Anxiety and Panic Attack Management - 6

[Guest guest]

Let us look at some drugless approaches in treating APA. Here then

we will start to integrate Yoga with Ayurveda.

 

In our previous posts we noted that the imbalance in Prana and Vyana

Vata caused various disorders which can be classified under the

heading of anxiety and depression. Hence, Pran Mudra and Vat Mudra

are both helpful in curing APA. Both mudras are to be done one after

another for 45 minutes each, everyday. If that much time is not

available, each mudra can be done for 15 minutes three times a day.

The benefits can be seen after a fortnight of practice. The Vat

Mudra helps control and cure the Vata ailments. The best time to

practice this Mudra is in the early morning or evening and as well

as when difficulties with the breathing are experienced. It is also

beneficial in recovering from attacks of paralysis. Its practice by

healthy people is an excellent preventive measure against all Vata

related problems. Though Mudra can be practiced while watching TV,

relaxing or chatting with other people present in the same room,

closing the eyes and concentrating the mind on the active fingers

heightens the benefits. The breathing technique described below can

be performed simultaneously with the Mudras.

 

Vat Mudra: The index finger is folded to touch and gently press the

root of the thumb and then the top portion of the thumb is made to

touch the middle part of the finger in such a way that it also some

pressure on the finger. Do the same for both hands. This Mudra

regulates the mutual proportion and combination of Agni and Vayu

Tatvas. It has also been found to help the patient when breathing is

difficult. If you practice Pranayama, the maximum Kumbhaka time can

be obtained when the Vat Mudra is practiced at the

same time as it increases the absorption of oxygen from the inhaled

air. This Vat mudra is an advanced version of Gyan mudra or Dhyan mudra and its

origin is in Tantra.

 

In Pran Mudra the tips of the little finger and the ring finger are

touched to the tip of thumb while the other fingers are kept

straight. Do the same for both hands. Mudras are illustrated at

 

http://healing.about.com/od/east/ig/Mudra-Gallery/

 

Acupressure points Lu -1, Lu - 10, CV-12, CV - 17 are also useful in

relieving breathing difficulties and are so effective that they can

avoid a visit to ER or the hospital. These key points are illustrated

at:

 

http://www.herbalshop.com/Acupressure/Acupressure_48.html

 

Artificial oxygen supplementation should always be minimal and

instead the energy blockages which cause these deficiencies should be

cleared. Nobody wants to remain dependant on a healthcare system!

Accupressure points for anxiety-panic relief are available at:

 

http://www.herbalshop.com/Acupressure/Acupressure_20.html

 

 

While food is an important solution to the problems of mood and

anxiety, one should keep in mind that a more important medicine is

the air itself, since anxiety and depression are attached to the

Vata containing air and ether as primary Panch Mahabhutas. Since we

take approximately 1 kg food, 2-3 kg water and 30 kg air daily, the

maximum effect on our body/mind complex can be obtained by our air

intake.

 

Slow, deep breathing is a very powerful anti-stress technique. When

you bring air down into the lower portion of the lungs where the

oxygen exchange is most efficient, the heart rate slows, the blood

pressure decreases, the muscles relax, anxiety eases and the mind

calms down. This has been explained at length in other posts

(messages # 6242, 6308). When we are born, we breathe from the belly,

but with age, most of us shift from

this healthy abdominal breathing to shallow chest breathing.

Breathing is the

only bodily function we can do either consciously or unconsciously.

Studies

have linked focused breathing with reducing hot flashes in

menopausal women,

relieving chronic pain and reducing symptoms of PMS. The author's

experience

finds that the breath can also reduce the intensity of candidiasis.

Some hospitals have begun teaching relaxation and breathing

techniques to patients treated for a wide range of conditions. A good

breathing technique is to be found here:

 

http://www.stop-anxiety-attack-symptoms.com/technique.html

 

This also leads to a test for good breathing. Take a tape-measure and

wind it around your belly at the navel. Find the maximum

circumference (Cmax) and minimum circumference (Cmin) of the belly

during breathing using same units, either inch or centimeter. The

ratio of the maximum and the minimum circumference, BR, as

expressed in the expression below:

 

BR = Cmax / Cmin

 

For instance, with the belly moving between 80 cm to 96 cm during

breathing, the ratio BR comes out as 1.2 This will indicate how good

our breathing is. This ratio can lie in the range 1 to 2 The higher

range is applicable for yogis. They can breath out fully and reduce

the belly circumference to very low size. A lower ratio will hold

for obese people and particularly those with truncal obesity. The

ratio will be best in the morning on an empty stomach. Obese people

can also improve the ratio if they work at a proper weight loss

treatment which gets to the root cause of their obesity. The

breathing exercise is an essential component of such a program since

the combustion of fat and utilization of sugar always requires

oxygen.

 

While the breathing increases the oxygen content of the blood, it is

interesting to see how blood is utilized by the organs. 30% of

cardiac output is needed by the brain, the king. 10% is used by the

kidneys and 15% by the heart. While under stress, caused by anger,

fear or worries, the brain demands up to 40% of the blood pumped out

by the heart, even when the heart is beating rapidly. To supply this

blood, adjustments are made

else where. If the brain gets 54% blood, death is likely to occur as

this extra demand which the heart has to meet, starves the heart

itself. Why this happens is one of the great mysteries of the human

body and the answer will take you into the spiritual realms.

 

Today's children and even the babies have started exhibiting anger.

This only means the percentage of anxiety sufferers is going to

increase in the future. The blood pressure and the difference

between the two pressures (pulse pressure) is a direct measure of

anxiety, though modern science does not mention any screening

symptoms for anxiety. It is our responsibility to maintain

harmonious surroundings for children, so that they are not subjected

to anger, stress etc.

 

The author has given techniques which can be used without the

presence of a Guru to this point. But more effective are the

samsakaras to the mind so that habit of anxiety is reduced. The

highway to our subconscious is open after the deep breathing

pranayama. We can send indoctrinations in the form of affirmations

into the subconscious at this time by choosing very simple sentences

which we can utter loudly, thus allowing the brain to listen to the

words we use. The sentences should be kept constant, simple and

minimal e.g.

 

I am young and energetic.

I look beautiful and healthy.

I am rich, nothing is lacking nor can be added to my riches.

I love everyone.

I am fully happy.

 

When we are relaxing, the mind tries to wander into imaginary

episodes of physical pleasure. This introduces stress when we open

our eyes again to reality. The mind keeps craving to reach the same

plane again and again and this demands more blood by the brain.

 

In conclusion, nutritious foods to suit the constitution, regular

lifestyle containing adequate exercise taken in a garden or under a

blue sky and breathing techniques with indoctrinations can help us

achieve victory over our anxiety attacks, although it may take

prolonged and determined effort.

 

This is last post in the APA series. Editing help from Jane MacRoss

is

gratefully acknowledged.

 

Dr. Bhate

 

 

 

_____________________________

 

Next post in this series will discuss drugless but more effective

approaches, derived from ayurvedic theroy discussed in earlier post

#13868.