Why is it that man today is not so healthy nor so happy as in the days gone by? With the advance in science, particularly in the field of medicine, one would have thought he should really be much healthier and happier?
This question is a very valid one. True, with the control of diseases through medical advances man’s life expectancy has increased. The conditions of living, however, have become chaotic for various reasons, and so, instead of looking brighter, people seem to look morose and tired. This is mainly because in the stress and strain of modern life man has forgotten the basic principles of good health.
Why should he do that? There are modern amenities to solve his problems, aren’t there?
True, there are modern amenities, but these do not help his mental problems. People lead fast lives. They want to make more and more money and in this process, they lose themselves. They need pills to go to sleep, they need pills to move their bowels, they need tranquillisers to keep themselves calm. Even the young take to drugs.
But these pills and drugs are effective. Aren’t they?
Of course, they are, but don’t forget they offer only a temporary solution.
As for young people, they mislead themselves. All that they do is to seek escapism with alcohol or drugs or tobacco, but this only makes them helpless in the long run. Buy using them, a vicious cycle is set up and eventually they become slaves to these.
It is here that yoga is a great boon to civilized man. Yoga is a way of life which makes him rediscover his zest for living. How?
By following the yogic curriculum of physical and mental exercises. For example, the physical exercises of Hatha Yoga counter act the negative psychosomatic and mental conditions which appear in the form of psychological disorders.
Do you suggest that yoga has medicinal values?
That is perhaps not quite the right way of putting it. It will be more correct to say that mental conditions like anxiety, restlessness, and neurosis can be treated by yogic postures.
What is the justification for saying that?
Well, yogic postures influence the endocrine glands like the adrenal, the thyroid, the pancreas etc.
All that yoga does is to stimulate these glands so as to bring about mental homeostasis.
That’s a rather difficult word.
What I mean is that as man goes on practising yoga, he feels more relaxed, starts thinking differently, and takes life more philosophically. And with the change in attitude he is better prepared to face the modern day stresses and strains and does not need drugs, alcohol, or tobacco as a prop.
But you cannot deny that alcohol soothes one’s nerves, can you?
Man has used alcohol since the dawn of civilisation. In fact, every civilisation has used it only to obtain a condition of mind, known as ‘euphoria’ which accompanies intoxication.
Alcohol has also been used in the treatment of the sick. The great Indian Physician of the 2nd century, Charaka, has actually prescribed more than thirteen alcoholic brews. A world famous physician of Baghdad, Ibn Sina or Avicenna was the first to describe the efficacious properties of alcohol, very, very, long ago, indeed.
Then why worry so much now?
You will appreciate that every medicine has its proper dosage. So, even a thing which has medicinal value has to be taken in the right measure. Anything , even food or medicine, if taken in excess, is harmful to the human body. So is the case with alcohol. And as the habit grows, one gets addicted to it—and this is where the danger lies.
And then there are some who take to drinking because they are unhappy, frustrated, or dissatisfied with life. They ultimately become slaves to drinking. This again is hazardous.
But man does become sober after his heavy drinking is over, doesn’t he? And if this drinking helps him to appear a little fashionable and even drawn his sorrow or removes his frustration, why not let him do it?
My dear friend, it is now well known that when taken in excess and/or over a long time, alcohol has an adverse effect on all the systems of the human body. For example, it depresses the nervous system.
How does that harm him?
Well, it impairs his mental functions and even his motor performances. It leads to changes in the heart muscle, resulting in what we doctors call ‘cardio-myopathy’. Then, with excessive drinking his digestive system too is affected.’
In what way?
In every way. It leads to abdominal distension, belching, and pain in the epigastrium.
What is this epigastrium?
The epigastrium is the upper part of the abdomen. Anyway, it is the liver which is harmed the most. This organ cannot function normally as the liver cells are damaged The doctors call this ailment cirrhosis of the liver, so common in alcoholics.
Where does yoga, then come in?
Yoga helps in many ways:
(1) It can prevent a person form becoming an alcoholic.
(2) It can also help a person to give up alcohol altogether.
How?
He has to be sufficiently motivated. Remember, alcoholism is not a point of no return. An alcoholic is to be treated with patience. Sufficient time is also needed.
Has a person to give up alcohol the moment he starts yoga? That would be very difficult.
No! When a person starts yoga, he need not give up alcohol all of a sudden, but withdraw from it gradually. He has to develop self confidence. With the practice of yoga, as he is able to stand the stress and strain of modern life he begins to depend upon his stimulant less and less till he gives it up on it’s own. An important point to be remembered here is that he has to learn to live the yoga way of life. By following the principles of Yama and Niyama, his mind gets disciplined, his urge to drink gets diminished, and he begins to enjoy better physical and mental health.
How about tobacco?
That came in as late as the 10th century. You know, it is used in several forms, like smoking, chewing and snuffing by millions of people throughout the world, cigarette smoking being the most common way.
Is tobacco really harmful?
Who does not know the hazards of smoking? Smoking too has adverse effects on all systems of the body. The respiratory system and the respiratory tract are those most affected by smoking.
What is the exact damage?
Damage? It is disastrous! It leads to cancer of the lungs. It is also a very important risk factor in coronary heart disease and the incidence of sudden death in smokers is also high. Yes, and there is one more hazard. Excessive smoking also leads to diseases of the peripheral vessels.
What are these?
These are diseases of the blood vessels of the limbs. The lower limbs are most affected and the patient gets pain in his legs on walking.
But I believe most smokers know the adverse effects of smoking and yet they do not give it up. Why is it so?
Ah! They lack the will power to do so and this is exactly what yoga provides.
Yoga gives us will power. Is that what you mean?
With the practice of yoga, the mind gets trained and disciplined and this is what diminishes the urge for tobacco and gradually frees one from this injurious habit.
If alcohol and smoking are bad, drugs surely can’t be that bad. Are they?
Drug is not a word! It’s sentence—a sentence for life, if you are not careful.
Isn’t it true that drug-taking is also a kind of fashion in modern life—particularly in the young?
Drugs are taken for various reasons:
To alleviate pain
To reduce tension
To change the mood
To counter fatigue
To be more acceptable in society
To satisfy curiosity and
To tackle sexual problems
Unfortunately, it starts in a harmless way, perhaps by way of experimentation, but ultimately one gets habituated, and becomes an addict.
I suppose there are many kinds of drugs, aren’t there?
Yes, the most common one is heroin. They sell it in the market under various names like smack, junk, and dope. Then there are barbiturates like Mandrax and these are all medicinal names—Nembutal, Seconal, Doridan and then there are amphetamines (dexidrin), cocaine, marijuana, hashish, LSD, etc.
Are they equally harmful?
No! I wouldn’t say that! Each drug has its own harmful qualities. Anyway, the harm depends upon:
Its own nature
The way it is taken
The quantity taken, and
The duration of its use.
What exactly do these drugs do?
Well, generally speaking, initially they produce euphoria; but, finally they lead to depression and even suicidal tendencies.
How can one prevent drug addiction?
To prevent this addiction it is necessary to provide attractive vocational, recreational, and educational alternatives.
And Yoga?
Of course, yoga provides an excellent alternative. It gives mental and physical training, and this helps gradually to wean the individual away from drugs.
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