AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and it is caused by a virus called HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV disease becomes AIDS when the immune system is seriously damaged.
Most people get the HIV virus by having sex with an infected person, sharing a needle with someone who's infected common amongst drug addicts), being born when the mother is infected, or drinking the breast milk of an infected woman.
Immediately after getting infected by the virus most people have no symptoms. After the initial flu-like symptoms, some persons stay healthy for ten years or longer. But during this time, HIV is damaging the immune system.
One way to measure the damage to the immune system is to count CD4 cells in the blood which form an important part of the immune system. Healthy people have between 500 and 1,500 CD4 cells in milliliter of blood. If the CD4 cell count goes down to less than 200 then the body becomes incapable of fighting the other germs (opportunistic infections) that may enter the body and this phase is called AIDS. Repeated infections by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites can lead to serious weight loss, brain and skin cancer, and other health problems. Without treatment, these opportunistic infections can be lethal.
AIDS is different in every infected person. Some people die soon after getting infected, while others live fairly normal lives for many years, even after they "officially" have AIDS. A few HIV-positive people stay healthy for many years even without taking anti-HIV medications.
There is no cure for AIDS. Last month there was a report of one individual in UKwho had cured himself of the disease which is the first case ever reported in the medical literature.There are drugs that can slow down the HIV virus, and slow down the damage to immune system. There are other drugs that can prevent or treat opportunistic infections
YOGA FOR HIV –AIDS
What can yoga do for these subjects?
Prevention is better than cure. Healthy habits of practice of sex in the right way prescribed and accepted by dharma can eradicate this problem. Yoga takes us to the fundamental question of why does man go in for sex? It is for getting the thrill and happiness as this is the best of the sense pleasures known to man.Tattiriya upanisad goes to the extent of saying that whenever we are in a state of happiness due to any sense pleasure we touch the source of silence within us which is nothing but the divinity that is dormant in all of us. Hence one shall enjoy sex as a manifestation of divinity with reverence and a feeling of worship which will take away all wrong practices of sex.
Also for addiction to substance abuse yoga has a message. By seeing the divinity even in that pleasure, the youngsters who are drawn to these wrong practices may use these dangerous drugs only to experiment this truth with reverence and never end up becoming an addict.
Prevention of this disease is centered around educating professional sex workers in our country which is a big problem because of the associated illiteracy.Yoga can be a great boon to these girls as they need to have mastery over their life style ( their mind ) to function as a responsible individual in the society.
Can yoga help HIV infected persons?
We under took a research project last year in collaboration with university of sanfransico and studied the role of yoga to help persons with HIV who attend a service organization in Bangalore called ‘ ‘samraksha’ which is doing yeomen service to these individuals. THEY WERE TAUGHT SIMPLE YOGASANA, PRANAYAMA AND MEDITATION WITH DEEP RELAXATION TO THE MIND BODY COMPLEX. The results showed that their CD4 counts had increased and the viral load had decreased after two months of practice as compared to those who continued with the conventional supportive therapy at samraksha. The results also showed reduced stress levels and better quality of life with a feeling of well being .The reports of individuals who participated in this program was that they benefited a lot in their self confidence and were able to cope much better with their demanding life situations and the social difficulties they had to face. This shows that even when the immune system is disturbed by the dangerous virus one has the capacity to strengthen and increase their immunity by giving deep rest to the cells and coming out of stress through yoga practices. We are continuing this service to even the AIDS patients who are very sick.
GUPTA PADMASANA – Hidden Lotus
Starting Position: Padmasana.
- With the help of the hands come up on to the knees and slowly lower down onto the abdomen. Place the chin on the floor. Bring the arms behind the back and place the palms together with the fingers pointing towards the head.
- Lie completely flat on the floor and try to relax the whole body. Breathe quietly and gently and hold this position for some time.
- Slowly return to the starting position.
Caution: This Asana should not be practiced with pain in the his, knees or shoulders, or when there are problems of the cervical spine. |
