What is the Function of the Nervous System?
The nervous system is the network of nerves that control all the organs and illicit responses from the body. It is the nerves that allow the senses to work and the brain to coordinate the mechanisms of the entire body.With so many functions, it is easy for the nerves to get fatigued or diseased and if there is an injury or trauma to the nerves, it can really damage the functioning of the body in many ways. The slightest of nervous system problems may cease the functioning of vital organs. For example, trauma to the spinal chord can cause a person to be paralyzed, or lose the ability to walk.
Disorders of the Nervous System
Today, owing to our lifestyle, our nerves have to undergo a lot of pressures and stress just to keep the body functional. There are times though; when the amount of stress becomes so much that the nerves begin to malfunction. It is therefore necessary to maintain the health of the nerves and to ensure that we distress regularly so that the body machinery keeps functioning without a glitch.The severity of the disorders of the nervous system varies. Some of these disorders are:
- Alzheimer's disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Bell's Palsy
- Brain Cancers
- Brain Tumors
- Epilepsy
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Headache
- Meningitis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Parkinson's disease
- Stroke
The nervous system is a delicate network of neurons and therefore it is important to keep it protected from jerks or traumas. When we work in the same pose for a long time, the nervous system can get stressed. The treatment of the nervous system basically focuses on the slowing of the degeneration of the nerves. The nerves, if once damaged, cannot be regenerated. It is only with great difficulty that dead nerves of a person can be revitalized. The treatment requires taking painful injections or very strong steroid based medicines that have various side effects.
Yoga for the Nervous System
Owing to these circumstances, many have recommended yoga poses for nervous system treatment. Yoga has proved to be effective in mitigating the harmful effects of stress. Not only does yoga help in relieving stress, it also helps in keeping the mind calm and sharp, delaying the onset of diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer. In fact, yoga is one of the few forms of exercise that has a direct beneficial effect on the autonomic nervous system.
Yoga incorporates many different breathing exercises and mediation techniques. The deep breathing practiced during these exercises helps to calm the nerves. The process of meditation helps to drown out all extraneous worries and allows a person to calm and center his (or her) thoughts. This goes a long way in providing relief from nervous disorders. Even the yogic postures (Asanas) incorporate steady and deep breathing and help to reduce anxiety and calm the nerves.
Some of the popular yoga postures and techniques that can be used to treat nervous disorders are:
- Shava Asana or the Corpse Pose
- Padma Asana or the Lotus Pose
- Sukha Asana or the Easy Pose
- Anuloma Viloma or Alternate Nostril Breathing
- Kapalbhati or Skull Cooling Breath
