LEPROSY
EMACIATION
ECZEMA
SEMINAL WEAKNESS
PARALYSIS
GASTRIC AND DUODENAL ULCER
GALL-STONES
CHRONIC GLAND SWELLING

LEPROSY

official source: Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies

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this version: is the printed Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, 3rd edition,  	3rd printing, version (spelling mistakes only may have been corrected).  	I.e., this is the most up-to-date version as of the present Electronic 
	Edition. Words in square brackets [   ] are corrections that did not 
	appear in the printed version.

      Symptoms: The Sam'skrta word 'Kus't'ha' means 'skin disease.' So in Sam'skrta prickly heat is also a kind of Kus't'ha. But what in modern Indian languages we take kus't'ha (leprosy) to be is called in Sam'skrta, 'Ba'tarakta Roga.'

Leprosy comes about due to the disturbance of the seven constituent elements of the body. In other words, leprosy develops only when all seven elements of the body, i.e., the chyle, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow and shukra are defective.

Leprosy has three stages. In the first stage the patient starts getting a feeling of discomfort all over the body, suffers from pain in the joints, and feels feverish at odd times. Often he or she suffers from headaches, and sometimes sweats profusely, sometimes not at all. He or she also suffers from general debility.

In the second stage the patient feels piercing pain throughout the nervous system. Off and on small pimples come out on different parts of the body. Hair of the head and eyebrows falls out; parts of the lips, cheeks, nose and eyes become sunken or swollen. Various parts of the arms and legs also get swollen. While walking the patient sometimes feels as if some hard objects are lodging in the soles of the feet. In colloquial language this stage of the disease is called 'plum-stone disease,' that is, the patient feels as if plum-stones are getting lodged in the soles.

      In the third stage of the disease circular red spots appear on different parts of the body and gradually those places become numb.

      Causes: When nutritious food and an adequate amount of green vegetables are lacking, and when milk, ghee and other fatty substances are lacking for days together, the blood becomes very weak. If in this condition a person continues for a long period to take those foods which are known to cause dysentery or constipation, or eats a large quantity of spoiled fish, meat, snails or shell-fish, or a large quantity of bila'ti, dim'le or su'ryi pumpkin, jhim'ge or white brinjal (white eggplant), then this disease gets a splendid opportunity to develop.

	After the blood, the remaining six elements of the body gradually get contaminated, because when the blood is contaminated all the organs of the body become weak. And as a result of this disturbance of the seven elements of the body, the person's immune system loses its strength. If in the long and bitter struggle which ensues between the white blood cells and the leprosy bacteria, the fat, flesh, blood and chyle of the body become spent, as a final result the extremities of the body will also become loosened and start falling off. 

	Treatment:

      Morning-Utks'epa Mudra', Padahasta'sana, Agnisa'ra Mudra', Ud'd'ayana Mudra', Naoka'sana, and Shiitalii Kumbhaka. Then massage the affected limbs.

      Evening-Ud'd'ayana Mudra', Agnisa'ra Mudra', Bandhatraya Yoga Mudra', Sarva'unga'sana and Mayu'ra'sana.

      Diet: The patient must strictly avoid all non-vegetarian food. All sorts of nutritious vegetarian food should be eaten if the condition of the liver allows. Ghee, butter, or olive oil should be an item of the daily menu. The patient should drink a large quantity of water (about four or five seers a day, but not much at a time) and should observe the rules of fasting.

      Do's and don'ts: Taking sun-baths is a must for every leprosy patient. Taking a dip-bath after applying river mud all over the body is desirable. As far as possible, the patient should live on fruits and roots, milk and vegetable soups. He or she should not succumb to eating out of greed. Crowds, too much food, intoxicants and sexual relations should be strictly avoided.

      Generally leprosy is not a contagious disease, so it cannot be contracted simply by touching the secretions or blood of a patient. Unless the secretions or blood of a patient get some chance to mingle with the blood of a healthy person, or the leprosy bacteria enter a healthy person's stomach from a patient's left-over food or breath, there is no chance of the disease spreading.

	Leprosy is mainly a disease of the poor. Unless the masses are provided with sufficient nutritious food, the spread of the disease among them cannot be totally checked.

	For a patient, either the fruit or leaves of ucche - [(bitter gourd (Momordica charantia Linn.) has fewer qualities)] - or palta', neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) or shobha'injana flowers, leaves or stems should be an item on the menu every day. Heleinca', gima', bra'hmii or some other leafy vegetable should also be taken daily.

      Some remedies:

      1. The disease can be cured by licking a little myrobalan powder with raw sugar every day.

2. Leprosy can be conquered by taking gulainca extract daily after eating three to five myrobalan seeds; or

3. Drinking extracts of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) bark mixed with palta' extracts.

4. Good results can also be obtained by covering the diseased area with a poultice of neem leaves.

5. Also by drinking and digesting gulainca extracts, then eating rice with ghee.

6. One can get rid of the disease by drinking some cow's urine with turmeric every day at dawn for one month.

1958


EMACIATION

official source: Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies

cross-references: none

this version: is the printed Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, 3rd edition, 
3rd printing, version (spelling mistakes only may have been corrected). 
I.e., this is the most up-to-date version as of the present Electronic Edition.

      Causes: There can be different reasons for physical emaciation--

      1. Babies produced from weak or sickly spermatozoa or ova will naturally be weak and emaciated.

	2. If the baby does not get sufficient mother's milk it generally remains emaciated.

	3. When due to poverty parents are unable to provide enough milk for their children and consequently they are fed rice and pulse or plain barley from their early childhood, their digestive organs and livers in particular become very weak, and such children normally turn out emaciated.

      4. If out of misguided love parents treat their children lavishly by feeding them ghee, butter, fish, meat and eggs right from baby-hood, or if due to poverty or due to some belief they feed their children non-vegetarian foods or spicy vegetable preparations instead of milk, fruits, roots, and other foods appropriate for children, then the livers and other digestive organs of their children, being overworked, lose their vitality and the children become thin.

      In adults emaciation usually comes about for the following reasons:

      1. Too much mental exertion;

	2. Weakness of the genital organs;

	3. Constipation;

	4. Acidity;

	5. Any prolonged chyle- and blood-wasting disease;

	6. Male or female diseases.

      Treatment:

      For children--

      Early morning-Karma'sana, Bhu'jaunga'sana, Shalabha'sana, Garud'a'sana, and A'gneyii Mudra'.

      Evening-Dvisamakona'sana, Cakra'sana and Granthimukta'sana

      If proper treatment is undertaken to rectify the root cause of the disease, adults will automatically develop fat and muscle. Patients must also drink a sufficient quantity of water (about four or five seers but not much at a time) and should take sun-baths. Patients should also spend sufficient time in the open air and in natural surroundings.

      Emaciated children are also to be encouraged to take part in sports.

      Diet: In the case of children under five, milk, fruits and roots should be their main food. The less starches, carbohydrates and fatty foods the better, because such foods weaken the undeveloped liver and digestive organs of children. Under no circumstances should children under five years be fed non-vegetarian food. From that age on, starches, carbohydrates and fatty foods may be given in gradually increasing amounts. But fruits and roots and all kinds of alkaline food are always the best diet for children. Due to poverty many parents cannot provide much milk for their children, though they require at least three-fourths seer to one seer every day.

	Do's and don'ts: If children get enough fruits and roots, vegetable soup and milk to eat, their emaciation will be cured. But it is a pity that in spite of being well-off, some gluttonous meat-eating parents and guardians deprive their offspring of their proper diet and feed them items like fish, meat, eggs, ghee and butter. Such a mentality is very injurious to their children.

With adults, when the root cause of emaciation is cured, the disease automatically disappears. If depending upon the condition of the liver and the other digestive organs, adults take enough nutritious food, do plenty of physical labour, drink water as directed and do Sikta Mardana after each bath, they can become fat and happy within a short time.

1958


ECZEMA

official source: Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies

cross-references: none

this version: is the printed Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, 3rd edition, 
3rd printing, version (spelling mistakes only may have been corrected). 
I.e., this is the most up-to-date version as of the present Electronic Edition.

      Symptoms: The symptoms of eczema are--the secretion of fluids from sores, itching, burning and throbbing, regular yearly reappearance of the disease, weakness of the body, intermittent fever, and, occasionally, as a result of a virulent attack of the disease, the eating away of the body down to the bones.

      Causes: When the chyle, blood, flesh and fat, these four elements, all become disturbed, eczema appears. That is why this disease is worse and more harmful than leucoderma, or white leprosy. When, due to weakness of the blood (this weakness is causes in most if not all cases by an attack of dysentery, particularly when this disease has been suppressed by application of some astringent medicine), the skin, flesh and fat become weak and their immune systems lose their strength, the germs of eczema are enabled to settle in a person's body. As a result of the continuous combat between the white blood cells and the eczema germs, the dead white cells and germs start oozing out of the body in the form of pus, or together with fluids or blood. The patient then suffers from continuous agony, because the exudation of the pus, fluid and blood actually starts deep inside the body.

      Treatment:

      Morning--Diirgha Pran'a'ma, Yogamudra', Bhu'jaunga'sana, Agnisa'ra Mudra', Padahasta'sana and Shiitalii Kumbhaka.

      Evening-Matsyendra'sana, Utkat'a Vajra'sana and Ku'rmaka'sana.

      Diet: All kinds of light, digestible and nutritious food, except sweets and non-vegetarian foods, can be taken by the patient. The patient should also consume sufficient water without fail. Fasting is to be observed on Eka'dashii, Pu'rn'ima' and Ama'vasya' days.

      Do's and don'ts: Eczema patients must stay away from foods which cause dysentery or constipation. The diseased areas should also be given a daily sun-bath. Till the disease is completely cured, the temptation to take non-vegetarian food and intoxicants should be overcome.

      Some remedies:

      1. White oleander (Nerium odorum Soland) roots, made into paste in water, applied as an ointment; or

	2. Taking 5 tolas of a mixture of raw turmeric juice and curd (yogurt), will yield good results.

	3. Quick benefits can also be derived by applying musabbar mixed with coconut oil on the sores; or

	4. By placing lime (mineral lime) and coconut oil together in a brass pot on the previous night, and the next morning beating the mixture into a foam. Apply the foam on the sores.

	5. Take some sulphur and coal soot and grind it into a paste together with coconut oil, then apply as ointment on the sores; or

	6. Grind the leaves of kelekonr'a' into a paste in the acrid water from a water-pipe (tobacco pipe), then apply on the sores; this will bring relief even to severe types of sores. The area of the sores should be covered with a bandage of betel (Piper betle Linn.) leaves drenched in coconut oil or cow's ghee.

1958


SEMINAL WEAKNESS

official source: Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies

cross-references: none

this version: is the printed Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, 3rd edition, 
	3rd printing, version (spelling mistakes only may have been corrected). 
	I.e., this is the most up-to-date version as of the present Electronic 
	Edition.

      Symptoms: Discharge of semen before or after urination, discharge due to slight excitement or lustful thinking, decrease in memory power, headache, and weakness of the legs (particularly of the knees), are the symptoms of this disease.

      Causes: Lack of proper sexual knowledge in adolescence or early youth, loss of semen through unnatural means, lack of restraint in married life, eating non-vegetarian food and using intoxicants from an early age, too little physical work and too much mental work, failing to follow the rules for fasting, bathing, taking water and sun-bathing--these are the causes of seminar weakness.

      Treatment: Treatment, diet, and do's and don't's are the same as for impotence (Chapter 24). Low thinking, bad company, intoxicants and non-vegetarian food should be completely given up. Seeing pornographic pictures or films, reading pornographic literature, etc. are also to be forsaken.

      Some remedies:

      1. One inch of basil (Ocimum sanctum Linn.) root, if eaten after chewing very well along with a betel (Piper betle Linn.) leaf daily for about two weeks, will give excellent results.

2. Well-developed roots of the shimu'la tree should be dried in the shade and ground into fine powder. 1/4 tola of this powder should be taken along with milk every morning.

1958


PARALYSIS

official source: Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies

cross-references: none

this version: is the printed Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, 3rd edition, 
3rd printing, version (spelling mistakes only may have been corrected). 
I.e., this is the most up-to-date version as of the present Electronic 
Edition.

      The brain is the apparent controller of the body and its organs. With the help of afferent and efferent nerves, the brain receives impulses from and transmits them to all parts of the body. This nerve center of the brain is again, broadly speaking, divided into two parts, the right and the left. The nervous system of the right side of the brain controls the left portion of the anatomy and that of the left side of the brain controls the right portion. If due to high blood pressure or some other cause any portion of the brain's nervous system becomes damaged, the part of the body controlled by that portion of the nervous system also becomes inoperative. This inoperativeness of a particular part of the body is called 'paralysis' or 'palsy.'

      Causes: Each specific part of the brain receives one specific impulse with the help of the afferent nerves. If, on account of high blood pressure or some injury, that portion of the brain becomes damaged; or the nerve-cells or nerve fibres are severed; or the afferent nerves of any part of the body become defective; then the afferent nerves cannot transmit the afferent sensation to the mind. This defect or shattered state of the nerves is the cause of loss of movement of the limbs. Similarly, if the nervous system which transmits the commands of the brain becomes damaged, or if the efferent nerves of that system develop any defect, then, as a result of the breakdown in the nervous transmission between the brain and some part of the body, paralysis strikes that part of the body.

      In this regard, bear in mind that when the brain cells which receive or transmit a specific physical impulse or mental concept become defective, only the corresponding physical organs will become paralysed or corresponding conceptual area will be impaired. That is why it may be observed that a person who was learned in both English and Sam'skrta may, due to an attack of mental paralysis (memory loss), forget all the Sam'skrta he or she knew, but keep his/her knowledge of English intact. Nor is it the case that paralysis will always affect the whole right or the whole left side of the body. Owing to the reasons described earlier, an attack of paralysis can be limited to any particular limb--right or left. For instance, the right eye can be affected while the left eye remains normal, or the right side of the mouth may be paralysed whereas the other side is not.

      The root causes of blood pressure-related diseases and paralysis are almost the same. This is because most defects of the nerves and their degeneration, can be traced to high blood pressure. But paralysis can also arise from other causes. For instance, paralysis also strikes those whose blood is over-acidic, and whose nerve-fibres consequently degenerate, due to greed, overeating, or too much fondness for non-vegetarian food.

      The people who have an over-active Man'ipura Cakra (psychic energy centre located at the navel) also show a dominance of the lust and anger vrttis (mental propensities). Such a type of person, though always found to be energetic, generally suffers from constipation owing to excessive anger and over-activity. If these pitta-dominated persons do not find a high ideal in their lives, they become weak in their lower bodies due to over-indulgence in sex and anger. Often the nerve-fibres of their lower bodies degenerate, and paralysis sets in there. If these pitta-dominated persons do have a high ideal in their lives and develop paralysis, it will afflict the upper portion of their bodies because of the over activeness of those parts.

	Remember that in most cases constipation is found to be closely associated with paralysis.

      Treatment:

      Morning-Utks'epa Mudra', Diirgha Pran'a'ma, Yoga Mudra', Bhujaunga'sana, or any of these three which it is possible to do. Paks'abadha Pra'n'a'ya'ma.

      Evening--Same as in the morning.

      Diet: With paralysis, alkaline foods such as fruits and roots, vegetable soup, and a sufficient quantity of lemon juice, should be taken. In a severe state of the disease, fasting on just lemon juice and water is advisable. The patient should drink about two-and-a-half seers of water every day, but never more than one-fourth seer at a time.

      Do's and don'ts: Non-vegetarian foods, sex, intoxicants, sleeping during the day, staying awake at night, etc., are to be strictly avoided. Taking Vya'paka Sna'na is very beneficial. A sun-bath should be taken at a fixed time in summer and in winter. The patient should first take a sun-bath over the whole body, then, wiping off with a wet towel, should again take a sun-bath -- this time exposing the diseased area only. After exposing the diseased area to the sun a few times in this manner for about fifteen or twenty minutes each time, the last step is to give that area a thorough massage, either with or without oil.

1958


GASTRIC AND DUODENAL ULCER

official source: Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies

cross-references: none

this version: is the printed Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, 3rd edition, 
	3rd printing, version (spelling mistakes only may have been corrected). 
	I.e., this is the most up-to-date version as of the present Electronic 
	Edition.

      Symptoms: Indigestion and constipation, aversion to food, nausea after meals, and pain in the stomach immediately or one or two hours after taking food, are the symptoms of this disease.

      Causes: Partially-digested food or its juice passes from the stomach into the duodenum or upper intestine for further assimilation. There the digestive fluids with the help of bile from the liver and digestive juices from the pancreas accomplish the task of digestion. But if, owing to defective working of these organs, the food is not completely digested here either, then it becomes spoiled and vitiated. At the same time, the unassimilated digestive fluids and bile also become spoiled and create an adverse reaction in the system. This spoiled digestive fluid and bile is the cause of gastric and duodenal ulcers. Habitually undertaking mental or physical exertion after a meal without having any rest slows down the blood circulation in the walls of the stomach and duodenum, due to which the membrane lining of the organs becomes easily susceptible to the acidic poison; and the ulcer appears.

      If the acid-secreting organs of the body have to remain constantly active in order to digest non-vegetarian foods, or if, owing to constipation, dyspepsia or any other disease, the alkaline secreting glands become weak, then the alkaline secretions in the body cannot maintain a balance with the acids, and these extremely poisonous acidic fluids then go on with their work unimpeded. Wherever this excess acidic fluid gets an opportunity to accumulate, gradually an ulcer forms. In the stomach, in the duodenum, or wherever these fluids attack the membrane or the lining, they create wounds and there ulcers are formed - gastric (stomach) ulcers, duodenal ulcers and other types of ulcers.

      If the blood loses its vitality due to excessive mental exertion coupled with a lack of physical labour; or due to the use of very strong and poisonous medicines (poisons are often used in large quantity in the form of medicines to destroy the germs of blood disease); or due to taking injections of poisonous medicines to cure or to prevent disease; or due to an unrestrained life; that weak blood makes the membrane of the duodenum weak and unable to fight the accumulated acidity, and it becomes ulcerated. If the ulcer is in the stomach, the patient suffers pain immediately after eating. But if that ulcer forms inside the duodenum, the pain starts after a short while but not immediately. In this case the pain originates to the right of the navel. With gastric ulcers, the consumed food has less opportunity inside the body to be digested, and therefore the patient becomes thin and worn out. But with duodenal ulcers, the change takes a long time to show externally.

      Whatever may be the reason, if an ulcer is formed inside the body, blood oozing out of the wound tries to find an outlet and is emitted through vomiting, or through the anus or the urinary passage. That is why the patient feels nauseated when suffering from acute stomach or duodenal ulcers, and after vomiting always gets some relief. Often slightly darkish blood comes out with the vomiting (haematemesis). In a severe state of the disease the stool of the patient also appears blackish. Even when the disease is not in the severe state, the stool comes out in pellets and a darkish colour. This disease generally attacks people in early youth and kills them at the end of youth or in middle age.

      Treatment:

      Morning-Utks'epa Mudra', Yoga'sana, Diirgha Pran'a'ma, Bhujaunga'sana, Agnisa'ra Mudra', Padahasta'sana, A'gneyii Mudra', and A'gneyii Pra'n'a'ya'ma.

      Evening-Sarva'unga'sana, Matsyamudra', Naoka'sana, Pashcimotta'na'sana, Karma'sana, Agnisa'ra Mudra' and Ud'd'ayana Mudra'.

      Diet: In the severe state of the disease nothing except plenty of water and sweet or sour fruit juice should be taken. When blood is vomited, the patient should be fed durba' juice or kuksiima'-leaf extracts only. When the patient is a little better, he or she should be given a small quantity of diluted milk with honey to drink. So long as the stool remain darkish, the patient should be given only different kinds of fruit juice, sweet or sour; the filtered juice of ripe tomatoes; mis't'i nebu juice; or well-boiled potatoes thoroughly mashed with diluted milk.

	After the severe state of the disease has passed, the patient may eat soup or stew made out of potatoes, pat'ol, jhim'ge, dhundula or similar easily-digestible vegetables, along with boiled old rice (grains a few years old), etc. In this state, a small amount of pure, warm ghee should be taken with rice or fresh rut'i. So long as even a vestige of the disease persists the patient should never eat much at a time. Instead, food should be eaten several times a day, eating only a small quantity each time. The cure of this disease depends largely on the selection of diet--therefore, even after getting well, the patient should observe the dietary provisions strictly for a couple of years. 

	Do's and don'ts: Acidity is the main cause of this disease, so it is desirable that food which can increase acidity be carefully avoided. An ulcer patient must give up non-vegetarian food and all types of intoxicants. Food which would stimulate or irritate the stomach should also be forsaken; extra-sweet, hot (spicy) and salty foods are unwholesome for an ulcer patient. Once the patient gets well, he or she will find alkaline food best. But it is better not to take fibrous food even after a complete cure. After normal health has been restored, the patient should include in the diet spinach, beto sha'k, mat'ar sha'k or jute leaves to help clear the bowels and to prevent the vomiting of blood. As a medicine, shushuni sha'k fried in ghee is also excellent. All ulcer patients must take daily at least two or three spoonfuls of honey mixed with water or milk. Habitually doing physical or mental work without taking rest after meals is most harmful.

1958


GALL-STONES

official source: Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies

cross-references: none

this version: is the printed Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, 3rd edition, 
	3rd printing, version (spelling mistakes only may have been corrected). 
	I.e., this is the most up-to-date version as of the present Electronic 	Edition.

      Symptoms: The Sam'skrta-derived word for gall-stone is 'pitta'shmarii', 'Ashma' meaning 'stone' in Sam'skrta; so the colloquial term is 'pitta'pa'thurii'--'pa'thar' being the colloquial word for 'stone.' The symptoms of stone formation in the gall-bladder are mainly pain on the right side of the navel region while eating, nausea after eating, and getting some relief after vomiting. When the disease has turned into a chronic one, loss of appetite and physical debility of the patient become very apparent.

      Causes: The liver of the human being is a very important gland. The secretion of bile, the transformation of chyle into blood, and the purification of the blood, are all done by the liver. The bile secreted from the liver is first stored in the gall-bladder, and from there it is sent to the stomach and to the upper intestine. The impurities of the blood and the chyle are also sent into the stomach along with bile, and from there they pass through the intestine into the rectum and are emitted from the body as waste. If the impurities are too great in proportion to the chyle and the blood, especially if the acids are too great, these things are carried with the bile into the gallbladder in very large quantity. And when the bile settles in the gall bladder, these impurities accumulate in a condensed form and gradually crystallize. In this way stones of different sizes and shapes are formed in the gall-bladder. When, after a meal, those stones block the bile-duct, the body's organs apply great force to push the stones out into the stomach or intestine. This application of force causes pain.

      In the first stage of the disease, the body's organs can succeed in pushing out the stones in this way, but when the disease turns into a chronic one and the organs become weak, or the stones grow larger in size, it is no longer possible to push them out. This chronic state of the disease is truly fatal for the patient.

      Treatment:

      Morning-Utks'epa Mudra', Yoga Mudra', Diirgha Pran'a'ma, Padahasta'sana, Na'sa'pa'na, A'gneyii Mudra' or A'gneyii Pra'n'a'ya'ma.

      Evening-Agnisa'ra Mudra', Karma'sana and Sarva'unga'sana.

      Diet: Intoxicants, non-vegetarian food, ghee and foods that may cause constipation should be strictly forsaken. The patient should drink plenty of water, about four or five seers a day, and should fast on Eka'dashii, Ama'vasya' and Pu'rn'ima' on water and lemon juice. Whenever the disease is particularly bad, the patient should take nothing but lemon-water. Fasting without water is strictly forbidden with this disease.

      Do's and don't's: With this disease, the more rest that the liver gets the better. So fruit juice and alkaline foods are best for gall-bladder patients. The patient must also be sure to do sufficient physical labour, because gall-stones are the disease of the affluent. They are especially prevalent among rich housewives. With this disease, lemons are both food and medicine.

      Some remedies:

      1. Boil a myrobalan seed in cow's milk, then throw the seed away and drink the milk; or

	2. Take equal quantities of myrobalan, mutha', lodha' and banyan fruits, mix them together and extract their juice. Take two tolas of the juice regularly.

	These remedies will bring good results. The latter remedy can be used for diabetes also. The above medicines should be taken on an empty stomach early in the morning.

1958


CHRONIC GLAND SWELLING

official source: Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies

cross-references: none

this version: is the printed Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, 3rd edition, 
	3rd printing, version (spelling mistakes only may have been corrected). 
	I.e., this is the most up-to-date version as of the present Electronic 
	Edition.

      Symptoms: Inflammation of different glands and their surrounding areas, with simultaneous throbbing pain (this does not mean that pain will accompany the swelling in every case; and in chronic cases it is natural for there to be no pain); occasional fever, and aggravation of the swelling during the fever, are the symptoms of this disease.

      Causes:

      1. The liver and the spleen become weak due to chronic fever, and as a result, the immune defenses of the blood and lymph become diminished. When this happens, the glands of the body do not get the necessary support from them, and the gland or glands which are neglected most have to strain to continue their activity. Because of this over-exertion, the glands start swelling and enlarging.

	2. Lack of iodine in the food causes those glands which need iodine to become weak, and in that condition they eventually become swollen.

	3. If the body becomes deficient in shukra, the last-derived of all the bodily elements, due to the wasteful discharge of semen, all the glands lose their vitality, because it is the shukra which helps the glands stay strong and healthy.

	Some of the important glands need shukra and iodine more than others, and therefore any deficiency is more detrimental to them. The thyroid gland of the throat is one such gland, so it easily succumbs to attack for any of the causes mentioned above. The two main supporting arteries of the thyroid, named 'manya,' also become incapable of carrying out their normal functions and start swelling. As a consequence the whole region starts swelling and enlarging. The name of this disease is 'goitre.' This type of swelling may also occur at the base of the ears, in the arm-pits and in the groin.

      Treatment:

      Morning-Utks'epa Mudra', Karma'sana, Ud'd'ayana Mudra', Mayu'ra'sana, Bandhatraya Yoga Mudra', and Pra'n'a'ya'ma concentrating on the controlling point of the relevant glands.

      Evening-Sarva'unga'sana, Matsyamudra', Agnisa'ra Mudra' and Matsyendra'sana. The patient has to observe carefully the procedures for sun-bathing, drinking water and fasting (see Appendix.)

      Diet: With this disease, iodine-containing foods such as milk and fruit should be taken in sufficient quantity. Bananas, papayas, pineapples, oranges, tangerines, ja'm and tomatoes are very good food for patients. The patient must also pay careful attention to the regular clearance of the bowels.

      Do's and don'ts: This type of disease, involving glandular swelling, is found on a larger scale in the interior part of a country than in its sea-coast regions. So if it is possible for a patient to go to some sea-coast place for a change of air, it will yield a good result. Since there is a lot of iodine in sea water, the air near the coast is always found to be full of iodine.

	Excessive seminal loss, in the case of the male, may cause the thyroid gland to swell, so one should be careful to preserve one's semen.

	Women who have given birth to a large number of children, or who are having menstrual trouble, especially excessive bleeding, or who have breast-fed their children excessively, may also be affected by swelling of the thyroid gland.

There is not much to fear if the swelling has only been present for a short time, because taking precautionary measures in the preliminary stage will keep this disease from becoming incurable. But if the disease persists and turns chronic, the above-mentioned do's and don't's will have to be faithfully observed for a long period.

1958