In yogic philosophy the mind is considered to be the essence of food. It says

“We are, what we eat”. What we eat effects our emotion.  This school of thoughts advocates the mind is affected by diet, rather than vice versa. In Yogic concept food has been categorized into three types.  Food and we all are product of “Nature”.  The nature is “Trigune”.  Therefore, we all are guided by three Gunas. Sattva, Rajas and Tamas these three qualities born of “Nature” tie down the imperishable soul to the body (Gita: XIV: 5)

In yogic concept, therefore food and nutrient is categorized with three “Gunas”

i) Tamasic ii) Rajasic iii) Sattvic

i) Tamasic: Foods which are half cooked or half ripe, insipid, putrid, stale are polluted and which are impure too are dear to persons of a Tamasic-disposition.

ii) Rajasic: Food which are hot, spicy, rich, endowed with passion, stimulating, speedup metabolism is called Rajasic. Rajasic and Tamasic are the two lower categories of food.

iii) Sattvic: Food which promote longevity, intelligence, vigor, health, happiness and cheerfulness and which are juicy, bland sustaining and naturally agreeable are dear to the sattvic type of person.  (Gita XVII  8 to 10)

Sattvic food is suppose to nourish “Panch Kosha”.  They provide nourishment for the body and create a harmony in over all energy state of the “Panch Kosha”.  Sattvic food include fresh fruits, wholesome grains and the fresh milk of the cow.

DIABETES MELLITUS (DM)

 

 This is a disease of physiological imbalance, where mechanism of sugar regulation is not working efficiently either due to low insulin or no insulin, secreted by the pancreas.  Following factor’s contribute in increasing the spread of this disease in affluent population

• Modern stressful living
• The hustle and bustle
• Sedentary life style

This is identified by symptoms

1. Polyurea (Excusive and frequent Urination)
2. Polydipsia (Excessive thirst and dryness of mouth)
3. Polyphagia (Excessive hunger)
4. Weakness, fatigue and body ache
5. Wounds infection and delayed healing
6. Hyperglycemic coma
7. Frequent changes in vision and speech
8. Sexual debility or impotence.

Kinds of Diabetes Mellitus
There are two types of Diabetes Mellitus

i) IDDM (Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) or Juvenile on-set:-In this group usually there is no insulin production, therefore patient has to take, insulin from external source

ii)NIIDM (Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus):-In this group of patients insufficient quality or poor quality of Insulin is secreted by the pancreas.  As a result there is always a high level of glucose in the blood.  Depending on the quality and quantity the Diabetes may be mild to severe.

Causes:

i)Heredity ii)Stress especially in II group of people. iii)Sedentary life style iv)Incorrect Dietary habits. v)Infection vi)Imbalance of stress and growth hormone. vii)Psychological factors.

What a sufferer should do?

i)Immediate contact with your physician ii)Evaluate your blood sugar level iii)Start medicine as per advice of Doctor iv)Change of Dietary habit under expert guidance. v)Join Yoga Classes

Yoga is answer to both the group of sufferers as yogic life style offers an excellent method to rejuvenate and enhance the functioning of pancreas, thereby the stress is reduced and greater balance in Autonomic Nervous System brings about a harmony in endocrinal secretion of harmony including insulin from Pancreas.

Diet is medicine for Diabetes, so here we regulate the dietary habit and develop a habit in them to take food of  LOW G I value.  This is how a patient learns the glucose management at intake level.

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HYPERTENSION

(High Blood Pressure)

Hypertension is one of the most prevalent diseases in our society.  Even a mild case with very few symptoms lowers the lifespan and decreases the quality of the remaining years.

What is hypertension?

During times of rest the heart does not strain excessively because it does not have to deliver as much oxygen to the cells as it does during stress and physical exercise.

The moment stress is placed upon body, whether physical or mental, the oxygen demand increases and so does the work of the heart.  So it is an increased blood pressure resulted from the damming up of blood behind constricted arterioles, upsetting the balance of the heart and its vessels. Blood having the heart on its way to the cells of the body meets with excessive resistance and the heart is therefore required to work harder to pump the blood through the narrow vessels.  This increases blood pressure

from normal range120/80 to higher sides. When this happens over an extended period of time, the heart becomes permanently strained and eventually does not function properly.  This leads to serious and even other complications.

Factors:

i) Heredity ii)Age iii)Smoking iv)High-Fat Diet v)Sedentary life style vi)Type A personality

Types of Hypertension
There are following types if hypertension

i)Essential or idiopathic:  Majority of hypertension have no know medical cause and such type is known as essential or idiopathic hypertension.

ii)Labile:  Not persistent, blood pressure rises with increased tension and stress.

iii)Malignant:   An accelerated B.P. severe hypertensive condition with poor prognosis.

What a patient should do?

i)Consult immediately with your doctor. ii)Change in your life-style iii)Change in your deity habits iv)If needed go for medication as per expert suggestion but think thousand times before you start a hypertensive drug.

v)  Join Yoga Classes

Essential liable type hypertension are reversible, because in yogic concept, the cause of hypertension may be

i)Mental : The core of hypertensive patient is the mind.
ii)Pranic: Hypertension is also associated with disturbance in the energy systems of the body.
iii)Stress in personality:  It comes from mainly wrong life style.
iv)Physical: This include diet, living and working conditions, smoking heredity and age.

The integrated yogic life style creates a balance in gross and subtle levels of our body because hypertension is not a disease in itself, but a sign that there are underlying problems in the management of the internal environment and balance of the body at the physical, emotional and mental levels.

Allopathic has yet to discover the full implications of this insight and is still seeking to clarity the role of the psyche in physical illness. The yogic comprehension of the role of the mind in psychosomatic disease is practically expressed in techniques designed to remove psychological stress and its bodily effects.  This is achieved through such practices as Meditation, Asanas, Pranayama and other means that will have important implications in the treatment of the future.

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ARTHRITIS

Arthritis is inflammation of the synovial joints of the body and is one of the most common of all disabling diseases.

In yogic science, arthritis is not considered as a disease in itself, but rather as one sympton of widespread metabolic and pranic malfunction which begins early in life.

Yoga offers a way to arrest this process. In fact, in the early stages, before irreversible damage to the joints has occurred, a complete reversal is often possible.  In the later stages, yogic practices can reduce drug dependency, maximize remaining mobility and function in the joints, and make the life of the arthritic more tolerable and acceptable.  A vastly improved outlook on life have been obtained in severely crippled patients who have followed a daily yoga program with determination.

The forms of arthritis

Modern medical science has recognized several distinct forms of arthritis.  From the yogic point of view these are different stages of the same basic blockage of prana rather than different diseases.  The underlying process is the same, but variations in the rate of symptom development lead to different diagnostic tags being assigned to different sufferers.

i)     Acute arthritis – It is a common symptom of many illnesses and infections, such as colds, flu, fevers and diarrhea and occurs because the viral or bacterial toxins liberated into the bloodstream during the illness readily accumulate in the joing fluids.
ii)    Gout – This is a special form of acute arthritis which seems to be due to dietary self-poisioning. Gout is suffered by people whose intake of proteins is excess.
iii)    Rheumatoid arthritis – This severe, crippling and rapidly progressive form of joint degeneration often occurs in young and middle-aged people, and is becoming increasingly common.
iv)     Osteoarthritis – This chronic degenerative arthritis is commonly seen in middle and old age, especially afflicting those who are overweight, hava a heavy or toxic diet and have avoided exercise.  Osteoarthritis may also be associated with an excess of calcium in the body.

Yogic approach

Yogic management of the arthritic process is all embracing and effectively complements standard medical measures.  However, yoga will never advocate drug management of symptoms in isolation, while neglecting to correct the underlying deficiencies of diet, exercise, lifestyle and so on.

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CERVICAL SPONDYLITIS

Cervical spondylitis is the name given to long-term stiffening and degeneration affecting the spinal column in the neck. It is characterized by pain and muscular spasm in the back of the neck and shoulders.  Tension headache is also commonly associated.  The pain may radiate into the shoulders, arms and forearms and be accompanied by sensations of pins and needles or tingling in the same general area.  Movement of the neck is restricted, and muscular weakness and even wasting of muscles in the arms, giddiness and ringing in the ears are not uncommon.

Yogic management

Yogasanas prove both palliative and curative in spondylitis, especially in early and newly diagnosed cases.  Asanas act by reducing muscular tension and spasm and also by correcting posture.  In addition, they restore pranic balance in the neck, leading to regeneration of damaged tissues and reversal of abnormal bone growth.

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SLIPPED DISC AND SCIATICA

Slipped Disc and Sciatica are two painful, closely related conditions occurring most commonly in the lower (lumber) region of the back, usually due to excessive straining while bending forward.
Yogic therapy
The basic yogic practices for slipped disc and sciatica are the backward bending asanas which strengthen the posterior ligaments and muscles holding the discs in position and promote the flow of blood into the lower spinal region.  Backward bending asanas should be practiced to capacity, gradually increasing the time of practice each day in order to restore spinal stability and regain a full range of back movement.

Prevention

The incidence of both slipped disc and sciatic injuries will be greatly reduced when those following a sedentary lifestyle, unused to back exercise or strain, learn to practise a few yogic asanas daily to preserve strength and flexibility of the spinal muscles, discs and ligaments.  Avoiding excessive use of chairs and backrests which weaken back muscles and learning to lift a heavy weight from the floor correctly – that is, from squatting position with knees bent, so as to protect the vulnerable lower back from excessive strain and injury will also preserve a healthy back.