A common troublesome conditions,which tend to occur and recur each spring or monsoon and for some a continous process of irritation and uneasiness in the nose and the sinus area resulting in frequent headaches as well.
Sinusitis and Hay Fever
Sinusitis and Hay fever are troublesome conditions, which tend to recur each spring or monsoon season in susceptible individuals. Medical scientists view these upper respiratory tract disorders as being caused by viruses or defects in our immune system. The underlying cause is recognized by yogic science as an excess of the mucous element in the body.
Sinusitis
Sinusitis is a state of inflammation of the sinus cavities in the cheeks and frontal bones. These cavities, which are lined by mucous membrane, open into the nasal passages. During a bout of cold, the narrow entrances into the sinuses become blocked, and headache and stuffiness of the head are experienced together with swelling and tenderness over the cheekbones and forehead. Sometimes, pain in the sinuses can become very severe and it can accompanied by aching in the eyes. However, these symptoms should clear up together with the cold within a week, given rest and proper care.
Chronic sinusitis
Sinusitis may become a chronic condition lasting for two weeks, a month, or even more. This usually occurs when an acute cold is neglected, wrong eating habits continue and auto-intoxication develops due constipation. As a result bacterial infection, production of mucopurulent sputum and decent of symptoms into the lower respiratory tract (bronchitis) occurs. Facial swelling and bone tenderness usually pass off, but a persistent mucopurulent discharge into the front and back of the nose from the congested, infected sinuses, accompanied by nasal obstruction and recurrent headaches, become the prominent symptoms.
In chronic sinusitis, a seat of infection has become established which proves extremely difficult and troublesome to overcome by conventional medical measures. Apart from the problems of reinfection, chronic sinusitis serves as a constant source for other respiratory diseases.
Nervous stress and emotional upset also have prominent role in persistent sinusitis, chronic cold and recurring headaches. Physicians note that sneezing attacks and nasal irritation often accompany periods of emotional upset. Sinus troubles of this kind respond rapidly to yogic therapy.
Hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
Hay fever is closely related to sinusitis. It usually comes on suddenly, and at about the same time every year with many people. There is a tickling in the nose, sneezing and irritation down into the bronchial tubes. Symptoms are like those of a cold but more severe. The eyes are filled with tears and there is acute swelling and irritation of the nasal mucous membrane and sinuses, profuse mucus discharge and headache.
Medical scientists classify hay fever as an allergy which may develop following exposure to some inhaled irritant such pollen or house dust, or it may be precipitated by an allergen taken in the diet, for example, chocolate, milk, bananas, strawberries and oranges are only a few of the substances known to precipitated hay fever in affected individuals. However, according to yogic understanding, when the digestive organs and the nasal membranes are in good health such irritants cannot affect us.
Hay fever occurs due to hypersensitivity of the individual's immune surveillance system, perhaps due to sensitization to the offending allergen in the past. When the individual comes into contact with the allergen, a violent inflammatory reaction is set into motion, mediated by the release of the chemical histamine into the bloodstream.
Often the hypersensitivity can be traced back to traumatic events and experiences which generated deep subconscious, negative influences and associations in childhood. Because the priming of the immune system and the laying down of subconscious impressions occur simultaneously throughout life, especially during childhood, it is often extremely difficult to separate allergic from psychological component in sinusitis, hay fever and asthma. Psychological programming and immune sensitization are like the two sides of a single coin, and the immune system of an adult seems to be a kind of cellular memory of our prior experiences.
Yogic science explains hypersensitive reactions as the arousal of a previously developed mental impression, which has left a deep-set memory and imprint in both our psyche and cellular memory (surveillance system). The person who suddenly starts sneezing either in a tense psychological situation or when exposed to house dust in manifesting essentially the same reaction. It is a physiological immune response to a subconscious mental impression surfacing.
They have, however, fallen into disfavor amongst many medical practitioners because they are expensive, require many painful injections and rarely provide the immunity to allergens that was originally expected. There is also an increasing awareness of the dangers of precipitating more severe immune disorders, hypersensitivity states and even cancers, by injecting foreign materials into the bloodstream.
In severe chronic sinusitis, the surgical procedure of antral washout is sometimes performed. By piercing the bony wall of a blocked and painful sinus, saline water can be introduced into the seat of chronic inflammation in the sinus, and total washing and evacuation can be performed. This is a painful, time-consuming surgical procedure, which gives only transient relief. The yogic practice of neti is far better from both the doctor and patient's viewpoints as it is cheap, easy and enjoyable and provides better long-term results.
Yogic management of sinusitis and hay fever
The cure of sinusitis and hay fever can be achieved in two ways: by balancing the body's energy systems or nadis, and by throwing light upon the deeper mental impressions and blockages which arise simultaneously with the symptoms. Meditation, Yoga Nidra and objective self analysis frequently enable the unconscious mechanism of these conditions to be understood and transcended.
In general, yogasana are contraindicated in febrile conditions but ca be adopted after fever and other debilitating symptoms have diminished.
1. Surya namaskara: this dynamic practice dramatically raises the level of pranic energy in the body, counteracts excessive cold and overcomes many psychological and immune deficiencies and hypersensitive states. It helps to throw off resistant respiratory infections.
2. Asana: Pawanmuktasana is the best series to commence with in the recovery period. Follow with surya namaskara and shavasan, as strength improves, then paschimottanasana, bhujangasana, halasana, dhanurasana and ardha matsyendrasana can be practised one to three times according to capacity. Simhagarjanasana should also be practised.
Sirshasana and sarvangasana are contraindicated when there are symptoms of cold as they may precipitate sinusitis or complicate an existing case of sinusitis.
3. Pranayama: Bhastrika, up to 5 rounds of 50 breaths.
4. Cleansing process: Jala neti is most beneficial provided there is no fever. It removes nasal mucus, drains and aerates the sinuses. Practise once or twice daily or whenever relief of stuffiness and mucus build-up is required. Immediately after jala neti, perform kapalbhati to clear and dry the nasal passages and activate the frontal area of the brain. Unless all excess water is removed from the nose, neti may have detrimental effects, including initiation of further colds.
Sutra neti is an effective practice to desensitize the nasal mucous membranes. In the first few days the practice may provoke sneezing and irritation, but after passing the catheter for a few mornings, success is assured.
Kunjal kriya is very beneficial in both prevention and treatment can be practised daily. Shankhaprakshalana should be performed at change of seasoned to remove decaying mucus wastes from the digestive system and rest the body thermostat.
5. Relaxation: yoga nidra should be practised daily as it is deeply relaxing and highly therapeutic. It enables the hay fever or sinusitis sufferer to witness the underlying personal complexes and perceptions arising from the past conditioning and prior childhood experiences, which so frequently initiate these diseases.
6. Diet: a light, non-mucous forming vegetarian diet should be followed. Avoid overeating, especially heavy, oily and sweet foods, and abstain from salt, rice and refined flour products. Eat plenty of fruits and raw vegetables. A fruit juice diet for three or four days is highly recommended.
Medical management of sinusitis and hay fever
Medical management of sinusitis and hay fever is largely symptomatic, offering no prospect of eliminating the cause and curing the disorder. The usual treatment is a regime of analgesics for pain relief, anti-histamine drugs to suppress the allergic reaction, antibiotics as a precaution against secondary bacterial infection. However, anti-histamines only dry up nasal secretions temporarily, and they do have side effects, such inducing drowsiness, which prohibits driving a car or performing many of our duties.
Until recently, courses of desensitizing injections to dull the body's increased sensitivity to specific irritants and allergens were a popular treatment for allergy in children. Drink plenty of citrus or grape juice, but do not mix the juices. After this, include plenty of vegetables in the diet and continue to eat lots of fruit, particularly papaya. Avoid taking cold or iced drinks, milk, ice cream and other dairy products. Take some fresh garlic every day.
Fasting: Fast whenever symptoms appear to be increasing. This is a most effective means of avoiding attacks. Alternatively, substitute the evening meal each day with tea prepared from substances such ginger, pepper, cinnamon and cardamom, which heat the body and promote mucus elimination.