YOGA THERAPY BOOKS BY GURUJI

There are many germs in the external environment. T hey enter the body through air, water or wounds on the body and can multiply r apidly given favorable conditions. White blood cells fight these germs and try to kill them. If the white blood cells win, the body does not suffer. But if they do not succee d in killing the germs, the germs grow rapidly and infect the organs in their vicinit y. The infection may cause fever, swelling in the organ, pain in the organ, slowing o r even cessation of functioning in that organ. Antibiotics can solve the problem for t he time being, but yoga yields long term results.

Certain organs are at higher risk of infection, and kidneys are at the top of this hierarchy. The kidneys, ureter, bladder and urethra are the major urinary organs. The urinary tract gets in contact with the external env ironment through the urethra; one end of which opens to the outside of the body. Germ s can enter the tract from here and may infect any of the above four organs.

Infection in the urinary bladder

Blood circulation helps the cells absorb nutrients and eliminate waste. Impurities in the blood are filtered by the kidneys . Impurities in liquid form (urine) are stored in the urinary bladder and eliminated wh en a sufficient amount is stored; usually after about four hours.

The possibility of infection in the bladder is very high. Infection results in a burning sensation in the lower abdomen, a frequent need to pass urine, and other symptoms. The urine appears turbid and contains pus when it is infected. Sometimes it contains blood, appearing reddish in color.

Kidney infection

If germs reside in the bladder for a long time, the infection may reach the kidneys through the urethra. This slows the purific ation of blood in the kidneys and the impure blood spreads all over the body, thus sp reading the infection. The kidneys stop functioning if the infection is not brought un der control. The patient has to undergo dialysis at such times. Dialysis is the pro cess of extracting the impure blood and inserting pure blood into the body. If an error occurs in this process, the patient is at great risk. Kidney transplants are another solut ion, but they are very risky and expensive. This kind of infection is found more in females rather than males as their urethra is short (3-4 inches) and its opening is co vered with muscles. Hence, it is difficult to clean properly and germs can easily en ter and reach the bladder. Women should be aware of this and take suitable precautio ns.

The possibility of infection increases during the p regnancy period. As the fetus increases in size, it applies increasing pressure o n the bladder, which cannot be controlled. The woman has to pass urine frequently, but the bladder is never emptied completely. The continued storage of urine in the b ladder increases the possibility of infection. Moreover, as the fetus grows in the woma n’s womb, her body takes on its functional needs. As a result, the amount of impuri ties in her blood increases. These should be disposed of properly, but the pressure on the bladder prevents this. Blood circulates spreading impurities and may cause serio us trouble. It may even result in the abortion of the fetus. Sometimes control over t he bladder muscles is lost. In this case, urine keeps dripping constantly. As a woman g oes through further pregnancies, these muscles start losing their elasticity and she gradually loses control over them. In addition, the urinary organs are strained at the ti me of delivery, worsening the trouble.

Sometimes this control is lost due to squeezing or coughing, resulting in the passage of urine. It is therefore necessary to practice cer tain yogic processes during the pregnancy period and after delivery. However, it is unsafe to practice certain asanas at these times; yoga practice should be performed unde r expert guidance only.

Yogic Therapy

Yoga is not specifically useful once there is an infection in the body. But infection may be resisted with the help of regu lar yoga practice, especially in cases where there is a need to rebuild muscular con trol, because yoga helps in improving the elasticity of the muscles. Yoga also improves overall body balance.

Sun Salutations

If the person is not suffering from backbone or heart disease, he can perform Sun Salutations, which help in improving th e elasticity of all the muscles of the body. Moreover, an improvement in physical and mental immunity keeps an overall balance in the body. The performance of twe lve Sun Salutations every morning is a boon to good health.

Yogasanas

A newcomer to yoga may start with the Yoga Sopan course. S/he may learn the body movement exercises, simple asanas an d Bhramari (exhalation). If his/her physical condition is otherwise sound, s/he may learn Bhujangasana, Dhanurasana, Naukasana, Sarvangasana, Ashwini Mudra , Halasana, Matsyasana, Pashchimottanasana, Ardha Padmasana, Ardha Matsyend rasana, Ushtrasana, Vyaghrasana, Supta Vajrasana, Veerasana, Vatayanasa na, Agnisar, Uddiyan Bandha, Mool Bandha, Kapalbhati, Vaman, Laghu Shankha Praks halana. Regular practice of Yoga Nidra will release all unnecessary stress, hel ping the patient to regain muscular elasticity and therefore balance in muscular moveme nts. This will automatically aid physical repair and enhance mental strength.

Household Therapy

• Drink water boiled with barley and then cooled.
• Drink one glass of water mixed with Padelium murax (Bada Gokhru) on an empty stomach.

Naturopathy

• (Warm, warm-cold) waist bath once in a day.
• Keep cold plait on the opening of the urethra for fifteen minutes, twice a day.
• Fasting once a week only lemon juice + water. Thre e to seven days of fasting in six months.
• Have a glass of juice made from wheat sapling (gro wn in a small earthen pot for a week) on an empty stomach.

Diet

A simple, fresh, vegetarian diet is always benefi cial, Non-vegetarian, spicy, and fried substances damage health. There should be eno ugh liquid in the diet. If not, water intake must be increased to clear the urinary system.

Beneficial Diet Tips

• nadulterated natural diet.
• Fruits, fruit or vegetable juice.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Have meals before 12 noon and 7 pm.

Prohibited Diet

• Non-vegetarian, hot, spicy food, pickles, papad (c rackers or flat bread).
• Pulses- pigeon peas, Bengal gram, black gram.
• Sweets, refined substances, hydrogenated vegetable ghee.
• Tea, coffee, cocoa.

Alterations to be made in Lifestyle

Nylon clothes and clothes tight at the waist are ha rmful for these diseases. Therefore, use clean cotton, loose clothes. Further more, make deliberate efforts to clean the urinary organs. It is possible to prevent these diseases if the above precautions are taken and yoga is practiced regular ly.