COMMONLY OCCURING AILMENTS IN CHILDREN

 

1. Poor concentration, poor memory and scholastic backwardness : Children are mischievous and quite restless. Though this is how normally most children are; an overt or under inclination in this regard can create problems. Respectively a child can then be hyper kinetic or hypo kinetic. A hyper-kinetic child is uncomfortably restless and thus has a poor ability to concentrate. A hypo-kinetic child tends to be lethargic on account of which he/she has poor concentration skills. We are all aware of the fact that poor concentration breeds poor memory and many a times an almost automatic scholastic backwardness. Yoga can prove to be of extremely beneficial should be ideally recommended in such children. It has a proven track record which depicts its versatility, especially in these cases, to endow the young minds with the sharpness to focus and therefore to concentrate and eventually to memorize. The following asanas could be recommended for better concentration, memory and scholastic forwardness : Tadasana Vrikshasana Matsyasana Sarvangasana Viprit karni Trataka / Candle-gazing Pranava (AUM) chanting, Pranadharna and Meditation    The aforementioned asanas build up the natural strength of the mind and also boost up that of body. Yoga for the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents : There are a number of yogic measures which can be used for the rehabilitation of children exposed to too much of stresses and strain in life, who are then institutionalized. The measures include praying through devotional songs daily ( Bhakti yoga or path of devotion), and educating children through philosophical lectures ( Jnana yoga ). Simple methods of meditation could also be used for them to develop self restraints and emotional control.    2. Poor posture, backache and spinal problems It is very common for children to slouch. It is rare to find a child who would sit absolutely straight even momentarily. Hunching is aggravated when children are made to carry heavy school bags slung over their tiny-backs. The yesteryears have seen children of a Gurukul sitting in a lotus posture with a straight back for hours together, immersed in listening to their teachers. With the modern school setups, the tendency towards slouching has increased. It is not uncommon to find these children suffering from a backache. Posture deformities are a natural consequence and a mute invitation to back and other spinal problems. It has invariably been noticed that these defective postures are carried right into the adulthood. In addition to these problems, a poor hunched posture imbibes lack of self-esteem in a person. Psychologically, a person with a good posture not only looks confident and elegant but also commands respect from others automatically. The best time to instill these values is in childhood. Yoga asanas which promote good posture and spinal flexibility are as follows : Standing (Asanas)    Sitting (Asanas)    Lying Down (Asanas Trikonasana Simhasana  Shavasana Yogamudra Paschima-uttana sana Halasana Chakrasana Vajrasana   Shalabhasana Vakrasana Dhanurasana Ardha Matsyendrasana  Ushtrasana   Marjarasana      3. Eye disorders and poor vision The age of fast/junk food and increased spending of time in front of the idiot box has heralded an era of malnutrition, especially Vitamin A deficiency, eye disorders and thick eye glasses. Children now-a-days suffer a lot more from disorders such as watering of eyes, eye-fatigue and short-sightedness. A healthy, well-balanced diet and the following yogic eye and other exercises go a long way in maintaining the health of the eyes. Tratak    Drishti Suryanamaskar    Trikonasana Sarvangasana    Bhujangasana Yoga mudra    Shavasana Various Yogic eye exercises During the eye exercises, only the eyes are moved and not the head and neck. One must avoid overstraining the eyes. The movements should be easy and rhythmic.   Exercise-1 a. Begin with a posture of readiness which is as follows:- b. Assume Sukhasana / easy posture, the head, neck and the back should be colt-straight. The gaze, to begin with should be in level. c. Look upwards. Hold the position for 3-4 seconds. Then look groundwards and hold this position there for 3-4 seconds. Repeat the above two in the same sequence 3-4 times. In between rest by closing the eyes shut. d. Now look rightwards seeing as far as possible. Stay there for 3-4 seconds. Then look leftwards. Try to see as far as possible and stay there for 3-4 seconds. Repeat one more time. Then look up straight ahead. Close the eyes for 8-10 seconds Exercise-2 This exercise deals with the clockwise and anticlockwise movement of the eyes. a. Assume Sukhasana/easy posture. b. After straightening the head and keeping it straight, start moving the eyes in a circular fashion, first in the clockwise and then in the anti clockwise direction. c. Relax in between for 10-12 seconds. d Repeat this process 3-4 times. These exercises could be carried out once or twice in a day. Remember to relax adequately in between and avoid overstraining of the eyes.      4. Respiratory ailments, repeated coughs and colds The next group of ailments common in children are the upper respiratory tract infections and allergies. Coughs, colds and sore throats are the order of the day. This is the milder end of the spectrum. The more serious respiratory disorders occurring in childhood are the childhood asthma, bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The most unfortunate aspect of asthma is that it is not completely curable with medicines. The yoga asanas suitable for chest infections are: Ardhahalaasana    Tadasana Yogamudra Gomukhasana Simha mudra Sarvangasana Matsyasana Padmasana Parvatasana Shavasana Dhanurasana Jalneti, vaman dhauti kriyas Various breathing exercises Most of the asanas are to be done in between the attacks and are to be avoided in the acute phase, when the role of medicines is important     5. Abdominal complaints, poor appetite, indigestion, constipation In the list of ailments commonly occurring in children, abdominal disorders are in the forefront and also account for absenteeism. Poor appetite (due to the harassment of mothers), constipation, indigestion, excessive gas formation, stomach ache, and one must not forget loose motions. Though the abdominal disorders are of varied etiology - the most common causes are: a. Bad eating habits b. Various stresses and strains   The yogic resorts in these cases are: Ardhahalasana    Pawanmuktasana Bhujangasana Shalabhasana Vakrasana    Paschimottanasana Ardha Matsyendrasana (tones the abdominal organs) Vajrasana Padahastasana    Vaman dhauti, Agnisar kriyas Now let us consider the Yogic treatment under special specific settings I. Nocturnal Enuresis Commonly called as bed wetting, nocturnal enuresis afflicts more children than we would want to believe. Bed wetting is known to occur due to disorders like : a. Psychological and emotional disturbances b. Neurological illnesses c. Worm infestations d. Nephropathies e. Urinary tract infections f. Anomalies of the urinary tract The child should be refrained from beverages and should be encouraged to empty the bladder before going to bed. Parents should be reassured and should avoid nagging or criticizing and punishing the child, which could end up worsening the problem. Psychotherapy also goes a long way in balancing the disturbed emotions in such children. The yogic treatment, which has been prescribed helps at multiple levels by calming the mind, balancing the emotions and improving bladder control. Sitting Asanas    Standing Asanas Matsyasana  Garudasana Baddha Padmasana Chakrasana Pashchimottanasana TriKonasana Bhadrasana    Ardha Matsyendrasana    Gomukhasana   Shavasana      II. Menstrual Disorders Menstruation is the monthly bleeding which occurs due to shedding of the endometrium or the inner lining of the uterus. Nowadays, due to changing life styles proper nutrition and sooner sexual maturity, girls at the age of 10 could also start menstruation. For the prevention and cure of problems associated with menstruation like dysmenorrhoea and dysfunctional uterine bleeding, the following asanas are recommended, after doctor's advice.    Ardha halasana    Dhanurasana Naukasana   Shalabhasana Matsyasana   Padmasana Pashchimottanasana    Trikonasana III. Obesity Ten percent above the average body weight is defined as obesity. WHO (World Health Organization) states that obesity is one of the prime diseases in reducing the life span of the present generation. It is a widely known fact that obese children make obese adults. With obesity, other disorders come through the backdoor like diabetes, heart disorders, hypertension, lethargy, arthritis, poor muscular growth and a tremendous inferiority complex. It would be desirable to control the weight of obese children so as to prevent future diseases as listed above. The yogic treatment for obesity can be slotted at 2 levels (1) diet control, (2) regular yoga practice.     The yoga asanas prescribed are : Sarvangasana   Yoga Mudra Baddha Padmasana    Padmasana Pashchimottanasana    Halasana Ardha Matsyendrasana    Vakrasana Shalabhasana    Naukasana