Home Blogs What Is Myasthenia Gravis Disease: Yoga For Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis

What Is Myasthenia Gravis Disease: Yoga For Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis

What yoga poses are good for myasthenia gravis?

What is Myasthenia Gravis?
Myasthenia Gravis is a neuromuscular disease. Medical science labels it an auto-immune disorder. In this disease, there is an immense weakness in the muscles of the neck, hands, arms, legs, and all other parts of the body. Sometimes speech becomes slurred, and there is difficulty in talking, breathing, chewing and swallowing. The muscles of the eyes are usually the worst affected, and the eyelids tend to droop.

Energy levels in the body are reduced and this causes a feeling of extreme tiredness and fatigue. Even simple activities like eating or walking about the house, or any such mild physical activity can be tiring, and the patient needs to rest very often.

Myasthenia gravis is caused by an impairment of the auto-immune system. The neuro-muscular junctions get blocked, and communication between nerves and muscles are disturbed, causing weakening of muscles.

Yoga for treating Myasthenia Gravis: Yoga and Pranayama have been found to be very effective in treating myasthenia gravis. Yoga exercises encourage stretching which increases flexibility and strength of muscles, thus helping the weakened muscles caused by MG. The poses also promote better circulation of blood to every part of the body. The correct breathing techniques of Pranayama expand the chest walls and induce more intake of oxygen into the body, thus increasing the hemoglobin level of the blood.

Yoga and yoga breathing (pranayama) are also excellent stress busters and reduce depression. The onset of MG often leads to mild depression, and practicing these poses helps de-stress.  Yoga breathing also advocates meditation. This leads to relaxation of body and mind, which has been found effective for treating MG. Meditation also brings about more positive thinking, and patients begin to feel not only stronger, but also more in control over their disease.

While Kundalini and Iyengar yoga are best suited in this condition, there are no set yoga poses for this treatment. In such conditions it is best to consult a good yoga practitioner, who will suggest the correct poses. Most exercises will however be mild and gentle, and gradually as the overall strength of muscles return, you can go on to more elaborate poses.

However, a word of caution: stop immediately if you feel uneasy or experience any pain or shortness of breath while exercising.

Nutrition: Along with meditation and nutrition, eating habits too need to be altered. Consumption of fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs on a daily basis is recommended. Asparagus is considered excellent since it contains certain natural steroid-like nutritious elements, which help strengthen the weakened muscles caused by MG. You should also include yogurt in your daily diet, along with whole grain breads and sprouts. Ensure that your food has a blend of all the necessary vitamins – A, B, C, D and E, and also Vitamin B6. Organic food is especially recommended.

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