Dealing with gastric trouble

1. The practice of Yoga & Brahmacharya results in an increase of ‘Jatharâgni’ (gastric fire). This is the first sign of development of good health. An increased gastric fire helps digest food very easily and helps the body draw out the most essence from food.

When the gastric fire increases and whenever he feels hunger (apart from his regular meals), the Yogi should feed the stomach with small quantities of food (healthy, nutritious, home preparations, and not junk/oily/outdoor food). Such hunger generally occurs to the beginner, when his body is recuperating from the debility caused by many years of seminal wastage. Since the body is in refurbishment mode, it is natural for the Yogi to feel a little more hunger than normal when Yogic practices start getting established in the early stages. Later, with advancement, this condition will subside and taper away. If the stomach is kept hungry and the condition ignored in times of hunger, the ‘Jatharâgni will devour the body itself and vitality will be lost. Hence a Yogi should never stay hungry but take small quantities of cooked food/milk/fruits etc. when he feels the burning of hunger. This does not mean one should overeat, for overeating can also lead to gastritis (as this causes excessive release of acids). The Yogi should never overeat or load his stomach like others normally do. ‘Mitâhâra’ (moderate diet) is the secret behind success in Yoga. Yoga should never be performed with a burning stomach; neither should it be performed on a loaded stomach. Yoga should be performed with a pleasant and lightly filled stomach.

It appears that you may have a gastric problem as the condition you describe does not generally come to one without a history/tendency for gastritis. It is also possible that the acidity is the result of some karmic, physical toxin being vacated through Yoga & Brahmacharya; if there has been no other apparent cause. In such a case, the problem is unavoidable and should be worked out. Gastritis can be controlled/prevented by:

1. Avoiding alcohol, tobacco, spices, meat, sweets, and strong tea/coffee.
2. Taking regular/timely meals in the right quantity and not keeping the stomach empty when hungry.
3. Consuming bland/mildly spiced food and avoiding strongly spiced food.
4. Taking a syrup made by mixing crushed ginger, lemon and honey thrice a day (2 spoons each time).
5. Taking small quantities of cold milk, a few times a day.
6. Drinking 10-12 glasses of water a day and drinking water as soon as the feeling of acidity appears.

If the problem is troublesome and unbearable, the following remedy will prove helpful:-

1. Live only on coconut water and pure water for 2 days. Donot eat or drink any other food. During this therapy, coconut water is to be drunk as often as possible, whenever hungry.

2. From the third day, live only on fruits and water till the 5th day. Eat juicy fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, oranges, sweet lemon, pineapple, peaches, watermelon and raw vegetables such as potato juice and cucumber.

By the end of these 5 days, the toxin responsible for the acidity will get removed. The above procedure will help one come to terms with the situation.

After the problem is cured, ensure to adopt a mildly spiced diet free from meat and other oily food. As the body of the Yogi purifies through Brahmacharya, God will not allow him to eat all kinds of foods which he used to eat before (since such foods are opposite to the purity attained). He then has to limit himself to a Sâtwic diet.

2. Ashwagandha, if taken for the problem you described should be limited to small, medicinal doses.

ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)