Essentials of Yoga

ESSENTIALS OF PRACTICE

Yoga is a Scientific System of physical and mental excellence which requires obedience to certain rules, principle and methodology in order to acquire satisfactory results. If these rules and principles are not followed it may cause reverse results, i.e. harm and injury to the body.

1. There is no specific time for doing yoga. In the point of view of convenience, morning is always better as you will be free for the rest of the day.
Whatever time you have chosen, stick to the same time of practice every day.
Practice yoga regularly and continuously. Irregular practice will not bring good results.
Practice only once within twenty four hours.
Practice at least 15 minutes a day , for 5 days a week. 15 minutes can be gradually increased to a maximum of 1 hour.
2. The place of yoga practice should be neat, clean and airy.
Try to practice at the same place regularly.
Practice alone, if possible.
3. Yoga should be practiced on an empty stomach.
If you have taken food, wait for two or more hours before practicing.
Practitioner must avoid hot food or excessive spices and try to eat a balanced diet.
4. Relax in between asanas for 6 to 8 seconds. Take 2 or 3 normal breaths between asanas.
Rest at the end of the asana session. The general principle is to rest 1/4th of the time of actual practice. For example if you practice asanas for 30 minutes, your rest time is 71/2 minutes.
5. Your body should be neat and clean nor it should be tired or under any excessive physical pain.
Wear clean and light cloth while practicing.
Avoid excessive intake of coffee, tea, alcohol and drugs.
6. Try to keep the mind free from anxiety, worries and any strenuous involvement while you are practicing.
7. Women should not practice yoga during their menstrual periods. Pregnant women should take care to practice moderately.

PRANAYAMA - BREATHING CONTROL IN YOGA

Pranayama' is the fourth stage in Pathanjali's eight stage Yoga discipline. Two Sanskrit words are combined in the word 'Pranayama' - Prana and Ayama. 'Prana' means life or life force. 'Ayama' means development or control. Therefore Pranayama is the development and control of life force. It is a form of breathing exercise, very important in yoga. It goes along with the asanas or exercise.

Breath is the life force that sustains life. Nobody can survive more than a few minutes without air. When the breath stops, life ends. The Forefathers of Yoga developed a special system- 'Pranayama' to increase, develop and control this life force. Normal breathing use only a fraction of our potential respiratory capacity. Pranayama helps to control this life force in a superior and extra ordinary way to reap maximum benefits.

There are various types of Pranayama. Some of the popular forms are Ujjayee, Shitali, Viloma, Kapalabhati, Anuloma, Suryabhedana, Bhastrika etc. There are variations in performing different Pranayamas. Some of them can be done in a sitting position while others in a standing line or sitting position. Some of the Pranayama are difficult and complicated to perform while others are easy.

Pranayama can be mastered only gradually. It may take months or even years before the practitioner mind becomes receptive to the regulated flow of breath and he experiences the full benefits of pranayama. Proper practice of pranayama can control almost any disease but improper practice may give rise to all sorts of respiratory ailments. So one should take care to acquire control over his breath gradually.

Chyawanprash

What is Chyawanprash?
Chyawanprash (also called chyavanaprasha or chyavanaprash, and chyawanaprash) is an ancient Indian health tonic that has multiple benefits which includes energy enhancing, rejuvenating and immunity boosting. It is used all across the world today especially in India.

The origin of chyawanprash
“Rishi” or sage Chyawan was the inventor of this tonic to regain his youth and longevity. The earliest formula of this wonder tonic is found in the Charak Samhita, the Ayurvedic book composed by sage Charak in the 4th Century BC.

Appearance and the ingredients of this magic tonic Chyawanprash is brown in color, sticky in nature and has the consistency of a jam. It has an interesting tangy taste and is usually consumed directly from the bottle (one to two teaspoons per day) or mixed with tepid milk or water. It has a combination of 49 powerful Ayurvedic herbs with ‘amla’ (Indian gooseberry) as the chief ingredient. Dabur is one of best known manufacturers of chyawanprash; it occupies 67 percent of the branded chyawanprash sales. However, a few other companies have also come up with this product. Since multiple companies are involved in the production of this tonic today, there is a slight difference in the recipes. The number of herbs used varies from 25 to 80 though the chief ingredients remain the same.

These include
Amla or the Indian gooseberry – rich in Vitamin C
Ashwagandha or winter cherry
Cardamom
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Asparagus
Turmeric
Honey
Dried catkins
Sandalwood
Clarified butter or ghee (this helps the body to absorb all the vitamins)

Benefits of Chyawanprash
Chyawanprash can be used by all irrespective of any age group. It brings about a harmonious synergy in the body that leads to a better metabolism.

Some of the benefits of chyawanprash are
Improving the digestive and immunity system of the body – Amla, the key ingredient of this tonic is most powerful sources of natural vitamin C – it has more Vitamin than orange and is very helpful in improving the immunity system hastening the healing process. If you consume chyawanprash regularly, you will notice considerable improvement in digestion and absorption.

Good for the brain and the heart – The powerful Ayurvedic herbs help in the smooth functioning of the cardiac system; they also nourish the brain cells by supporting the nervous system and enhancing co-ordination and memory power. It is thus highly recommended for young students.

Good for the Lungs, Liver and Kidneys – Chyawanprash is also effective for the proper functioning of the lungs. The moisture balance is maintained in the lungs thus giving new energy to the respiratory system. It is also very effective for the liver as it acts as a blood purifier and discards the harmful toxins. It combats constipation by the downward flow of energy in the body. Moreover, it throws away excess water from the body without overworking the urinary system.

Others – Besides all the above discussed benefits, chyawanprash also acts as a beauty tonic by improving the skin complexion, giving radiance to the skin and fighting all the harmful bacteria which are instrumental in the development of acne or pimples. It also promotes hair growth and helps in the absorption of calcium that gives strong bones and teeth. It’s anti oxidant properties acts against the ageing process and maintains youthfulness. It improves muscle tones by enhancing protein synthesis; it enhances fertility and regulates the menstruation cycle in ladies.

As a whole it can be considered as an all-embracing herbal health tonic and should be used by each and every family.

Please note that all these benefits of chyawanprash are mentioned in the Ayurvedic texts and the manufacturer’s advertisements; many of these benefits are yet to be scientifically proven.

Indian Diabetic Cures

What is diabetes?
Diabetes can be defined as the condition in which the body is unable to use insulin (the hormone produced by pancreas) because of its inadequate secretion. Insulin is the hormone that is responsible for converting starch into energy. Due to this the blood sugar level increases resulting in various complications ranging from loss of vision to even coma! Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus, as it termed medically, also increases the chances of stroke and other heart problems. Studies show that almost 17 million people in the United States suffer from diabetes.

There are three kinds of diabetes that have been recognized in the last thirty years. They are
• Type 1
• Type 2
• Gestational
Though these are the most commonly accepted ‘types of diabetes’, there may be patients who may not fall in any of these and display characteristics that are very unique.

What are the common symptoms of diabetes?
It is difficult to recognize the symptoms of diabetes as they are very common and appear harmless. The symptoms include:
• Excessive thirst
• Recurrent urination
• Mood swings like irritability
• Exhaustion
• Extreme hunger
• Blurred vision
Research has shown that with an early detection and treatment, diabetes can be cured. Hence on the appearance of any one or all of these symptoms, medical attention should be sought immediately.

Health complications
Diabetes can cause severe health problems like kidney failure, strokes, heart attacks, damaging of the nerves, blindness, gangrene (that in extreme conditions may lead to amputation of a body part) and impotence in men.

Use of herbs for the treatment of diabetes
Right from the ancient times, various herbs are used to treat this chronic illness in India. Even research has confirmed the effectiveness of these traditional medicines.

Listed below are some of the well known herbs that can combat this disease
Pterocarpus marsupium
Onion and garlic
Fenugreek
Gymnema Sylvestre
Bitter Melon
Blueberry
Asian Ginseng
Bilberry
Stevia
Ginkgo Biloba

According to the Ayurveda, there are over 500 herbal remedies to treat diabetes and till date these are used for curing this disease. The herb Gymnema Sylvestre, available in both India and Africa is well known for curbing the longing for sweetness. It is also helps to reduce the blood fats as well as the blood sugar levels. This herb increases the number of beta cells in the pancreas; however, this study is based on the research conducted on diabetic rats.

Cinnamon, the bark of the tree that is usually used for culinary purpose, is also effective in combating diabetes. It has been proved that cinnamon increases the rate of conversion of glucose into energy and also blocks out the free radicals. Research has shown that this herb has remarkable qualities to control diabetes – more than 70 percent of the diabetic population reported positive results.

Fenugreek, also used primarily for culinary purposes, has been long used in India to fight diabetes. Consuming approximately 15 grams of fenugreek seed powder everyday significantly reduces blood sugar levels and triglycerides. This is particularly effective for patients suffering from type 2 diabetes.

Jambolan, an herb belonging to the family to cloves, has been used since ancient times as an anti-diabetic drug. It reduces the blood sugar level very fast with almost no side effects. Jambolan consists of oleanolic acid that prevents the production of free radicals.

Another herb that has been used by Indian Ayurvedic practitioners to treat type 2 diabetes is bitter melon extract. It contains a polypeptide that is similar to the polypeptide present in insulin. Bitter Gourd (karela), a popular vegetable in India is also effective in treating diabetes.

Magnetotherapy in India

Of late there has been a lot of attention on complementary forms of therapy like Reiki, Acupressure, Magnetotherapy, Homeopathy, Aroma therapy, Color therapy and lots more. So, are these methods new and untried and hence not safe? The fact is alternative therapy has been practiced in India from the ancient time. Tradition says that ‘mantram, tantram, yantram and aushadam’ (chanting, sharpness, charm-like devices and medicinal potions) should complement each other. However, all these treatment methods were primarily holistic and not symptom based.

What is magnetotherapy and how does it work?
Magnetotherapy is the process of curing or healing an ailment by using electromagnets on the bones, tissues and cells of the human body. Magnetotherapy works on the principle of the magnetic field of the body. In this procedure the electromagnets are used to influence the natural bio-electric currents and immune system. As human beings are very sensitive to the electromagnetic field, this magnetic effect penetrates each and every cell in the body on account of the highly pervasive character of magnetism. The magnetotherapist diagnoses and restores balance with the help of static or electromagnets with appropriate intensity of magnetic field at proper points.

The electromagnets that are used for the treatment increases the process of removal of the toxins, cleans the clogged or blocked vessels, throws out kidney stones (if any) and are even capable of killing the cancerous cells in the early stages.

The magnetic force in the electromagnets enhances the immune system of the body, develops the effectiveness of the drugs and eventually improves the characteristics of blood. This leads to the healing (either repressing of the disease or completely eradicating it) of many serious health problems. It has been seen that magnetotherapy is very effective in balancing altered metabolic functions and also in counterbalancing the degenerative processes. Research shows that issues like arthritis, polio, spondylitis, paralysis, slip disc, inflammation, infections, stiffness, back ache, severe and persistent pains and fractured bones have been cured by this alternative therapy.

Is this therapy painful?
Not at all! Magnetotherapy is a simple, pain-free and natural treatment that does not have any side effects. However, it is important that this treatment is conducted under the guidance of your therapist. It must also be remembered that only magnets with particular shapes, sizes and strengths must be used at the appropriate points for specified time.

Magnetotherapy and meditation
Any form of naturopathy (like magnetotherapy, acupuncture, acupressure, reiki, aroma therapy) cures an ailment by bringing about harmony in the mind and increasing the concentration. Experiments and research has clearly indicated that using magnets during meditation brings a balance between all the mental nerves.

• The magnetic energy strengthens the network of the nervous system which in turn increases the power of concentration and meditation remarkably. Application of magnets has also helped in Transcendental Meditation.

• This magnetic force has a lot of positive impact on our body; it monitors the flow of blood and stimulates the digestive system. Besides, it also helps to keep the body warm by giving the requisite amount of heat. Thus it is capable of providing the patient with the appropriate amount of physical and mental environment that is required for meditation.

• Magnetism prevents the accumulation of calcium and cholesterol in the body and makes it healthy and flexible.

Some advantages of Magnetotherapy
• This treatment does not require any medication or surgery.
• No big machinery or equipment is used for this form of treatment; a few pairs of magnets are sufficient to handle all diseases.
• It is safe, simple and economical. There is no recurring expense as the same magnets can be used for different diseases for hundreds of patients. However, the if the strength of the magnets decrease after a period of 4 to 5 years, they can be recharged to be used again for treatment.

Homeopathy

The history of homeopathy
Homeopathy is derived from the two Greek words –hómoios which means similar and páthos that signifies suffering. The term homeopathy was used by the German physician Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann and first appeared in print in 1807, although he had began outlining his axiom of medical similars in a series of articles and monographs from 1796.

This method of treatment is widely popular in India and Europe; in the United States, it is not mcuh used as such therapies have been subject to very strict ordinances; very recently, even in Europe very strict and tight rules and regulations have been implemented by the EDQM.

The Theory of Homeopathy
The principle of homeopathy believes in treating the sick and unhealthy with exceptionally diluted agents that in concentrated form produce similar symptoms in the healthy or the normal. The homeopathic doctors believe that the chances of recovery are much higher if the serial dilution of the medication is increased laong with succussion or violent shaking. Unlike the established school of medicine, homeopathy believes that any disease is nothing but just a “morbid derangement of the organism”. This theory also asserts that every instance of an ailment differs from one person to another and an ailing person has a ‘dynamic disturbance in a hypothetical vital force’; hence, the conventional method of diagnosis and medication is not acceptable.

Since this alternative medical therapy believes in the principle of diluting the drugs to make them more effective, Homeopathy has faced tremendous amount of criticism from various sections of medical science; professionals have debated its authenticity and even termed it as “quackery” or “pseudo science”. Unfortunately placebo controlled clinical trials have only given mixed results and better quality trials are more likely to produce negative results. To make matters worse quite a few cases of critical conditions have proved to fatal from attempts made to treat serious diseases solely with homeopathy drugs.

Use of homeopathy for the treatment of Cancer
At the beginning of 2006, the European Journal of Cancer conducted a research and published the results of six trails of homeopathic treatments for the treatment of Cancer which included chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Amongst these six, three were were randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials. The authors of this publication were the Department of Complementary Medicine at the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth. According to their investigation, there were not enough evidence to suppport the homeopathic use for the cancer therapy; however, the results were pretty encouraging and requires further investigation.

Popularity of homeopathy
As discussed earlier, homeopathy is much popular in India and Europe than in USA. Research has indicated that the growth of homeopathy in the British market is almost 20 percent every year; the growth rates are far high in Germany and Portugal. However, it is interesting to note that while this alternative form of medical treatment is usually considered to be complementary to its conventional counterpart, in India almost 10 percent of the population use homeopathy exclusively for their medical requirements.

Some interesting data
• More than 30 percent French doctors and 20 percent German medicos advise homeopathy to their patients.
• Almost 40 percent of British doctors recommend patients to seek homeopathy treatment.
• Nearly 45 percent of Dutch medicos firmly believe that homeopathic medicines are very effective.

Health and Meditation

With modernization, various forms of alternative treatment have come into existence; you will be surprised to know that even doctors from the conventional school of Medical science recommend their patients alternative therapies which include Ayurveda, Yoga and meditation. All these therapies have been backed by hundreds of scientific studies going back to decades.

Meditation – the way to better life style’ these advertisements are splashed today all across the newspapers, journals, magazines and even television. You will find ‘gurus’ offering meditation courses and classes to combat all kinds of diseases and ailments. So what is meditation? Some wonder drug that has the ability to heal all disorders! No, it isn’t. As mentioned, meditation goes back to a long time in history and has very effective healing powers. However, it is not a kind of faith where curing or healing is based on hypnotic suggestions. If you are suffering from some problems, meditation can help you in some measurable ways; if you are not sick, meditation will help you to stay fit and healthy. It works in two main ways: it helps the body to relax quickly and settles the stressed mind.

Meditation is effective because it helps restore the body to a state of balance. This condition is technically termed as “homeostasis”- a situation when all the functions inside the body are at peace or rest or operating within sustainable limits; things like the heart functioning normally, the blood sugar level does not go beyond the ideal range, the gastric juice levels are proper, the breathing rates are normal and so on. It is not that our body cannot function if things are not in order – for example when we are running a race or over exercising or gorging on a meal. In such conditions, the body continues to operate without making us going through a process of major suffering. Nevertheless, if such situations happen frequently, it gradually starts giving up. This is when pathologies start occurring. Sickness thus can be defined as a state of imbalance in one or multiple systems of the body.

Our body is always battling to return to the state of homeostasis. Our body functions the best when all its organs are in a state of harmony and peace and this is also the optimum state for self-repair and growth. By relaxing and de stressing ourselves, we help the body to heal by itself.

Some health conditions that can experience remarkable experience through meditation
Heart related problems – Meditation is a key component of the Ornish therapy, the only treatment that is scientifically proven to reverse heart disease.

High blood pressure – It has been scientifically proven that the ‘relaxation response’ in meditation is very effective in reducing blood pressure and thus decreasing the chances of stroke and heart attack.

Respiratory problems –Respiratory problems like asthma, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD can be cured to a significant extent by practicing meditation.

Skin disorders like psoriasis – Psoriasis is a condition that causes scaly red patches or blotches on the skin. You will be surprised to know that when a study was conducted between two groups – one which was going through the regular psoriasis treatment and the other that was practicing meditation along with the treatment, the skin condition of the latter healed much faster than the others.

Besides all these, meditation also treats stress and strain, fatigue, drug addiction, stomach upset, insomnia or sleeplessness, any kinds of pain, anxiety and phobias.

Indian Medicinal Herbs

There is a sudden emphasis on the holistic approach to healthcare – newspapers, television and journals are flashed with advertisements about the popularity of the ancient Indian herbs which are extremely effective in dealing with any kind of ailment in the most natural and safest way.

Herbs play a very important role in the modern times when the damaging effects of food processing and over-medication have assumed alarming proportions. Not

only as alternative medicines, herbs, are also used in cosmetics, various food items and most popularly teas. People are slowly starting to believe that herbs have a vast potential for their use as a curative medicine.

What are herbs?
In the language of Botany, a herb can be defined as a plant that does not have a wooden stem and withers and dies after flowering. However, we now use this term commonly for all plants (with woody/non woody stems) which can be used for medicinal or culinary purposes (any part of the plant like leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruits or seeds).

Uses of Herbs
Using herbs to treat different diseases have in used in the Indian and Chinese traditions for more than thousands of years. You will be surprised to know that most of the medicines that we use today are originally derived from botanicals herbs of yester-years. For example aspirin is derived from the white willow tree; quinine from the bark of the cinchona tree and digitalis from foxglove.

Herbs have been very effective in preventing illnesses; their widespread popularity can also be attributed to the gentle nature of medications that do not have any side effects.

As I have mentioned earlier, herbs are used in many ways. The ultimate objective of their use is that they should interact directly with our body chemistry. Though they are used in food, cosmetics, drugs or even fragrances, it must be remembered that that their key ingredients must be absorbed in our body for showing the benefits. Once these herbs enter the blood stream, they distribute themselves and influence the whole body system. In this article I will discuss about a few Indian herbs that are very effective for medicinal purposes.

Medicinal herbs
Atharva Veda has mentioned various herbs that can be used for medicinal purposes. Some of these are very common and used in everyday lives:

Neem – this herb is very powerful for handling all sorts of skin related issues like scabies, eczema, warts, psoriasis and dandruff. Neem contains Nimbidol and Gedunin that have very good fungicidal properties.

Basil – more commonly known as Tulsi, basil is considered to be one of the purest and most sublime plants. It is also used for dealing with skin disorders as it is a blood purifier and kills bacteria. For cough or cold or any inflammation of the throat, tea made with basil leaves can be used for instant relief.

Turmeric – turmeric or haldi is a common and popular medication for treating any kind of injuries and infections.

Sandalwood – also called chandan, this plant has an extraordinary fragrance. The bark of a sandalwood tree is very smooth and can be made into a fine paste. Sandalwood paste can be applied on any parts of the body to give a smooth, unblemished and lustrous look. Its unique fragrance is also used in various oils and soaps