Kapalabhati and Glaucoma

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi Mukunda

About 3 years ago I was diagnosed with primary open angle glaucoma. It is under control with eye drops and there has been no deterioration in vision since diagnosis.

I recently visited India and received treatment at an Ayurvedic eye clinic. My eye pressures have gone down and I have been able to stop one of the two eye drops that I have been taking with the OK of my opthalmologist.
In terms of the orthodox opthalmological view of yoga, there is still division amongst opthalmologists on the question of whether short term rises in intra-ocular pressure, which are particularly induced by practices such as inversions, are really a problem for glaucoma patients. My eye specialist, for example, has no objections to me practising inversions provided I don’t do so for more than about half an hour. Others are far more conservative in this regard. The reseach so far on this issue is quite thin but does suggest caution. On this basis I no longer regularly practise inversions.
While in India I heard several long term yoga practitioners and teachers extolling the benefits of kapalabhati. Some have suggested that it could benefit glaucoma by increasing blood flow and prana supply to the eyes. There are even people, such as the new yoga TV superstar of India, Swami Ramdev, who are claiming that kapalabhati is a panacea for nearly all physical problems. Of course I am skeptical of such claims but nevertheless have become interested in practising this kriya and my opthalmologist has no objections. Apart from possible health benefits, I particularly like the pratyahara it seems to induce.
I am wondering if you feel that techniques like bhastrika and kapalabhati would be safe for glaucoma patients.
There are some yoga therapy organisations such as the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM) in Chennai and the Vivekananda Yoga Kendra in Bangalore who feel that kapalabhati is strictly contra-indicated for glaucoma on the basis that it could raise intra-ocular pressure. In the case of the KYM, they also even advise glaucoma patients not to do anything which puts much pressure on the abdomen, such as poses like bhujangasana, dhanurasana, etc. By the way my BP is normal and I don’t have any heart problems.

My sense is that done gently and moderately kapalabhati would be OK and could even be beneficial as it could remove kapha from the head, which is definitely a factor in glaucoma. Of course if over done it could aggravate Pitta, which, as I understand it, is usually implicated in eye problems.

I’m sure that there is a complex set of factors which give rise to elevated intra-ocular pressure and no doubt each person with glaucoma is different in terms of what could aggravate it. Nevertheless, do you have any thoughts please?

Thanks

Chris

#2

The problem in addressing this question is that each of the centers and teachers you mention may have a different point of view of what is kapalabhati - how it is done, what its purpose it and how to proceed with developing it. In general this is the problem with yoga is that each school takes the energetic practices to a different intention.
So let me say that your research is not uncommon when seeking help for such a complex challenge. If you pursue kapalabhati in the intention of a shatkarma kriya then it will help you. But this guidance must be clear, that it is to lessen and purify kapha. So there in lies the problem, you must have a way to assess kapha as you practice. The optimal way to assess it is via pulse assessment. If you can learn this you can help yourself a great deal. A course i would recommend is from Dr. John Douillard available on his website www.lifespa.com you can learn basics from that cassette and booklet.
in the short term i would suggest you use counting of pulse to determine how much is enough of this practice. Start with your resting pulse rate and then do 6 rounds of kapalabhati 30 breaths; if your pulse heart rate is not elevated more than 25% you are good. If more than that then slow it down. I recommend doing 30 breaths in 30 seconds for how i teach it. the pace is not to be increased; only the duration is increased once you are consistently practicing this method. Other methods of teaching the practice are not so likely to have a kriya affect and may raise heart rate and intra-ocular pressure. I would say in general that concerns for backbends are unnecessary as long as your BP is normal and does not raise any more significantly (25%) with backbends such as you are citing.
What is most needed is being sure you are following an antikapha diet and elminating all ama (stale, processed, or sugar) foods from your diet. I gather you are informed of this already. if not then consult an Ayurvedic trained specialist for personal recommendations. If you need a referral for one via phone or email i can give a suggestion. Blessings. mukunda

#3

Hi Chris,
How are you doing now.

I too have been diagnosed with primary glucoma.
Does stopping kapal bhati help?

I have been doing kapal bhati since a year now.

Thanks in advance.