Why do we ask gout patients to abstain from
meat and alcoholic drinks? Why do we experience relief in
knee pain when our bowels move well? Why is smoking
prohibited in cases of intermittent claudication
(cramping pain in the leg caused by arterial obstruction)
and coronary heart disease?
There is no controversy about the fact that the body has
its own resistance, and it fights against all diseases.
Why then do we not adopt methods and means to increase
the body’s own resistance? There is much abuse of
drugs. Patients suffering from pain for years are put on
strong, stronger and the strongest drugs till they fall
victim to him. They experience many side-effects such as
a peptic ulcer, gastritis, and deteriorated liver and
kidney function.
Food has a great role to play in causing and alleviating
pain in different diseases. The father of modern
medicine, Hipprocrates, said: ‘Let medicine be thy
food, and food, thy medicine.’ Proper food helps in
stopping the abuse of drugs. The use of water, the sun,
natural food, a correct diet, physical exercise and yoga
is a help in providing relief in various diseases.
Osteopathy believes in treating the body as a whole.
A vegetarian diet, as well as the inclusion of fruits,
green vegetables and salad in our food are vital. Fried
food and spices should be avoided as far as possible.
Physical exercise keeps unhealthy. Drinking a lot of
water helps to flush the kidneys. Fruits, vegetables and
salad in our diet provide vitamins and minerals and help
in bowel movement.
Water is used in its three forms: ice, water and steam.
We apply ice to bleeding vessels; they constrict and the
bleeding stops. When a steam bath is given to a patient
with a backache, it relaxes his muscles and offers pain
relief. This is what we call hydrotherapy.
Tension does have an effect on headaches and cervical
spondylosis. Tension and worries tighten the muscles of
the neck and the upper back and shoulders, and this
aggravates the pain by increasing the lesion at the level
of the cervical spine. Therefore meditation is of prime
importance to learn to relax the mind and body.
Yoga has been used for millennia in India. It is an
excellent antidote against the ills brought about by too
much stress. Excessive stress can cause many
psysiological problems. Yoga has proved its efficacy in
tackling such problems, and is becoming increasingly
popular even in the west. A system of self-treatment, the
malfunctioning of the body system due to bad habits,
incorrect food intake, and a faulty lifestyle can be
cured with yoga.
If yoga asanas are done as a routine throughout
life, the muscles will not grow. Digestion will improve,
sleep will be sound, sight will become sharp, and hearing
will become more sensitive. This will happen because asanas
assist the nervous system and endocrine glands to improve
their functioning. To sum up, a healthy daily routine and
a proper diet protect one from disease and promote good
health.
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