Yoga to Treat Tuberculosis

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Tuberculosis, also known as TB, is a highly infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs. TB is caused by the Mycobacteria tuberculosis which is easily transmitted by air due to coughing and sneezing by an infected person. The disease results in a variety of symptoms including cough, weight loss, fatigue, fever, night sweats, chills and loss of appetite.

While, strong antibiotics are necessary for the treatment of TB, many believe that yoga is quite effective therapy to cure TB. In fact, a study conducted by researchers in SVYASA, (SVYASA is an India-based government recognized yoga university) have seen a significant improvements including increase in stamina, increase n appetite, mental clam and reduction in cough.

A course of yoga therapy for tuberculosis often includes breathing practices, seated stretches, sun salutation, and other standing poses, forward bends and back bends, which are mentioned below:

Kapalabhati – the Sanskrit word Kapalabhati is derived from two words – ‘Kapala’ meaning skull and “Bhati’ meaning shining. Thus, when you join the two words to form Kapalbhati – this word indicates that when you practice Kapalabhati, it releases the toxins from your body and makes your skull shine. Kapalabhati is more commonly known as forceful exhalation. This intense breathing exercise is also one of the primary cleansing exercises in yoga.

Paranayama Technique – Here, the patient needs to sit comfortably in the Sukha Asana (Cross legged posture) or in Padma Asana (Lotus pose). The patients back should be straight and chin should be parallel to the ground. He needs to relax his mind and gently close his eyes. Now, he needs to practice Kapalabhati by exhaling with force in which as he exhales his stomach goes all the way in. Whenever, the patient exhales and his stomach goes in, a sound of breath should be produced from the nostril.

The Kapalabhati can be performed in three different stages:

Stage 1 – in this step, there should be a gap of about one second in between two successive forceful exhalations.

Stage 2 – in this type, there should be a gap of about half second in between two successful exhalations.

Stage 3 – in the third stage, there should be no gap between two forceful exhalations and the exhalations should be performed at rapid speed. The above steps have helped to cure people suffering from lungs congestion and Tuberculosis.

Bhastrika – This is another yoga breathing exercise that has helped to improve the health conditions of people suffering from tuberculosis and lung congestion. The primary difference between this Pranayama and others are that this is the only Pranayama in which chest breathing is performed. The word Bhastrika indicates the bellows of a blacksmith; hence, when performing this Pranayama, a strong current of air has to be produced. Both inhalation and exhalation are done with force in this Pranayama.

Paranayama Technique – the patient needs to sit down in the Sukha Asana or in Padma Asana, gently close his eyes, keep his hands on top of his thighs and concentrate on his breathing for some time.

Now, he needs to take a deep breath in. As the patient breathes in, his abdomen should contract in and chest should expand. While, breathing in, he needs to take his hands back as much as in and the he needs to breathe out with a lot of force and a jerk at the end. As the patient breathes out, he needs to bring his hands back on his thighs. In this step, the patient’s abdomen should also return back to original position. This Pranayama should be performed for about 3 to 5 minutes everyday to witness a change in the symptoms of tuberculosis.