Yoga and Naturopathy

Introduction:

Yoga and naturopathy are two medical concepts originating from the ancient Indian concepts of self-healing methods. While yogic methods aim at providing relief through physical exercises for mental and physical well-being, naturopathic science helps in allowing the body to self-heal using a natural approach. However, both these methods aim at providing cure and relief to people and have been proven to be beneficial among patients.

What Is Yoga?

Yoga is the science of living right and one that can be incorporated into our daily lives, where it concentrates on physical, mental, vital, emotional, spiritual, and psychic well-being. The word yoga is derived from a Sanskrit word called “Yuj” which means to join, unity, or oneness. Yoga is done by balancing and bringing the body, emotions, and mind into oneness by practicing Pranayama, Mudras, Asana, Bandha, meditation, and Shatkarmas.

What Is Naturopathy?

Naturopathy is not a form of medicine but practicing life according to the ancient system of medicine contained within the application of nature and the environment. It practices medicine as returning to nature for healing without any drugs or medications, coherently living with society.

What Are the Treatment Methods That Are Involved With Naturopathy and Yoga?

Some of the treatment methods that are involved with the practice of yoga and naturopathy are:

• Acupuncture - This method of treatment is practiced by inserting fine, thin needles into the skin at targeted sites of the body. Acupuncture is an ancient form of medical practice that originated from the traditions of Japan, China, and other Eastern countries. It is believed that the stimulation of the skin on specific areas of the body channels the energy that aids in the reduction of pain and inflammation and increases the body’s immunity and resistance. It is also used to bring sedation and hemostasis in some patients.

• Acupressure - It is a form of very old and simple oriental therapy that promotes healing of the body and its internal organs by applying pressure on specific areas on the body surface to provide ailment.

• Diet and Fasting Therapy - Diet and fasting have always been a way of a universal self-healing process and provide a recovery phase to the system. While restricted diets provide required nutrients by eliminating unwanted benefits, fasting, on the other hand, provides a time for the body to heal, recuperate, and function effectively and properly. The most commonly preferred diets include fruits and juices that help the body detox and eliminate toxins.

• Yoga, Pranayams, and Meditation - These include various forms of medical and therapeutic signs that involve major components like:

  • Practicing restraint.

  • Observing discipline.

  • Breathing exercise.

  • Postures.

  • Meditation.

  • Contemplation.

Practicing these habits helps patients with psychosomatic disorders develop a calm mind and resist and endure stressful situations. Meditations are also proven to stabilize emotional and mental functions, stabilizing and controlling the autonomic nervous system.

• Hydrotherapy - This is the treatment method of treating patients with water under a sustained temperature. Water under different forms and temperatures has been proven to cure various diseases and improve health. Some of the different ways of proving water or hydrotherapy are:

  • Douches.

  • Water baths.

  • Water packs.

  • Irrigations like enema.

  • Water compression.

  • Fomentations.

• Mud Therapy - The therapy is done using mud packs as healing agents as it is believed to have a high impact on affecting one’s health. Mud is used to retain and seal moisture, putting the body under a cooling effect, thus relaxing it. Where coolants are proven to numb the pain, it is also employed in treating diseases that involve the intestinal tract and skin.

• Manipulative Therapies: The main aim of manipulation therapy is to provide relief to people of all ages, from infants to the elderly. Manipulative therapy is used to treat various health conditions that include:

Stress-Related Mental Illnesses Like:

• Depression.

• Anxiety.

• Insomnia.

Other Medical Conditions Like :

• High blood pressure.

• Cancer-induced fatigue.

• Spinal cord injury.

• Diabetes.

• Post-surgical care.

• Suppressed immunity.

• Autism.

Disorders Associated With Age, Including:

• Fertility.

• Smoking.

• Eating disorders.

The common way to practice this therapy is through the following techniques:

• Reflexology - It is a type of massage done in the foot at specific pressure points to relieve stress and relax the body.

• Massage - This is massaging the body surface that helps in calming the body and treating pain.

• Chiropractic - This is the practice done to manipulate the neck, spine, and other body parts, providing relaxation.

• Osteopathy - The therapy is done by manipulating the body through various stretches for the benefit of muscles, bones, and ligaments as they improve joint mobility, relieving stiffness, and reducing muscle tension and pain.

What Are the Potential Diseases That Get Cured Through Naturopathy?

The potential diseases, according to the studies based on the research conducted, that can be cured or treated using naturopathy are:

1. Anemia (a decrease in blood hemoglobin levels).

2. Asthma (a chronic obstructive disease of the bronchus that causes difficulty in breathing; it is mostly triggered by any potential allergens or climatic conditions and can be familial in incidence).

3. Allergic skin diseases- This is a clinical condition that involves one or many skin conditions like redness, rashes, scales, etc., often triggered by allergens.

4. Gout (it is a commonly occurring type of arthritis that is painful in nature occurring due to the deposition of uric acid crystals in the bony joints).

5. Constipation.

6. Eczema (an inflammatory condition of the skin characterized by itchy, dry, and bumpy skin).

7. Flatulence.

8. Obesity.

9. Hyperacidity.

10. Hypertension.

11. Hypotension.

12. Anxiety.

13. Psoriasis (a condition of the skin resulting in flaky, itchy skin).

14. Rheumatoid arthritis (an inflammatory condition of the bony joints).

15. Colitis (inflammation of the culinary tract).

16. Peptic ulcer.

17. Diabetes mellitus.

18. Gastritis.

19. Facial paralysis.

20. Hemiplegia (unilateral paralysis of the body).

21. Sciatica (a condition characterized by numbness, pain, or tingling sensation felt in the leg).

22. Cervical spondylosis (age-related wear and tear of the neck).

What Are the Advantages of Yoga and Naturopathy?

The benefits of yoga and naturopathy are:

• Puts the patient in a state of calm.

• Reduces intake of several medicines.

• Clears the mind from cloudiness.

• Improves concentration.

• Helps with sleeping.

• Cost-effective.

• Connects the patients to the natural environment.

• Reduces treatment-related anxiety and fear.

Conclusion:

Both yoga and naturopathy are very effective and efficient treatment methods that require the patients to trust the process and believe in the power of healing. Both yoga and naturopathy have shown potential effects in treating patients and providing positive and beneficial outcomes. These treatment procedures concentrate on the outermost aspect of the body and appears to be very practical and easily approachable, putting the body in unison along with the body, mind, and soul. Physically, the body, along with the body parts, work in harmony for the betterment and well-being in coordination.