YOGA THERAPY BOOKS BY GURUJI

Prolonged trouble of acidity will eventually cause injury to the intestine, which is progressive in nature. As the wound goes d eeper and deeper it may produce a hole into the intestine which if left untreated cou ld lead be fatal. This is known as an ulcer and it can be detected by X-ray or by endosco py. The symptoms are that of acidity however with an ulcer they are intensified. Additional symptoms may include stomachache and chest pain.

If the injury is on the walls of the stomach, it is known as a ‘Gastric Ulcer’ and if it is at the beginning of the small intestine, it is term ed as a ‘Duodenal Ulcer’. The troubles and the consequences are the same in eithe r case. Again, all the symptoms of acidity are seen in this disease with the symptoms gradually becoming more severe.

Gastric Ulcers

If the ulcer is in the walls of the stomach, the pa in occurs in the chest ribs and there will be stiffness in the stomach after meals. Sometimes the patient vomits and at times he vomits blood. If the ulcer has caused blee ding in the stomach it will come out in the form of vomiting. This trouble increases with consumption of oily, spicy & sour substances, as well as drinking and smoking. D rinking milk will temporarily reduce the symptoms.

Mental stress is a one of the major causes of this disease as well. Constantly feeling like one has to achieve more in life contri butes to the overload on the system. That combined with insufficient mental and physical rest is a recipe for illness. Over- eating, smoking and/or drinking are the ways adopte d to reduce these daily stresses and again further contribute to the problem. These substances increase the acid production thus exacerbating the original wound. An xiety provoking thoughts and worries will only intensify this disease causing pe rsons in emotional turmoil to be especially are prone to this disease.

Duodenal Ulcers

There is a curve in the small intestine at the base of the stomach. If ulcers are formed in this area they are called ’Duodenal Ulcer s’. With this type of ulcer, the pain resides at the center of the stomach on the inside. The pains lessen with food and milk causing these patients to constantly feel the need to eat in an effort to manage their pain. This again aggravates the situation by adding weight gain to the problem.

Mental stress and threat of the consequences

There is an intimate relation between the emotions generated in the mind and the internal layer of the membrane of the stomach o r the intestine. Stress stimulates the nerve cells resulting in a greater production o f acid from the walls of the stomach. This acid is then let into the stomach. It is used for digestion if there is food in the stomach but when there is not, it will be stored in the stomach yielding inflammation of the stomach membrane. As the membrane is delicat e it will burn on contact with the acid that will then come into contact with the inner nerve tissues. These nerve tissues will then become inflamed causing a wound t hat will continue to spread and cause increasing pain. It will start to penetrate t he walls of the membrane and if not properly treated may create holes in the stomach or duodenum. As a result the food 92 comes out of the stomach, which is a very serious c ondition with no alternative to surgery. Blood vessels of the walls of the stomach or the intestine may burst causing bleeding. The blood will come out with vomiting but if this bleeding continues, the patient has to undergo surgery. The ultimate outcom e is death if proper treatment is not taken in time.

Medical Treatment

There are medications for ulcers given primarily to dissolve excess acids. Additionally, medicines for curing the illness as w ell as medication for reducing mental stress can also be recommended. All these me dicines will provide temporary relief for the patient however reoccurrence of the cured wound may occur. At that time the patient has to be operated on whereby the wounded part of the stomach or the duodenum is cut out. Without getting to the root ca use of origination and regeneration of the wound, surgery can only have a limited effec t as the injury may be generated in some other area.

Appropriate Treatment

First, take the recommended medication for reducing the severity of the problem and to provide interim relief. Then adoptin g yogic therapy for a more permanent cure is the right course of treatment. Me dication can be stopped after sufficient yogic practice, therefore minimizing the ir adverse effects. Keep in mind that while yoga will help, the patient will have to make changes and follow stricter rules and regimen for diet and lifestyle.

Yogic Therapy

The mental stress produced from our daily lives is the main cause of this disease. Creating an atmosphere that will not minim ize these stresses is the first measure for treatment. Taking rest for a month at a place other than our home is necessary for the required change of atmosphere. A residential Yogic therapy course is best for this purpose. The patient must take com plete rest at this place and stay detached from worries and anxieties.

The following course is recommended:

First Week- Complete Yoga Sopan course and Yoga Nidra.

Second Week- (Continue revision of the course contents stated above). Vaman on alternate days, practice of asanas from Laghu Shank ha Prakshalana and at the end of the week perform Laghu Shankha Prakshalana.

Regular Self-study

Asanas from Yoga Sopan course and Pranayama practic e for one hour daily. Cleansing processes; Vaman and Laghu Shankha Praksh alana every alternate day. Perform Yoga Nidra once a day. Yoga Nidra may be pe rformed in the afternoon or evening. Sit in Vajrasana for ten minutes after eac h meal. Chant Aum for 15-20 minutes before sleeping.

Household Therapy

• Amla jam/ rub the Sootshekhar tablet in milk to tr ansform to powder.
• Make one-eighth decoction of mixture of dry ginger , Gulvel powder (Tinospora 93 Cordifolia) and Nagarmotha (Cyperus Rotundus).
• Sleep on the left side for 10-15 minutes after mea ls.
• Do not drink water during meals but rather wait on e and a half hours after meals.

Naturopathy

• Have a mixture of one glass lukewarm water and hal f lemon juice on an empty stomach.
• Keep cold plait on the stomach for 15 minutes twic e a day.
• Have juice of gourd.
• Have a glass of milk every night.

Have meals twice a day but on fixed timings and of course before 12 noon and 7 pm. And while eating concentrate on what you are puttin g into your body. Hurried meals will not be helpful. Enjoy the food you eat without negative feelings towards it. Ensure the food is satisfying and try to breathe th rough right nostril. The mind must be serene while taking food. If the mind is preoccu pied with negative emotions like anger, fear, excitement, anxiety, perform Shavasana for fifteen minutes to and calm down the mind before eating.

Dugdha Kalpa (Milk Diet)

Before starting this treatment the disease must be controlled through the other naturopathic treatments. Additionally, before actua lly starting the therapy the patient must follow a diet of mainly alkaline substances li ke non-citrus fruits, vegetables, and juices. After that the patient has to fast for thre e to four days and then begin with the treatment of Dugdha Kalpa.

The milk diet must be followed in a specific way. I nstead of drinking a larger quantity of milk once or twice daily, the patient m ust drink smaller amounts more frequently. For instance, having 25 ml milk at 7 o’ clock in the morning, and continuing to drink 25 ml of milk every two hours u ntil 7 o’clock in the evening. The same pattern is to be followed the second day but w ith an increased quantity of milk. The doses on day 2 would be of 50 ml instead of 25 ml again very two hours from 7 am- 7 pm. The quantity of milk is to be increased b y 25 ml each day following the same pattern of drinking for a total of six days. O n the seventh day drink 150 ml of milk every one and a half hours. Follow this (150 m l every one and a half hours) for the next four days. Drink 200 ml milk every hour fr om the eleventh day. On the thirteenth day, 300 ml milk each hour for a total o f twelve times per day measuring 3600 ml of milk in total. Next, drink 300 ml every 45 minutes until day forty. After forty days are finished, reduce the quantity of mil k gradually over ten days.

The milk should be from a cow and initially it is t o be boiled. After that it is to be consumed at a lukewarm and this can be done by i mmersing the glass of milk into hot water. Do not drink fast but rather sip it and feel its taste. Let it mix well with the saliva and then swallow. Eating milk is advised rat her than just gulping it. The milk diet will help to regain the lost weight. It also works very well on pale eyes, wrinkled skin, weak disposition, and formless stoma ch. It improves blood circulation in the body and hence a feeling of vivacity resides in the mind and body of the person. This experiment works in many diseases such as tube rculosis, anemia, muscle diseases and weak tissues.

Fasting (Niraahar) - The production of acids increase due t o the food we take. Fasting will affect the production of acids and will bring it to the natural condition. Five to ten 94 days of fasting is suggested as per the condition o f the disease in the patient. Only lukewarm water may be taken during fasting. This mu st be followed only with expert guidance on an experimental basis. It will definite ly create a permanent effect on the production of the acids.

Juice Diet (Rasaahar) Following a juice diet is also beneficia l for this disease. At times it can work as an option to fasting, keeping in mind that the duration will be more than fasting. Juices of vegetables like carrot , cabbage, cucumber, and gourd prove useful. Even coconut water is helpful. Soup m ade of gourd and rice-gruel (rice that is not husked) can be taken as supportive food . While experimenting on a juice diet the above juices must be taken at different ti mes and they must be freshly made. Any other diet is not permissible. Fifteen to twent y days on a juice diet will be necessary. Later, a gradual return to a regular die t may be followed.

Beneficial Diet Tips

• Milk and milk products.
• Gourd, carrot, snake gourd, bitter gourd, green gr am, red lentils.
• Leafy vegetables and other natural diet.

Prohibited Diet

• Non-vegetarian food, hot and spicy seasonings, fri ed substances, bakery products, canned foods.
• Stale food, over-eating, pulses- pigeon peas, blac k gram.
• Tea, coffee, cocoa, alcohol.
• Cold drinks and fast food.

Alterations to be made in Lifestyle

Acidity rises due to traveling and not getting enou gh proper rest hence both of these must be controlled specifically during the co urse of treatment. Rest is useful when the disease has become more serious and gettin g to sleep before midnight is even more beneficial. Acidity increases because of taking too much sun so take measures to avoid it or at the least use preventati ve measures to limit exposure.