Yoga for Neuropathy

Please suggest yoga asanas that are helpful in strengthening nerves and treat neuropathy.
(September 25, 2011)

Yoga For Neuropathy

There are a number of yoga poses or asanas that can especially strengthen nerves. The Triangle Pose is considered by many to be the penultimate yoga pose using every single muscle and working every major organ of the body. Holding the pose for longer durations of time strengthens your core and aligns your spine as well. The Camel Pose is also an ideal way to open up the front of your body and stretch your organs to keep them in good working condition. The Camel Pose can elicit very strong responses both mentally and physically and is said to be instrumental in opening up the charkas of the body and calming the mind and nervous system. In all these positions it is very important to breathe correctly to gain the maximum benefits. Apart from yoga poses, you should also change your diet to include more green vegetables, fresh fruit and less processed foods. This will increase the effects of your yoga practice and work in unison to help you deal with your neuropathy in a more holistic way.

What Are Some Good Cures For Diabetic Neuropathy?

One of the causes of diabetes could be neuropathy well known as diabetic neuropathy. Researchers have found out that people who have been suffering from diabetes for long time and those with poor glucose levels have the highest rates of neuropathy. Sorbitol is formed due to metabolization of the glucose in the blood vessels which causes the swelling of cell thus damaging body nerves and tissues. In addition to this, constrained blood flow is also a contributing factor. Diabetic neuropathy can be divided into four categories:

1. Peripheral Neuropathy: This is the most common form of the neuropathy consisting of pain, numbness or tingling in the extremities. The arms, hands, fingers, toes, feet are affected. The major cause of non-traumatic amputation is diabetic peripheral neuropathy. A loss of sensation could let a sore or blister untreated, due to which infection can spread, thus leading to amputation or gangue green.
2. Autonomic Neuropathy: Mostly this type of neuropathy remains unnoticed until it is diagnosed. It affects different types of nerves in internal organs and heart which severely affects cardiovascular system which leads to irregular blood pressure and heart rate. Gastro paresis is a form of autonomic neuropathy. It could lead to slow emptying or impaired stomach that makes it extremely difficult to maintain proper blood sugar level.
3. Proximal Neuropathy: It occurs most commonly in adults with type 2 diabetes. It causes pain and weakness in the hips and legs and is usually limited to one side of the body.
4. Focal Neuropathy: It is quite painful and affects nerves in the torso or leg and head. The most common symptoms are abdominal pain, Bell’s palsy and inability to focus the eyes.

The following techniques can prove beneficial for people suffering with neuropathy.

• Yoga Asana: Exercise can keep a check on blood glucose, it acts like insulin because when we exercise glucose moves into our muscle. Yoga also offers advantage over other forms of exercises. These postures can be altered to help people with diabetic complications. Practicing these postures produces an effect in the body which is called as tourniquet effect. While maintaining the posture, blood is dammed off for short period, on releasing the posture this blood rushes back into the dammed off area which leads to opening of the previously impaired capillaries. Thus yoga helps in improving the blood circulation in the body.
• Meditation: Stress can elevate blood sugar level and high blood sugar level is the main cause of neuropathy so it is necessary to maintain calm for which you can learn some meditation techniques such as yoga.
• Mindfulness: A proper balanced diet can help in controlling blood sugar. There is no substitute for self care when it comes to diet.
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Ayurvedic science a way of life, has its method of treating any type of bodily disorders by  advising one to have simple changes in his  lifestyle/diet and by  taking ayurvedic herbal formulations along with a regular yogic practice. In the same manner, it manages   Diabetic neuropathy too, which is a severe complication of diabetes affecting the nerves, where the  symptoms are being manifested in the form of loss of sensation/balance etc.,

Ayurveda approaches it in a wholistic manner, in helping the patient to control it at all levels physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and intellectual. A regular yogic practice, which  has three components in it viz asanas (postures), dhyana (meditation) and pranayama (breathing techniques)  helps a lot in fighting the disease.

While doing yogic postures like Amarantha Kokkuasana (sitting crane), Nindra Kokkuasana (Standing crane) and Vil asana (Bow pose, rocking) and breathing exercises the pancreatic cells are rejunevated and its secretion  is greatly influenced a lot by the abdominal contractions and relaxations.

Especially, if you practice udiyana bandam, it leads to abdominal squeeze which is very much useful in fighting the disease.

Also it is found that when we do some asanas related to muscular movements  blood sugar is reduced. It helps in increasing the blood supply to various part of the body thereby improving insulin administration in the body.

 Practising yoga asanas like Ardha-matsyendrasana (Spinal twist), Halasana (Plough pose, Kalapoy asana), Yoga mudrasana (Yogic Symbol pose), Bhujangasana (Serpent pose, Paambuasana), Sarvangasana (Shoulder stand), Supta Vajrasana (Sitting pose of Firmness), Chakrasana (Wheel pose), Shalabhasana (Grasshopper pose, Vittelasana) too help a lot in controlling diabetic neuropathy.

It develops a mental relaxation and a balance in life and changes one’s attitude towards the treatment that one has to undergo if afflicted with diabetes neuropathy.

Last but not least Ayurveda also recommends one to do a creative visualizing that pancreas are functioning properly and during meditation one has to concentrate on it, so that there is a desired positive effect on sugar levels.

Yoga Asana: Physical exercise is important for the correct management of blood glucose levels as it acts like insulin helping to move glucose into the muscles. Asana offers some other distinct advantages over other forms of exercise. Yoga postures can be modified to accommodate individuals with diabetic complications. Reduced or no impact variations can be taught to provide a complete, secure work out. In addition numerous yoga postures in their style employ what is known as a tourniquet impact in the body. Blood is "dammed" off for a brief period of time whilst the posture is held in a static position. When the posture is released the blood rushes back into the region previously dammed off. The returned blood rushes back in with a high pressure that enhances deep penetration and opening of the capillaries. Because impaired blood flow to the peripheral extremities is a contributing factor to neuropathy, this tourniquet impact of asana offers a great healing benefit to the circulatory system.

Diabetic neuropathy! Please help?

Diabetic neuropathy is considered to be a rather common complication of diabetes and is generally the result of high blood sugar levels. Decreased blood flow and high blood sugar levels – something that is very common in cases where a diabetic patient does not take special care of his or her sugar levels, generally cause nerve injuries. Some of the more prominent symptoms that one is likely to notice include constipation, diarrhea, difficulty in swallowing and nausea and vomiting. Dizziness and a drooping eyelid are not uncommon as well.

Because yoga is considered to be a very effective method of holistic healing, you could try using it to your advantage. As with almost any nerve or muscle affecting condition, it is important to make sure that you exercise your body as much as possible. Practicing the many yoga meditation techniques will help decrease stress levels in your body – thereby lowering the impact that diabetes will have in your life. Yoga Asanas and Pranayama also help in making sure that the body is able to reach the right amount of deep internal awareness and improves blood flow within the body as well. There are a number of yoga poses that help with diabetic neuropathy that can be read up on the internet as well.

Neuropathy is more commonly known as peripheral neuropathy which is a disorder of the neurons in the body. Neurons are nerve cells which are located in the nervous system and are chief components in the brain and the spinal cord. Neurotic disorders and neurosis are very closely related to neuropathy. Psychoneurosis or neurasthenia is a serious nervous system disorder which follows if the right treatment is not started at the right time. Yoga exercises or asanas are known to be extremely instrumental in treating neuropathy and strengthening the nerves of the body.

Yoga asanas for strengthening nerves and treating neuropathy:

Yoga exercises have helped thousands of patients worldwide to overcome neuropathy and other nerves related disorders. Yoga exercises have also helped them achieve strong nerves. Some of these helpful yoga exercises are as follows:-

• Trikonasana - Trikonasana is also known as the 'Triangle pose'. Stand straight with your feet together and bend down to touch your toes with the tips of your fingers. Maintain this position for six seconds without bending the knees and slowly come up. Exhale while going down and inhale while coming up. Exhaling and inhaling should not be more than three seconds. Keep your head and neck up at all times.

• Utrasana - Utrasana is also known as the 'Camel pose'. Start with a kneeling posture and fix your arms from behind with palms on the ground. Slowly lift the pelvic region while inhaling and throw your head backwards. Maintain this position for three seconds and return back to kneeling. While returning back to position, exhale completely.

• Utkatasana - Utkatasana is also known as 'Chair pose' and is a very instrumental exercise for strengthening nerves. Stand straight with your feet erect and hands stretched out in front of you. Squat down completely while exhaling and hold this position for three seconds. Return to the original position while inhaling.

Apart from following yoga techniques, it is also recommended to follow a healthy yoga diet. A healthy diet constitutes of green vegetables and fresh fruits. Foods which contain high amounts of spice and fat should be avoided. Since neuropathy is a dangerous disease, it is very important to keep your mind relaxed and fresh. Doing something creative in your idle hours helps refresh the brain cells to a great extent. A daily half hour walk is highly advisable in this case. Taking up a hobby is also very helpful.