SPIRITUAL APPROACH FOR CURATIVE MEASURE FOR SWINE FLU OR INFLUENZA A(H1N1)

It reminds me a conversation between an enlightened person and an intellectual. Enlightened person was very famous for providing the solutions for any kind of life problems. One day, the intellectual wanted to test the wisdom of enlightened person. He caught hold of a small bird (sparrow), closed his hand and kept his hand in his coat’s pocket. He went to the enlightened person who was in midst of a big gathering and asked “well, sir, I have heard a lot about you for providing solution for any kind of problem; hence, I would like to know from you whether the bird in my hand which is inside the pocket is alive or dead”?

The enlightened person smiled and said “well, friend thanks for giving me the clue that a bird is in your fist. If I answer that the bird is alive; then, you will crush the bird and show it to me and the present public that the bird is dead. If I answer that the bird is dead then simply you will bring out your hand and show to the public that the bird is alive”. In both the ways you are trying to prove me false.

By listening to the enlightened person, the intellectual felt ashamed and was slowly coming down. In the mean time, the enlightened person called him back and said that by this act you have given a good message to the society that the healthy life of a human being lies in the hands of an individual as the life of the bird lies in your hand. However, we have to keep in our mind that the enough curative measure has to be developed as shield to enjoy the healthy life. The approach of providing shield to our systems is similar to the approach you have taken to keep the bird alive in your hand.

6.1. Curative measure
Though, science of breathing can be taken as the part of preventive measure but the same holds adequate features to work like curative measure. For instance, it provides sufficient amount of ventilation if the patients are able to carry out slow & deep breathing exercise during medical care or when they are hospitalized. The curative process of course, depends on their strength during illness. During the process of hospitalization, the patients are kept on ventilator. This means, that there is extra oxygen demand in the systems to fight or to replace the pandemic virus. The same function can be achieved with the help of correct breathing, slow & deep breathing and Yogic breathing. The problem of cross contamination of oxygen cylinders and connected equipment is not there by using spiritual ventilator. It is interesting to note that extra quantity of pure air inhaled & exhaled in the process of correct breathing helps the respiratory system to draw the good amount of oxygen as a healer. This also helps inner organs to get gentle massage for improving their efficiency.

6.2. Science of Breathing
Do we breathe correctly? The observation shows that most of us breathe incorrectly. This is because, humans have a tendency to take short path in most of the cases. Similar is case with breathing. Lethargic attitude accepts slow breathing process and in that way the lungs inculcate the habit of incorrect breathing.
Yoga says each one of us gets fixed number of breath allocated. When one breathes slowly & deeply, he or she gets longer life. This happens because, one consumes less breath in a day and inturn, saves the number of breathing cycles; which enhances the life. When we become tensed or angry the breathing rate becomes faster. In both the cases, energy loss is more and after wards we feel unhappy and exhausted. In this process our life span is reduced. The main purpose of spirituality is not to be afraid of, not to have anger, anxiety & depression and not to loose the energy. We can enjoy the life with full span provided we do not have the habit of incorrect breathing.

6.3. How do we breathe incorrectly?
(a) Incorrect breathing
Breathing occurs automatically. We don’t pay any attention. Mostly busy, urban people adopt the habit of incorrect breathing. Incorrect breathing is the process when stomach goes inward while inhalation and comes outward while exhalation.
The question arises, when breathing is a spontaneous process, how can one breathe incorrectly? This is because, the organs related to respiratory system become lazy and slowly they reduce their inhalation & exhalation capacities.
It is important to remember that our inner organs namely liver, spleen & abdomen need massage like outer surface of the body needs. The same can be obtained with the help of slow & deep breathing. Due to incorrect breathing habit we deprive the inner organs to get massaged and by that way they loose their efficiency and working capability.

(b) Shallow and fast breathing
Shallow and fast breathing provides the same effect as obtained in case of incorrect breathing. Another way of incorrect living is to take shallow & fast breathing. This happens because of un-natural way of living. For instance, modern practice of taking hot water bath makes us to take only shallow and fast breathing. By taking hot water bath we feel comfortable but while doing so, we do not stretch the body; especially abdomen and upper portion of the body and in turn, we draw less amount of oxygen. Hence, we usually follow shallow & fast breathing. On contrary, in case of cold water bath, there will be deep inhalation when we pour cold water on head. This happens to balance or face the chill feeling of the body. This way, automatic lifting the parts of body above waist region provides good massage to the inner organs as well as adequate amount of air is inhaled. The lungs get about six to eight times more air than the air drawn during hot water bath.

There are two words shallow & fast which are to be understood. Shallow means drawing less amount of air than the normal capacity of the lungs and fast means the frequency of breathing is more than the usual in per unit time. The analysis shows that we draw less amount of air frequently than the amount of air needed by the natural rhythm of body during inhalation and exhalation. In Shallow and fast breathing small volume of air is inhaled and exhaled. This allows microbes and germs to get accumulated in lower area of the lungs. As less amount of oxygen reaches at lower area of lungs, it allows microbes to breed and get accumulated. Shallow & fast breathing prepares breeding area as well as accumulation ground for viruses.
This leads to supply of insufficient amount of oxygen and in turn, causes functional disorder, diseases & illness related to respiratory, circulatory, digestive & nervous system. The oxygen demand of the body is not met and efficiency of the systems remains poor.

6.4. How do we breathe correctly?
(a) Slow and deep breathing
Let us take the example of slow & deep breathing. Slow means more volume of air is pushed deeply at lower area of the lungs; in turn, it removes microbes, germs & viruses at the same time their accumulation is also reduced or eliminated. Slow and deep breathing helps to remove stagnant air (even though free from virus) from the lower reaches of lungs. Figure shows the process of correct inhalation by which adequate amount of air is taken inside the lungs.









Slow and deep breathing provides good massage to the inner organs. It also allows gentle massage to the abdomen via diaphragm (situated in between lungs and abdomen). Slow and deep breathing is actually a natural & essential function of the body, which otherwise, is normally overlooked. The massage of liver, spleen and abdomen keeps them in good working condition by expelling impure blood and allowing pure & oxygenated blood to replace it. Whereas, in case of shallow & fast breathing, the facility of getting massage and inturn replacements of oxygenated blood are not met. If they are kept deprived of regular replacement of old & impure blood, it may lead to many diseases.

Slow and deep breathing brings back the natural rhythm of life. It maintains the adjustment required for better concentration, creativity and the development of intuitive signal of mind. It is a natural law that if a creature lives in rhythm, the intuitive approach is developed automatically.
The example is the birds flying thousands of miles away (from the nest to another place) to meet the requirement of conducive temperature and return back to original place when temperature becomes normal for them. This kind of intuition can be developed by accepting the natural rhythm of the environment.



(b). Mechanism of correct breathe in & out
In case of shallow & fast breathing, we inhale about half liter of air. By that way, we hardly breathe twelve percent (about one sixth) of lungs capacity. However, if we know the process of slow & deep breathing along with relaxed attitude, we can draw about three to four liters of air; that is about six to eight times more air compared to shallow & fast breathing. This happens because, we breathe by expanding the chest muscles, creating vacuum at lower region of lungs with the help of diaphragm which gets downward movement while expanding the abdomen.

When belly is pulled up the diaphragm is pulled down; which in turn, creates partial vacuum at lower portion of lungs, making lungs to expand and draw more air to fill the partial vacuum portion. At the same time, we expand chest region to draw and accumulate more air in the chest region. By this way, we increase the capacity of lungs to draw more air. At the time of exhalation, the diaphragm is pushed back because of abdomen contraction. During inhalation, the air becomes contaminated with carbon dioxide at lower portion of lungs and the same gets thrown out while exhalation. However, still some air will be leftover at lower portion of the lungs.



By repeated slow & deep breathing, the partial leftover air at bottom portion of lungs gets fresh air during every inhalation and the old accumulated air gets replaced by fresh air. Hence, there is no chance for microbes and microscopic organisms to breed and get accumulated there, with the help of host cells.

Advantages of slow and deep breathing:-
i) Full capacity of lungs is utilized and this way we get adequate amount of oxygen. By that way the oxygen demand is met.
ii) With the help of thoracic breathing, we get inner organs massaged which helps to push back dirty (impure) blood and get replaced by pure oxygenated blood. This keeps the organs whole & healthy.
iii) Oxygen demand of body, Prana (breath) & mind are met to keep the systems whole & healthy otherwise, they are not in good condition.
iv) Sufficient amount of air removes the breeding ground of viruses, germs & microbes.
v) People who return back from shallow & fast breathing to slow & deep breathing are supposed to reach nature’s rhythm. This helps to increase the power of calmness, concentration, creativity & intuitive capability.

(c) Yogic Breathing
It is similar to slow & fast breathing. The main difference is to keep the mind on breath. This means that where ever breathing is moving, the mind should also move along with breath. Another difference is to have the rhythm of breath. We start breathing from bottom of spine. This can be achieved by imagining as if we inhale air from bottom of spine. As breath moves in upward direction through spinal cord, mind also moves along with breath as a rider. At the end of inhalation we feel that the breath has traveled from bottom of spine (Mooladhara) to a point in between eye brows (Agna Chakra). Again, while exhalation, breath starts coming down from central point in between eye brows (also known as pituitary gland) and mind again moves down as a rider along with breath. Both breathe & mind together come down while exhalation. This makes one round of Yogic breathing. The advantage of Yogic breathing is same as observed in
slow & deep breathing along with relaxation techniques. The only difference is to achieve more awareness in case of yogic breathing.

It has been found out that the awareness is proportional to the relaxation. The more we relax, the more awareness is created within us. Yogic breathing utilizes the maximum capacity of the lungs with added advantages by massaging inner organs, meeting the oxygen demand of the body and at the same time creating awareness. In this process, maximum removal of impurities and carbon dioxide take place. This is achieved because, it involves abdomen, middle & upper portion of chest region together during inhalation & exhalation.

The points to be noted in case of Yogic breathing:-
i) Let us try to breathe so slowly that no sound can be heard by an individual.
ii) There should not be any jerk or strain while breathing in & out. It should be natural.
iii) The body should be relaxed. This can be achieved by sitting straight on chair or on ground. While lying down posture it is difficult to get relaxation in initial stage, but after practice, the same (relaxation) can be achieved easily.
iv) Later stage of Yogic breathing, the Kumbhaka (retention of breathing) can be added for few seconds, which provides the added benefits.
v) Beginners can start with five or ten rounds at a time; later on the cycle can be increased. While performing Yogic breathing, be sure of not being strained.

In addition, the following points highlight its advantages:-
i) The main advantage of Yogic breathing can be summarized in terms of increased ventilation of body system. This can work full fledged ventilator as the lungs capacity becomes larger. This provides the benefits of a ventilator what we are likely to derive from the ventilator of the medical system.
ii) The practitioner will acquire more strength, vitality & calmness of mind.
iii) The process of thinking and clarity in vision will improve.
iv) Oxygen demands of body are met for keeping good health as three parts of body such as abdomen, middle & upper portion of chest are actively involved in this process.
v) Breathing with awareness inculcates automatic (inhalation & exhalation) of the body; stabilizing slow & deep breathing in normal case. Though it takes some time to develop slow & deep breathing, but it is advisable to inculcate the same viewing the effect of influenza A (H1N1).
In Pandemic case of Influenza A (H1N1) virus, the yogic as well as slow & deep breathing will work like a ventilator to minimize the severity of the pandemic effect. This is achieved by destroying the pandemic effect in presence of sufficient amount of oxygen. That is why, slow & deep breathing or yogic breathing is recommended as suitable approach to reduce its havoc. However, this should be recommended along with medical help or medicine to overcome the crisis first.

6.5. Helping skills for curative approach
Among them helping skills, Relaxation is the main one. There are various methods of relaxation described in the yogic books. Basically, Shavasana relaxes the physiological and psychological aspects. It relaxes the 3-H namely Head, Heart and Hands of our human body & mind configuration. A relaxed head allows us to see and relate the world and the people around us in a more realistic light. Similarly, we can carry our works (actions) more smoothly and attain happiness in our day to day work. This happens at an emotional level. The emotional conflict is removed with the help of relaxation. Otherwise, the tensed and emotionally imbalanced mind implies a certain psychosomatic diseases. Relaxation of mind & body complex helps to relieve and prevent diseases.

How to relax ?
Sitting on rocking chair is not relaxation. The body should be kept in loose condition. This means if an observer is lifting the practitioner’s hand and leaves from certain height, the arm should drop down immediately like a fruit falls from tree. This is possible when we relax the body muscles. Similarly, the mind can be relaxed by paying mind’s attention on breath movement. In other words, loosening the muscles of the body and integrating the mind along with breath movement provides relaxation. When relaxation is deeper that means we can concentrate better; we can be more creative and intuitive too. Relaxation brings the wonderful results on the body & mind complex.

There are many techniques for relaxation like Instant Relaxation Technique (IRT), Quick Relaxation Technique (QRT) & Deep Relaxation Technique (DRT). In modern age we are under stress, aggressiveness, turmoil & emotional imbalance while carrying out our day to day work; especially, when the people are having busy schedule.
Sleep is another way of relaxation. Though, we do not feel stress or tension in the morning, but many of us feel exhausted because of getting less relaxed during the night sleep. It is a vicious circle to go on accumulating the stress without caring for its removal. In the long run, the same creates psychosomatic disease.
There should not be any confusion between a person who is lazy (sitting idle) and relaxed one. Actually, laziness or procrastination is something different. A lazy person remains full under mental disturbances. He is unable to direct his energy towards some activity or achievement. Another reason for laziness is to dwell on his mental make up. He is having such a state that he is reluctant to do anything. In another words, lazy person or a man with procrastination is having tendency to escape in respect of any responsibility. Hence, they are not relaxed but rather they are burden to the society.

Advantages of Relaxation:-
A person, who knows how to relax can do more work, can move along with friends & relatives, can enjoy the life more, can have smoother relation with colleagues, subordinates & bosses. Another advantage is to cultivate the will power of an individual. Advantage of relaxation is to have attitudinal change in self as compared to others and to have better interaction with people, objects & situations.
During relaxation, we must experience the feeling of body surface awareness & the concept of loosening the body. This provides good relaxation to the body and also for mind. In brief, relaxation means the concentration on mind & breath and their movement together from one particular point to other point of the body.

6.6. Other Curative measure
There are many other curative measures but they need training and they are time consuming too. Among them, they are pranic healing & acupuncture. They have similar principle of pranic movement and removal of its blockage. In case of pranic healing, it is clearly seen that an intense beam of energy comes out from the hands of the healer to the patient. It is observed that the healer recharges the etheric body (the bioplasmic body) of a sick person and in this way brings a cure, provided healer has sufficient amount of energy in etheric body. However, pranic healing is a temporary measure till the patient regains little amount of physical energy to support the etheric body which is the medium for pranic flow.

Acupuncture is a technique evolved in china. Ancient Chinese did not treat human body as a collection of separate physical organs or human systems like modern medical doctors do. They used to treat the whole body as a unit because each part of the body is intimately related to the whole. They actually mapped out the pranic flow within the physical body. Further, they were aware of several hundred particular points on the skin which were responsible for connecting the pranic flow in etheric body which is under the physical body. Needles could be inserted at these specific acupuncture points on the surface layer of etheric body to remove the blockage for the physical (pranic) flow. The aim of acupuncture is to restore the flow of prana. If there is imbalance in the flow of prana then it leads to diseases. These needles are able to correct the balance of prana in the pranic body and thereby cure the illness.
Modern researchers have started more study on pranic body by using Kirlian photography. They have observed that the flow of energy (prana) corresponds exactly in similar manner as observed by the Chinese in case of acupuncture. The authentic approach of these systems in managing pandemic cases is yet to be established.