Gout is a condition caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood stream, brought about by the kidney failing to function properly.
Besides gout, high levels of uric acid can lead to several other issues, such as kidney stones, fatigue, and joint inflammation. To avoid this, one should take care of their food intake, observe and maintain a healthy body weight, and make time to work out.
Obesity have been found to be a causing factor of gout. Besides that, excessive beer, meat, protein, and calcium can also lead to gout.
This illness causes sudden burning pain, stiffness, swelling in the joints, sharp pain in your big toe, among others. The symptoms can often differ according to a person's body weight and diet.
"Working out" in yoga is one way to reduce the uric acid content in the body. Here's how:
- By practising yoga, one can maintain a healthy body weight, which in turn, is good to keep illnesses at bay. Yoga also manages stress via proper breathing techniques and meditation.
- Certain yoga poses are meant to detoxify inner organs, especially the kidneys. This helps excrete uric acid, improve lymph flow at the joints, which helps reduce iflammation caused by gout.
- Practising yoga assists in rebuilding damaged tissues by stretching and strengthening the injured ligaments and tendons. It also improves blood flow and helps deliver nutrients to the joints.
Beside asanas, yoga mudra, or hand gestures that guides the energy flow to specific areas of the brain can also be used as a tool to relieve gout. However, these mudras must be practiced continuously for a long term for optimum benefit. On a general note, one can feel the difference as soon as they start the practice, and feel the improvement later on.
Vayu mudra (hand gesture of air) helps to controls the Vata dosha and helps with conditions such as arthritis, sciatica and gout. When excess air is decreased, the blood circulation recovers and areas experiencing pain starts getting relief. This mudra helps to harmonize our natural body energies, such as blinking, sneezing and yawning.
To do this mudra, simply bend your index finger and press it with your thumb while keeping the other fingers straight. Do it for 45 minutes at one stretch every day, or for 10 to 15 minutes, three times a day. This can be done anytime and anywhere.
Nizha Periaswamy is a yoga instructor and freelance writer.
Photo source: FB Yoginizha Yatra
