Types of Hypertension

High Blood Pressure is of two types

1.Essential ( or primary) hypertension

2.Secondary hypertension.

The matter in this chapter deals mainly with essential hypertension. Secondary hypertension is caused by some disease or disease or disorder in the body e.g.

a. Diseases of the kidneys and endocrine glands- especially the adrenal glands

b. Long standing diabetes mellitus

c. Long term use of oral contraceptives containing oestrogen

d. Use of steroids for many years ( steroids are a group of drugs commonly used for treatment of asthma, some skin disorders etc.)

e.Inborn defects of the ' aorta '

f. pragnancy related disorders, especially during the last three months of pregnancy or immediately after delivery.

Hypertension, Types of hypertension , Systolic blood pressure, Diasystolic blood pressure, Primary blood pressure, Secondary blood pressure.

High Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure Mean

Blood Pressure (B.P ) is merely the pressure that the blood exerts on the blood vessels while circulating. An optimum amount of B.P is essential for ;

a. The return of the blood to the heart, after making its way through more than 60,000 miles long blood vessels of our body.

b. The exchange of nutrients and waste products between the various cells of the body.and the blood capillaries.

c. The filter and therefore purification of the blood in kidneys and lungs.

At every contraction, the heart pumps about 70 ml of blood into the arteries. This quantity is termed as 'stroke volume' . Thus it pushes about 5 liters of blood every minutes. This quantity is termed as cardiac output or CMO.

Cardiac output = stoke volume * heart rate

Systolic and Diastolic B.P

When the rhythmically beating heart contracts, it forcefully drives the blood into the arteries. The pressure at such a time is high and is termed ' Systolic Blood Pressure '. At this time the elastic walls of the large arteries expand.

When the heart relaxes to be filled with blood from various parts of the body the pressure is minimum in the arteries and is termed ' Diastolic B.P'. At this time, the elastic walls of the large arteries recoil. This recoil continues to push the blood forward against the resistance offered by the arterioles.

Temporary Conditions Which Lead to Increase in B.P

Blood pressure becomes higher if you are

• Mentally stressed, anxious, impatient

• Constipated

• In cold weather

B.P becomes temporarily higher after

• Eating

• Drinking coffee,tea, alcohol

• Bathing or showering

• Exercises

• Smoking

• Urination

Causes of Hypertension

1. Heredity

2.Mental tension

3.Excess intake of salt

4.Obesity

5.Sedentary life

6.Smoking

7.Alcohol

8.Diet having saturated fats (see Table 1.4 of the book)

9.Use of fried and too much oily foods.

10.Excess intake of sugar

11.Diabetes

12.Tea, coffee, cold drinks (having caffeine)

Many of the above factors lead to narrowing and hardening of the arteries ( atherosclerosis ) because of deposition of cholesterol in the walls of the arteries. As old age approaches, the artery walls harden and lose much of their elasticity. This is the reason why elderly people have a higher blood pressure than young people have a higher blood pressure than young people. When arteries become narrow and hard (i.e. loss of elasticity to expand and contract ), the blood has to be pushed through greater force by heart leading to High B.P.

High blood pressure, Blood pressure, Symptoms of blood pressure, Causes of blood pressure, Reasons of blood pressure.

Yogic Diet

The yogis of ancient times knew this,and many classical yogic texts, such as the Hatha yoga pradipika, contain advice on a yogic diet. However, proper diet is a controversial subject. Nutrition has been extensively researched by modern science, and there seems to be as many 'proper ' diets as there are scientific studies. It is more than a bit confusing for someone to devise their own individual diet amidst so much, often contradictory, advice.

The advice given below is based on the classical yogic texts and on the author's experience. It also given pointers for further research and experimentation.

Unlike modern scientists, yogis are not interested in the chemical content (protein, vitamins, etc...) of the food. Instead, food is traditionally classified according to its effect on the body and mind, using the three Gunas ; Sattva (the quality of love, light and life), Raja ( the quality of activity and passion, lacking stability ) and Tamas (the quality of darkness and inertia, dragging us into ignorance attachment );

• Sattvic food promotes clarity calmness of mind and is favourable for spiritual growth. It is ''sweet, fresh and agreeable '' and includes most fruits, nuts, seeds, vegetables, particularly green leafy vegetables, whole grains, honey, pure water and milk (with the reservation that commercially produced milk may not nowadays be so sattvic...). Given the amount of pesticides and chemical fertilisers used on commercial crops, only organic products still qualify as Sattvic, and tinned or frozen food certainly don't.

• Rajasic food feeds the body, but promotes activity and therefore induces restlessness of mind. It disturbs the equilibrium of the mind and is generally to be avoided by yoga practionners. Rajasic food include most spicy food, stimulants like coffee and tea, eggs, garlic, onion, meat, fish and chocolate, as well as most processed food. Eating too fast or with a disturbed mind is also considered rajasic. Rajasic food should be avoided by those whose aim is peace of mind, but will benefit people with an active lifestyle. A little rajasic food can be sattvic, for example, hot spices can help digestion, and therefore help create peace of mind

• Tamasic food ( to be avoided ) induces heaviness of the body and dullness of the mind, and ultimately benefits neither. It includes alcohol, as well as food that is stale or overripe. Overeating is also tamasic. The traditional advice is to fill the stomach half with food, one quarter with water , leaving the last quarter empty.

The nature of food can change. Cooking is the most obvious way to change the nature of food. Grains become sattvic only after cooking. Honey becomes tamasic ( poisonous ) with cooking. The nature of a food also change in combination with other foods and spices, or if it is stored for periods of time.Generally grains should be aged a bit (they become more sattvic ) but of course, fruits shouldn't (they rot and become tamasic ).

How and when to eat is also important. One should not eat too late at night, for there should be a gap of at least two, and preferably 3 to 4 hours between supper and sleep. Food should be prepared and eaten with attention, respect and gratitude. While one should eat to live, rather than live to eat, food should be tasty, so as to be appreciated. The attitude of the person preparing the food is important as well, as the mood of the cook permeated the food. Most Indians still prefer their lunch box prepared at home to lunch in a restaurant for this reason, and some yogis only eat food prepared by themselves or other yogis.

Another important issue with a yogic diet is that of vegetarianism. Not only are fish and meat specifically listed amongst the '' food injurious to the yoga'' by the Hatha yoga pradipika (I,59), but eating the flesh of dead animals violates the first principle of yogic ethics (yamas ) as laid down by patanjali in the yoga Sutras, that of non -violence (ahimsa). Yogia believe that the fear of death permeate every cell the body of an animal when it is slaughtered, and therefore, the traditional yogic diet is lacto - vegetarian and avoids eggs as well as all animal flesh (including fish!) . Indeed modern research has shown that vegetarians are generally in better health than meat eaters. Proteins that can be obtain from nuts, dairy products and legumes are generally of a better quality than meat.

Anyone who has lived for a while on a dairy farm might go as far as questioning the morality of eating dairy products when the milk is taken from a cow whose calf has been taken away and slaughtered. This is a valid point, and while milk is not inherently '' injurious to the yogi '', it may be that in the world we live in, only a vegan diet can really be sattvic, because of the poor treatment of the milking animal, the stress they are subjected to, and the quantity of drugs that they have to ingest (some of which undoubtingly find their way into their milk ). However, I believe that dairy from farms where animals are well treated, such as organic ones, is acceptable.

Healthy diet, yoga diet, Diet, Balanced diet,

Tips on Sleep

Sleep is most important for maintenance of health and longevity for the human beings.It is appropriately called ' Jagaddhatri ' because of its mechanism of overcoming wear and tear of the body due to physical work and mental stress and tissue loss.Numerous researches have shown the adverse effects of lack of sleep on mind and body.

• One should sleep with head to the east or north.

• The bedroom should be absolutely clean, well ventilated and free from noise and disturbance.

• The bed must be nest clean and free from bugs.

• The bedroom should be draught free.

• One should avoid sleep when the brain is excited e.g after reading, thinking, drinking etc.

• The mind must be as free from worldly affairs and worries as possible while going to bed. This may be achieved by praying to God at the time of going to bed.

• Sleeping late at night leads to ill health.

• A minimum of 7 hours sleep is required in 24 hours to repair the wear and tear of the body.

• Sleep during the day should be avoided as far as possible. However, if one keeps awake at night, he can take some sleep in the daytime. Day sleep is not contraindicated in summer but in winter the day sleep increases kapha thereby causing respiratory and digestive troubles.

• It is advisable to massage the head, soles and palms with, oil before going to bed. By massage dreams can be controlled.

Sleep, Healthy sleep, Healthy sleep, Good habbits,

Tips on Diet

What we eat has a profound effect on our mind as well as the body.It is not only important as to what we eat but it is equally important as to how we eat. Following are a few tips on diet which help in getting the best out of what we eat. Fresh ginger with a small amount of salt should be taken 10 to 20 minutes before food.

• The diet, especially hard substances should be properly chewed.
  

• Wherever possible intake of curd or buttermilk should follow food.

• The food should be tasty,fresh and good in appearance.

• It should neither be very hot nor absolutely cold.

• Water should be avoided at least 15 minutes before food. The quantity of water after food should be small.Let it be drunk often.
  

• Heavy (Guru) food should be taken in a limited quantity.

• Heavy food should not be taken at night.The proper time of night meal is two to three hours before going to bed.After night meal,it is better to go for a short walk, of say hundred steps.

• Heavy work or exercise should be avoided after food.

• After meals, heavy mental or physical work should be avoided.Some rest is advisable for proper digestion of food.

Diet,Healthy diet,Good health diet, Dietic food.

Benefits of Pranic Healing

• It can help parent bring down the temperature of their children suffering from high fever in just a few hours and heal it in a day or two in most cases.

• It can relieve headaches,gas pains,toothaches,and muscle pains almost immediately in most cases.

• Cough and cold can usually be cured in a day or two.Loose bowel movement can be healed in a few hours in most cases

• Major illnesses such as eye,liver,kidney,and heart problems can be relieved in a few sessions and healed in a few months in many cases.

• It increases the rate of healing by three times or more than the normal rate of healing.These are some of the few thing that pranic healing can do.All of these assume that the healer has attained a certain degree of proficiency.

Life energy.Pain reliever, Mood elevator, Positive thinking,

Pranic Healing

Pranic healing is an ancient science and art of healing that utilizes prana or ki or life energy to heal the whole physical body.It also involves the manipulation of ki and bioplasmic matter of the patient 's body.It has also been called medical qigong ( ki kung or ki healing ),psychic healing,vitalic healing, therapeutic touch, laying of the hand, magnetic healing,faith healing ,and charismatic healing.

Two Basic Laws of Pranic Healing

Pranic healing is based on two laws ; The law of self-recovery and the law of prana or life energy.These laws are quite obvious but strangely they are usually the least noticed or least remembered by most people.It is through these basic laws that rapid or miraculous healing occurs.

Law of Self - Recovery

In general,the body is capable of healing itself at a certain rate.It a person has a wound or burn,the body will heal itself and recover within a few days to a week.In other words,even if you do not apply antibiotic on the wound or burn,the body will repair or heal itself.At the present moment,there is no medicine available for the treatment of viral infection.But even if a person has cough or cold due to viral infection,the body will recover generally in one or two weeks without medication.

Law of Lift Energy

For life to exist, the body must have prana,chi or life energy. The healing process can be accelerated by increasing life energy on the affected part and on the entire body.

In chemistry,electrical energy is sometimes used as a catalyst to increase the rate of chemical reaction.This is the basis for photography.In electrolysis,electricity is used to catalyze or produce chemical reaction.In pranic healing,prana or life energy serves as the catalyst to accelerate the rate of biochemical reactions involved in the natural healing process of the body.When pranic energy is applied to the affected part of the body, the rate of healing increases tremendously.

What we call miraculous healing is nothing more than increasing the rate of self-recovery of the body. There is nothing supernatural or paranormal about pranic healing.It is simply based on natural laws that most people are not aware of.Although science is not able to detect and measure life energy or prana,it does not mean that prana does not exist or does not affect the health and well being of the body.In ancient times,people were not aware of the existence of electricity,its properties and practical uses.But this does not mean that electricity does not exist.One's ignorance in misperception and misconception of what is and what is not,what can be done and what cannot be done.

Children have more life energy than elderly people do.You notice that move a lot from morning to night, hardly getting tired at all.When suffering from a fracture,who heals faster - the child or the elderly? The broken bone of a child heals very fast while that of an elderly heals very slowly ; sometimes,it will not even heal at all.

Prana Or Ki

Prana or ki is that life energy which keeps the body alive and healthy.In Greek it is called ' pneuma', in polynesian 'mana', and in Hebrew 'ruah', which means 'breath of life '.The healer projects prana or life energy or the breath of life to the patient,thereby,healing the patient.It is through this process that this so-called 'miraculous healing' is accomplished.

Basically, there are three major sources of prana ; solar prana, air prana and ground prana is prana from sunlight.It invigorates the whole body and promotes good health.It can be obtained by sunbathing or exposure to sunlight for about five to ten minutes and by drinking water that has been exposed to sunlight.Prolonged exposure or too much solar prana would harm the whole physical body since it is quite potent.

Prana contained in the air is called air prana or air vitality globule.Air prana is absorbed by the lungs through breathing and is also absorbed directly by the energy centers of the bioplasmic body. These energy centers are called chakras.More air prana can be absorbed by deep slow rhythmic breathing than by short shallow breathing.It can also be absorbed through the pores of the skin by persons who have undergone certain training.

Prana contained in the ground is called ground prana or ground vitality globule. This is absorbed through the soles of the feet. This is done automatically and unconsciously. Walking barefoot increases the amount of ground prana absorbed by the body.One can learn to consciously draw in more ground prana to increase one's vitality, capacity to do more work,and ability to think more clearly.

Water absorbs prana from sunlight, air, and ground that it comes in contact with.Plants and trees absorb prana sunlight,air,water,and ground. Man and animals obtain prana from sunlight,air, ground, water, and food. Fresh food contains more prana than preserved food.

prana can also be projected to another person for healing.Persons with a lot of excess prana tend to make other people around them feel better and livelier. However, those who are depleted tend to unconsciously absorb prana from other people. You may have encountered persons who tend to make you feel tired or drained for no apparent reason at all.

Aura

Clairvoyants, with the use of their psychic faculties, have observed that every person is surrounded and interpenetrated by a luminous energy body called the bioplasmic body or aura. Just li8ke the visible physical body,it has a head,two arms,etc.In other words, the bioplasmic body looks like the visible physical body.This is why clairvoyants call it the etheric double or etheric body.

The word ' bioplasmic ' comes from ' bio ' which means life and plasma, which is the fourth state of matter, the first three being; solid, liquid, and gas. Plasma is ionized gas with positive and negative charged particles. This is not the same as blood plasma.Bioplasmic body means a living energy body made up of invisible subtle matter or etheric matter.To simplify the terminology,the term ' energy body ' will be used to replace the word ' bioplasmic body '.Science, with the use of kirlian photography, has rediscovered the energy body.With the aid of Kirlian photography, scientists have been able to study, observe, and take pictures of small bioplasmic articles like bioplasmic fingers, leaves, etc. It is through the energy body that prana or life energy is absorbed and distributed throughout the whole physical body.

Pranic healing,Healing therapy,Aura, Energy therapy,Prana.