Yoga - a sustainabe health best practise

 

By Malini Shankar,

Digital Discourse Foundation

Drug resistance is the bane for those in need of lifelong medication. In the day and age when we live in so called modern society, health care is a misnomer for pharmaceutical profits. In the process drug resistance is not just inevitable but the side effects often leave the person with debilitating consequences. The gut bacteria are benumbed, paralyzing hormonal activity. That is the cause for many chronic conditions like endocrine disorders, blood disorders and slowing metabolism. So if this gut bacterial functionality can be rejuvenated, logically one’s disorders can be cured. Medication unfortunately worsens the dysfunctionality of gut bacteria.

The side effects of medication then blur with the symptoms of the medical condition itself; the medicines become more intense and side effects often become more intense than the medical condition. Medication seems redundant when side effects increase and blur the medical condition. Experts blame symptomatic treatment of the medical condition where the medical professionals do not treat the root of the malaise.

People take lifelong medication for Asthma, Arthritis, Acidity, Blood pressure or hypertension, Bipolar Disorder, Cholesterol, Clinical Depression, Diabetes, epilepsy, dermatological issues, HIV / AIDS, Schizophrenia, often causing swollen feet ankles and wrists. Swollen feet and wrists are first indication of chronic kidney disease. If on the other hand one sustains good gut health with a probiotic rich life, there is no need for medication for disorders like Diabetes or hypertension.

At some point the drug efficiency comes into question but the patients are advised not to stop medication and people are caught in an inescapable vortex. Asthma, Arthritis, Blood pressure or hypertension, Bipolar Disorder, cholesterol, constipation, Clinical Depression, Diabetes, epilepsy, dermatological issues, HIV / AIDS, Schizophrenia, swollen feet ankles and wrists etc. leaves one suffering chronic side effects from the medication. Some of these life-long medication alter the PH Balance in the body permanently impairing hormonal functionality and triggering further medical complications. It’s a nightmare that one has to live with. No wonder good health is considered a blessing.

Nutraceuticals help rejuvenate gut health. I myself beat drug resistance with only neutraceuticals. All Diabetes drugs had failed on me and the drug resistance manifested in fasting blood sugar levels breaching 400! It stifled my daily normal functioning. I lost confidence to stand behind my director of photography to direct the film production. The “Diabetologists” wanted to administer insulin. One of them told me to get admitted to his hospital. A C peptide test had established that my insulin production was 100% functional inside my body. The diabetologist explained that in Type 2 Diabetics even if insulin production is normal it is not absorbed by bloodstream. What remained unexplained was why it should go to the bloodstream. It is the nutrition absorbed from food that should go to the bloodstream. Insulin is fed by the pancreas directly to the stomach and thereon to the intestines through the food itself.

When I refused insulin because of the demands of my profession, they suggested various tablets… all of which I had tried and given up on. One diabetologist who is my cousin’s classmate told my cousin that I was playing with fire. My helpless cousin told him that he too was helpless because I was refusing both tablets and insulin.

I started reducing both dosage and the tablets itself. One tablet swoll up the sciatica nerve at the back of my knee preventing me from doing yoga ahsanas.  It became so bad that I cannot stomach even a simple Paracetamol. In utter defiance of the medical community’s advice I gradually gave up all Diabetes related medication and adopted a stringent, disciplined and frugal lifestyle with consumption of gut friendly nutraceuticals, millets and complex carbs, lots of vegetables, fruits, sprouts, probiotics, reduced dairy. The tablets had slowed me so much that I was finding it extremely difficult to do my routine exercises too. I was used to 180 minutes of exercises per day plus 30 – 45 minutes per day of Pranayama and breathing exercises. My blood became so heavy that I found lethargy overtaking me; postponing the visit to the loo! Besides, the neuropathy on the soles of my feet became so bad that I lost balance to walk. About sleep, don’t ask. One day I fell asleep at 6.30 a.m. My very healthy exercise regime was nullified by the diabetology drugs. I rued my fate and almost became depressed.

I will tell you how nutraceuticals helped.

·         Fenugreek sprouts helped overcome IBS (Irritable bowel Syndrome).

·         Amla juice helped augment insulin absorption

·         Jamoon syrup acted as an insulin substitute.

·         Neem paste helped in breaking down food.

·         I consumed only one cooked meal a day; my whole day's food consumption included 5 cooked vegetables, 5 fresh / raw vegetables, 5 green leafy vegetables, 5 sprouts, 5 lentils, 5 fresh fruits, 5 dry fruits, 5 pieces or small helpings of organically produced dairy products, 5 Table spoons of millets. Planning this itself was a challenge but I got used to it. Additionally I made it a point to eat nutritious and snack healthy within this calorie break up.

·          Once I gave up medication the neuropathy or air pockets in the soles of my feet started healing, and I restarted my walking regimen. Initially I could do only 20 minutes of walking when my soles were healing. I gradually increased my walking to 40 minutes then 50 minutes then one hour. Besides 20 minutes of cycling and 20 minutes of yoga.  

1.      Surya Namaskar

2.      Trikonasana,

3.      Tadasana,

4.      Brahmasana,

5.      Padmasana

6.      Sarvangasana,

7.      Urdhva Mukha Svanasana

8.      Supta Matsyendrasana

9.      Paschimottanasana

10.  Ardha Matsyendrasana

11.  Uttanasana

12.  Supta Vajrasana

13.  Meru Vajrasena

14.  Dhanurasana

15.  Bhujangasana

16.  Vajrasana

17.  Balasana

18.  Halasana

19.  Viparita Karani

20.  Mandukasana

21.  Chakrasana

22.  Parvathasana

23.  Supta Baddha Konasana

The art and “Vedic science” of Yoga is so all encompassing that the 84 different Ahsanas / Asanas exercise every muscle, tendon, bone, ligament, tissue, organ and even thought process. Regular practice of Yoga Ahsanas will keep all diseases and disorders at bay. Needless to reiterate, the flexibility Yoga practice affords is a blessing.

Regular practice of Yoga ahsanas will help one reverse lifestyle disorders like Asthma, Arthritis, Blood Pressure, Bipolar Disorder, Cholesterol, Diabetes… Bhujangasana and Vajrasana combined with Anulom Vilom helps cure Asthma in a fortnight.

Infact certain specific Ahsanas are worthy of special mention: Suptavajrasana exercises the retina in the eyes, and is effective in preventing eyes / retinal damage in Diabetics. It keeps vision so sharp that one will not need to use spectacles till 60 years of age!  

Vajrasana and Meru-Vajrasana work on the Pancreas and optimizes insulin production. These two Ahsanas also exercise the kidneys, of such critical value to Diabetics! Dhanurasana and Chakrasana are also very good for kidneys. Trikonasana helps ease insulin resistance in Type II Diabetics. “Lifestyle diseases, also known as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, PCOD, mental health issues etc. are  illnesses primarily caused by changed daily habits and choices, rather than being transmitted by infections. These diseases are increasingly prevalent due to changes in lifestyle, including dietary habits, physical activity, and even excessive technology use. There is very limited scope in modern system, whereas AYUSH system gives more emphasis to prevention of disease than curative aspect” says Dr. M. J. Prabhu Senior Medicinal Plants Consultant, Ayurveda practitioner at the Karnataka Medicinal Plants Authority in an exclusive interview to Digital Discourse Foundation.

Sarvangasana literally stands on the Pancreas and gets it functioning most optimally. Sarvangasana also help PCOD and infertility issues.

Pranayama including Anulom Vilom, Lom Vilom, and Kapalabathi helps people with hypertension, Asthma, lung cancer / lung issues.

Supta Matsyendrasana is infinitely helpful to combat endocrine disorders including Diabetes, Hypertension, PCOD and cholesterol.

Brahmasana also helps in combatting endocrine disorders, vascular / thoracic issues, tone muscles, regulate breathing, dispensing of CO and other body wastes, and keeps kidneys optimally functional.

Halasana is a very tough Asana, but exercises all the muscles, tissues organs ligaments tendons and blood vessels in one go. Tough to do this. Needs serious practice and experience to get here. it is a very advanced Asana.

If a Diabetic can do 20 25 yoga Asanas per day (for atleast 6 days a week) coupled with say about 45 minutes to 1 hour of walking and adopts a strict healthy diet, he or she can reverse Diabetes in about 9 – 12 months. Ofcourse the challenge is to sustain HBA1C < 6.3 for four Quarters to rid oneself of Diabetes. Discipline is the sustainable Mantra for Diabetes reversal, but yoga helps in this infinitely.

Here below is a link that acts as a good and reliable guide to learn and practice Yoga. Many yoga tutorials are available online but I will advocate to learn yoga under the guidance of a Guru. 

https://www.breathewellbeing.in/blog/yoga-asanas-for-diabetes-to-natually-control-blood-sugar/