The Urogenital System, Herbalism & Yoga
"According to yogic physiology, the urogenital system is governed by the water element and the pranic energy by which it operates is derived from the psychic center known as swadhisthana chakra."(Yogic Management of Common Diseases, by Dr. Karmananda) It is said in Dr. Karmananda's yogic management that disruptions / blockages happen in the lower psychic center with fear, guilt, and or inadequacy, and then the physical organs in this region get disrupted with ie. urinary tract infection, reproductive infection. "Infections, inflammations and other diseases are the visible manifestations of an underlying deficiency, blockage or disruptions in the flow of pranic and psychic energy in the pranamaya kosha (pranic body) and manomaya kosha (mental body) which form the more subtle components of our individual human personalities." vajroli mudra for men /sahajoli mudra for women in yoga is slowly mastered with patience and guidance at first from a skilled practitioner of yogic studies. These mudras are practiced in Rosa Albus' breath and meditation practice and stress management program. This mudra is used to guide pranic energy upwards in sitting practice, and it gives the practitioner control over the instinctive life enabling him/her to be established in a state of consciousness where the instinctive desires are recognized in their seed forms (vasanas) and are then harnessed and liberated.
Herbalism lends well to support lower UTI. The strategy is to employ antimicrobial and antiadhesive herbs. This disrupts the mechanisms that assist with bacterial adhesion to urinary tract epithelium and increases flow and dilution of urine with diuretics to flush the bladder and urinary tract. Soothing demulcents, antispasmodics, anodyne herbals support and help pain symptoms. It is important to support the Immune system to resist infection. Then when acute phase has passed and herbal strategies mentioned have been utilized, the awareness of causative factors and triggers help long-term. Understanding one's individual ecosystems is vital to support tissue integrity and maintain healthy Immune. Not even mentioning we all need to support our microbiome. Stress must be addressed for the Immune system. Individuals need to sit and work with pranayama such as nadhi shodhana for the nervous system to address stress reduction, and also working with ie. muladhara chakra and putting their feet out on the earth for rooting. There are japa mantras to help with this balancing. Other practices like yoga nidra can be very supportive and will be talked about further below in this blog post.
Aromatic antimicrobials reduce microbial load. (ie.cinnamomum spp, solidago spp). Anti-adherents help manage microbial load and makes it more difficult for bacteria to attach to endothelium lining. The vacciniuum species cranberry, blueberry, and bilberry help adjust the ph and are anti-adherents. It is best to use the raw juice extract with no sugar. Berberis aquifolium (oregon grape) and hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) are anti- adherent support and help ease cystitis. Studies say one month support of dandelion leaf and uva-ursi will decrease significant recurrence of cystitis.
Demulcents like Zea mays (corn silk) and couch grass (elymus repens rhizome), have polysaccharides to soothe and cool inflammation and irritation in urinary tract tissue. don't forget, and or know, that mushrooms are loaded with polysaccharides! It is important to know the individual state of the tissues. Some anti-inflammatory herbal support have an affinity to the urinary such as arctostaphylos uva-ursi leaf. It is helpful when herbals match someone's ecosystem and overlap in support. Uva-ursi is an aromatic antimicrobial and an anti-inflammatory.
When diuretics are needed, again it is best to match the one that fits the individual's tissue states and constitution (ie. taraxacum officinale leaf- dandelion and urtica dioica leaf - nettle leaf). If analgesics are needed with lower UTI, check to see if demulcents work first to soothe. If more pain reduction is needed an example of an analgesic is valeriana officinalis root. Tonics and astringents are needed to tone and astringe mucous membranes such as the help of achillea millefolium - aerial part of yarrow. Achillea millefolium happens to be tonic/astringent, diuretic, an aromatic antimicrobial, antispasmodic, vulnerary, styptic, diaphoretic, choleretic, and anti-inflammatory. Oh! the miracle of Yarrow. Everyone needs this in their garden.
Support that Immune system early! The earlier you can support the Immune with this type of infection the better for faster resolution (ie. echinacea spp.root). Lower UTI travel quick through the bladder, ureters, kidneys; if it gets worse, please seek medical help.
All of this is why I believe I am meant to do consults and individual formulations with the community at large in-person and online. yes! this can be done online via consult with herbal and yoga support with understanding your constitution, formulating a plan, then having an on-line yoga private session and mailing you what you need with herbal support (in eco-friendly packaging to decrease carbon footprint). Infusions are ideal for UTI because you need to increase fluid intake and promote urination to clean passages and flush bacteria and dilute the urine. If stronger tasting herbals are needed, those can be tinctured for you.
Well, those yoga consults and sessions in-person/ virtual will help you recover and prevent. Here are some examples! Working with surya namaskara is a must, and we are all lucky that there is quite a variety of ways to practice. The shakti bandhas (pawanmuktanasana), ardha padma paschimottanasana, bhujangasana, and sarvangasana are examples of asana/ posture that support. Working with all three bandhas, nadhi shodhana, and bhastrika help with breath support and learning the purpose of bandhas/locks. As mentioned earlier, sahajoli and vajroli mudra learned from a seasoned practitioner is a great aide for the lower pelvis region. yoga nidra can be really useful and at first it is really important to have a seasoned practitioner guide you through it with proper release work of physical body to sense withdrawal techniques to stay present. Ayurvedically speaking, it is recommended to have a light and low protein diet free of meat. Free your self of stimulating foods and refined foods. Avoid also ie. alcohol, tobacco, and coffee. Luckily there are plenty of herbal alternatives with coffee, such as yerba matte loaded with aminos and more!
I really hope this information given via SEVA, selfless service helps many of you and or a friend. Send it to whomever needs this love. This is an example of more to come selfless service, herbal and yoga education, encourage those that need help to contact for consults/virtual /in-person assistance in maintaining your unique internal garden, ecosystems with vitalist care.
namaskara, Lotus Anwen Wachiwi Sagebrush (satya)
