Introduction: the problem and the solution

Every human being has an inborn, intrinsic, self-operating, autonomic Internal Defence System (IDS). This IDS is nature's way of protecting the body from outside as well as internal infection, foreign bodies that penetrate the human organism and degeneration caused by aging and disease. When from the external or internal defence system signals are sent out that health or wellbeing is in danger, this natural protective system mobilizes a beneficial Immune Defence Response (IDR). The invading enemy or the danger ensconced within is quickly sought out, identified, attacked, absorbed or defeated. The body's health is preserved. Healthy, evolutionary, productive life can go on. But if our natural IDS is deficient or inefficient for whatever reason, then the body and its various systems are vulnerable to infection and disease. The body will then fall prey to poisonous material in one or more of the body's systems. Mankind, like all other animals, has had to face devastating enemy forces in the shape of infection and disease since time immemorial, but in recent times a new horror has accosted the animal and human species. Called by medical science the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the simple consequence of modern man's weak and debilitated natural Internal Defence System. Modern living, the 'fall out' from discoveries of technology and science and misguided medical systems have produced a pathetic creature unable to muster defenses against even the simplest bacterial enemy. Today all of mankind is subject to existential anxiety because of the noxious, toxic material which infiltrated the planet's natural environment - earth water and air. Now with a depressed IDS, even formerly innocuous infections and diseases have become killers, Yoga as a way of life offers a 'way out' of this dilemma for mankind. Our classical Sampradaya Yoga postulates the Three 'P' Formula (3PF) of Prevention, Protection and Perfection at the physical, emotional and mental level. Prevention of illnesses, disorders and imbalance, and Protection of the body, mind and emotions occurs when by a Yogic way of living and Yogic practices, the Human Internal Defence System (HIDS) is stimulated, activated and strengthened. Perfection is developed as the human consciously strives towards 'wholeness' or 'unity' in every dimension of his life.

In-depth analysis

A further exploration of the problem of how our natural defence response is inhibited, even destroyed by germs, virus, spores, toxins and other forms of poisons accumulated from our diet, our immediate environment or the global environment, reveals a direct relationship to our personal, national and international lack of awareness that the cause is 'within us as well as without us'. Pollution and environmental corruption are an internal as well as an external phenomenon. Dangerous poisonous waste matter and toxins created by modern industrialisation and science are already well documented, but few realise that we are also destroying our natural immune system by our modern lifestyle, faulty and synthetic diet, pollution of water, food and air by dyes, preservatives, chemicals, insecticides, fertilizers, and by the use of plastics and mineral based materials in packaging, clothing, bedding and common household utensils and furniture. Spurious immuno-suppressive drugs are popularly used in our modern medical systems, created by an aggressive modern pharmaceutical industry. Personal drug addiction is an international phenomenon growing out of the earlier international misuse of alcohol, tobacco, chocolate and cola stimulants. Even seemingly innocuous beverages like tea and coffee contain caffeine and tannic acid that suppress our immune system. Refined devitalized cereal products, de- vitamized foods, artificial confections, treats and desserts, flesh meats from animals whose growth has been stimulated by anabolic glandular steroids are all destructive to the HIDS. Yet, we must acknowledge that the greatest of all thieves of health and wellbeing are modern stress, strain and anxiety, all produced by the modern lifestyle and the most destructive enemy of them all... inactivity. Modern science promised us that time-saving labour saving gadgets would give us leisure. The price of today's artificial leisure can be totaled in the billions of dollars spent to combat disease and to regain health. As though it were not enough that our environment, natural and unnatural, is a constant source of danger to us, and our modern style of life is devoid of physical exercise and moral and ethical values, we are confronted by our modern medical system which, in trying to bring about a higher level of health and combating disease, has introduced 'life saving drugs' that have often instead become death dealing in action. All scheduled drugs have to carry a warning of contra-indication of treatment and side effects. The list now has become inexhaustible and includes many dangerous disorders as the result of the treatment by medication. Patients are commonly warned of the possibility of elevated blood pressure, inhibited respiration, renal deficiency, blood dyscrasias, and various allergic reactions. Chemotherapy (Kemo therapy) guarantees cellular damage, even death if it is prolonged up to two years. Virtually every drug suppresses or depresses normal functions and normal responses; even seemingly mild medication used for a lengthy time is immuno-suppressive. Few people know that all antibiotics destroy good bacteria and healthy germs as well as those causing infection and disease. Prolonged treatment with antibiotics produces its round of disorders. Those undergoing lengthy medical treatment seem to become susceptible to other disorders which are caused by the treatment itself, AIDS has become the 'Bubonic plague' of the twentieth century, partially because of the suppression and depression of natural protective responses inherent in the physio-mental-emotional human organism. We can no longer fight even a simple one-celled enemy.

The natural protective immune system

The human body has a number of protective systems which destroy germs, virus and other dangerous bacteria before they enter the body, as they enter the body, and finally, as a last resort, when they enter the complicated internal defence. The pH (potential hydrogen), the acid/alkaline balance of the skin when in the acid range of 4 to 5 on the pH scale, kills germs. Germs are destroyed by acidity. This protection is also present at the mouth, the nose, the anus, and the genital orifices. Our digestive system at the acidic level also destroys dangerous bacterial germs and viruses. A mucous membrane in the nasal cavities along with the lungs offers resistance to airborne spores, germs and other forms of bacteria. If dangerous infectious material enters the internal circulatory system, the white blood cells surround and destroy the invading enemy. The lymph system and the glandular bodies also offer us immuno-protection. At the cellular level nature has gifted us with another protective system that resists disease and disorders of almost every type. Scientific reports talk about protective 'T' cells and even protective influence by cellular nucleic acids like DNA and RNA. The human brain, the central and peripheral nervous system, all have their own inborn-protective system. High frequency brain waves in the Beta and Delta wave scale are suggested to be protective responses. No doubt, there is even a higher Protective Psychic System (PPS) undreamt of by sense-bound mankind as well as protective spiritual forces working in the human system. But all of these human immune responses will act and react efficiently only if we obey the Laws of Nature. Mankind, straying far away from Nature, no longer respects or obeys the Laws of Nature. It is absolutely vital that we restore Nature to the human system and human environment if the human race is to survive at all. Yoga, with its emphasis on natural living in a natural environment, is an excellent methodology for bringing sanity back into our own human life. Sane and balanced living within a Yogic framework will guarantee an effective, efficient HIDS capable of combating the most insidious enemies.

Yoga as an aid to fortifying HIDS

The practice of Yoga and the Yogic way of life is as close to Nature and being natural as any science can be. Living naturally, close to nature, observing and obeying natural laws, is the only way by which the HIDS can be rebuilt if it has broken down. The natural way of life suggested by and necessary for the practice of the various types of Yoga stimulates the various defence systems of the body, the emotions and mind, and even the psychic system. Yoga sensitizes and refines the entire sensory apparatus to the extent that unnatural destructive foods and bad habits lose all appeal. Yoga practices such as Asanas, Kriyas and Mudras and the various forms of Pranayama stimulate and regulate positive activity in the human brain, the nervous system, the endocrine and exocrine glands, and the protective system associated with the blood components, lymph and lymphatic system. The practice of Pranayama ventilates and eliminates copious amounts of toxic carbon waste matter from the respiratory and circulatory system. It activates circulation into even the most minute and remote cells of the body. Yoga Asanas promote a hypo-metabolic state, giving the body an opportunity to recoup its defences from normal hyperactivity when at work and at play. Even the basic forms of Yoga practice in the Hatha Yoga system stimulate better circulation, digestion, excretion, and the positive anabolic re-building of the body. The practice of Hatha Yoga combats metabolic disorders associated with faulty breathing like diabetes, asthma, uric acid build-up associated with arthritis, dangerous heart complaints associated with cholesterol, sclerosis, and infections as well as nerve and brain damage. It has been scientifically reported that the proper practice of Hatha Yoga and Pranayama even lowers the incidence of radio-active atomic fallout registered in the body! The higher Yoga practices of Pratyahara, sensory withdrawal; Dharana, concentration; and Dhyana, meditation, have long been recognized as valid scientific methods of reducing or controlling dangerous stress, strain and damaging anxiety. Yoga practices have been proven effective against neurasthenia, neurotic and psychotic tendencies which are almost endemic in urbanized, industrialized society. Research into Yoga practices by various scientific and medical groups has shown that they maximize human performance and human potential and utilize at all levels the HIDS. HIDS is a total system involving body, emotions, mind and spirit, a concept which may prohibit some scientific investigation because of its broad, even metaphysical scope. Yet those scientists who claim to be interested in the Human Potential Movement (HPM) and practitioners of 'holistic' medicine and 'holistic' research need be reminded that the 'W' must be put back in 'Holistic'. 'Wholeness' in human life is the crying need of the twentieth century man and Yoga means wholeness.

Some recommended Yoga practices

The scope of Yoga practice to activate HIDS is vast. I wish to single out only one or two practices from various schools of Yoga as an illustration of how Yoga and its practice effectively stimulates our natural Immune Defence Response. Many Pranayamas offer a Yogic method of reducing CO² content of the lungs and the carbon binding material of the circulatory system, but the group of Pranayama called Bhastrikas or Bellows Breaths display an incredible ability to reduce toxic carbon levels of these systems, offering natural protection against deadly gases produced as a byproduct of cellular metabolism. The Pranayamas entitled Nadi Shoddhana and Nadi Shuddhi have been scientifically researched and indicate extraordinary value in reducing nerve stress and resultant nerve damage. Pranayamas like Savitri Pranayama have been scientifically shown to produce metabolic balance of the body and deep relaxation through rhythmic breathing. Yoga Asanas, the Yoga system of body posturing, has been scientifically evaluated as an excellent method to increase blood circulation, lymph drainage and the production of an increased toxin elimination effect. Some Asanas have an isometric effect upon the body, and its various systems, bringing about a more natural symbiosis of independent and connective systems. Yoga Kriyas and Mudras are known to increase muscular tonus and organ efficiency. Surya Namaskar, the Sun Adoration, has been researched for all of the above values and also has been shown to have an excellent salutary effect upon the exocrine and endocrine glandular system. Surya Namaskar, also called the 'Salute to the Sun', performed while facing the sun in the early morning, may be the easiest and most effective Yoga routine to be introduced to a needy and suffering public, which has little time to spare in a busy schedule. Yoga relaxation practices from both the Hatha Yoga and Jnana Yoga Schools along with Raja Yoga techniques of concentration and meditation have been widely reported by scientific investigation to be beneficial to development of the human personality. They release and recycle toxic waste matter allowing for eventual elimination, and reduce mental anxieties, muscular tension and organ stress. Blood pressure is normalized. Heartbeat slows, and respiration becomes regular and deep. Damaged systems are given healthy rest allowing time for recuperation and repair. Yoga enhances evolution of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual nature. At the highest, most sublime level of Yoga practice, all physical, mental and emotional imbalances disappear. For most this is a mere theory, an ideal, but some Yogis, who demonstrate the possibility of such a state by their very lives, maintain perfect health, emotional and mental balance even at advanced chronological age.

Concluding remarks

Modern man has failed miserably to actualize even a small fraction of his physical, emotional, mental and spiritual potential. Due to environmental factors, individual, national and international pollution, he is scarcely able to defend himself against even feeble attacks by a multitude of germs, viruses, and other poisonous microscopic enemies. With his physical organism weak, often incapacitated due to illness; his emotions confused and over-stimulation and lack of solid social and personal morality; his mind disturbed, troubled, scattered and wandering, modern man can scarcely drag himself through his mundane work-a-day world, let alone think and dream of achieving higher ideals of life. The ancient science of Ashtanga Yoga provides a methodology for cleansing the debris and garbage rising from day-to-day life, strengthening, controlling, disciplining the individual in all his various parts and focusing his energy along the one-pointed path of evolution towards perfection. The practice of Yoga protects; it prevents and it guides the aspiring personality, towards its own vision of perfection. The practice of Ashtanga Yoga strengthens the framework inherent in every human, the HIDS fortress which not even the most powerful germ, the most negative thought, the most horrendous negative emotion can possibly penetrate. Research into Yoga physiology, Yoga practices and the Yoga style of life which stimulates the HIDS must be carried out by every interested organisation, concerned group and scientific society and supported by government funding and greater still, government encouragement, so that all of mankind may benefit from the greater performance, efficiency and actualization of the real human potential.