Category: Shat karma

How to Cure – Eyes

Catarrh dims eye-sight when its infection spreads to the duct connecting the nose with the eyes, and the sinuses surrounding the eye-sockets. The weakness of sight persists even though when the Catarrh trouble has apparently been healed.

For an improvement of sight Sutra-neti accompanied by Vyutkrama, Shitakrama and Siddha netis done with water, mik or mixture of milk and almond oil according to the nature of the patient proves very useful. These practices drain off Catarrh from the duct and the sinuses, tone up optical muscles and nerves, and help in the proper circulation of blood.

Overstraining the eyes by reading thin type, working in dimlight, or doing office work constantly for many hours is harmful. If possible perfect rest should be given to the eyes during the course of treatment. Nourishing diet and light exercise consisting of some Asanas (below) and morning walk on grassy land is conducive to hasty recovery. ‘Shirshasana‘ should be regularly practised after the Neti. Its process is given as under:-

Shirshasna

Rest the crown of the head on the folded hands placed over a smooth cushion. Keeping the balance on the forearms raise the legs in the air till the body becomes vertically erect. In the beginning a helper shall be needed to raise the legs and support the body. Its practice should be increased from 15 seconds to 15 minutes in slow progression.

The Trataka Kriya is also very helpful in the improvement of eyesight. It is described below:-

Trataka Kriya
Look without winking the eyelids at a minute object with your mind concentrated till the tears come into the eyes. Its duration will itself increase with daily practice and with it shall gradually improve the vision.*

All these practices may be conveniently done in the following order:-
1. Sutra-neti.
2. Vyut-krama, Shita-krama and Siddha netis.
3. Trataka.
4. Shirsh-asana.

*C.f. Hathayoga Pradipika
निरीक्षेन्निश्चलदृशा सूक्ष्म लक्ष्यं समाहित:।
अश्रुसंपातपर्यंतमाचार्यै स्त्राटकं स्मृतम्॥ 2 31
मोचनं नेत्ररोगाणां तंद्रादीनांकपाटकम्‌।
यत्नतस्त्राटकं गोप्यं यथा हाटकपेटकम्‌॥ 2 32

Tr.:- Look without winking the eye-lids at a minute object with your mind concentrated till the tears come into the eyes. This is called Trataka by the Acharyas.

By ‘Trataka’ all the diseases of the eyes and sloth are removed. So it should be carefully preserved secretly as a golden casket.

How to Cure – Laryngitis

An inflammation of the larynx of which there are numerous forms. The ordinary cases are produced:

  • by continuous talking – lecturers and teachers are the chief sufferers
  • by excessive smoking, especially cheap tobacco containing much dust
  • by living in a dust laden atmosphere – people in certain factories fall victims in this way; and
  • by exposure to wet and cold.

The symptoms of laryngitis are huskiness or loss of voice, a cough, expectorations often tinged with blood, pain in the throat, feverishness and a general feeling of being unwell.

The inflammation of the larynx can be cured by Vamana Dhauti and Vyut krama neti with milk, sipping through the nose about a quarter litre of milk mixed with twenty drops of almond-oil.

How to Cure – Hay Fever

This disease is characterised by red streaming eyes, profusely flowing nose and shattering sneezes. Mostly the people with sensitive nasal lining catch it by inhaling pollen of grass, dust etc.

This disease must persist so long as the nasal lining is not made strong enough to be proof against the irritation caused by pollen of grass and dust etc.

The patient should begin with ‘Kapala-bhati Pranayma‘. He should practise it for one week. It will give good exercise to his nasal muscles and air passages. Then after one week Jala-neti only with luke warm water should be done for three days. The Jala-neti should also be followed by Kapala-bhati Prarayama which will blow off the remaining water particles from his nose. After the third day he should begin sutra-neti. A daily practice of it for a few weeks will make him immune to attack of hay fever.

How to Cure – Adenoids & Tonsils

The inflammation of tonsils and adenoids by repeated colds though seem a minor disease to some people yet when they have become infected furnish a particularly advantageous location for the multiplication of bacteria and sap the health of the patient.

Adenoids can be very easily cured by means of ‘Sutraneti‘ followed by ‘Jala-neti‘ with luke warm saltish water.

A regular practice of ‘Vastra-Dhauti‘ and ‘Sutraneti‘ for a fortnight is enough to subside the inflamed tonsils. Both these practice should be done weekly for a few months afterwards to ensure total eradication of the trouble.

How to Cure – Asthma

The prolonged Catarrh is likely to penetrate further downwards affecting the muscles of the inner air-passages and their mucous linings. This results in Asthma which is characterised by difficulty in breathing and constant wheezing and coughing. This disease is dangerous for life and extremely troublesome*. Medicines afford temporary relief to the patient but the permanent cure is in Yoga which eradicates its root cause, the Catarrh.

The treatment of Asthma by Yogic methods extends over two to six months according to the condition of the patient.

Nourishing diet at regular intervals only should be taken. Cough producing objects such as rice, buffalo’s milk, ‘mas ki dal’, cabbage; and such other things and sour objects should be avoided. Hard exercise, exertion and worry are harmful. Morning Sun-baths and doing the ‘Asanas’, prescribed below, in open Sun-shine help the treatment.

‘Sutra-neti‘ should be regularly done every day in the morning. This should be followed by ‘Vyutkrama neti‘ but cow’s milk should be substituted for water in this case.

After this, ‘Vamana-Dhauti‘ with luke warm water in which a piece of ginger has been boiled should be practised. Then take a quarter litre of milk with a piece of ginger boiled in it and sip it when it is luke warm through the nose.

Then, prepare a comfortable seat on the ground by spreading a mat and a carpet in the open sunshine. Practise the ‘Kapala-bhati Pranayama‘ for five minutes. After that, sit in the ‘Baddha-Padmasana‘ for as long as you can upto the length of half an hour. Its process is described as under : –

Baddha-padmasana

Sit with the legs stretched forward. Then lift the right foot and place Its heel at the root of the left thigh. And similarly the left heel at the root of the right. Now, cross the hands behind the back and take hold of the toes, the right toe with the right hand and the left toe with the left. Place the chin firmly on the breast and look the tip of the nose. This strengthens the lungs and cures Asthma.

After the ‘Baddha-Padmasana’ ‘Sarvangasana‘ should also be done.

In place of ‘Vamana-Dhauti‘ there should be substituted ‘Vastra-Dhauti‘ after every fourth day. Its process is as under :

Vastra-Dhauti
Take a clean piece of muslin three inches broad and about 25 feet long. Soak it in water and slowly swallow it. Swallow a span the first day and increase it daily by a span. Draw it out again.**

During the course of the attack of wheezing the electuary (अवलेह, चटनी) preparation of honey mixed with ginger powder is very useful to lick. It should be kept ready for use.

*Cf. कामं प्राणहरा रोगा बहवो न तुते तथा ।
यथा श्वासश्च हिक्का च हरत: प्राणमाशु वै ॥
(Yoga Ratnakar p. 589, Verse 3)

Tr:- Every disease is dangerous for life, without doubt, but not so much as Hic-cough and Asthma which kill a person in no time.

**Cf. Hatha Yoga Pradipika II 24, 25
चतुरंगुलबिस्तारं हस्तपंचदशायतम ।
गुरूपदिष्टमार्गेण सिक्ंत वस्त्रं शनैर्ग्रसेत्‌ ॥
पुन: प्रत्याहरेच्चैतदुदितं धौति कर्म तत्‌ ॥ 24
कासश्वासप्लीहकुष्टं कफरोगाश्च विंशति: ।
धौति कर्म प्रभावेन प्रयांत्येव न संशयः ॥ 25

Tr:- Take a clean wet piece of cloth 4 fingers broad and 15 spans long and slowly swallow it according to the instructions of the Guru.

Draw it out again. This is called ‘Dhauti’ and removes Cough, Asthma, ‘Pleeha’ (splenetic diseases), leprosy and other diseases brought on by phlegm.

How to Cure – Ear-trouble

If the necessary precautions are not taken to cure the catarrh there is the possibility of the mucous being blown into the ear-passages and cause the irritation, inflammation and finally deafness.

This ear-trouble is very much different from one resulting from the congealment of wax in the external ear or earache and singing in the ears caused by small abscesses in the outer passage which soon burst and discharge, leaving no ill effects, though very painful while they last. The ear-trouble caused by catarrh is much more serious and should be immediately attended to lest it should result in further complications. Its most effective cure is by Yogic methods. The catarrh has made its way through the delicate paths – the sinuses and the Eustachian tube. No surgical operation can draw it back, and few medicines can obstruct its flow. The subtle Yoga practices are the only recourse and the patient should patiently and firmly commence these under an expert guide if available.

Regulate your diet. Only light meals consisting of fruits, vegetables and bread are prescribed.

Sutra-neti (Gharasna variety) followed by all the three processes of jala neti, Vvut-krama, Shita krama and Siddha-jalaneti – with warm saltish water should be regularly practised in the morning.

After the ‘neti’ Vamana-Dhauti should be done. Its process is as under:-

Vamana – Dhauti
Take one and a half litre of luke warm water and mix a pinch of common salt in it. Sit or stand in an easy pose on your feet and drink the whole of the water rapidly. Then with light strokes of your right hand two fingers (in the throat) vomit out the water. Do not leave the attempt of vomiting till the last drop of salt water has been thrown out. This process will take you about ten minutes in the beginning but less after practice. The head and ears will feel extremely light after this practice.

After the ‘neti’ and the ‘Vamana-Dhauti’, ‘Kapala-bhati Pranayama‘ as it has been already explained, should be done for five minutes.

The ‘Pranayama’ should be followed by ‘Sarvangasana‘. This process is given below. The ‘Pranayama’ and ‘sarvangasana’ should be practised in the evening also before meals.

Sarvangasana

Lie flat on a carpet with the back downwards. Stretch the legs and raise them slowly and steadily till they stand vertically upwards with toes pointing to the sky. Now with the support of the hands raise the waist too. The forearms with elbows resting on the ground will help the waist to become erect in line with the legs standing in a vertical position. Press the chin against the chest and stretch the waist and the legs to your utmost capacity. Try to keep in this position for ten minutes and after that descend slowly and lie quietly for five minutes leaving the body perfectly loose and breathing deeply and slowly.

How to Cure – Catarrh

If the cold is not got cured by means of ‘neti’ and due to carelessness of diet and neglect of proper hygiene it is let to persist longer than its normal course these conditions, which have been beautifully summed up in the books of Ayurveda, result*:-

सर्व एव प्रतिश्याया नरस्याप्रतिकारिण:।
दुष्टतां यान्ति कालेन तदा साध्या भवन्ति च।
मूर्च्छन्ति कृमयश्चात्र श्वेता: स्त्रिग्धास्तथाSणव:॥

i.e. The colds of that person who does not take precautions to cure them become chronic and incurable. At the place (of inflammation) there multiply germs which are minute white and glossy.

The condition of chronic discharge from the nose is called catarrh. It also sets up various secondary complaints, even to causing disease in the bones of the nose, the forehead and the cheeks with a constant pain and heaviness in them. This disease has a harmful effect on the whole system, and the catarrh victim cannot be a healthy person.

Such a condition has been regarded almost incurable by medical men. But by Yogic methods this is easily curable. The treatment will take from a fortnight to one month according to the severity of the attack and the duration of the disease.

The patient should regularly practise sutra neti followed by jala neti with saltish lukewarm water. He should also do the ‘Kapala Bhati Pranayama‘ for five minutes daily after the ‘neti’. The ‘Kapalabhati’ should be done in the evening before going to bed. The process of ‘Kapala Bhati’ is as follows:-

Kapala-Bhati Pranayama
Breathe in and breathe out through the nose as rapidly as you can. It should produce sound like the bellows of a black smith. Take ten twelve breaths at a stretch and then stop for a few seconds to do it again. Continue this process for five minutes. According to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika also this practice destroys phlegm:

भस्त्रावल्लोहकारस्य रेचपूरी ससंभ्रमौ ।
कपालभातिर्विख्याता कफदोषविशोषणी ॥ (II-35)

i.e. Perform ‘Rechaka’ (breathing out) and ‘Puraka’ (breathing in ) rapidly like the bellows of a black-smith. This is called ‘Kapala-Bhati’, and it destroys the disease of the phlegm.

During the course of treatment, light meals only at fixed intervals are prescribed. Fruit and vegetables are beneficial, butter and milk should be taken in very limited quantities only. Any thing that causes phlegm should be avoided.

*Yoga Ratnakar नासारोगनिदान verses 28, 29

How to Cure – Cold

It is the inflammation attacking the delicate lining of the nose or the upper air-passages which results in the discharge of mucous raining freely through the nose. The discomfort and pain in the course of the disease are the effects of inflammation. And inflammation is the body’s reaction to the injury caused by the germ attack. It has been already explained that at the spot of inflammation a regular battle is in progress between the germs and the white cells of the blood. The pus or the mucous that flows through the nose is a mass of the germs and the cells which have been killed. It is sticky because of the presence of mucin which helps to protect the membrane against infection.

Normally the cold gets cured of itself in three or four days but we can hasten this function by helping the white cells against the germs by cleansing off the mucous consisting of the inflammatory debris by ‘Jala-neti‘ two or three times a day with warm water containing a little salt. This will prove an excellent germicide too.

The ‘Sutra-neti‘ done once in the morning only has been found curing the cold within twenty four hours.

How to Cure

It is interesting to note that almost all kinds of diseases, both in their acute and chronic forms, resulting from nasal obstruction yield to the aforementioned treatment of Yoga in a very short period. There are cases on record where even such persons as were considered incurable by the doctors and had been suffering for years together were successfully treated and health restored to them.

In this section the cure of some diseases, resulting from a cold, has been dealt with individually.

Prevention is Better than Cure – Various Methods of Nasal Cleansing

The method suggested by Yoga hygiene for the cleansing of the nostrils is very simple and is known as the process of ‘Neti‘. To meet all kinds of cases, it is further sub-divided into two modes:-

  1. ‘Sutra-neti / Rubber neti‘ or cleansing the nose by means of a thread made specially for this purpose or rubber cathetar
  2. The ‘Jalaneti‘ or the nasal douche.

Kinds of Jalaneti:- The Jalaneti or the nasal douche is really threefold:-

a. “Vyutkrama Jalaneti” when the water is taken through the nostrils and expelled through the mouth.

b. “Shitakrama Jalaneti” or the reverse process of sucking through the mouth and throwing it out through both the nostrils.

c. “Siddha Jalaneti” which consists in sniffing water (and sometimes even milk and other liquids) through one nostril at a time without allowing it to the mouth, expelling the same through the other nostril. This when reversed and practised alternately through the other nostril forms one complete process.

The detailed process and their benefits have been explained earlier as linked above.