What are hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are swollen or inflamed veins of the Anus or lower rectum. An internal hemorrhoids occur within the anus, while the external hemorrhoids occur in the skin surrounding the Anus. Some figures state that about 75% of people would get hemorrhoids, however most of them don’t cause symptoms and people don’t even realize they have them.
Symptoms of Hemorrhoids
The common symptoms which a person suffers due to hemorrhoids are bleeding, pain during bowel movement, itching, a mucus discharge after passing a stool.
Causes for Hemorrhoids
The hemorrhoids or piles are believed to be caused by straining during the bowel movements. Many cases are thought to be caused by too much strain on the toilet as a result of prolonged constipation. This is often caused by a lack of fiber in a person’s diet.
Some of the other factors could be:
1. Excess Weight or obesity.
2. Ageing.
3. Family history of hemorrhoids
4. Sitting down for a long duration.
General Remedy for hemorrhoids
To prevent the hemorrhoids from occurring one must consume a High Fiber diet, drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water, Drink less coffee and avoid alcohol, exercise regularly as it helps to lose weight, and prevents constipation.
Yoga therapy is one of the best remedies to cure hemorrhoids or piles.
The Practice of Yoga asanas has been evolved over the centuries so as to exercise every muscle, nerve, and gland in the body thus keeping our body free from disease. They reduce the accumulated physical and mental stress and soothe the nerves.
The practice of asanas helps to burn calories boosting the metabolism which in turn aids in weight loss. The Asanas like twisting, inversions, and forward fold improves our digestive system by massaging the abdominal organs.
They increase the blood flow and oxygen delivery, helps the process of peristalsis, and enables smooth flow of stools. Doing yoga regularly results in regular healthy bowel movements.
Best Asanas for relief from hemorrhoids
1. Salabhasana.
Salabha in Sanskrit is Locust ( Belonging to Grasshopper family ) and asana is posture. This pose is also useful for beginners to practice deeper backbends.
Method
1. Lie full length on the mat on the abdomen keeping face downwards, extend the arms back
2. Exhale, lift the head, chest, and legs off the floor simultaneously as high as possible. The hands must also be raised and the body is now only balanced on the abdomen.
3. Contract the buttocks and stretch the thigh muscles. Keep both the legs fully extended and straight
4. Stay in this posture as long as possible and breathe normally.
2. Dhanurasana.
Dhanu means bow. This pose resembles the shape of the bow.
Method
1. Lie on the mat on the abdomen, face downwards.
2. Exhale and bend the knees. Stretch the arms back and hold the left ankle with the left hand and right ankle with the right hand. Breathe normally.
3. Exhale completely and pull the legs up by raising the knees above the floor, and simultaneously lift the chest off the floor. The arms and hands function like a bowstring and make it look like a bent bow.
4. Lift up the head and pull it as far back as possible. Do not rest either the ribs or the pelvic bones on the floor. Only the abdomen bears the weight of the body on the floor.
5. While raising the legs do not join them at the knees as this will restrict the legs to be lifted high enough. After the full stretch upwards has been achieved, join together the thighs, the knees, and ankles
6. Stay in this pose for 20 seconds to 1 minute.
7. Exhale, release the ankles, stretch the legs straight, bring the head and the legs back to the floor and relax.
3. Urdhva dhanurasana.
Urdhava is upwards and dhanu is bow. This pose also called chakrasana or wheel pose. This is a deep backbend posture where the body is arched back and supported by palms and soles.
Method
1. Lie flat on the mat.
2. Raise the arms and take your palms under the shoulders. The distance between the palms must be exactly shoulder-width apart and the fingers should be pointing towards the feet.
3. Bend the legs at the knees so that the feet are close to the hip.
4. Exhale, raise the trunk, and rest the crown of the head on the floor. Take two breaths.
5. Now again exhale and lift the trunk and head and arch the back so that the weight is borne by palms and soles of feet.
6. Stretch the arms from the shoulders until elbows are straightened, at the same time pulling the thigh muscles up.
7. Stay in this pose for half a minute to one minute with normal breathing.
8. With exhalation, lower the body to the floor by bending the knees and elbows.
4. Suptha padangusthasana
Suptha means lying down. Pada is the foot. Angustha means the big toe.
Method:
1. Lie flat on the back, stretch both legs and keep the knees tight.
2. Inhale, raise the right leg from the floor until it is vertical. Keep the left leg stretched fully on the floor and rest the left hand on the left thigh.
3. Raise the right arm and catch the right big toe between the thumb, the index, and middle finger. Take 3 or 4 deep breaths.
4. Exhale, raise the head and trunk from the floor, bend the right arm at the elbow and pull the right leg towards the head without bending it at the knee.
5. Stay there for 15 to 20 seconds breathing normally.
6.Repeat the same on the other side.
5. Jatara Parivartanasana
Jatara is the Stomach, parivarta is revolved and asana is posture. This posture tones the spinal column and removes the stiffness in the spine and shoulders.
Method
1. Lie down flat on the mat in the supine position.
2. Place your hands in line with the shoulders, both arms must be in a straight line and palms facing down.
3. Inhale, raise your right leg perpendicular to the floor, your foot must be facing the ceiling.
4. Exhale drop your right leg towards left on the floor keeping it straight and simultaneously twist your trunk and neck towards right.
5. Stay in this position for half a minute to 1 minute.
6. Release the posture and come back to position 1.
7. Repeat the same on the other side and hold the posture for an equal length of time.
6. Sarvangasana.
Sarvangasana is an inversion posture, this is also called shoulder stand as the body is balanced on shoulders.
Sarva means all, Anga means limbs and Asana is Posture.
Method
1. Lie Flat on back on the Yoga mat
2. Keep the legs stretched out, tightened at the knees. Place the hands by the side of the legs, palms down.
3. Take a few deep breaths. Exhale slowly and at the same time raise both legs together and bring them perpendicular to the body. Remain in this position and inhale, keeping the legs steady.
4. Exhale, again raise the legs further up by lifting the hips and the back from the floor, pressing the palms gently against the floor.
5. When the whole trunk is raised off the ground, bend the elbows and place the palms on the back of the ribs, resting the shoulders well on the floor.
6. Utilize the palm pressure and raise the trunk and legs up vertically so that the breast bone presses the chin to form a firm chin lock. The contraction of the throat and pressing the chin against the breast bone to form a firm chin lock is called Jalandhara bandha. ( Remember to bring the chest forward to touch the chin and not to bring the chin towards the chest. If the latter is done, the spine is not flexed completely and the full effect of the asana will not be felt.)
7. Only the back of the head and neck, the shoulders, and the upper portion of the arms up to the elbows should rest well on the floor. The rest of the body should be in one straight line, perpendicular to the floor. This is the final position.
8. Stay in the pose for a minimum of one minute and with experience can be extended up to 5 minutes.
7. Sirsasana.
Sira is called head and asana is posture. This is an inverted head balance posture that is claimed to be king of all the posture due to the multifold benefits a person gains while practiced regularly.
Method
1. Sit in virasana, bend forward with folded arms resting on the ground with interlocked fingers.
2. Now slowly place the crown of your head on the mat between the space at interlocked fingers. The fingers are now behind the head.
3. Keeping the torso perpendicular raise the hip and knees off the floor and balance the body on the ball of toes and crown of head.
4. Slowly walk your legs towards the trunk and shift the body weight on the arms and crown of your head.
5. Now slowly raise your legs off the ground keeping it straight till the whole body is balanced on the head.
6. Stay in the posture for one minute and breathe normally.
7. Slowly lower the legs to reach the mat and bend the knees and rest in child pose for 10 seconds.
8. Savasana.
Sava in Sanskrit is a corpse. This will be the last posture done after the asana practice. The savasana is a conscious effort to relax the body and mind.
Shavasana is said to be the most difficult posture as it aims not only to keep the body still but also the Mind.
Method
1. Lie flat on the mat keeping your hands alongside thighs and palms facing up.
2. Close the eyes. Keep the together and toes apart.
3. Begin by breathing slowly and deeply.
4. Concentrate on deep and fine exhalations, in which the nostrils do not feel the warmth of breath.
5. As you do this make sure to avoid even the slightest movement from any of the body parts like pupils of eyes.
6. Relax completely and breathe normally without jerk.
7. If the mind wanders pause slowly and again try to concentrate on exhalation.
8. Stay in this pose for 15 minutes.
Conclusion:
Hemorrhoids can be painful and embarrassing but with proper diet and making certain lifestyle choices we can either reduce the risk of developing hemorrhoids or limit the time that a person has them.
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