Namaskar - Apr09

Yoga 101
Yogic Remedies for
Digestive Problems
Deva Biswas
Hypoacidity
...insufficient salivary
enzymes and gastric
acid cause stunted
digestion.
16
This issue we are going to talk about
some common digestive problems
and ways to handle these through
yoga. Hyperacidity and hypoacidity are more
commonly known as indigestion.
Indigestion occurs when food starts
fermenting in the stomach. It is actually a
sign of failing digestive power.
Hypoacidity occurs when insufficient salivary
enzymes and gastric acid cause stunted
digestion. This can happen when a person
eats in a rush without chewing properly, eats
with anxiety, has too much water during a
meal, eats when they are not hungry, or does
not set a fixed time for proper meals. It can
also occur when there has been long-term
liver and intestinal abuse.
Hyperacidity is the other extreme. Even
when the stomach is empty the gastric acid
still accumulates in the stomach because the
taste buds and salivary glands are too active.
This situation can lead to the development
of gastritis and peptic ulcers. Over eating,
poor diet, smoking and drinking wine can
cause hyperacidity, gastritis and peptic ulcers.
People suffering with this kind of
indigestion should avoid the factors causing
the indigestion. It’s good to start the
treatment with proper fasting or a fruit diet
followed by easily digested light food
(sattvic) with no oil or spices. Further
treatments can include enemas, hipbaths or
wet abdominal packs. Kunjala kriya are also
recommended with breathing exercises,
meditation and yoga nidra.
Indigestion usually occurs when the navel is
displaced towards the lower side. Patients
should practice the sequence of uttanasana,
dhunruasana, chakraasana, and matsyasana
to readjust their navel to the right
position. After a few days
practice, patients can do
surya namaskar,
bujangasana,
salvasana,
mastyendrasana and pada hastasana under
supervision. Patients should change their
daily routine and try to remain patient and
happy. They should also avoid drinking
cold water and should not drink water
immediately after meals.
Flatulence or a feeling of fullness in the
abdomen usually occurs when someone has
eaten too fast. Eating without awareness or
with anxiety, as well as too much drinking
water pulling high from the throat, can be
the cause of flatulence and can leave a
person feeling heavy and noisy in the
stomach. Gas sometimes presses up in the
esophagus and comes out as burp from the
mouth. This is fairly common but when it
is excessive it becomes a problem. The
feeling of fullness can press upon the
diaphragm and can sometimes cause an
abnormal heartbeat and breathing
problems.
Patients with flatulence should practice supta
pawanmutasana (right leg first because the
small intestines are there), uttanpadasana,
biparitkarani, ardha kurmasana, ardha
matsyendrasana and jatra parivritanasana. They
should also avoid cold drinks and try to
drink a glass of lukewarm water before bed.
A modern lifestyle can regularly result in
constipation. This is a common chronic
disease of the lower digestive system where
the elimination of solid waste from the
body becomes slow and inefficient. The
causes of constipation can include a lack of
physical exercise, increased mental stress and
tension, a hectic lifestyle, irregular eating
habits and the consumption of oily, spicy
and heavy food. Tea, coffee, cigarettes,
alcohol and other intoxicants can provoke a
bout of constipation. In addition, grief,
anger, anxiety and irritation can also be
contributing factors.
Constipation can leave a person feeling
dizzy and heavy in the head and it can leave
a bad smell in the mouth and a coating on
the tongue. Food digestion becomes
delayed due to constipation. Food
putrefies in the intestine and results in gas,
indigestion, colitis, abdomen pain,
backache and loss of appetite. Suggested
yoga postures include jasthiasana, tadasana,