As many people know, diabetes is a chronic disease where people have above normal levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. According to the World Health Organization, about 422 million people worldwide have diabetes. Over time, it causes serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. It results in 1.5 million deaths each year globally. With the prevalence of diabetes – and the suffering that goes with it – rising steadily, what can be done to turn it around? Sadhguru offers four effective methods for handling diabetes from a yogic perspective.
“I know today one of the largest pandemics on the planet is diabetes. Today, people are just checking the sugar, either in their blood or urine, and arriving at a certain conclusion. They see that the sugar level is related to a particular organ like the pancreas and that it’s not functioning properly. But that’s not how we see it in yoga.”
“In the yogic system we say if your Vyanna Prana (a vital aspect for the preservation of the system) doesn’t function well one manifestation is diabetes. Essentially diabetes is a destabilization of the body. You are only looking at the sugar. The sugar may be high but that’s not the thing. The important thing is there is a general destabilization of the body.”
So how can we stabilize the body? Sadhguru outlines four methods.
#1 – Be in Touch with the Soil
“If you do not have any other sadhana (yoga practices), the simple way is to keep in touch with soil. The richness of the soil and the richness of the body are related. If you don’t do agriculture, do a little gardening with bare feet and bare hands. If that is also not possible, at least get yourself a mud bath. You can get some soil and smear it across your body. Wait for it to dry up for 30 to 40 minutes and then wash it off. Do this at least once every few months. These things could stabilize your Vyanna to a reasonable extent.”
#2 – Yogic Practices to Strengthen the Energy System
“There are also kriyas to stabilize the system in such a way that naturally it’ll impact the sugar levels. Shakti Chalana Kriya is a set of practices to enhance the flow of one’s vital energy. With some simple processes to stabilize their energy system and their body, out of this, they have come out of their diabetic condition.”
The Shambhavi Mahammudra, a powerful 21 minute practice offered in the Inner Engineering program, is also capable of doing that. Once the system gets regularized, you will see diabetes should go. But, if you want a quicker, more effective way of getting out of it, if you spend six to eight weeks at the ashram, about 70 per cent of the time, we will see your diabetes is gone within that time.“
#3 Traditional Systems of Medicine
“If you have diabetes, we have powerful systems in Siddha (an ancient form of traditional medicine that originated in South India). We can do that but Siddha is a little bitter. If your diabetes is not bothering you so much you will not take such bitter medicine. Then, we will choose Ayurveda. With these systems, along with proper diet and exercise, one can easily reverse this process.”
#4 Incorporate Millets into Your Diet
“Millets take time to cook. It’s a very slow release cereal so there will be no sugar spikes. When eating millet, it releases its glucose part very, very slowly. So, particularly for those who suffer from diabetes or whose life is threatened by diabetes, raggi (finger millets) and other millets do a fantastic job.”
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