Nostril Breathing Treatment To Cure Seizure Disorder

"The great thing about Ayurveda is that it considers each of us as constitutionally unique. There is no “one size fits all” ayurvedic practice.”

As we continue to stay inside to protect ourselves from the deadly coronavirus disease, we must address the preservation of our health and well-being. During these stressful times, practicing yoga and meditation can be beneficial for maintaining normal physical and mental health. For people with Epilepsy, high fever can be a trigger.
As the name suggests, performing Sheetali Pranayama (Cooling Breath) has a cooling effect on the whole body, soothing and calming the mind. It could keep the nerves calm by reducing fear, anxiety, and depression, thereby stabilizing the brain. Some Epileptic patients may think, what will happen if I experience a seizure in public? What if nobody loves me, and people are afraid of me because of my Epilepsy? Good ayurvedic medicines and meditation can help control seizures so you can relax and let go of all your worries and fears.

Pranayama for Pitta Dosha

The tenth chapter of the Charak Samhita, "Apasmara Chikitsa," deals with Epilepsy and its possible causes, symptoms, types, and Ayurvedic treatments. Apasmara (Epilepsy) occurs in people whose doshas are overly aggravated and have spread to other places (vibrate) due to improper/harmful and (regular) intake of contaminated food. The peculiarities of pitta dosha dominance are explained:
"Paittika's abdomen is characterized by yellowish foam, body, face, and eyes. He gets visual hallucinations from yellow or blood-red objects. He has thirst, a hot feeling (feeling of heat) and sees the fire in all its surroundings."
Sheetali Pranayama is a helpful breathing technique to cure epilepsy because it has cooling and relaxing effects on the mind and body. Epileptic patients benefit from the daily practice of Sheetali Pranayama in many ways. Pranayam helps activate the body’s cooling mechanism through breathing by delivering cooling energy to the body's deep tissues. Pranayam is also very effective in cooling down tempers or heated emotions. Sheetali Pranayama can also reduce the anxiety and emotions often associated with Epilepsy.

How to practice Sheetali Pranayama.

We would first like to mention the proper breathing technique for Sheetali Pranayam. When you breathe, try to use all parts of your lungs to increase your oxygen intake. Focus on increase the retention of air in your lungs by taking a deep breath slowly, and increasing the exhalation and inhalation duration.
The proper breathing helps:
1. To recharge your body
2. Control your mental stage
3. To increase energy level, and
4. To have a focused and calmer state of mind.

Step-by-step description of Cooling Breath instructions:

1. Sheetali pranayam is best practiced on an empty stomach. Sit in a comfortable cross-legged position. Choose a location where you won’t be interrupted. Position comfortably, balance weight between sciatic bones, extend the spine. Put your hands on your lap, palms up, which stays relaxing and calm during the exercise.
2. Relax, close your eyes. Take two or three deep breaths through the nose. Inhale filling the lungs and feel the cool air as it enters the body.
3. Extend the tongue outside the body without any strain. Roll the side of the tongue so that it forms a tube. Inhale and draw the breath through the rolled tongue, allowing the air to travel through your tongue, thus creating a cooling sensation. The breath should produce a noise similar to the rushing wind. At the end of inhalation draw the tongue in, close the mouth, and hold the breath for a few moments, without any strain. One or two seconds is usually sufficient at first.
Until you are unable to curl your tongue, practice a variation known as Sitkari Pranayama. Inhale through the teeth, with the lips parted and the tongue floating just behind the teeth. „The great thing about Ayurveda is that it considers each of us as constitutionally unique. There is no “one size fits all” ayurvedic practice.” (source: yogainternational.com)
4. And then exhaling through the nose. During each exhalation, lightly touch the roof of the mouth with the tip of your tongue. A feeling of icy coldness will be felt on the tongue and the roof of the mouth. Swallow intermittently if the throat feels dry.
5. Then again, stick the curled tongue out and repeat.
6. Continue this cycle 9 to 10 rounds. You will feel refreshed. With practice, the cooling effect increases as the duration of the inhalation also increase.
7. While continuing to resume normal breathing through the nose. Finish the exercise with a few minutes of silent meditation.
After you have completed the exercise, observe yourself. Try to observe how you feel physically. Do you feel more relaxed in your body than before the workout? In which part of the body do you feel the change? Observe your state of mind and thoughts. As soon as you feel ready, gently open your eyes, stand up slowly, and dedicate yourself entirely to the rest of the day.

Health benefits of practicing Sheetali Pranayama are:

· Relax the body and Calm mind, supporting mental tranquility
· Beneficial for people with high blood pressure
· Promotes digestion
· Reduces toxic overload
· Helps rev up metabolism.

Who should not practice Sheetali Pranayama

This breathing technique is not recommended if:
· Your blood pressure is low
· You have asthma
· You suffer from a cold or cough.
· It is also a good idea to pause this exercise during the winter months and not do it in a place where there is a lot of pollution.

People with epilepsy treated with Pranayama:

· Get the chances of a seizure-free life are higher
· Get the frequency and/or duration of seizures is reduced
· Get a better quality of life.

A 2019 study examining the effectiveness of Ayurvedic treatment in a 52-year-old man with epilepsy was published in the Journal of the Indian System of Medicine. The article says, after regular antiepileptic medication, the patient did not have a seizure but had feelings of irritation, depression, lack of environmental interest, isolation, and lethargy. The common practice of Pranayama, in which a person performing controlled deep diaphragmatic breathing exercises, facilitated the restoration of normal breathing; this may shorten the seizure duration and stop the seizure before it becomes complete. After ayurvedic treatment, the man was relieved of the symptoms of epilepsy. He was satisfied as he progressed, without side effects, felt calm, and his enthusiasm improved.

Daily practice of Sheetali Pranayama can bring harmony to the body system and help calm the mind. It is always best to learn a new technique in person with a qualified teacher or doctor. Visit Neeraj Epilepsy Clinic to find the doctor that is best for you. If you want to make a positive difference in your life, your body also needs to be healthy.