weight bearing areas
of the body, such as the soles and palms, are thicker and
continual pressure or friction can result in calluses.
• Insulation-heating: The skin possesses several adaptive
mech­ anisms which enable it to conserve heat in cold
climates and yield heat to cool the body in hot conditions,
preserving the core body temperature (98.4F or 36.9C).
Sweating cools by allowing large amounts of body water
to evaporate from the skin surface on a hot day. The small
skin arteries possess the ability to dilate in hot con­di­tions
or turbulent emotional states, so that blood is drawn
towards the skin in order to cool it. The opposite occurs
in cold weather.
• Elimination: The skin is a major eliminative organ of the
body, along with the intestines, the kidneys and the lungs.
Water, salt and wastes leave the body through the skin.
This is why a person whose body is toxic and unhealthy or
whose diet is heavy and impure has an offensive smelling
odour, while a healthy person has an inoffensive odour.
Many skin rashes, eruptions and diseases are actually
attempts by the body to eliminate toxic wastes, which

233
 cannot be expelled in other ways. These occur especially
where the bowels are chronically constipated or the
kidneys are failing to effectively filter the blood so that
wastes begin to build up, clogging the efficient operation
of the cells and tissues. The suppression of skin rashes
and infection with topical or systemic antibiotics or
steroid drugs is often unsuccessful because this aspect of
the disease is not well understood. The rash frequently
reappears soon after these drugs are discontinued. This is
often the stimulus to further suppress it with even greater
force. Ultimately, the cause of the rash may be successfully
suppressed only to reaccumulate in some other tissue
not readily visible to the eye, such as the colon where
an abcess, a tumour and perhaps a cancer ultimately
develops. This is why skin eruptions are best allowed to
run their course if it is possible, while ensuring the best
possible conditions for elimination and cure.
• Absorption: The skin also plays an important part in absorp­
tion. The sun’s rays are absorbed and initiate bio­chemical
reactions which produce both skin pigment (melanin)
and vitamin D. For this same reason, great care should be
taken in dealing with industrial chemicals, fertilizers, fruit
sprays, dyes, etc., as many find their way directly into the
body when they come into contact with the skin surface.
For example, workers in margarine factories where alka­
line dyes were used to artificially colour the product were
found to develop a high percentage of bladder cancers.
Subsequent studies revealed that this chemical dye enters
the skin pores and becomes concen­trated in the bladder,
where it induces cancerous changes in the lining cells.

A medical classification of skin diseases

We have classified skin diseases into the following six
categories.
Hypersensitivity or allergy to drugs, chemicals, etc:
This type of skin eruption is very common when people
are prescribed powerful drugs for common ailments which

234
are often better managed without them. The number and
severity of side effects of modern drugs is not well publicized,
but every doctor is well aware that the skin, blood, liver,
kidneys and digestive system are very commonly injured
as a side effect of drug therapy. Such diseases are termed
iatrogenic, produced as a side effect of drug therapy for
another symptom, and they present a major problem for
doctors today. Treatment of an iatrogenic skin rash is to
discontinue the offending drug and then purify the body
of drug residues through a program of fasting, asana,
pranayama and shatkarmas.
Psychosomatic skin disease: The skin is an extremely
sensitive mirror of the mind, and skin diseases, rashes and
itches such as neurodermatitis often manifest in tense,
anxious and sensitive persons. An itch is often a way of
expressing the mental tensions arising from personal
conflicts. It is recognized in statements such as: “What’s
biting you?” or “He really gets under my skin.” These rashes
come and go in response to altering psychic, emotional and
personal stresses in life in some temperaments.
Antar mouna, witnessing the itching sensation and the
underlying mental tensions without resorting to the uncon­
scious scratching response, is the fundamental step in
management of neurodermatitis. Once scratching is resisted
and relaxation established, the rash soon disappears. Asana,
pranayama and yoga nidra work on the underlying mental
and emotional tensions. The hatha yoga shatkarmas – neti,
kunjal and shankhaprakshalana – are prescribed to clean
the digestive system and purify the nadis (psychic energy
flows) in which blockage and obstruction to the pranic flow
is occurring.
Contact dermatitis: Many chemical agents cause irritation
and eruptions, particularly after prolonged exposure. This
is especially so with cosmetics, body lotions, underarm
deodorants, hair sprays, insect repellents, dish washing
liquids and industrial chemicals. When the offending agent is
determined and its use discontinued, the rash also disappears.

235
 Skin infections: Skin infections are caused by various
micro-organisms, including viruses, bacteria and fungi which
live and multiply upon the skin surface. Certain viruses
and bacteria do grow naturally on a normal healthy skin,
but when the body metabolism becomes unbalanced and
the level of vitality drops or wastes accumulate throughout
the system, then pathogenic (disease-producing) organisms
which find these conditions more favourable begin to
multiply rapidly and skin infections result. A wide variety of
specific drugs are used for treatment, including antibiotics,
steroid creams and anti-fungal agents, either topically
or by mouth, and these will provide rapid symptomatic
relief. However, skin infections commonly recur because
the fundamental cause has not been recognized and the
underlying imbalance remains un­corrected. Skin infections
can be broadly classified as follows:
• Viral infections: ‘Shingles’ is a very painful skin condition
in which vesicles appear in bands on the skin surface
caused by the herpes zoster virus. In yogic terminology
this occurs because of deficiency or blockage in the flow
of prana along the cutaneous nerves. This is usually found
in the thoracolumbar nerve roots associated with anahata
chakra. As a result, a painful band-like rash appears on
the ribcage or chest wall.
‘Cold sores’, due to infection by the herpes simplex virus,
are another example. Weeping sores appears around
the lips and nose during and after a cold, flu or other
respiratory infections. They subsequently disappear soon
after the body overcomes the primary infection, but will
almost inevitably reappear when another cold manifests
itself. Cold sores go on appearing and reappearing when
the body’s levels of resistance and vitality are reduced.
This tendency can be overcome by the hatha yoga shat­
karmas, surya namaskara and pranayama.
• Bacterial infections: These include boils, impetigo and
cellulitis and are characterized by the production of pus.
Pus is usually a thick, yellowish liquid waste and consists

236
 of bacteria and dead white blood cells. Bacterial infections
signify stagnation of energy in the skin, impurities in
the blood from putrefaction in the digestive system, and
improper diet. The body fills with toxic waste matter and
is in a low state of resistance. Bacterial infections are best
allowed to run their course, but the entire intestine should
be washed by shankhaprakshalana to remove constipation
and insure effective elimination via the bowels. Boils may
also be caused by internal, mental or emotional conflict
and confusion.
• Fungal infections: These manifest as a moist itching rash
and are especially common in the wet, moist and warm
areas of the body, for example, between the toes and
in the groin. Fungi gain access via the skin’s protective
barrier when conditions are favourable, for example,
when there is an excess of acidity in the body. Acidity
is a waste product from cell metabolism and an excess
reflects underlying imbalance. They are best managed by
internal purification through shankhaprakshalana which
will remove excess acidic wastes.
Fungal rashes are notoriously difficult to eradicate perm­
anently by conventional therapy alone. They recur for as
long as the underlying imbalance remains uncorrected.
They are worsened by synthetic underwear and socks.
Like many skin eruptions they are best left clean and dry,
open to the sunlight and air, rather than covered up with
bandages and dressings.
• Scabies: This is an infestation by small mites which burrow
within the skin and lay their eggs there, causing intense
itching, especially in the wrists, arms and finger webs. The
remedy is rubbing the body with benzoyl benzoate oil,
followed by boiling all clothing and bedding.
Psoriasis: This unsightly recurrent skin disorder is the
cutaneous manifestation of a more deep-set psychophysio­
logical disturbance. An improper, devitalized diet high in
carbohydrates, faulty utilization of fats and excess cholesterol
in the skin and blood are also contributing factors. No

237
lasting cure for psoriasis exists in medical science, but yogic
practices frequently enable an earnest individual to realize
and evolve beyond the root cause of this disease. Amaroli
should be practised in conjunction with yogic sadhanas,
including inverted asana. Expose the affected areas to direct
sunlight every day, and try to bathe these areas in salty
seawater as often as possible.
Skin cancer: This usually occurs on the face or forearms
of fair skinned persons following many years of exposure
to direct sunlight in a tropical country. The skin should be
shielded by a suitable lotion before exposure and a wide
brimmed hat should be worn. The practice of amaroli
(massage with three to seven day old urine) in conjunction
with dietary modification and pranayama frequently proves
successful in its prevention and cure.

Holistic management of chronic skin disorders

It is a well-known truism amongst holistic therapists that the
skin is a mirror of digestive health. Diseases such as eczema,
dermatitis, psoriasis or urticaria are often found to be
related to significant digestive problems, food intolerances
and/or parasites in the gut. Chronic itch, without a skin
rash, is another extremely annoying condition, which is
most commonly caused by liver toxicity. When these issues
are methodically identified and treated, the skin problems
improve dramatically.

General yogic program for skin health

Specific modification in individual cases may be necessary
under skilled guidance.
1. Surya namaskara: To the point of total body sweating,
while facing the newly rising sun. The sweat should be
allowed to dry on the body while resting in shavasana.
2. Pranayama: Bhastrika and nadi shodhana pranayama
should be practised each morning. Antar and bahir
kumbhaka and maha bandha (jalandhara, uddiyana and
moola) may be integrated into the pranayama practice.

238
3. Shatkarma: Neti, kunjal and laghoo shankhaprakshalana
should be performed daily. Poorna shankaprakshalana
should be undertaken in an ashram environment, prefer­
ably at the commencement of therapy.
4. Relaxation: Yoga nidra daily.
5. Diet: A light vegetarian diet, rich in alkaline foods (juices,
fruit and vegetables). Oil, sweets, refined, fried and
spicy food should be avoided and salt and dairy foods
restricted. At the commencement of treatment, a raw food
diet should be followed for at least five days. Then, for a
month, either lunch or the evening meal can be missed.

Further recommendations
• Cold bath and skin rub each morning.
• Sparing use of soap and cosmetics.
• Skin rashes should be kept clean and dry as far as possible
and open to the sun and air. The area should be washed
free of debris once a day with a mild non-irritant soap,
and dried carefully.
• Avoid constipation and keep the digestive system clean.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Amaroli, application of fresh midstream urine, is highly
effective in eliminating acute skin rashes. However, the
diet should be pure. Urine therapy can also be used in
chronic skin diseases such as leucoderma and psoriasis.
See Amaroli, published by Yoga Publications Trust.

239
 Varicose Veins

M any people complain of a tired, heavy, aching feeling

in their legs by the end of the day, a result of
inefficient functioning of dilated, lengthened, tortuous
varicose veins. This easily recognizable condition only occurs
in humans and is related to the special circulatory stresses
involved in maintaining an upright posture.
Yoga therapy brings relief to sufferers of this condition
and aids in correcting and restoring damaged veins to their
former condition. This is especially true of early cases where
damage is not yet severe.
The condition is characteristic of middle and old age, but
can occur at any time following damage to the muscles and
veins of the legs. It can be a result of an hereditary tendency,
occurring in families from generation to genera­tion, and
frequently accompanies pregnancy. It is an occupational
hazard for people who spend long periods of time on their
feet, such as machine operators, process workers, traffic
policemen, barbers, counter workers, cashiers and tellers.
How do varicose veins develop? To answer this question
we must first consider the structure and functioning of the
venous return system from the extremities back to the heart.
In the average adult body, the column of venous blood must
flow at least four feet uphill against gravity, in order to enter
the heart. This is quite an engineering feat which nature has
accomplished through a system of one-way flow valves lying

240
along the leg veins. The pumping action is established as the
muscles of the thighs and calves contract with walking. These
repeated contractions squeeze the blood upward along the
veins towards the heart. The one-way valves within the veins
serve to break up the column of blood and prevent it from
flowing back down towards the feet.
It is also necessary to understand a little more about the
network of veins draining each leg of blood. There are two
systems of veins in the legs – the ‘superficial’ (flowing just
beneath the skin) and the ‘deep’ (flowing within the muscle
of the leg and thigh). The superficial system enters the deep
system in two places – in the groin and behind the knee.
In addition there are a number of perforating veins along
the leg and thigh interconnecting the two systems. Varicose
veins develop where the two systems are connected to each
other. Normally, blood in the superficial system flows into the
deep system, the junctions between the two being protected
by one-way valves which prevent any backflow from deep
to superficial. Now consider what happens when standing
straight and erect. The muscle pump is inactive and the
whole weight of the column of blood, exerting pressure up to
90mm Hg, is bearing down upon the valves. A varicose vein
can occur in three interrelated ways:
1. A valve becomes incompetent, allowing a high pressure
leakage of blood back into the superficial system,
distending the superficial vein. Over a period of time the
engorged superficial vein becomes enlarged and tortuous.
2. An obstruction of the venous return to the heart, higher
up in the abdomen, causes an excessive back pressure
in the veins, distending them and forcing the valves to
open and become incompetent from above. This occurs
classically in pregnancy, where the growing uterus im­
pinges on the inferior vena cava, the major vein in the
abdomen. For this reason, varicose veins commonly
accompany pregnancy, but valvular competence is usually
re-established after delivery, especially if the mother
uses yoga therapy in the postpartum period. Tumours

241
 obstructing flow can also cause varicose veins and this is
why a medical check-up is necessary before starting yoga.
3. In thrombosis (blockage) within the deep veins of the
leg, all blood flows via the superficial system, producing
dilation and valvular incompetence. This is an uncommon
and very serious cause of varicose veins requiring urgent
medical treatment. It is characterized by intense pain on
stretching the calf muscles.
The most common complaint of varicose vein sufferers is
the fatigue and discomfort by the end of each day. This may
be accompanied by sharp, localized pains in the sites of
the vari­cose veins, swelling of the ankles by evening and an
itchiness of the skin of the legs. Others find the unsightliness
of their varicose veins embarrassing and socially restricting,
feeling obliged to keep their veins covered when in public
and consequently limiting their activities.
Fortunately, utilizing a combination of common sense,
yoga practices and medical science, a satisfactory solution to
most varicose vein problems can be found.

Surgical treatment
Surgical removal of varicose vein may be found necessary
if the condition is severe or incapacitating. It must be
remem­bered, however, that surgery does not remove the
under­lying tendency to varicose veins and sometimes previ­
ously unaffect­ed veins may become varicosed at a later time.
Therefore, those who undergo surgery for their condition
should adopt the asana program given to facilitate venous
return and avoid the possibility of further operation in the
future. There are two main treatments of varicose vein:
1. Injection of sclerosing (adherent) substances are made
into the vein to join their walls together and to prevent
their further use as a venous return pathway.
2. Ligation and stripping of the long superficial veins of
the leg is carried out. This entails tying of the ends of the
veins and removing them entirely. A number of small cuts
is required for this operation and the blood is left to return

242
 to the heart via the deep venous system. The surgeon
must ensure that each individual communicating vein is
successfully tied off.

Yoga therapy
Asana are very effective in the treatment of mild to moderate
varicose veins, providing relief from symptoms and, in some
cases, allowing incompetent valves to regain their efficiency.
Many sufferers have reported great improvement in their
condition with regular and consistent practise of these asana.
All the inverted asana are most important. They allow
the stagnant pooled blood to drain back to the heart,
permitting damaged veins to resume more normal dimen­
sions and facilitating valvular competence. Remember to rest
in shavasana after any inverted posture.
Sarvangasana (shoulder stand pose) should be adopted
for several minutes, morning and evening and whenever the
legs feel tired and heavy during the day. Sirshasana (head­
stand pose), although an excellent practice for the condition,
is an advanced posture and should not be attempted by
beginners or adopted for long periods of time except under
direct supervision.
Asana which stretch the muscles of the legs, toning and
developing the muscle pump, should be practised regularly
as, in many cases, the problem of varicose veins manifests
because the pumping system is inefficient and weak. Where
the muscles are small and flabby, greater strain and pressure
are applied to the valves.
It is often the case that when the efficiency of the
pumping system is improved through the practice of these
asana, the signs and the symptoms of the varicose veins
disappear. Sumeru asana is excellent for this purpose. The
heels must be brought to the floor if possible, stretching the
calf muscles to their maximum. Tadasana is especially good
for stretching the veins and enhancing the muscle pump.
Pada hastasana and paschimottanasana, when correctly
performed, bring a positive pressure to bear on the leg

243
muscle. Pada sancha­lanasana (cycling) is especially beneficial
for the veins and muscle of the thighs. Surya namaskra
is a dynamic asana series with profound benefits. A few
rounds should be included at the beginning of the morning
program.
It is up to the individual to decide which treatment is best
suited to his condition, depending on the severity of the case
and the individual’s motivation to help himself. All degrees
of varicose veins will benefit from a combination of the
various therapies. Remember, varicose veins do not develop
overnight and you should not expect to immediately reverse
the condition for it will take some time.
Through practice of these asana you will gain immediate
relief from aching legs. Over a period of weeks or months,
by developing muscle pump and emptying veins of stag­nant
blood, surprising results can be obtained, especially where
the veins are not too abnormal to begin with. It is worth­­while
trying this approach before rushing off to the surgeon.

Further recommendations
Simple measures such as these, in conjunction with yogic
practices can afford much relief as well as aiding increased
self-awareness within our daily routine.
• Avoid standing unnecessarily for long periods of time. If
this is not possible, then keep the muscle pump actively
working and moving the blood by walking around or
flexing and contracting the leg muscles as much as
possible. There is a special way of walking which will bring
relief. The heel is brought to the ground first with each
step and then the calf muscles are consciously used to lift
the heel of the back foot as it comes forward, increasing
the spring in the step.
• Keep the legs elevated as much as possible to drain
the pooled blood from the veins. If you work at a desk,
support the legs horizontally rather than down in the
usual position. Similarly, your favourite relaxation place
should include a comfortable high footrest.

244
 During pregnancy, lying on the side will aid venous return
by shifting the pressure off the inferior vena cava in the
abdomen. Alternatively, the pregnant woman can relax
lying flat on the back, with the feet against the wall or on
a support.
• Some people find the application of a firm elastic
bandage or an elastic stocking each morning most
beneficial, but others find this too cumbersome and
restrictive. During sleep and when the limbs are elevated,
the veins will drain out. Strapping the limb, not too
tightly, from above the point of emergence of the varicose
vein downward in a spiralling motion will prevent them
from filling up dur­ing the day and will assist the muscle
pump as the muscles contract against the added pressure
of the bandage. During the day the bandage can be
released periodi­cally, the leg elevated and massaged, and
then the bandage reapplied. At the end of the day the
bandage must be removed.
• Massage of the legs is very effective in bringing relief
from the ache of varicose veins. Many people maintain
that massage is not only a palliative therapy, but has a
long-term curative potential as well, if it is carried out
with awareness and on a regular basis. Massage is most
pleasant and relaxing in the evening when the limbs are
tired. The movement should be towards the heart, squeez­
ing and milking the tissues of blood. A book on massage
will give details of how to massage in the most effective
way. This is especially soothing and effective for varicose
veins accompanying pregnancy.

245
Notes
Notes
Notes
 Dr Swami Karmananda (Dr
Lee Bradley, MBBS [Syd])
was born in Australia and
graduated in medicine from
Sydney University.
He first visited Bihar
School of Yoga in 1974 to
obtain greater insight into
yoga therapy. His journey
to India served as a turning
point in his life and he spent
several years working in the
IYFM Research Coordinating
Centre.

1305-karmananda.indd 1 25/05/2013 2:01:12 PM

 BIHAR YOGA®
2013 Golden Jubilee edition

Yogic Management of

Yogic Management of Common Diseases

®

Common Diseases
SATYANANDAYOGA
BIHARYOGA

Yogic Management of Common Diseases deals with 36 com­mon

as well as serious diseases afflicting the human body. Diseases
covered include those affecting the head and neck, the cardio­
vascular and respiratory systems, the gastro-intestinal tract, Dr Swami Karmananda
the joints and musculo-skeletal system, and the uro-genital
system.

Basic information is provided about the causes and effects of

each condition from both the yogic and medical view­points.
In depth yogic management of each disease is also presented
along with the current medical treatment, dietary recommen­
dations and other advice.This informa­tive text offers a way of
managing disease and regaining health the yogic way.

Dr Swami Karmananda

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ISBN : 978-81-85787-24-4

Yoga Publications Trust, Munger, Bihar, India