Curing Urinary Incontinence with Yoga Therapy This article discusses causes of urinary incontinence, its symptoms and

its treatment through Yoga therapy. Urinary incontinence is described as that condition when urine flows out from the bladder involuntarily and it becomes difficult to control this outflow. In this condition, any act like laughing or coughing that applies some pressure on the abdomen, or any form of stress causes a small quantity of urine to automatically flow out. In the west about 13 million people are affected by this disease. Both men and women get affected, though by ratio, in women it is two times more common than men. Types of this disease Stress Incontinence This disease normally affects women during pregnancy, after child birth or after menopause. Whenever nerves or muscles of urinary bladder or urethra come under some stress, the opening of urethra widens and urine gets passed. Physical stress like coughing and sneezing also causes it. Reflex incontinence No specific cause for this disease is known. When body is exposed to cold or on touching water urine begins to drop from the bladder. Sometimes this disease is found to occur due to the diseases of the nervous system like Alzheimers disease, brain tumour, surgery, stroke, trauma etc. Overflow Incontinence - Women are rarely affected by this disease. Due to closure of bladder or due to weakness of bladder muscles, bladder gets excessively stressed and urine begins to flow on its own in large quantity. This happens also due to diabetes, tumour, stones and enlargement of prostrate. Mixed incontinence This disease is a combine form of stress and reflex incontinence. Functional incontinence When a person gets troubled for example if one is scolded or if one is fearful then urine gets passed automatically. Those who walk less or do little activity and suppress the urge to urinate also get affected by this disease. Transient incontinence this can occur due to consumption of medicines, not doing much activity/walking, or due to some disorder in urge to urinate/pass stools(??) etc. Causes of the disease This disease has many causes. The important ones are : damage to nerves, dementia, trauma in spinal cord, stroke or multiple sclerosis. Physical changes like pregnancy, growth of prostrate gland, tumours etc also cause this disease. The following also are important factors excessive usage of allopathic medicines, infection in urinary tract, urethral sphincter, and weakening of pelvic floor muscle etc.

Risk factors obesity and ageing aid this disease. If labour exteds beyond 24 hours, that also can increase the possibility of the disease. Enlargement of prostrate, physical problems and neurological diseases also increase the risk factor. Symptoms of the disease In this disease urine flows involuntarily which results in irritation. The urge to urinate keeps recurring frequently. Suggestions for treatment This disease creates many kinds of problems. It causes stress and humiliation. Patients must use catheters, urethral plug, diapers, absorbent pads etc. so that urine gets absorbed and does not wet the clothes. Drug therapy- Antibiotics are normally prescribed when there is any associated infection or sexual disease. Reflex patients are prescribed anticholinergics like tofranil, ditropan, cystospaz etc. But it must be known that these medicines have strong side effects. Patients are prescribed antimuscarinic drugs like pro banthine. Among cholinergic drugs duvoid, myotonachol, urecholine are prescribed. Women are prescribed drugs like phenylpropanolamine and premarin etc. All these medicines have strong side effects. So unless essential, these drugs must be avoided. When no medicines work surgery becomes necessary. Food related suggestions Patients must abstain from coffee, alcohol, sweets and normal sugar. This helps in prevention of microbial infection in bladder tissue. Citrus fruits rich in Vitamin C, lemon etc. must be taken in good quantities because they turn urine acidic and prevent growth of microbes. Foods rich in magnesium and calcium must be taken as they help in improving control over sphincter. Food rich in zinc boost the immune system. Homeopathic treatment Stress incontinence patients are prescribed Costicum. Natrum muriaticum is also prescribed which removes the pain in urine tracts of women. In the disease arising due to enlargement of prostrate Pareria (??) is prescribed. Sepia and Zincum are also prescribed. These medicines must be taken only after consultation with a proficient doctor. Yogic therapy The aim of yogic therapy is to cure diseases of all urinary reproductive system and related areas that arise from obstructed flow of Pric energy. Diseases arise when Pric flow is reduced and yogic processes help reestablish and regulate this flow. So a complete treatment is possible for these diseases by yogic practice. Following are the yogic processes for curing diseases of urinary system 1. Srya Namaskr Start with one cycle and gradually increase to 12 cycles daily at sunrise. Srya Namaskr is a combination of 12 positions, each of which is related to 12 zodiac signs. There is a mantra attached to each of the 12 positions of the full cycle of Srya Namaskr. Position 1 Namaskr (or prayer) pose and mantra is Om Mitry Namah. Position 2 Hasta Uttnnsan and mantra is Om Ravaye Namah. Position 3 Pda Hastsan and mantra is Om Suryy Namah. Position 4 Ashwa Sanchlsan and mantra is Om Bhnave Namah. Position 5 Parvatsan and mantra is Om Khagave Namah. Position 6 Ashtnga Namaskr and mantra is Om Pushane Namah. Position 7

 Bhujangsan and mantra is Om Hiranyagarbhy Namah. Position 8 Parvatsan and mantra is Om Marchiye Namah. Position 9 Ashwa Sanchlasan, mantra Om dityy Namah. Position 10 Pd hastsan, mantra Om Savite Namah. Position 11 Hast Uttnsan, mantra Om Akiy Namah. Position 12 Prayer Pose, mantra Om Bhskary Namah. These positions help in curing all different kinds of diseases. The diseases of urinary system can be completely cured from the very roots. 2. san All shaktibandh sans like vyghrsan, ushtrsan, shashnk bhujangsan, bhujangsan, dhanursan, chakrsan, ardh padma paschimottnsan, sarvngsan, halsan, ardh padma halsan, ardh matsyendrsan, vtyansan, dvipad kandharsan, and siddha yoni san. All these sans must be practiced regularly but only after learning them from a proficient and able yoga therapist. These sans have a beneficial effect on urinary and reproductive system. They help in removal of disorders and poisonous elements for these systems and reinstate good health. 3. Prym Perform Ndi Shodhan and Bhastrik Prym with kumbhak and bandhs. At antah kumbhak apply Ml Bandh and Jlandhar Bandh, and at Bhya kumbhak apply Uddiyn Bandh. Practice 10 cycles of Srya Bhedan Prym also. 4. Shat Kriy Perform Neti and Kunjal Kriys. Before initiating yogic practice, perform Pra Shankhaprakshlan in some Yoga Kendra or in the environs of some ashram. Then weekly practice Laghu shankhaprakshlan. These practices help in removal of phlegm and other toxic elements from the body. This restricts the growth of bacteria, microbes and resulting infection, and diseases get cured. 5. Shithlikara Perform Yog-Nidr daily afternoon or before sleeping. This helps in complete physical and mental relaxation. So any diseases arising out of physical or mental causes get cured and person becomes healthy. Other suggestions and precautions 1. Drink 3 to 4 litres of water daily. 2. Consume light, easily digestible and sttwick food only. Minimize the quantity of proteins and stimulating spices in food. 3. Consume fibrous food that prevents constipation. Eating refined and fried food items is prohibited. 4. All stimulating drinks like tea, coffee, alcohol and tobacco etc should be avoided. Instead take one cup of barley water or any herbal tea thrice in a day. 5. Practice fasting once a week. In dinner that day take only fruits instead of food. 6. Do not suppress the urge to pass urine or stools. This causes stress on the system, weakens the muscles and increases the risk of infection. 7. Perform yogic practices at a fixed time daily.

8. Do not make large changes in daily routines like sleeping during the day and working in the night etc. In this way by regulating lifestyle and performing yoga practices daily it is possible to get completely cured of the diseases of urine system like urinary incontinence and become healthy again. The next issue shall focus on the yogic therapy of the problems specific to urinary system of women.