YOGA FOR A HEALTHY LIVING,YOGA FOR CANCER

                                                   

Yoga is the practice of creating unity between mind and body. When there's a disconnect between mind and body, our lives move out of balance, causing stress, fatigue and ultimately, illness. When you unify your mind and body through yoga, the reverse occurs. Your body can start to heal and re-balance naturally, helping you to feel healthier, happier and more alive.

Here are a few reasons that yoga helps you heal:

1. Yoga brings attention to your breathing, which is the single most important thing that you do every day.

2. Yoga is a spiritual practice that allows your mind to soften and your heart to open.It can bring your awareness to the tension being held in your body, so that you can let it go.

3. Yoga can help you stay connected to yourself. Its a great way to know what is important for your body and soul.

4. Yoga can help you to gain clarity about things you're working through each day.

5. Yoga can help you move beyond a negative inner-dialogue.

6. Balance poses in yoga invite you to get out of your head and into your body.. There are lots of different styles and levels of yoga allowing you to find the best 'fit' for you

7. Yoga gives you healing tools to better cope with stressful events and trauma.

8. Yoga re-balances your body and can help with weight loss, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), inflammation and other chronic ailments.

9. Yoga classes are a great way to meet new, interesting and like-minded people.

10. Creating a regular yoga practice can bring more flexibility and strength to your body. the twists in yoga can help you feel stronger and better able to cope with life's unexpected turns.

11. Yoga supports you to consciously make better and healthier food choices.

12. Yoga opens you up to new feelings like inspiration, joy and gratitude.

YOGA AND CANCER:

                                  

There is no assurance that yoga will cure cancer; however, it may make cancer and its treatment more bearable, both physically and emotionally.

Cancer patients are discovering that yoga offers both an accessible form of exercise and a path to mental clarity that is a welcome addition during and after treatment.

For cancer patients, the breathing and meditative aspects of the practice can create much needed clarity and peace, while the poses themselves provide a beneficial form of exercise during treatment.

As one of the steps on Patanjali’s eight-step path of yoga, pranayama has been practiced by yogis for thousands of years as a way to quiet the mind and tap into the subtle, energetic realms of the body. Prana is a Sanskrit term for the vital life force that animates all things; ayama translates as extension or elongation. Pranayama enables the practitioner to access prana and connect with the vast energetic network of the subtle body by controlling and playing with the flow of breath.

Current research has shown that beyond these subtle effects, pranayama has numerous observable health benefits. Several studies provide evidence that yogic breathing exercises help to induce a relaxed state by enhancing the action of the parasympathetic nervous system (otherwise known as the “rest-and-digest response”).

Researchers at the University of California – San Francisco investigated how the health benefits of pranayama specifically apply to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. 

The study had two aims:

1. To determine whether it’s feasible for patients undergoing chemotherapy to practice pranayama

2. To gauge the effect of pranayama on common chemotherapy-associated symptoms (fatigue, sleep disturbance, stress, anxiety, depression) and quality of life (QOL)

The researchers concluded that pranayama is appropriate, beneficial, and can be safely recommended for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Further study in this area will hopefully offer even more definitive evidence of pranayama’s efficacy.

Below are instructions for the four breathing techniques taught to and practiced by patients in the study.

1. BREATH OBSERVATION:

Sit or lie in a comfortable position. Breathe naturally. Avoid forcing, controlling or manipulating your breath. Shift your attention to your breath. Simply observe and experience it without any judgment. You might notice the soft whispering sound the breath creates; how long or short the breath is; how deep or shallow it feels; or where in your body you feel the breath most noticeably. At certain points during this practice, you might notice that your mind is no longer focused on the breath. When this happens, acknowledge that the mind has wandered and gently guide it back to the breath.

2. UJJAYI (Victoriously Uprising Breath):

Sit or lie in a comfortable position. Keeping the mouth closed, inhale and exhale through the nose. Partially close the glottis (the opening between the vocal folds) by slightly constricting the muscles at the back of the throat. The action in these muscles should feel the same as when you exhale your breath onto a mirror to create fog. As the muscles contract, you’ll begin to notice that your breath creates a soft whispering sound similar to the sound of the ocean. Continue to create this sound with the breath and find a steady rhythm, breathing in for the same amount of time that you breathe out.

KAPALBHATTI* (Skull Shining Breath)

                                                            

Sit comfortably in an upright position and bring your attention to your lower belly. It can be helpful to rest one or two hands on the belly below the navel. Breathe in deeply then exhale completely. Inhale about halfway; then begin a series of short, sharp exhalations by pumping the abdomen. After forcing the air out by contracting the abdomen, release the belly and passively inhale. Repeat this several times. Start with however many breath cycles (one inhale and one exhale) you can comfortably do, then relax and breathe normally. Gradually over time, increase the number of cycles.

*Kapalabhati is not recommended if you are pregnant or suffer from high or low blood pressure, glaucoma, cardiac issues, or hernia.

3. NADI SHODHANA (Alternate Nostril Breath):

             

Sit comfortably in an upright position. Spread the fingers of the right hand. Create Vishnu Mudra by curling the right index and middle fingers in towards the palm, while the thumb, ring finger and pinky remain extended. Hold the right hand just beside the nose as you take a deep breath in through both nostrils. Close the right nostril with the thumb then exhale through the left. Inhale through the left, close both nostrils by lightly touching the ring finger to the left nostril and the thumb to the right. Lift the thumb and exhale through the right nostril. Inhale through the right nostril, close both, then lift the ring finger and exhale through the left. Continue for several cycles of breath.

BELIEVE in yourself and go wisely. If you are detected with Cancer in early stages then follow the precautions and rules and see the magic of your spiritualism and yoga. Take care and live well!

Thanks for reading and please keep visiting our blog to discover and appreciate more Yoddhas. 
Feel free to contact the Yoddhas team at team@yoddhas.com 

Lastly,

Praise the Yoddhas; Support the Yoddhas ; Love the Yoddhas!

Cheers!

Author- Srishti Jain.
(Yoddhas Ambassador)

Do I need a "CANCER INSURANCE" - Find out why

Why you should consider a cancer insurance policy?

"You been diagnosed with cancer."
 Nobody would want this even in their worst dreams. The fact, however, is that today's lifestyle has increased the chances of getting cancer. Worse, there are over a 100 types of cancers and any part of the body can be affected. Further, anyone can fall victim to this deadly disease.

In fact, a recent study conducted in Britain by the British Journal of Cancer finds that the lifetime risk of getting diagnosed with cancer has increased over time - from 38.5% for men born in 1930 to 53.5% for men born in 1960. The study concluded that the lifetime risk of cancer for people born since 1960 is greater than 50 per cent now.

In India alone, about 10 lakh people are diagnosed with cancer every year and another six to seven lakh die of it. By 2035, these numbers may almost double to 17 lakh new patients and 12 lakh deaths per annum, according to a special research paper on cancer in India published in Lancet Oncology journal sometime ago.

Moreover, while the probability of getting cancer has increased substantially, the cost of treatment has also gone up many-fold in recent years. In fact, treatment costs now have the potential to wipe out a common man's entire life saving. Worse, the cost of treating cancer abroad can be several times that incurred in India, according to a Times of India report.

This is the reason why comprehensive medical insurance against cancer has become the need of the hour. Although most health insurance policies available in the market today cover almost all major critical illnesses, including cancer, but these policies generally pay only for inpatient hospitalization and for treatment at hospitals in India. They do not cover the entire cost of treatment. Also, the policy amount may not be enough as the common man generally does not go for a health policy of more than Rs 5 lakh. Such limitations may be overcome by opting for critical illness (CI) insurance which is designed to help cover medical expenses that your normal health insurance will not cover.

How to buy your right insurance policy?

Yoddhas is a Cancer support NGO (Regt with 80G,12A) Not-for-profit support community formed by patients and volunteers. It is India’s First Online Support Network for patients. It was started in 2013 by 28 year old patient, Rahul Yadav fighting Multiple- Myeloma a rare form of blood cancer.

We at Yoddhas are working to find various Cancer related insurances policies so that one can pre-emtively  insure and safeguard from the financial needs of cancer treatment.

While we tried studying various insurance policy, we explored various different policies which are active right now and being availed by the public. We also referred to many online websites like PolicyBazar.com and insurancepandit.com to do our comparative studies.

We compared many available policies in India to find out which ones would be best suited for Cancer related cover. Based on our studies these are the four insurance policies where we got a good feedback from the people and we enquired from other patients and people who have either been using or have knowledge about such policies. 

	ICICI Cancer Care Plus	National Insurance+ CPAA Cancer Insurance Policy	National Insurance+ ICS Cancer Insurance Policy	Religare Health Insurance
Eligibility	For anyone aged between 20 and 60 yrs who is not suffering from pre-existing cancer	For members of Cancer Patients Aid Association who are not suffering from pre-existing cancer	For members of Indian Cancer Society who are not suffering from pre-existing cancer	For anyone aged between 20 and 60 yrs who is not suffering from pre-existing cancer
Entry-Exit Age	20 yrs – 60 yrs (renewable up to 70 yrs)	Not given	Up to 70 yrs	20 yrs – 60 yrs (renewable up to 70 yrs)
Sum Assured	Rs 5,00,000 – 25,00,000	Rs 30,000 – 5,00,000	Rs 50,000 or Rs 2,00,000	Rs 15,00,000 – 50,00,000
Policy Term	10 yrs	1 yr	1 yr	1 yr
Premium	For a typical 10 lakh cover -4,604 to 8,945 (for men) 8,602 to 14,845 (for women)Minimum single premium - 1,200 per annum	2,400 to 8,000	Rs 496 (for 50,000 cover) Rs 1,157 (for 2,00,000 cover)	Rs 6482 to 9982(for men and women)
Waiting Periods	For Early Cancer - 12 months from the risk commencement date For Advanced Cancer - 6 months from the risk commencement date Should be able to survive for 28 days from the date of diagnosis	Should be able to survive for 30 days from the date of diagnosis	Should be able to survive for 30 days from the date of diagnosis	Should be able to survive for 30 days from the date of diagnosis

Conclusion

Firstly its always good to be planned for whatever happens. After studying the given policies and as Yoddhas Research Team our feedback is general we can state that the Indian Cancer Society’s policy is very cheap and easily available. Also the maturity amount is not big enough as we know the cost of cancer treatment is high but still the return is much higher if we compare with the premium paid. So as per our research all people should get insured under this policy.

For some selective people who have higher risk of cancer in their family should go for the higher premium policy because of the cost of the cancer treatment. They should get insured under ICICI Cancer care plus Or Religare Health insurance.

Please Note: This is a basic study based on patients and public feedback and secondary data from the various sources. We are not in any manner promoting any particular thing over another. Please do your research to make an informed decision.

Co-Authored By:

Rohit Banka 

Research and HR Consultant

Rahul Yadav 

Founder- Yoddhas and a Blood Cancer Fighter

Thanks for reading and please keep visiting our blog to discover and appreciate more Yoddhas. Do subscribe 
Feel free to contact the Yoddhas team at team@yoddhas.com 
Join our free patients group https://www.facebook.com/groups/yoddhathewarrior/

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References:

www.policybazar.com

www.insurancepandit.com

www.indiancancersociety.org

http://www.cpaaindia.org/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/yoddhathewarrior/ (Yoddhas Patient Group)

THE IDEAL DIET FOR CANCER PATIENTS

An ideal diet plan can be the key to any treatment. A well planned diet is very important as the treatments often result in side-effects like nausea and the taste changes leading to a loss of appetite. So, the choice food should be suitable to the body and should not cause any adverse effects. One should not have too many dietary restrictions.

A good diet for a cancer patient contains a mix of vegetables and meat with lot of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals. They should strictly avoidextremely sweet and oily foods.

Ideal cooking methods for them should be steaming, boiling, and stir-frying. Don’t do any deep frying, grilling, barbequing and baking items.

A balanced diet should be of

·        1. Proteins (which helps to build tissues, prevents infection, heal wounds and helps to maintain a healthy immune system);

·        2. Carbohydrates and Fats (helps in gaining energy - removes weakness);

·        3. Vitamins and Minerals (helps for proper growth, body functioning) and;

·        4. Have plenty of Water and Liquids to avoid dehydration.

Foods to Include In Your Diet:

These are some of the food which should be included in the diet of patients and help them overcome the pain with a strong body.

Proteins:

• Lean meat, fish, poultry, and eggs.

• Dairy products, nuts, dried beans, dhal and chickpeas.

• Fish and soy(especially for prostate cancer).

   

Carbohydrates: 

• Rice, chapatti, wholegrain bread,healthy pasta and noodles.

• Potatoes, oats, wholegrain crackers,corn, beansand dairy products.

• Honey (should be consumed in limited quantity so that its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties will possibly help in preventing infections).

   

  

Vegetables:

• Carrots, peas, tomatoes, pumpkin and turnips (vitamins and fibre).

• Parsley (especially good for prostate cancer), tomatoes and tomato puree.

• Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage contain certain chemicals that will help to convert bad oestrogen into good oestrogen, and hence diminish cancer risk as well as the risk of deterioration.

• Asparagus and Brussels sprouts for detoxification.

• Bitter gourd (helps in lowering the blood sugar levels).

• Green leafy vegetables (calcium and iron).

   

Fruits:

• Oranges (vitamin C).

• Bananas, mangoes, kiwi, peaches, pears and strawberries (vitamins and fibre).

• Guava, apricots,avocadoes, figs, prunes and raisins (helps in regaining energy).

    

   

Foods to avoid:

• Grilled, barbequed, deep fried, baked meats (since exposing animal protein to high heat creates carcinogenic by-products called heterocyclic amines and causes damage to system).

• Excessive consumption of sugar, saltand extreme oily foods.

• Red meat and processed meats such as ham, sausages, bacon.

• Preserved foods like pickles, kiamchye (salted mustard green), jams and century eggs (contains nitrites which are carcinogenic).

• Minimise alcohol consumption.

   

Furthermore, patients must avoid unbalancedconsumption of vitamin supplementsas they act as antioxidants and may hinder with chemotherapy treatment when taken in large doses.

Thanks for reading and please keep visiting our blog to discover and appreciate more Yoddhas. 
Feel free to contact the Yoddhas team at team@yoddhas.com 

Lastly,

Praise the Yoddhas; Support the Yoddhas ; Love the Yoddhas!

Cheers!


Author- Yamini Koneti

Giloy herb: A possible cancer cure!

Tinosporacordifolia, which is known by the common names Heart-leaved Moonseed, Guduchi and Giloy in the tropical areas of India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

Giloy is one of the most important herbs to exist in Ayurveda. It is also known as Indian Tinospora or (Giloya/Guduchi) in Hindi. It is used for a variety of purposes, especially when it comes to treating diseases. “Guduchi” is known for its immense application in the treatment of various diseases in the traditional ayurvedic literature .Giloy is anti-arthritic, anti periodic, anti pyretic , digestive, anti inflammatory , blood purifier and has number of uses.

Giloyis very helpful in building up the immune system and the body's defense against infecting organisms. In a scientific study conducted using human WBC (white blood corpuscles), the Ayurvedic herb helps in enhancing the killing ability of macrophages (the resistant cells which are responsible for fighting foreign bodies as well as microorganisms).

How Giloy Is Used Along With Several Diseases?

There are a lot of researches going on Giloyworldwide because of its healing properties and benefits in healthcare. The Giloy creeper which grows on Neem tree is said to posses more medicinal values than growing on its own because Neem itself being bitter in taste and having excellent blood cleansing properties, it enhances the efficacy of Giloy in Cancer and other blood disorders.

 Important Uses of Giloy and Benefits of Tinosporacordifolia:

1. The stem juice or stem powder of the twine is used for many types of Cancers. It is known as immuno-modulatory herb. It helps the immune system to understand the cancer cells and control them. Giloysatv or the herbal extract of tinosporacordifolia is also used.

2. The cancer responds very well to Guduchi powder or GuduchiSatva. The latest research of GiloySatva on Cancer proved that the effects were similar or better than the modern chemotherapy drug – doxrubicin.

Other uses of guduchiare :

1. Cancers

2. Arthritis

3. Gout

4. Inflammatory conditions

5. Fevers of Unknown origin, chronic fevers, low grade fevers, unexplained weakness and tiredness 6. Liver diseases – liver cancer, hepatitis,jaundice

7. Skin diseases­ very effective in Psoriasis, Eczema,Ringworm, Lichen planus, acne,

8. Auto­immune disorders – Nephrotic syndrome, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis

9. Low Immunity – Blood cancers,Malignant tumors, low immunity conditions.
10. Blood pressure

11. Giloy can be used along with castor oil to relieve gout.
12. It can be used along with ginger to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
13. Giloy is used with sugar to treat skin and liver related diseases.
14. It is also used with ghee to treat arthritis.
15. Giloy is used with jaggery for treating constipation.

1.Blood Cancer:

Consuming a concoction prepared by blending an aloe Vera leaf with wheatgrass and Giloy stem proves effective in the treatment of blood cancer and reduces the painful side effects of chemotherapy.

2. Boosts Immunity:

Giloy has ability to boost immunity. It acts as a rejuvenating agent too. Giloy contains antioxidant properties that improve health and fight dangerous diseases. Giloy also removes toxins from both the kidneys and the liver and makes sure to flush out free radicals. In addition to all this, Giloy even fights bacteria that cause disease and also combats liver diseases and urinary tract infections.

3. Treats Chronic Fever:

Another benefit of Giloy is that it treats chronic fever and diseases. Since it is anti-pyretic in nature, it can reduce signs and symptoms of several life threatening conditions. It increases the count of your blood platelets and alleviates symptoms of dengue fever as well

4. Boosts Digestion:

Giloy can also take care of your digestive system. This Giloy herb is popularly known for treating ailments of several kinds. In fact, you can use this simple remedy at home in order to maximize the results. Take half a gram of Giloy powder along with some amla regularly. Giloy juice can also be taken along with buttermilk in order to maximize the results. This remedy can be used for patients suffering from piles as well. Giloy relaxes the mind and prevents indigestion

5. Diabetes:

If you suffer from diabetes, Giloy would definitely be effective for you. Giloy acts as a hypoglycaemic agent. It can lower the levels of blood pressure and lipids. This makes it very easy to treat type 2 diabetes. Diabetic patients can also take Giloy juice in order to reduce high levels of blood sugar.

6. Herb:

Giloycan reduce both mental stress as well as anxiety. Giloy is often combined with other herbs to make an excellent health tonic. It will boost memory and help you pay attention at work . It can clear all brain toxins too. Giloy has often been called an anti-aging herb.

7. Asthma:

Asthma causes chest tightness, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing etc. It is very difficult to treat such a condition. Giloyhas often been used by experts to treat asthma patients.

8. Gouty Arthritis:

Giloycontains anti-flammatory as well as anti-arthritic properties that take care of arthritis and its several symptoms, including joint pains.

9. Eye Disorders:

Giloy can also be used to treat eye disorders. It boosts clarity and helps you see better without spectacles. In some parts of India, people do apply Giloy to the eyes. Just boil some of it in water, let it cool down and apply all over the eye lid.

11. Reduces Signs Of Aging:

Giloy can also be used to treat signs of aging. It contains anti-aging properties that reduce dark spots, pimples, fine lines and wrinkles. It keeps your skin bright, young and beautiful.

Is Giloy Safe For Kids?

Giloy is safe for children who are aged five years and above. However, doses shouldn’t be given for more than one to two weeks.

Giloy in Cancer treatment:

This wonderful Ayurvedic herb helps in raising the efficiency of protective WBC (white blood cells) and builds up the body's own protection mechanism known as immune system. It is used as an immunity booster in certain ailments like jaundice, hepatic fibrosis and seasonal fevers. Giloy has proved very effective in preventing fibrous changes and promoting regeneration of the liver. It is a very good and helpful diuretic agent that helps removing renal stones and reducing urea from the blood. Giloy has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, and anti-allergic actions.

Causes of cancer and Treatment Prevention of Cancer with Giloy:

Cancer starts with the damage in your DNA. DNA tells your cells how to grow and divide. Normal cells also suffer damage in their DNA but either they are able to repair themselves or they die. But there are certain damages that cannot be repaired. This causes the cells to grow and such cells become cancerous. The mutations also increase the life of the affected cells and they live beyond their normal life span. This causes the accumulation of the cancerous cells.

Many studies have now established that about 80 to 90 percent of cancer in humans is caused due to environmental factors. Some of the important factors contributing to cancer are smoking, infectious diseases, diet, chemicals and presence of radiation near the places of our residence or work.

 Giloy is an Indian herb which has been used since ages by the masters of Ayurveda for the treatment of various diseases including cancer. It is said to increase the life of the human beings by preventing the body from many disease. It is antihelminthic, anti periodic, anti arthritic, blood purifier, anti pyretic, digestive, carminative and expectorant. It gives strength to the heart and is an excellent diuretic. 

Recent studies have confirmed that the fresh juice of the plant is very beneficial in the treatment and prevention of cancer. The important chemical compounds found in the plant are tinosporin, palmarin, tinosporon, tinosporol, perberillin, berberine and heptaconsoltinosporic acid. The fresh stem bark contains giloinin, giloin and gilosterol. But recently phenolic lignin and hypoglycemia agent have also been isolated from the plant. The above bio active phytochemicals have been found to have ability to prevent various diseases including cancer and other immunological disorders.

Based on the historical evidence of the use of Giloy or Tinospora in the treatment of various diseases including cancer and in the light of the recent researches many studies have been done to verify the claim that the fresh plant juice cures and prevents cancer including the liver cancer.

Though more scientific studies are required but the studies so far have revealed the anti cancer and radio protective activities of the herb. The encouraging results only support the wisdom of the ancient masters of Ayurveda. 

It is used in cancer prevention, cancer treatment support, high cholesterol and liver protection. It is used as strong anti-aging factor. It has been used to treat convalescence from severe illness, arthritis, food allergies and anemia. According to some herbalists, Tinospora has adaptogen effects, a term that indicates it helps the body to adopt to stress. In children it is used in general debility, digestive disturbance, loss of appetite and fever.Giloy is popular for its role in cancer and even many trials are going on for its immunomodulatory capacity in treatment of AIDS patients.

How to use Giloy in Cancer­:

Taking 500 mg to 1000 mg dosage, twice daily in case of cancers. In case of blood impurities, skin diseases, gout, the dosage can be 500 mg twice daily Buy 200 gram Giloy sat and make 400 equal dosages and wrap them in paper to make sachets. Each sachet will contain about 500 mg powder. Consume 1 sachet twice daily or 2 sachets twice daily.

In recent years many Indian herbs that have been used since long for various medicinal purposes, have received considerable attention and various scientific studies have been made on them. These medicinal herbal plants contain many phytochemicals like vitamins, terpenoids, carotenoids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, enzyms and minerals etc. All these phytochemicals have antioxidant properties which help in the treatment of many diseases including cancer.

Giloy is one such medicinal plant which helps in the treatment of cancer, perhaps the most important genetic diseases.

Thanks for reading and please keep visiting our blog to discover and appreciate more Yoddhas. 
Feel free to contact the Yoddhas team at team@yoddhas.com 

Lastly,

Praise the Yoddhas; Support the Yoddhas ; Love the Yoddhas!

Cheers!

Author- Akshay Shaligram