Duodenal Ulcer and Yoga

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi All,

Can anyone please let me know the asanas that i can practice though i have duodenal ulcer in my stomach.

Can i recover from such problem thru yoga?

Thank in advance,

Noor

#2

Dear Noor,

A duodenal ulcer is an eating away of the wall of the first portion of the small intestine, the part just after the stomach. It is caused by the failure of the stomach or intestine’s protective mucus lining to shield the tissue from the effects of the strong acids which digest food. It’s not clear where your ulcer is. Are you under the care of a doctor and are you receiving treatment for the ulcer? Do you have a regular yoga practice, and does it affect the symptoms?

In any case, I would definitely recommend that you post your querie to Mukunda’s Q&A. His years of experience as a yoga therapist may provide some insights.

This kind of situation reflects a hyper or irritated state and may be symptomatic of a stress response. The digestive system is under the control of the portion of the nervous system associated with relaxation. Our digestion performs best when we are relaxed. The digestive and eliminative systems are slowed or shut down by the body’s stress response. In chronic cases, this response has been shown to be a factor in irritable bowel syndrom, gastric ulcers, decreased appetite and stomach pain.

Here is how I would approach the situation if you were my student. Although I am a yoga teacher, I have not worked with anyone specifically with this condition and recommend that you seek both professional medical treatment, and the guidance of a qualified yoga teacher or yoga therapist.

  1. I would ask you to consider the stress patterns in your life, and to make time to elicit the “relaxation response” through pranayama (breathing exercises) and through a practice of shavasana (pose of a corpse, or attentive relaxation). A regular meditation practice can help too.

  2. I would ask you to look at your eating habits. Both what you eat and under what conditions you eat. Is the food you are consuming wholesome and nutritious? Is it eaten in a calm and loving way, allowing yourself time to enjoy the food - its taste, texture, the preparation etc., and do you allow yourself time after eating to absorb the benefits of the food? You may need to provide yourself with some quiet resting time after eating to avoid aggravation of the ulcer as this is when the stomach acids are likely to be at their height.

  3. I would recommend that you practice yogasana in a gentle manner, with a focus on reducing the stress response and encouraging an inner calm to emerge. Use of the breath during practice, especially a lengthening of the exhale and coordinating slow movement with the breath can help to elicit this. I would discourage strong abdominal work, doing yoga after recently eating, or struggling with poses. Attempt to find the point of asana at which you feel strong and are active, but are also comfortable and capable of maintaining a full breathing pattern (a steady and comfortable posture).

As for specific asanas, Gary Kraftsow in his Yoga For Wellness recommends several for chronic hyper digestive disorders. He states “Yoga therapy may help as an adjunct to professional medical treatments, but the wrong practice may actually irritate the condition.”

Depending upon your location, Mukunda may be able to see you, or to refer you to one of the students he has trained. I would certainly recommend that you honor your body’s needs and provide it with a yoga practice which will benefit, not harm.

Namaste,
Chandra

#3

First of all i would like to say thanx for your kind reply.

I passed almost 10 years in stress from age 15 to 25 due to some family circumstances. This is what i believe is the cause of ulcer as you also mentioned.

I went for endoscopy almost 2 yrs back and it was 0.5 cm diameter ulcer. I was medicated with some antacids other medicines.

Now after 2 yrs i have started feeling a little pain in stomach again.

I am a programmer and have to sit on machine almost 12-14 hrs a day during and after the job.

I am working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and i do not think that there might be a yoga expert here.

Thanx and regards,

Noor