Yoga - I have a cold

Author

I have a cold

Dave K

2005-12-19, 6:02 pm

Well damn. I never get sick until I schedule some time off. Then
WHAM. My immune system takes a break.

So do you yogis have some secret remedy or should I just engage in my
usual binge of nyquil, sleep, vitamin C and water?

]

2005-12-19, 6:02 pm

]

The remedy is a consistant and regular hatha yoga practice (meditation,
asana, and pranayama). I seem to get less colds than those around me,
and when I do get something it tends to be slight. My teacher and
fellow students echo this observation.

I suppose the nyquil is okay if it relieves some symptoms so you can
sleep. Sleep is really good. You may want to practice some
restoritive poses to ease congestion before bed.

My understanding is that the biggest study on vitamin C done in the
80's in Toronto on some 5000 subjects over two years indicated that it
had no effect on the cold virus. But if it gives you some sort of
psychological hope towards health then I guess its okay. Though if I
were you I would examine the attachment to this myth.

Stu

Dave K

2005-12-19, 6:02 pm

S2 wrote:
> Dave K wrote:
>
> The remedy is a consistant and regular hatha yoga practice (meditation,
> asana, and pranayama). I seem to get less colds than those around me,
> and when I do get something it tends to be slight. My teacher and
> fellow students echo this observation.

I think this is true. I actually havent' had a cold in a few years,
and all I do is zazen, but it helps somehow I guess by slowing
everything down and letting the body restore. Still though, every once
and awhile one gets through.

> I suppose the nyquil is okay if it relieves some symptoms so you can
> sleep. Sleep is really good. You may want to practice some
> restoritive poses to ease congestion before bed.

Which ones are those?

The nyquil keeps me from coughing and I was just doing zazen for about
an hour. It would have been much harder to sit if I was doing all the
coughing and sneezing. So it seems to be beneficial in that sense.
It's mostly to help you sleep but I may like it just a leeeeetle too
much.

> My understanding is that the biggest study on vitamin C done in the
> 80's in Toronto on some 5000 subjects over two years indicated that it
> had no effect on the cold virus. But if it gives you some sort of
> psychological hope towards health then I guess its okay. Though if I
> were you I would examine the attachment to this myth.

It maybe more effective in preventing it than stopping it. I actually
don't have any at the moment anyway and I can't afford to buy any. So
nevermind. Mostly for me I think the key is to get water and sleep.

> Stu

2005-12-19, 6:02 pm

Dave K wrote:
> S2 wrote:
>
> Which ones are those?

Restorative poses are variations of the classic poses though they are
practiced completely passively. This page is not the best
http://www.yogagroup.org/schatz.html but it gives you sort of a sense.
Here are some pictures: http://www.yogatherapy.com/restorpics.htm

There are a number of books on restoratives Judith Lasater has a pretty
good book on them. Mostly they require using benches, blankets and
ropes to hold the body in certain positions. Then allowing the body to
let go. There are a number of restoratives that are excellent for
pranayama practice because they passively open the chest and extend the
spine.

This is a terrific practice when you are sick or just feeling lazy.
Many teachers use them to start out a class to open up the body before
doing the work.

Stu

omjaroo

2005-12-20, 10:59 am

>Well damn. I never get sick until I schedule some time off. Then
>WHAM. My immune system takes a break.

Of course. Are you supprised?

>Do do you yogis have some secret remedy

Yes, although it is not much of a secret. It's called Neti. It's more
preventitive then curative.

http://www.jalanetipot.com/

> or should I just engage in my
>usual binge of nyquil, sleep, vitamin C and water?

]

This would be my second choice :-)

Jared

hbkta@aol.com

2005-12-22, 1:06 am

here are some things that have worked for me.
take a hot bath, hot hot hot, and stay in until the sweat is pouring
off you.
then get out, dry off, put on some warm clothes like sweat shirt and
pants, then go to sleep. works quite well at the first sign of a cold.
wet sauna or steam room would also work if you have access these. aids
body's natural healing process, loosens up mucus.

raw garlic, a clove with every meal while you have the cold. volitile
oils in garlic have antiseptic properties.

stop eating all mucus forming foods, kapha forming foods, like milk,
cheese, grain products, sugar, and increase consumption of citrus
fruits, citrus fruits speed up elimination of mucus.

ginger root tea with honey and lemon, also cuts mucus out of system.
take care over consumption may dry lungs out too much.

a "soup" of tomato, ginger root, black pepper, chily peppers too if you
want, will quickly relieve any mucus accumulation.

and there ain't nothing wrong with a hot rum toddy

Dave K

2005-12-22, 11:00 am

hbkta@aol.com wrote:
> here are some things that have worked for me.
> take a hot bath, hot hot hot, and stay in until the sweat is pouring
> off you.
> then get out, dry off, put on some warm clothes like sweat shirt and
> pants, then go to sleep. works quite well at the first sign of a cold.
> wet sauna or steam room would also work if you have access these. aids
> body's natural healing process, loosens up mucus.
>
> raw garlic, a clove with every meal while you have the cold. volitile
> oils in garlic have antiseptic properties.
>
> stop eating all mucus forming foods, kapha forming foods, like milk,
> cheese, grain products, sugar, and increase consumption of citrus
> fruits, citrus fruits speed up elimination of mucus.
>
> ginger root tea with honey and lemon, also cuts mucus out of system.
> take care over consumption may dry lungs out too much.
>
> a "soup" of tomato, ginger root, black pepper, chily peppers too if you
> want, will quickly relieve any mucus accumulation.
>
> and there ain't nothing wrong with a hot rum toddy

The biggest problem right now is that my landlord has been coming into
my place to paint. He doesn't leave until late at night. It's driving
me nuts. I'd have this out of my system by now if I could just sleep,
sleep, sleep.

Already ahead of you on the ginger root! I make a really strong ginger
tea. Usuallly just for the hell of it but especially when I am sick.

Wade Humeniuk

2005-12-22, 11:00 am

Dave K wrote:
> Well damn. I never get sick until I schedule some time off. Then
> WHAM. My immune system takes a break.
>
> So do you yogis have some secret remedy or should I just engage in my
> usual binge of nyquil, sleep, vitamin C and water?
>

Sure,

You stated the treatment in your second sentence. Keep busy and take
your mind off of your cold. Objectively, how sick are you? Or, are you focusing
so much on the cold that you are blowing it out of proportion? The major
cause of fatigue is in the mind. If something came around that
required your immediate attention and effort your cold symptoms would
be forgotten.

Your cold may have been caused because of the effort you expended in getting
your affairs in order for your time off. Working extra in order to get ready
for "time off" may have got you run down.

As for specific yoga practices to help, they would be "core" asanas. Ones
that work the center of your body. Seated Boat, Plank, Side Plank, Locust,
Full Wheel, Crab, Nauli, Sit Ups, Leg Raises....

Wade

Rachel Spencer

2005-12-22, 11:00 am

NO Nyquil or any OTC meds. They are bad. Drink freshly juiced apple,
ginger juice. It will break up the congestion and in a day ior two you
will be feeling better. Happy Yule!

hbkta@aol.com

2005-12-23, 1:04 am

Dave K wrote:
> hbkta@aol.com wrote:
>
> The biggest problem right now is that my landlord has been coming into
> my place to paint. He doesn't leave until late at night. It's driving
> me nuts. I'd have this out of my system by now if I could just sleep,
> sleep, sleep.
>

yup, sleep is the best. makes all the rest, dietary observances and
asanas, more effective.

> Already ahead of you on the ginger root! I make a really strong ginger
> tea. Usuallly just for the hell of it but especially when I am sick.