Halitosis Means bad breath or foul smelling breath. The bad smell that comes from food items such as garlic or onion or cigarette smoking or alcohol has a characteristic recognizable bad smell. The Halitosis or foul breath that is refereed to here is most commonly due to putrefaction of food particles by the excessive growth of bacteria in the mouth, unhealthy gums and teeth, white coating on the tongue repeated ulcer in mouth are all places where abnormal bacteria grow in large numbers and lead to bad breath. Other causes includes constipation and other digestive disturbances due to problems in gastro intestinal tract; renal diseases, liver disease or even a badly controlled diabetes.
Digestive system in general, oral cavity in particular to a direct nourishes of our mind. Acute stress can fill your mouth with a lots of mouth ulcer which could be very painful associated with halitosis. Chronic stresses can change the pattern and number of bacteria that are there in the oral cavity. it is known that our food passage hav…….. many bacteria which are absolutely harmless under normal healthy condition. They survive on food particles and dead lining cells of our body without harming lost. In fact some of them are very helpful also as they prevent the growth of other dangerous germs and also supply some useful vitamins. When we are stressed the chemistry all over the body changes; this in turn lead to change in blood flow; cell repair mechanism, immune stamina etc. These germs disturbances starts multiplying very fast which increases the rate of putrefaction of the organic matter around. Also other bacteria which are kept suppressed starts increasing in number.
How do we prevent or cure Halitosis?
It is very important to have a holistic approach to this problem at physical level - (a) cleaning the mouth and tongue and gums. It is not enough if you just brush the teeth daily. Yoga recommends tongue cleaning and massage (Jihavadohana) and gum massage with fingers as important daily practices to be followed after brushing the teeth. Their two procedures are to be practiced for 5 minutes each using both the thumb and the index finger of both hands. This not only cleans the food particles and dead organic matter in the mouth but the pressure and massage increases the blood flow and healthy cell turn over in the oral cavity preventing abnormal bacteria growth.
(b) Regular kriyas to cleanse the digestive tract is another important practice to treat and prevent halitosis. Vamanadhouti , laghusankhaprasalana , agnisara kriya practised once a week is very useful to maintain a healthy balanced lining of digestive tract.
(c) Healthy diet: Plenty of water, more fiber in diet; enough time to taken to chew the food before swallowing and hence a leisurely atmosphere and company which you eat are very important components of Yogic life style change. Sattvic food is that which is juicy, fresh served warm by a warm treated person, with fresh raw vegetable and sprouts, freshly cooked food consumed within 6 hours of cooking, presented not dry but juicy with minimal spices and limited in quantity and frequency. These not only help in proper flow of saliva, good mixing with food but also keep the gums (also root of the teeth) healthy and prevent abnormal bacterial growth and halitosis.
(d) Regular exercises of moderate instantly are important for proper balance of prana, health of digestive system and regular bowel clearance.
(e) Stress management through regular practices of Pranayama and meditation is very important. Notional correction to reduce the rush and speed of life, application of concept of action in relaxation, seeing divinity in every aspect of life, replace all reactions of mind by positive thinking; be cheerful and harmonious; take life as easy as any other creature in the creation; are all several hints by great seers that can make our life stress free. Hence the holistic life style change can prevent and cure halitosis.
SIMHASANA
simha means a lion.
" sit on the floor, with the legs stretched straight in front.
" Raise the seat, bend the right knee and place the right foot under the left buttock. then bend the left knee and place the left foot under the right buttock. The left ankle should be kept under the right one.
" sit on the heels with the toes pointing back
" then bring the weight of the body on the thighs and knees.
" stretch the trunk forward and keep the back erect
" place the right palm on the right knee and the left plam on the left knee. stretch the arms straight and keep them stiff. spread the fingers and press them against the knees.
" open the jaws wide and stretch the tongue out towards the chin as far as you can.
" gaze at the centre of th eeyebrows or at the tip of the nose. stay in the pose for about 30 seconds, breathing through the mouth.
" withdraw the tongue into the mouth, lift the hands from the knees and straighten the legs. then repeat the
" pose first placing the left root under the right buttock and then the right foot under the left buttock.
" stay for an equal length of time on both sides.
" effect.
" the pose cures foul breath and cleans the tongue. after continued practice speech becomes clearer so this asana is recommended to stammerers. it also helps one to master the three bandhas. |
