Tag: Pranayama

Yoga and Pranayama: A Holistic Approach for Fatty Liver Treatment

Abstract

Non alcoholic fatty liver disease is a leading cause of worldwide liver disease. In today’s era pharmacological medications are ineffective and in this condition lifestyle changes and regular exercise is the effective and commonly used treatment for Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Regular practising of Yoga and pranayam can reduce liver inflammation and hepatic steatosis, changes body composition, increases cardio-respiratory fitness and also improves vascular endothelial functions. The role to evaluate the yoga and pranayam without medication. Daily practice of yoga and pranayam in fatty liver patients for some time provides very good results. Practising Kapalbhati pranayam, Dhanurasana, triangle pose are effective yoga interventions for the best and effective results in the patients of NAFLD.

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Introduction

Fatty liver is also known as steatotic liver disease and also hepatic steatosis is a condition where excess fat accumulates in liver cells. Diabetes, obesity, smoking, high triglycerides, and non alcoholic fatty liver disease is also a risk factor that cause liver cancer. NAFLD represents the spectrum of the disease which starts from simple stenosis to fibrosis and is commonly present in 70% of patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes are at higher risk.

Causes Of Fatty Liver

Fatty liver is also caused by various factors like Obesity: excessive weight can lead to a disproportionate fat muscle ratio:

  • Alcohol Consumption: For long term alcohol use can worsen the liver and increase liver disease and cancer.
  • Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: High sugar level in the body can promote accumulation of liver. It can lead to inflammation or formation of scar tissue.
  • High Triglyceride Changes: High levels of triglycerides in the blood can cause fat build up in the liver.

Symptoms Of Fatty Liver

There may be some symptoms:

  • Abdominal discomfort
  • Tiredness, fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Dark urine
  • Itching
  • Jaundice (Yellowing of skin and eyes)

Stages Of Fatty Liver

  1. The first stage is Stenosis: A harmless buildup of fat in the liver.
  2. The second stage is Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis: A more serious form of NAFLD where the liver may be inflamed.
  3. The third stage is Fibrosis: Persistent inflammation causes scar tissue around the liver and nearby blood vessels.
  4. The fourth stage is Cirrhosis: It will be the last and most severe stage of fatty liver. In it the liver will be most affected.

Investigations

  • USG
  • CT SCAN
  • MRI
  • LFT
  • CBC
  • Viral markers
  • Liver Biopsy

FATTY LIVER DISEASE CAN BE TREATED WITH LIFESTYLE CHANGES

  • Eat a healthy diet, limiting sugar and salt in diet, plus eating lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, Dark chocolate, blueberries, olives and plums. And must avoid a high protein diet, avoid dairy products and processed and packed food, sugary beverages etc.
  • Regular physical activities, aerobic exercises.
  • Avoid alcohol and quit smoking.

FATTY LIVER AYURVEDIC OVERVIEW

Fatty liver refers to accumulation of excessive fat in the liver. In ayurveda it is termed as Yakrit Roga (Liver disease), many conditions come into Yakrit Roga, from simple steatosis to hepatomegaly to liver disease. They may be due to an imbalance of Pitta dosha. It helps in digestion of food. So we need to balance pitta dosha by flushing out toxins from the body. In contrast with kapha dosha which is known to be its cold and heavy qualities, it can reduce pitta efficacy in the liver when present in excess amounts. Ayurvedic medications are best and effective. Regular practice of Yoga and Pranayam is preferable for preventive and curative management of NAFLD. Yoga and pranayam are interlinked with ayurveda. Yoga is one of the best philosophies that means for self improvement by gaining the full potential of one’s body, mind and soul. Pranayam (Breathing exercise), Asana (Yogic postures), Dhyana (Meditation) are the popular techniques. Yoga is preferably effective in obesity or to control your diabetes and also corrects liver functions. Surya namaskar on NAFLD is quite difficult so therefore other yogic practices like kapalbhati, dhanurasana, Bhujangasana are beneficials.

SYMPTOMS

  • Udarashoola (Pain in abdomen)
  • Aruchi (Loss of appetite)
  • Utklesha (Feeling of nausea and vomiting)
  • Hritkantahadaha (Heartburn)

MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the key to reversing the fatty liver. Plan a proper routine to practice yoga and pranayam in your day to day life. It may also help rejuvenate your liver and promote healthy functioning of the liver. Many people can follow this routine: yoga and pranayam, exercises and a balanced diet for fatty liver. Doing yoga for fatty liver may also build strength and boost blood flow also helps in improving digestion. It can also address underlying factors like stress and sedentary lifestyle.

IN YOGA YOU CAN PRACTICE THESE POSES TO REVERSE YOUR DISEASE

  • TRIANGLE POSE (Trikonasana): This is a standing pose which improves the blood flow of the body and targets the liver and also helps in detoxification.
  • SPINAX POSE (Salamba Bhujangasana): This asana helps in core strength, stimulates the abdominal muscle and helps in relaxation.
  • COBRA POSE (Bhujangasana): This asana helps with spinal flexibility, blood flow and also improves the core strength.
  • BOW POSE (Dhanurasana): This pose strengthens the abdomen and compresses the liver which helps in detoxification and enhance immune system.
  • HALF LORD OF FISHES (Ardha Matsyasana): This is a twisting pose which helps in massaging your abdominal organs and also livers.
  • PASCHIMOTTANASANA: This poses manage the spleen, liver, kidney and pancreas.

In Pranayam

  • Kapalbhati Pranayam: This asana enhances blood circulation and stimulates the liver and is very useful in liver disease.
  • Anulom Vilom: It is very beneficial and can help treat various liver issues. This involves alternating between inhaling one nostril and exhaling to the other one.

Procedure

  • Sit cross legged on the ground
  • Inhale deeply
  • Exhales forcefully through your nostrils

BENEFITS OF YOGA AND PRANAYAM IN FATTY LIVER

  • Reduces Fat Depositions: Yoga can help reduce fat deposition in liver by using them as a energy during yoga poses.
  • Improves Liver Functioning: Can stimulate liver enzymes and improves functioning.
  • Strengthen the Liver: The kapalbhati pranayam, bow pose, fish pose can strengthen the liver.
  • Improves Blood Flow: Yoga can improve blood flow and oxygenation which helps remove harmful substances from the body.
  • Helps in Digestion.

Conclusion

In this article we are studying about how yoga and pranayam are effective for treatment of fatty liver. In this we start from introduction then we study their causes, symptoms, investigation, treatment further we see the ayurvedic overview then symptoms according to ayurveda at last we study treatment and yoga and pranayam we do for fatty liver benefits of yoga and Pranayam in Fatty liver patients.

Yogic Exercise and Pranayam to keep Heart Health

Introduction

Doing yogic exercises is the best way to enhance your body’s flexibility, strengthen your muscles, boost stamina, erase stress from your mind, get more disciplined and rejuvenate the whole body. Yoga helps in cleaning the whole body, both from inside and from outside, boosting your immune system and keep a check on the health of other organs.

It enhances the blood circulation as well as it is a tonic for weight loss, a major problem the whole world is facing these days. Any posture you choose, enhances your heart’s health. Most of its postures require you to be stagnant at a particular position with deep breathing. Today we are going to discuss some of the yogic exercises and pranayams that help in keeping the heart healthy.

Yoga for Healthy Heart

Anjali Mudra:

  • Just like you do namaste, sit cross legged on the floor with your palms together and your fingers stretching out near the center of your chest (heart chakra). This posture represents the harmony of your body’s both sides,left & right. Now close your eyes at a snail’s pace and inhale slowly & deeply, hold your breath for as long as you can and then exhale slowly. Keep repeating this pattern for a few minutes, the longer, the better.

Anjali mudra

The Warrior Pose (Veerabhadr-asana):

  • This posture means going into a mountain pose. Stretch one of your legs to the backside, but the leg has to be straight and the other leg should be carried forward and bend at a 90° and stretch your hands with palms joined right above your head towards the sky (or the roof, if you are exercising in the indoors). Now inhale slowly & deeply with closed eyes and hold your breath and hold it for as long as you can and exhale slowly. Repeat this pattern for some time.
  • You can do this posture in another way, here you bring your folded hands in front of your chest. Bring your back side leg to point outwards, while your folded leg remains at the original position. Now stretch your hands outside that they are parallel to the earth but are stretched farthest.
  • Now close your eyes and inhale slowly & deeply, hold your breath for some time and exhale slowly. This pattern can be done by altering the both legs. Spend some time doing these postures. It will help in retaining heart’s health.

The Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana):

  • Lie on your back, with hands stretched out sideways. Fold your knees and raise your body from the pelvis area. Stay there for as long as you can or take the support of your hands if you are finding staying at that position is getting difficult. Inhale slowly when you are rising your body, try to hold for as long as you can, exhale while coming back or when your body remains up. This posture is extremely beneficial for your thighs, hips, stomach and back.

Triangular Pose (Trikonasana):

  • Begin by stretching you left leg out. Now stretch your left hand that it touches your left foot and your torso comes above the left leg and is parallel to the earth, now rotate your face and your eyes look at the sky (or the roof, if you are exercising in the indoors).
  • Stretch the right hand keeping the arm straight to the other side, towards the sky. Hold on for some seconds or minutes and do deep breathing. You can also alter the legs & arms.

Surya namaskar;

  • A very popular and widely practiced posture, surya namaskar means saluting the Sun. It has 12 different poses that enhance the health of different organs, and boosts the health of the whole body. All these 12 poses are encompassed into one posture, known as surya namaskar,. You have to stay stagnant in such poses and breath deeply and at a sluggish pace.

Surya namaskar

Bhujang-asana (cobra pose)

  • This is a pose which works wonderfully for spine, shoulder, abdomen, also relieves your stress & fatigue. Lie down on your stomach while keeping your hands on the ground, right next to your chest. Now slowly lift the front of your body upwards after getting the help of your hands. Hold it when your arms become straight. Concentrate on your breathing and feel  the stretch in your abdomen, also feel the fatigue going through your spine and vanishes in the hips.

Seated Forward Pose (Paschimottasana):

  • Just sit on the floor with legs stretched, but both are joined together. Now try to reach the feet with your hands, without folding your legs at the knees. Bend so much that your head comes over your knees, keep practicing,
  • One fine day you can touch your forehead with your knees. This pose is great for enhancing the flexibility. It facilitates by bringing down a fast heart beat and relaxes your whole body. When your hands touch your feet, try deep breathing.

The Mountain Pose (Tadasana):

  • This one is very easy to do and is one of the basic ones. This pose eradicates stress and concentrates more on deep breathing. Stand with your legs slightly apart, bring your hands folded near the chest. Take deep breaths and stretch your body.

Savasana:

  • Just lie on your back with arms resting alongside body and palms facing the sky or roof. Let your ankles fall outward. Inhale slowly, but deeply as you feel melting into the floor with every breath, than exhale sluggishly. Do this pose for more than 5 minutes.

Natural Ways to Prevent Heart Disease

  • If you have a difficulty in doing these different postures, take the help of yoga expert. Planet Ayurveda’s Heart Care Pack is wonderful in heart related ailments. Take Planet Ayurveda’s Heart Care Pack, which is made from the extracts of best quality, herbal plants.
  • It is 100% made of natural & authentic herbal, which is free from any chemicals, additives and preservatives. It is the best remedy for your heart to function normally and it doesn’t cost a fortune. Well, what are you waiting for? Its available online at planetayurvda.com