Yogic Kriyas are a very important part of Hatha Yoga as they help to eliminate the accumulated toxins from the body. The body is like a machine, which has to be continuously cleaned and maintained in a perfect condition. The Yogic Kriyas are six in number and often referred to as Shat Kriyas. They are as follows:-
□ Neti
□ Kapalbhati
□ Dhauti
□ Nauli
□ Basti
□ Trataka
Kriyas useful for treatment of allergy are Kapalbhati, Neti, and Vaman Dhauti (Kunjal Kriya).
How Yogic Kriyas help in Allergy
□ They help in cleansing the body of toxins like the allergens, mucus, gas, acid, sweat, urine and stool.
□ They improve the functioning of the excretory organs.
□ They help keep the eyes, nose, sinuses, respiratory and digestive systems clean and tone up their functioning.
□ These Kriyas help to build up resistance to diseases and sharpen the mind.
□ They also help to prepare the body and condition it for proper practice of Yogasanas, Yoga Nidra, pranayama and meditation.
□ If done regularly these techniques are capable of curing different types of allergies.
Kapalbhati (Frontal Brain Cleansing)
Kapalbhati is basically a technique of pranayama though older yogic texts have classified it as a part of Shatkarmas. It is of three types: Vatkrama Kapalbhati, Vyutkrama Kapalbhati and Sheetkrama Kapalbhati.
Vatkrama Kapalbhati
This is the most beneficial technique for treatment of allergy.
Technique
□ Sit in any comfortable asana with the head and spine straight and the hands resting on the knees.
□ Close the eyes and relax the whole body.
□ Inhale deeply through both nostrils expanding the abdomen and exhale with a forceful contraction of the abdominal muscles, making a hissing noise.
□ The next inhalation takes place by passively allowing the abdominal muscles to expand spontaneously without any effort.
□ After completing 10 rapid breaths in succession, inhale and exhale deeply completing one round.
□ Complete 3-5 such rounds. Precautions
□ The rapid breathing in this technique should be from the abdomen and not from the chest.
□ It should be practised after asanas or Neti and preferably on an empty stomach or 3-4 hours after meals.
□ If pain or giddiness is experienced, it should be stopped for a while and continued.
□ Kapalbhati should not be practised by those suffering from heart disease, high blood pressure, vertigo, epilepsy, stroke, hernia or peptic ulcer.
Vaman Dhauti or Kunjal Kriya
Technique
□ Take about 1 litre of lukewarm water flavoured with aniseed and cardamom, to which some salt is added.
□ Drink this water as quickly as possible till a vomiting sensation is felt.
□ Stand up immediately, bend forward and insert first 3 fingers of the right hand into the mouth and tickle the uvula till vomiting is induced.
□ Continue this process till all the water comes out.
□ This can be repeated once a week.
Precautions
□ This procedure should be done in the early morning on an empty stomach.
□ Food should not be taken for at least half an hour after practice.
□ Fingernails should be trimmed well and hands washed with soap and water before performing the procedure.
□ Persons suffering from stomach ulcers, eye diseases, heart problems, stroke, hernia should avoid this kriya.
Neti
Neti is a process that helps to clean the nasal passages. This is of three types :-
□ Sutraneti or Rubberneti
□ Jalaneti
□ Ghrithaneti or Ghee drops Sutraneti or Rubberneti
Technique
□ A cotton string stiffened with wax or a rubber catheter of numbers 3,4 or 5 is used.
□ It is slowly inserted through one nostril with the right hand and gradually pulled out through the mouth with the left hand.
□ Then both the ends are moved forwards and backwards in the nostril about 15-20 times.
□ Remove the string through the mouth and repeat the same Fig. Sutraneti procedure for the other nostril.
□ This procedure is done once daily initially and after one month reduced to twice or thrice a week.
Precautions
□ This procedure is to be strictly done under the guidance of an expert.
□ Persons with high blood pressure, bleeding from nose, deviated nasal septum and severe cold should not practise this kriya.
□ Fingernails should be properly cut and hands washed with soap and water.
□ Spectacles if any should be removed before practising Neti.
□ In the beginning of Neti, when the thread or catheter is introduced, there may be an itching sensation in the nostrils with sneezing and watering from the eyes. These symptoms will subside with regular practice.
Jalaneti
This is another technique of nasal cleansing using salt water instead of thread or catheter.
Technique
□ Boil about a litre of water in a vessel and allow it to cool.
□ Add a tea-spoonful of salt to it and stir well.
□ Transfer this water to a Jalaneti pot. Fig. Jalaneti
□ Stand erect, stoop forward and insert the spout gently into one of the nostrils.
□ Slowly tilt the head to the other side so that water runs into one nostril and comes out of the other.
□ Keep the mouth open and breathe normally through the mouth.
□ Allow water to flow freely through the other nostril continuously like a stream.
□ Repeat the procedure for the other nostril.
□ This procedure should be done once daily or more often if one is suffering from cold and stuffy nose.
Precautions
□ The concentration of salt and the temperature of water should be maintained throughout the practice.
□ The nozzle of Jalaneti pot should not be inserted too deeply into the nostril since it may injure the sensitive lining of the nose.
□ Do not inhale through the nose or else the salt water will enter the mouth.
□ In the beginning of the procedure there may be itching or irritation in the nose, sneezing or watering of the eyes. This will improve with practice.
The nose should be dried properly after the procedure since water left off may cause cold and sinusitis. This can be done by moving the head in different directions and exhaling forcibly.
Ghrithaneti
Technique
Pure desi ghee prepared from cow’s milk is applied in the form of nasal drops. This ghee is to be warmed until it liquefies and then with the help of a dropper 1-2 drops of it is applied into each nostril. After applying ghee, cover the face with a towel and rub the area around the nose. Ghrithaneti should be done before doing Sutraneti and Jalaneti.
This procedure should not be done after meals. Do not blow the nose too hard since the water may be pushed into the ears.