DIGESTIVE PROBLEM SOLUTIONS!

 

                       DIGESTIVE PROBLEM

                                THE 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, 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 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, PALPITTION OF THE HEART AND IRRITABILITY.

YOGIC MANAGEMENT OF

 INDIGESTION

 

THE FOLLOWING PRACTICES ARE SPECIFIC FOR UPPER DIGESTION 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.
2. PRANAYAMA : NADI SHODANA 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 : JALADHARA, 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 : PRACTICE YOGA NIDRA EACH MORNING OR EVENING. AFTE ASANA, RELAX IN SHAVASANA AND PRACTICE 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 SOURCES OF THE PROBLEM. THE HABIT OF FASTING FOR ONE DAY A WEEK IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

FURTHER RECOMMENDATION

• 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 MASTRICATE THE FOOD THOROUGHLY WITHOUT BEING UNDER ANY PRESSURE TO FINISH THE MEAL. TRY TO EXTRACT MAXIMUM PLEASURE FROM EACH MORSEL OF FOOD, RATHER THAN UNCONSCIOUSLY OVEREATING.
• ALWAYS TRY TO HAVE THE RIGHT NOSTRIL (PINGALA NADI) FLOWING WHEN TAKING MEALS. THIS WILL INCREASE THE DIGESTIVE FIRE.
• 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 SLEEPIN.