Yoga has a great history for curing all sorts of ailments in the human body. The main part for curing ailments is Shatkarma, which is known as the Purification of the human body and it has techniques which are known as Purificatory Techniques. These purification techniques are also the basis of Kundilini Yoga. Some of the Yoga Purification Techniques are mentioned below along with their ailments.
Dhauti is an important part of the Shatkarma (also known as Shatkriya), the yogic system of body cleansing techniques. It is manly intended for the cleansing of the digestive tract in its full length, but it also affects the respiratory tract, external ears and eyes. According to Gheranda Samhita [1], it is divided into four parts which are as follows:
Please don’t try these techniques without learning them from a learned Yoga Master and if anyone is trying these techniques himself or with the assistance of any Yoga Master you will be responsible for using these techniques and their results. We as publishers, authors and Yoga Practitioner’s do not suggest using or doing any body cleansing exercise; we are just describing how the author of this book practices these techniques.
Shake your belly. Throw up the water by putting your index and middle finger inside your throat. Continue to keep 2 fingers inside the throat. Try to throw up all the water that you have drank. There is no worry if a little bit of water remains inside. It will go out in urination. Rest for at least a half an hour; after a half an hour, you can have refreshments or food.
The difference between Vamana Dhauti and Kunjal Kriya is that in Vamana Dhauti, the water comes out in parts, while in Kunjal Kriya, the water flows out smoothly, like water pouring from a faucet. In Kunjal Kriya, the practitioner needs to drink warm water mixed with either black salt or mountain rock salt. If these specific salts are not available, regular sea salt can be used instead. This practice helps cleanse and improve the efficiency of the upper digestive system (pharynx, esophagus, stomach) as well as the respiratory system (larynx, trachea, bronchi). But how can we clean out the stomach and lungs, you might ask? The yogis devised a simple yet effective method of back-flushing the stomach just like Jala neti does for the nose. The yogis maintain that every morning one should flush the stomach, starting off with a clean digestive furnace, to remove any remnant food and replace the mucus lining. It is just like washing off the dead skin cells on the outside of the body each day. Just as swimming, saunas and scrubbing helps the skin to function or “breathe” better, flushing out the stomach helps it to digest better.
About six cups of warm salty water (we are not going to include the exact recipe here) are drunk to completely fill the stomach and then from either a squatting or a bent forward position, two fingers are used to press the root of the tongue and stimulate the vomiting reflex. This makes a quick and easy gushing out of the water held in the stomach. Jala Neti is then done to clear out the sinuses. This practice is not as awful as people first think and is in no way similar to the experience of being sick when the stomach is rejecting food due to an illness or when you’ve overdosed on alcohol after a drunken party. It need not take any more than about 5 minutes and leaves you feeling light and empty. The quantity of water needed to fill the stomach may vary from person to person. Six glasses is just an average. A smaller person, or someone with an anorexic
temperament, may only need four, whereas a large, hungry person may take eight to ten. Some people do Kunjal very easily first off and others may have a bit of trouble when they first begin. Those who have trouble getting the water down, or getting the water to come out, have nothing but a mental problem with it. Based on past experiences, they believe it is an extremely horrible thing to be sick and vomit. They may have nasty childhood memories of being ill with a stomach bug or of drunken binges where the stomach has had to vomit to protect itself from overload and these fears and memories come flooding back when approaching this practice. They often say “I’ve never liked being sick “(well who has?) or “my mother used to make me drink Castor oil” or something like that. They simply have a psychological resistance to the practice, yet once they get used to the idea or see others going about it easily, they loosen up and it happens much more easily. It may take a few attempts, but eventually, but eventually, it’s never as bad as they thought. Please note: The modern syndrome known as Bulimia has nothing in common with this yogic practice, and is a psycho-physiological addiction to the cycle of gorging and purging.
The pyloric sphincter, a muscle located at the bottom or outgoing end of the stomach, normally remains closed except when food is sent in waves down into the G.I.T. (gastrointestinal tract) for further digestion. However, when it receives a message from the brain that the body needs to expel the stomach’s contents, perhaps due to bad food or illness-induced nausea, this sphincter and the surrounding muscles make strong contractions in the reverse direction, forcing the stomach contents up and out. The pyloric sphincter is something that can be consciously controlled, starting with using the fingers to induce the vomiting reflex and progressing to controlling it through the stomach itself. Like any other organ in the body, the stomach can accumulate deposits and experience wear and tear over time, which can reduce its efficiency.
Kunjal Kriya works to remove these deposits and restore the stomach’s lining to optimal functioning.
The lungs and trachea also have mucus linings that can accumulate toxic waste through exposure to air pollution, poor diet, smoking, and mouth breathing. These buildups can interfere with their proper functioning. During the practice of Kunjal Kriya, flushing the stomach creates a nerve reflex connected to the lungs, which helps expel excess mucus and release nervous tension.
In addition to flushing out the stomach and esophagus, Kunjal is also an excellent cleansing tool for the lungs, and hence it is very beneficial for asthmatics. The strong contractions made by the pyloric sphincter send a shock wave along the vagus nerve, which can release spasms within the bronchial tree. Kunjal is, in fact, recommended as instant relief for anyone feeling the onset of an asthma attack. If an asthmatic performs Kunjal every morning, over several months their attacks will be reduced and occur less frequently. The contractions of Kunjal help with openness of the breathing mechanism and improve blood supply to the whole abdominal and thoracic area. Salt is known to be a great cleanser for the body. Everyone knows the feeling after a good swim in the ocean. The head feels clear, the nose is clear, the lungs feel alive. The same mucus clearing benefits can be attained at home, on a daily basis, through this method. By cleansing the lungs and the blood within the stomach area it also helps with removing bad breath. Kunjal helps those with under-active digestion and stimulates the digestive fire. Regular practice of Kunjal will increase circulation in this area and assimilation of food in the gut and therefore will raise the internal body temperature.
It is a good technique for those with perpetually cold extremities and under active digestion. It can help to remove indigestion, gas and acidity. It tones the abdominal muscles and other internal organs.
Precautions
People with stomach ailments such as ulcers, hernia, heart problems, high blood pressure, cancers and asthma, should seek guidance from a qualified Yoga Therapist before learning and practicing this technique.
Tiger Kunjal, as it’s called, is caused after having gorged its prey. The tiger goes off and hides somewhere for to take a nap. It is at this time that it would be most vulnerable to attack, so it hides. Upon waking up several hours later, it voluntarily expels any food left in its stomach after that time. This is because any food still left in the stomach will be the least digestible and will therefore take even more energy to finish digesting. Normally, humans shouldn’t need to do this, if their food intake is correct in quality and quantity. However, should you ever eat some food which does not agree with you and you suspect the beginnings of intestinal upset or, if, after several hours there is still a heavy feeling in the stomach, this technique can be done. By drinking enough salty water to completely fill the stomach performing normal Kunjal as above.
Vastra means cloth, dhauti means cleansing. Vastra dhauti is a process that cleanses the digestive system using a strip of cotton cloth. Instead of just washing out the stomach it can be scrubbed out with a cloth! This is the infamous yogic practice of cloth eating. A strip of cotton cloth about two inches wide (which obviously doesn’t fray at the edges) is soaked in a bowl of warm salty water. Then one just starts eating the cloth and swallowing it. Three meters of it, making sure to leave a bit hanging out! Then one does Nauli Kriya (the rolling of the abdominal muscles) to scrub the rag around in the stomach. Afterwards it is gently removed within the maximum set time.
Preparations
Sterilize a cotton cloth of the correct size (measurements: twenty-two feet long and two-and-a-half inches wide). Fill a mug with lukewarm water.
Assists in curing all skin diseases, including leprosy. Helps to overcome twenty varieties of kapha related disorders. Controls the pitta dosha. Improves the function of the upper gastro-intestinal track. Improves digestion. Heals tomors, an enlarged spleen, the liver and common fever. Improves the strength of the body, spurs growth and cures respiratory disorders.
temperament, may only need four, whereas a large, hungry person may take eight to ten. Some people do Kunjal very easily first off and others may have a bit of trouble when they first begin. Those who have trouble getting the water down, or getting the water to come out, have nothing but a mental problem with it. Based on past experiences, they believe it is an extremely horrible thing to be sick and vomit. They may have nasty childhood memories of being ill with a stomach bug or of drunken binges where the stomach has had to vomit to protect itself from overload and these fears and memories come flooding back when approaching this practice. They often say “I’ve never liked being sick “(well who has?) or “my mother used to make me drink Castor oil” or something like that. They simply have a psychological resistance to the practice, yet once they get used to the idea or see others going about it easily, they loosen up and it happens much more easily. It may take a few attempts, but eventually, but eventually, it’s never as bad as they thought. Please note: The modern syndrome known as Bulimia has nothing in common with this yogic practice, and is a psycho-physiological addiction to the cycle of gorging and purging.
Sutra means a tread. Sutra Neti is also called thread neti. Sutra Neti is advised as an alternate procedure to clearing the nasal passages in case when doing jala neti it is not successful. This is recommended short of a medical procedure to remove obstructions such as polyps. Though it MUST be learned under expert guidance, once learned it is remarkably simple and serves for an overall toning for the entire nasal cavity including the cranial nerves. It is extremely soothing and very effective in removing stubborn mucus. In this method of neti, a soft rubber catheter or special cotton strings entwined together are gently inserted into the nostril. This catheter of special cotton strings entwined together are gently inserted into the nostril. This catheter is glided along the floor of the nostrils and gradually pushed up the nasal cavity. Once it is felt at the back of the throat, it is gently pulled from the mouth by inserting the fingers and gradually pulling it out of the mouth. One end of the catheter protrudes from the throat while the other from the mouth. It is gently pulled back and forth to loosen the obstructions and mucus. This helps in freeing up the nostrils very effectively. While some people can perform this quite easily on the first try, others may take up to a month or more, to become comfortable with the process, In fact, sutra neti is an advanced from of neti to stimulate all the glands and organs of the entire nasal region, including the eyes and ears. It has a very suitable effect for thyroid related disorders.
For those who may not have much idea of the internal workings of the nasal cavities, it may seem stupid to pour warm salty water through one’s nose. To help clear fears and misunderstandings, we have tried to explain the procedure with diagram. The first line of nasal defense is the tiny hair called “cilia” which should trap larger particles entering the nose. These cilia …usually cleansed by normal breathing and by blowing the nose, but sometimes, due to a gradual build-up of dirt, dust, and allergens, they can become clogged and require washing out. The entire nasal passage, from the nose tip to the throat (and beyond), is covered with a layer of mucus. This mucus is secreted within the mucous lining, and its function is to trap smaller foreign particles, bacteria, and other pollutants. The dirty mucus is normally blown out, snorted, rinsed out, or swallowed.
The sinus passages are an even finer mechanism of filtering, which, if irritated or infected, secretes a runny mucus to evict germs This is generally called sinusitis and can be a short term symptom or a chronic condition.
In Stage 1, the water simply flows up one nostril to just above the edge of the nose where the usual air flows meet, backwards into the middle cavity, and then the water flows down and out the other side of the nostril. In this route, it passes by the frontal and mid-nasal sinuses. In Stage 1, there should be no flow of water back towards the throat or into the mouth. When done correctly, there is very little sensation as the water will be the same temperature as the blood, and the salinity will match the blood’s osmolarity. As a result, the nose hardly notices the flow through.
In the more advanced stages of 2 and 3, only attempted after mastery of Stage 1, the water flows fully through the whole nasal cavity, down the back of the naso-pharynx, and comes out through the mouth. In this route, it passes by the post-nasal sinuses, cleansing all the nasal passages more thoroughly. In neither version is there any discomfort or damage to the nasal conditions.
Ideally, at no stage, should any water actually go up into the sinus passages or the Eustachian tubes. However, this may happen if the practitioner breathes incorrectly or blows too strongly when drying. This causes only momentary discomfort and is not dangerous. In such an event, a few minutes of air-drying will usually clear out any stray water droplets.
The way in which Jala Neti rinses out the dirt and bacteria filled mucous lining would be obvious to most people as the warm water loosens and dissolves any internal build ups and takes then outward. But what may not be so obvious is that, due to gravity and a venture-effect, the sinus passages are also drained by the vacuum pressure flow of the water. Whereas it would normally be impossible to drain a “dead end” cavity like the sinuses, Jala Neti achieves this ingeniously and simply.
For those with thick mucus conditions as well as those with running sinuses, the relief of sinus pressure can be felt within seconds. In a more detailed examination, it would also be seen, that through the effect of osmosis and capillary action, the blood vessels of the nose are stimulated to cleanse as well.
The nose is the “air conditioner” of the body. One of the many functions of the nose is to regulate the temperature and humidity of the incoming air. Some people have “dry noses” and suffer dry, crusty, nose bleed type problems. Others are “wets”, with the constantly running sinuses and the tissues always up their sleeve. Others have perpetual stuffy and blocked nostrils. Regular practice of Jala Neti helps to establish the correct working environment of temperature and humidity in the nose.
Description
The technique is not half as hard as it appears. In fact, once mastered which should take a day or two at most. You will be surprised at both, the technique and its results. Another version of Netis is using diluted milk, pre-warmed to body temperature, in place of water. It is particularly beneficial to those suffering from chronic nose bleeding or for those who find salt water irrigating. A person can also drink milk at body temperature, using only one nostril. Make sure that the milk has a few drops of butter oil in it. After doing milk neti, your nose needs to be cleaned as described in Jala Neti part.
Other Name
Clarified Butter Neti, Ghrit-Neti,
Description
Instead of water and milk we can also use warm ghee, to practice ghrita neti. (If oil is used instead of ghee, it must be unconcentrated and with no added chemicals).
Procedure
It is as prescribed in jal and dugdha neti,
Benefits
It destroys all diseases which manifest above the throat.
Both sutra and jala neti exert a profound physiological effect on the body, mind and personality. On the physical level, irrigation of the nasal mucosa removes accumulated mucus from the nostrils, associated passages and sinuses, allowing air to flow without obstruction. Neti also exerts a relaxing and irrigation effect upon the eyes by stimulating the tear ducts and glands.
Remember, under no circumstances should you experience pain in the practice. If you feel any pain, it likely means you are inserting the catheter too fast, or that it has entered the wrong way and is pressing against the nasal wall. Unless there is some other underlying obstruction, in which case, stop immediately. Withdraw the catheter and reinsert it carefully, adjusting the direction until you find a clear, unimpeded passage.
The process of kapalbhati is related to the breathing process; however it is not a type of pranayam. But, certain sadhakas think in this manner and study kapalbhati under the impression that they are studying a type of pranayam. However, process of cleaning the wind pipe is one of the shuddhikriyas. The word kapalbhati is made up of two words, kapal meaning skull (here skull included all the organs under the skull too) and bhati means shining, illuminating. Due to the process, the organs under the skull mainly the brain and the small brain are influenced in a good manner. Hence the word is used in that way.
Since this process is related to breathing, it should be performed sitting in Padmasan. The muscles of the stomach should freely move in this process. This freeness cannot be achieved while sitting or sleeping, hence the process can be performed well while sitting in a dhyana pose. Padmasan is a very suitable asana for dhyana pose, this process should be performed while sitting in Padmasan. It may be performed by sitting in Swastikasan or Vajrasan, but as compared to Padmasan, these asanas are not so important. The pose of the body during Padmasan is essential here.
We have seen in the beginning that Kapalbhati is not a type of pranayam. It’s process is limited to Pooraka and Rechaka performed in a typical manner. Kumbhaka is not included here. Also, more importance is given to the Rechaka than Pooraka. In fact, Rechaka performed in a particular manner is the main process of Kapalbhati. Pooraka is just for namesake.
A cycle or rotation of Kapalbhati should be performed as follows:
In a cycle of Kapalbhati, swift Rechakas followed by Poorakas are expected. Both the actions are so swift that the duration cannot be definitely determined. However, after studying the process minutely, it can be said that Pooraka and Rechaka together about half second is the duration (this period is further reduced by practice). Approximately three fourths time is required for Rechaka and one fourth for Pooraka. Of course, this is just to give an idea. It is not perfect and may not be strictly adhered to. It is not possible to adhere to it strictly. None of the ancient Sanskrit yogas describe how many cycles of Rechaka and Pooraka should be performed in a cycle of Kapalbhati. When the process can be performed neatly, the Pooraka and Rechaka should be performed at least 21 times in a cycle of Kapalbhati. Such three cycles may be performed in one sitting. When this much is achieved, then the repetitions within a cycle can be increased. Each one should increase the repetitions as per his individual capacity and strength.
Between two cycles of Kapalbhati, gradual breathing should be continued. To further the study of Kapalbhati, either the repetitions of Pooraka and Rechaka within a cycle should be increased or keeping those repetitions constant, the number of cycles may be increased. All of these things should be considered thoughtfully, on the basis of experience of one’s own and under the guidance of an expert.
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