Sarvangasana

This is one of the most important asanas. Sarvangasana literally means "all parts pose".These inverted asanas work by reversing the effects of gravity on certain parts of the body. When this asana is practiced, all the parts of the body are exercised. So it is called Sarvangasana.

Technique :

• Lie on your back with the body fully stretched, palms by your side facing down.
• Slowly raise the legs together up 30, then 60, then 90 and then around 130 degree .so they are extended behind your head.
• Stay in this position , breathing normally,for a few seconds.
• Now, gradually exhale again and straighten your legs up to 90 degrees, until they attain a vertical position. Support the back on two sides with both the hands. Keep the elbows on the ground.Let the shoulders and the neck touch the ground. Keep the body steady.
• Keep the legs raised straight up. Breath normally.Look at the toes of the feet.
• Bend the legs towards the head. Relax the body and bring the legs back to the ground without jerking the spine.
• In this asana, the weight of the entire body is borne by the shoulder. Concentrate your mind on the thyroid gland in the lower part of the throat.
• This asana can be practiced twice a daily. Practice this asana for two minutes in the beginning gradually increasing the time to the limit of half an hour.

Benefits of Sarvangasana :

• This asana diverts the flow of blood into the thyroid glands and promotes their health. It tones up the blood circulatory system, the respiratory system, the digestive system and the excretory system.
• It awakens the Kundalini and stimulates gastric juices.
• It eliminates the longtime diseases of the intestines like indigestion,constipation.
• It tones up the functioning of the nose and the ears. It purifies blood.
• It preserves the elasticity of the spinal column and prevents it from being slugging.
• It eliminates the pain in the heels and other disorders of the feet.
• It tones up the blood circulation and the digestive system.
• It prevents nocturnal discharges effectively and helps in observing celibacy. It is a remedy for the diseases of the genitals and the anus.
• Women can safely practice this asana. This asana eliminates the disorders of the overy.
• Recommended for women after child birth and for those suffering from painfull menstruation, other female disorders and seminal weakness.
• It is beneficial to those who suffer from anemia and leprosy.
• It supplies abundant flow of blood to all the roots of the spinal column.
• This is an ideal and strength giving asana. It energies and invigorates the body.
• It eliminates kidney troubles and the diseases of the bladder.

Contraindications :

• Don't try if you are suffering from organic disorders of the thyroid gland (hyper thyroidism) & chronic nasal catarrh.
  

Anemia

Anemia has affected million of people all over the world. Anemia is one of the common dietary diseases in which the blood is deficient in the body.Anemia is a decrease in your blood cell count, or a decreased hemoglobin content in the blood. Since red blood cells are the once responsible for carring oxygen to the cells via the hemoglobin a lower amount would mean low oxygen in all your body's tissue.
Anemia is found in any age group. Children, menstruating women, pregnant ladies all are prone to this disease.In ayurveda anemia is known as "Pandu roga ".

Causes :
Deficiency of Iron in the diet, hemorrhoids, deficiency of vitamins(especially vita-c), chronic disease like cancer, especially when the people under goes treatments by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, heavy menstruation, any defect in the bone marrow, the lack of hydrochloric acid.

Symptoms :
Weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, headache, confusions, restless leg syndrom, hairloss, pale skin, ringing in the ears, swelling of the mouth, numbness, tingling, memory loss, depression, discoloration of nails, insomnia, digestive problem, person feels cold often, white & blackheads on the face, pimples with pus, blocked hair follicles with pus on the skin.

Home remedies :

• Eat a lot of dates, leafy greens & iron products.
• Drink daily 2-3 cups of white cabbage juice.
• Take vegetables like beets, potato, tomato, carrots, cabbage, grapes, apples, strawberries like fruits.
• Peanut butter and candy bars have a lot of iron in them.
• Dark green leafy vegetables are good source of absorbable iron, salmon and mackerel are good source of B12, and black eyed peas,beans and lentils for folate.
• Cold water bath is the valuable method in curing anemia, two baths are recommended daily.
• Take sunbaths are also beneficial as sunlight stimulates the production of red cells.
• Lemon and honey is highly beneficial when taken during morning.
• Massaging the body daily also helps to keep the blood level in the body high.
• A liberal intake of vita-C is necessary for the proper absorption of iron . Amla provides natural vita-C.
• Deep breathing and light exercise like walking also tones up body and blood level.
• Various yoga asanas like sarvangasana, paschimotanasana, uttanpadasana, shavasana are beneficial and good.

Herbal remedies :

• Afsanthin (worm wood) is iron rich content.
• Ajmoda (celery) is also extremely rich source of dietry iron.
• Methi (fenugreek) works as an effective blood tonic.
• Sowa (dill) is taken to regulate the flow during the menstrual cycle. About 60 grams of sowa taken with a 1 tsp of parsley juice.

Ayurvedic medicines :
Punarnavasava, Ghritakumari, Lauhasava, Lauh bhasma, Dhatri lauh, Navayas lauh, arogyavardhini vati, Heamogaurd, syrup, Saptamrita lauh, Punarna mandoor, Nvajivan rasa, Shilajit, etc.