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Yoga

Raised Padmasana(Yoga Exercise)

Pose &Posture : In this Exercise the whole body in Padmasana is lifted up with the help of the hands, and therefore it can be called Raised Padmasana. The whole body weight is on both the hands.
Technique of doing the exercise:

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

Pre position : Padmasana Position.

1. Sit for few seconds in Padmasana position and then keep the hands beside the waist as in the sitting position as shown in the 2nd. picture.
2. Exhale, and inhailing, lift the whole body with the help of the hands and stabilize this position keeping the breathing smooth.

Position : While lifting the Padmasana, do not allow the knees to come down. It is very important to stabilize this Asana. In order to maintain the balance, keep the shoulders slightly backward. Keep the eye sight ahead and fixed.
Releasing

1. Inhale, and exhaling, get the body on the floor slowly.
2. Keep both the hands on the knees and restore Dhyan Mudra.

Duration : Since the whole weight comes on the hands and further it is to be balanced on the hands, this Asana should be maintained for thirty seconds or so. There is no point in increasing duration.

Benefits: In addition to the advantages of Padmasana it has good effect on the intestines and the muscles of the body by having good pressure on them.

Precaution : While lifting the body on the hands, one may lose balance and fall backward; so one must be careful at this point.

Reference Book:- Yoga Pravesh

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Ailmemts & Remedies

Amnesia

Amnesia is a term used to cover the partial or complete loss of memory. It is most often a temporary condition and covers only a part of a person’s experience, such as immediate memory. The causes of amnesia range from psychological trauma to brain damage caused by a blow to the head or conditions such as a brain tumour, a stroke or swelling of the brain. There are many definitions covering the different types of amnesia.

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There are several types of Amnesia, some of the main types are:
Anterograde amnesia: People who find it hard to remember ongoing events after suffering damage to the head. They do not tend to forget their childhood or who they are, but have trouble remembering day-to-day events.

Retrograde amnesia: People who find it hard to retrieve memories prior to an incident in which they suffer damage to the head. Sometimes people never remember the seconds leading up to the incident.

Korsakoff’s psychosis: Memory loss caused by alcohol abuse. The person’s short-term memory may be normal, but they will have severe problems recalling a simple story, lists of unrelated words, faces and complex patterns.

This tends to be a progressive disorder and is usually accompanied by neurological problems, such as uncoordinated movements and loss of feeling in the fingers and toes. If these symptoms occur, it may be too late to stop drinking.

Traumatic amnesia: This follows brain damage caused by a severe non-penetrative blow to the head, such as in a road accident. It can lead to anything from a loss of consciousness for a few seconds to coma.

Infantile/childhood amnesia: This refers to a person’s inability to recall events from early childhood. There are many theories on this, for example, Freud put it down to sexual repression. Others say it could be linked to language development or the fact that some areas of the brain linked to memory are not fully mature.

Hysterical amnesia (also known as fugue amnesia): This covers episodes of amnesia linked to psychological trauma. It is usually temporary and can be triggered by a traumatic event with which the mind finds it difficult to deal. Usually, the memory slowly or suddenly comes back a few days later, although memory of the trauma may remain incomplete.
The Most Comon Causes:
Amnesia is most commonly associated with either brain damage through injury or degeneration of brain cells in dementia. In both cases, brain cells are lost, and due to the complex network connecting cells within the human brain, they cannot be replaced. Most significant brain damage occurs when the brain is injured, such as in a car accident or as the result of a fall or blow. These traumas tend to cause a state of confusion, and some memory is often lost.

Infections that affect the brain, such as herpes or encephalitis may also cause memory loss. Severe alcohol or drug abuse, and malnutrition, act to deprive the brain of nutrients causing the death of brain cells. This can also cause significant loss of memories. Memory loss may sometimes result from stroke, if it affects the area of the brain concerned with memory functions.

Diagonises and Treatment:
The process of diagnosing the cause of amnesia involves conducting a series of tests. Anyone experiencing unexplained memory loss should consult their GP. If you suffer an accident that involves a blow to the brain, you should go to hospital immediately.

A mental health professional will want to take a careful personal history.

Causes of amnesia can include:
External trauma, such as a blow to the head
Internal trauma, such as stroke
Exposure to a toxic substances such as carbon monoxide
Inadequate diet
Brain tumors
Seizures
There are no laboratory tests that are necessary to confirm amnesia nor are there any physical conditions that must be met. However, it is very important not to overlook a physical illness that might mimic or contribute to amnesia. If there is any doubt about a medical problem, the mental health professional should refer to a physician, who will perform a complete physical examination and request any necessary laboratory tests.

Very sophisticated psychological testing, called neuropsychological testing, can be very helpful in determining the presence of amnesia. Sometimes the diagnosis of amnesia can be aided by the use of brain scans such as the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Treatment varies according to the type of amnesia and the suspected cause.

Once brain cells die, they cannot be replaced. Depending on the cause of the amnesia, the brain may be able to recover many of its previous faculties, or may simply get worse. Those who have suffered brain loss as a result of an injury may see some improvement over time, as the brain attempts to heal itself. However, those whose amnesia is a symptom of a degenerative illness, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are unlikely to see an improvement.

Some forms of therapy have proven useful to amnesiacs in helping them to cope with their loss. Cognitive therapies in particular can help people regain skills that they have lost through amnesia.

Psychotherapy can be helpful for people whose amnesia is caused by emotional trauma. For instance, hypnosis may help some patients/clients recall forgotten memories.

Sometimes it is appropriate to administer a drug called Amytal (sodium amobarbital) to people suffering from amnesia. The medicine helps some people recall their lost memories. The use of hypnosis or Amytal has become controversial when it is used to help a patient recall repressed memories, especially repressed memories associated with sexual abuse. After recalling memories of abuse, some patients have filed suit against the alleged perpetrator of the sexual abuse. The validity of memories recalled under these treatment situations is being questioned and tested in the courts.

Hospitalization is usually not necessary to treat amnesia unless the person is at risk for harming himself/herself.

Ayurvedic & Herbal Remedy for Amnisia

Prognosis :
The course of the amnesia is variable depending upon the cause of the memory problem. By removing the toxic substance, for instance alcohol, the person’s memory will recover within hours. However, if the brain has been severely injured, it may take weeks, months, or years for recovery to occur. In some instances, the amnesia never goes away.

Therefore, the prognosis depends upon the extent of the brain trauma. If an ingested substance caused the memory loss and the body can rid itself of the offending substance without causing permanent brain injury, the prognosis is quite good. However, once the brain is damaged it may be very slow to heal, and therefore, the prognosis can be quite poor.

Anyone suffering from or having any symptoms of amnesia should seek immediate medical attention.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.

References:

http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/disorders/Amnesia.html
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=9673
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/medical_notes/167771.stm

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Battling the summer sun

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India is sweltering under relentless heat. Everyone seems to be exhausted, covered with prickly heat and rendered inefficient. The longing for the cooler monsoon days is palpable. There might be amenities such as fans, coolers and air conditioners to help us cope, but in the face of frequent power cuts and inadequate voltage, we are in the same situation as our forefathers. At least our ancestors lived in wide, open, tree-filled spaces and not in heat-radiating concrete jungles!

 

Three tools to beat the heat: water, regular bathing and proper clothing

Human beings are sensitive to heat. We have to maintain our body temperature at an even 98.4 ° F irrespective of the external temperature. In order to cope, the skin is adequately provided with sweat glands located a little below the surface. These glands are conditioned to promptly respond to rising environmental temperature by secreting sweat. The latter is released through torturous tubes that open out through the skin pores. As the sweat evaporates, the body cools down. The mechanism breaks down if humidity is high and sweat cannot evaporate, the undertaken activity is physically taxing and performed in an exceptionally hot environment, or fluid intake is inadequate. This can lead to heat cramps, exhaustion and eventually, heat stroke. Painful cramps usually occur in the leg muscles. The condition eases if salt and water levels are replenished.

Heat illness or exhaustion is heralded by weakness, dizziness, fainting, palpitations, rapid breathing and fainting. Infants, too, can suffer from heat exhaustion. This occurs if they are dressed inappropriately in thick garments and not given enough water to drink.

If the body temperature continues to rise to 104 ° F or higher, heat stroke can occur. The skin becomes hot and dry, and sweating may not take place. The brain cannot cope with such a condition and there may be confusion, coma or seizures. Heat strokes can be fatal.

If heat stroke is suspected,

• Place the person in a shady area

• Spray cool water or cover with damp sheets

• Give the person cool water to drink (not ice).

• Readymade ORS (oral rehydration solution) packets can be reconstituted or 25 gm of salt (five teaspoons) can be added to five litres of water.

The summer months also cause other less dangerous yet irritating problems like prickly heat. This occurs in covered areas where the sweat cannot evaporate easily. Such a condition arises when the openings of the sweat glands get blocked with dead skin, dirt, bacteria or talcum powder. If left alone, it resolves spontaneously in a day or two changing into a light brown, scaly, itchy rash.

Primetime television programmes are interspersed with advertisements of various medicated “miracle” prickly heat powders. These products contain combinations of finely powdered zinc stearate and silicates. When they combine with sweat, they form a chalky precipitate that actually blocks skin pores and aggravates the problem.

Talcum powder applied to the groin and genital areas can migrate through the vagina, uterus and fallopian tubes to the ovary. It is carcinogenic to the lining of the ovary. Some scientific studies have found a relationship between the use of talcum powder and ovarian cancer.

Also, the size of the particles is so small that they can easily be airborne. Inhaled talc can reach the smallest areas of the lung, causing pneumonia or inflammation and swelling of the airways. This can be fatal in babies.

Prickly heat can be prevented without using talcum powder:

• Stay away from direct heat of the sun as far as possible

• Wear loose-fitting, airy cotton clothes that “breathe”

• Make sure school uniforms are made of natural fabric or a 60/40 mixture of polyester and cotton.

• If you are already suffering from prickly heat:

• Do not scratch. The more you scratch the more it will itch

• Use a mild dose of antihistamine to control itching. The newer antihistamines are less sedating

• Do not apply thick, oil-based creams or talcum powder. They will only block the pores further

• Bathe two or three times a day in tepid water

• Add a teaspoonful of sodium bicarbonate to a bucket of water before bathing. This will make the prickly heat disappear

• Use soap containing trichlorhexidine (for example, Dial or Neko) and 15 per cent TFA (total fatty acid)

• Do not apply the soap directly to the skin. Use a moist piece of cloth, herbal scrubber or a loofah

• Lightly moisturise the skin with baby oil or an aloe vera-based lotion.

If the rash becomes red and pustular, has a changed appearance or if the temperature rises, consult a doctor immediately.

Water, regular bathing and proper clothing are the answer to prickly heat, not liberal dusting with dangerous talcum powder.

Source:The Telegraph (Kolkata,India)

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Yoga

Breathing (Yoga Exercise)

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Breathing Exercise perhaps the best form of exercise which keeps our body & mind free from several ailments.Some techniques are mentioned below which may be learned and practiced at home without the help of an expert.

QUIET BREATHING TECHNIQUE:
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All the inside activities of the body are due to the ever going process of combustion or oxidation in the body. And this process of combustion works with the help of the respiration and the blood circulation. Therefore, the moment there is internal or external movement of the body, it affects the process of blood circulation and respiration. As a result of this increasing the speed of the breathing provides the needed oxygen for the concerned movements. The speed of the breathing is increased in accompaniment to the speed of the movements of the body. Therefore it is noticed that the breathing is smooth or quiet, when there is no bodily movement or when it is in its normal or relaxed state. Such breathing is called Quiet Breathing. No control of any sort is kept on this breathing. Normally after taking up the final position of any Asana and then stabilizing, this position for some time, the quiet breathing of this type becomes natural. And in order to have this type of breathing one should relax the body as much as possible during the period of the stabilized Asana position.
DEEP BREATHING TECHNIQUE:

Since we want to control the breathing after studying the process or system of respiration, it is better to try deep breathing as the first state in that direction. We do not control the process of quiet breathing. But the control is to be exercised while practicing deep breathing. For this, two things are to be considered chiefly:First, the movements concerned with inhaling and exhaling are to be controlled in order to further slow down the breathing, at the same time the need of oxygen for the body is to be lessened, so that the speed of breathing can further, slowdown. The constitution of the body is such that if the need or use of oxygen is not reduced, it becomes difficult or rather impossible to control the process of breathing. The easy way to reduce the need of oxygen is to stop the movements of the body and try to relax all the muscles. Obviously, while practicing deep breathing, it is necessary to keep the body in the stable and relaxed position. And this is possible in any sitting position of meditation. However, Padmasana is the best Asana position. The other preferable Asanas in sitting position are Vajrasana and Swastikasana. But once the Asana is taken up, it should be blissfully stabilized until the study of breathing is over. Any strain anywhere will cause distraction in breathing. Therefore the Asana position should be stable and pleasant, while doing meditation. The hands should be in Dhyana Mudra. The straight upright position of the neck, the spine and closed eyes help in attaining concentration without making any movements. Relax the muscles and concentrate fully on breathing. This will slow down the breathing and bring it to a particular point of speed and will get stabilized at that point. This is the ideal state of smooth breathing. This is free from any control. No movement is seen on the chest. It is confined to the movement of the muscles of the abdomen and the lungs. After having such smooth breathing for some time, the movements of the abdomen and the lungs should be brought under the control of the mind, and the movement should further be slowed.

The practice of deep breathing begins after deliberately having inhaling and exhaling at ease. Initially one should practice prolonged inhaling and prolonged exhaling. The constant practice enables the person in having repetition of such prolonged inhaling and exhaling. After some time it becomes difficult to have more repetitions of prolonged inhaling and exhaling. At such point one should come to natural smooth breathing. After some rest, deep breathing should begin again. Practicing deep breathing in this way for some days, attempt should be made to bring time limit to the period of inhaling and exhaling. Initially one should practice prolonged inhaling and prolonged exhaling. The constant practice enables the person in having repetitions of such prolonged inhaling and exhaling. After some time it becomes difficult to have more repetitions of prolonged inhaling and exhaling. At such point one should come to natural smooth breathing; after some rest, deep breathing should begin again. Practicing deep breathing in this way for some days, attempt should be made to bring time limit to the period of inhaling and exhaling. Initially equal time should be allotted for inhaling and exhaling. That is, the time given to inhaling, the same amount of time is given to exhaling. This is called deep breathing, with equal time and speed: “Samakal, Samagati, Deergh Shwasan”. While practicing deep breathing, the numbers should be counted mentally. For instance, if inhaling takes four counts, the same period should be taken for exhaling. On such occasion normally it is noticed that exhaling completes at the second or the third point. So one should be alert regarding the speed of exhaling right from the beginning and try to maintain the balance. Of course after a few days’ practice one successfully adapts this system. To maintain the time record, one can use the second system in a watch. The study of deep breathing with equal time and speed should continue for 10 to 15 minutes without pause. Apparently this system seems easy, but that is not so. One finds oneself out of breathing. But as said earlier constant practice helps in acquiring this system successfully.

After practicing deep breathing with equal time and speed successfully, one should start studying it by increasing the time for exhaling. If inhaling (Puraka) is in four seconds, then exhaling (Rechaka) shall take 5 to 6 seconds instead of four. This needs special efforts. When a person succeeds in doing inhaling and exhaling at the ratio of 1: 1 for 10 to 15 minutes, he should double the time for exhalation. The ideal ratio for inhaling-exhaling is 1: 2. Many times or Pranayama also the same ratio is stated. If the period for inhaling goes up to four seconds, then exhaling should be lengthened up to eight seconds. But both the operations should have the equal speed. That is, the speed of inhaling from the first second to the fourth one and the speed of exhaling from the first second to the eighth one should be the same. Of course it is not possible until one acquires control over the breathing system. One should practice deep breathing in the aforementioned way for 10 to 5 minutes at a stretch. In deep breathing one can further progress by increasing the period of inhaling and proportionately that of exhaling. That is the period of inhaling can be increased gradually from five to fifteen seconds and naturally that of exhaling from ten to thirty seconds. Observing this system carefully one can have as many repetitions as one can. In this system holding of breath is not included and hence this operational system is written as 1:0:2. The practice of deep breathing not only strengthens the lungs but also greatly helps in increasing the concentration of the mind. Then, there is a tremendous increase in zeal in day-to-day work owing to the good breathing and nice blood circulations, the twin gifts of deep breathing. Besides one starts acquiring control over the process of breathing.

FAST BREATHING TECHNIQUE:
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When the speed of quiet breathing is deliberately reduced, the result is deep breathing; on the contrary, if that speed is willfully increased, then the result is fast breathing. However, here the short timed inhaling-exhaling is not implied. It is expected that one should increase the speed of breathing by inhaling and exhaling fully. One has to practice to continue the cycle of quick breathing with constant practice. This sort of breathing is easy to understand & easy to practice. Naturally, its benefits are also limited. The fast breathing clears the nasal passage and gives a good exercise to the parts involved in the breathing system. At times while practicing quick breathing, one feels whirling sensation in the head. But one should not bother about it. On such occasions, stop fast breathing and begin quiet breathing. There occurs no problem, once there is sufficient practice and habit of this type of breathing. This breathing is also practiced in Padmasana or Vajrasana. Before actually beginning the study of deep breathing, one should practice quick breathing for 2-3 minutes in order to get the nasal passage cleared, fast breathing need not be done for a longer period.

After examining and understanding these basic systems of breathing, let us turn to the supplementary types of breathing: The breathing passage in the nasal cavity is divided into two owing to the mid partition between two nasal cavities, viz. the left and the right.

In Yoga, the left nasal cavity is called “Chandra Nadi” (The moon passage) or “Ida Nadi” and the right nasal cavity is known is “Suryanadi” (The sun passage) or “Pingala Nadi”. Inhaling (Puraka) and Exhaling (Rechaka) can be done either through one of these nasal cavities or with both of them. The supplementary types of breathing are based upon these two nasal cavities. In this system of breathing one nasal cavity is kept closed, while the other one open. For this purpose the fingers of the right palm are arranged in a special manner. This special position of the fingers is called “Pranava Mudra”, i.e., the position of Pranayama.

Source:www.yogapoint.com

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‘Eating chocolates can keep the dentist away’

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HOUSTON: For a healthy smile, always brush between meals, floss regularly and eat plenty of chocolate?

According to Tulane University doctoral candidate Arman Sadeghpour an extract of cocoa powder that occurs naturally in chocolate, tea, and other products might be an effective natural alternative to fluoride in toothpaste.

In fact, his research revealed that the cocoa extract was even more effective than fluoride in fighting cavities. The extract, a white crystalline powder whose chemical makeup is similar to caffeine, helps harden teeth enamel, making users less susceptible to tooth decay.

The extract could offer the first major innovation to toothpaste since manufacturers began adding fluoride to toothpaste in 1914.

The extract has been proved effective in the animal model, but it will probably be another two to four years before the product is approved for human use and available for sale, Sadeghpour says.

But he has already created a prototype of peppermint flavoured toothpaste with the cavity-fighting cocoa extract added, and his doctoral thesis research compared the extract side by side to fluoride on the enamel surface of human teeth.

Sadeghpour’s research group included scientists from Tulane, the University of New Orleans, and Louisiana State University’s School of Dentistry.

Source:The Times Of India

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