Effect on Living creature by – Suppression of exertional breathlessness, yawning, belching, ejaculation, tears, hunger, thirst, and sleep – Complications and treatment

Ayurveda for a healthy life ! – 27/2024 (on 1.05.2024)

7. Suppression of exertional breathlessness

गुल्महृद्रोगसंमोहाः श्रमनिःश्वासधारणात् जायन्ते । – च. सू. ७.२४

Suppression of exertional breathlessness leads to fainting, heart disease and emphysema.

तत्र विश्रामो वातघ्नश्च क्रिया हिताः ।। – च. सू. ७.२४

The treatment consists of rest, administration of mutton soup and measures to subdue the increased vata.

8. Suppression of yawning

विनामाक्षेपसंकोचाः सुप्तिः कम्पः प्रवेपनम् ।

जृम्भाया निग्रहात्तत्र…।। – च. सू. ७.१९

जृम्भायाः क्षववद्रोगाः …।। – वा. सू. ५४.१६

Suppression of yawning like sneezing gives rise to diseases of mouth, throat, nose, ear, eyes and head. It gives rise to stretching or contraction of body, stiffness of neck & thighs, tremors, convulsions, headache, drowsiness and facial paralysis.

स्नेहैः स्वेदैः उदावर्तं जृम्भाजं समुपाचरेत् ।। – सु. उ. ५५.२८

The treatment consists of giving medicated oil or ghee, indu­ction of sweating and other therapeutic measures to subdue the increased vata.

9. Suppression of belching

हिक्काश्वासोऽरुचिः कम्पो विबन्धो हृदयोरसोः ।

उद्गारनिग्रहात् . ।। – च. सू. ७.१८

When belching is suppressed, one develops anorexia, fullness of mouth and throat, distension of stomach, constipation, hiccups, cough, breathlessness and sense of constriction in the chest. The increased vata (vata prakopa) gives rise to tremors, severe body pains and severe illness due to disorders of vata. The treatment consists of smoking unctuous medicated cigarettes and administration of wine with lemon juice and Souvarchala salt, both of which induce belching.

तत्र हिक्कायास्तुल्यमौषधम् ।। – च. सू. ७.१८

In general, one should follow the treatment of hiccup.

10. Suppression of ejaculation

मेढ्रवृषणयोः शूलमङ्गमर्दो हृदि व्यथा ।

भवेत् प्रतिहते शुक्रे विबद्धं मूत्रमेव च ।। – च. सू. ७.१०

Suppression of sex urge results in pain and swelling of penis, scrotum and bladder. It may result in retention of urine, inguinal hernia, prostatic calculi and involuntary discharge of semen. Chronic suppression may result in splitting bodyache, pain in chest, oedema, fever, impotency and sterility.

ताम्रचूडसुराशालिबस्त्यभ्यङ्गावगाहनम् ।

बस्तिशुद्धिकरैः सिद्धं भजेत्क्षीरं प्रियाः स्त्रियः ।। – वा. सू. ५.१३

Oil massage, tub bath and enemas are useful. The diet should contain rice, milk, chicken, milk medicated with Kapi-kacchu seeds, Panchamoola, Gokshura and Cucumber seeds. The patient should have sexual intercourse with an attractive women.

11. Suppression of tears

आनन्दजं शोकसमुद्भवं वा नेत्रोदकं प्राप्तममुञ्चतो हि । – सु. उ. ५५.१२

One sheds tears out of joy or sorrow.

पीनसाक्षिशिरोहृद्रुग्मन्यास्तम्भाऽरुचिभ्रमाः ।

सगुल्मा बाष्पतः …।। – वा. सू. ४.१७

Suppression of tears results in pain in the eyes, diseases of eyes, headache, heaviness in head, giddiness and neck stiffness.
If chronic, suppression can lead to anorexia, cold, sinusitis, heart disease and cystic swelling in the eyelid.

अश्रुमोक्षोऽश्रुजे कार्य्यः स्निग्धस्विन्नस्य देहिनः ।। – सु. उ. ५५.२७

The treatment consists of inducing tear secretion or inducing sleep by telling pleasant stories. Taking medicated oil or ghee and induction of sweating are also useful.

12. Suppression of hunger

तन्द्राङ्गमर्दविरुचिभ्रमश्च क्षुधोऽभिघातात् कृशता च दृष्टेः । – सु. उ. ५५.१३

Suppression of hunger gives rise to hunger, anorexia, weakness, emaciation, discoloration of skin, bodyache, pain in the chest, exhaustion, giddiness, diminished acuity of vision and drowsiness.

तत्र स्निग्धोष्णं लघु भोजनम् ।। – च. सू. ७.२०

The treatment consists of taking small quantities of light, unctuous and warm diet frequently.

13. Suppression of thirst

कण्ठास्यशोषः श्रवणावरोधः तृष्णाऽभिघातात् हृदये व्यथा च ।। - सु. उ. ५५.१३

Suppression of thirst gives rise to dryness of mouth and throat, dehydration, exhaustion, pain in chest, difficulty in hearing, deafness, giddiness and drowsi­ness.

The treatment consists of giving cold drinks and bath with cold water.

तृष्णाघाते पिबेन्मन्थं यवागुर्वाऽपि शीतलाम् ।। – सु. उ. ५५.३४

Mantha that is Satu in adequate quantity together with ghee should be soaked in cold water so as to give it a semisolid consistency and should be given frequently. Yavagu that is thin rice kanji prepared by adding six times more water should be administered frequently.

14. Suppression of sleep

जृम्भाऽङ्गमर्दस्तन्द्रा च शिरोरोगोऽक्षिगौरवम् ।

निद्राविधारणात् … ।। – च. सू. ७.२३

Suppression of sleep gives rise to yawning, laziness, heaviness of eyes, head and body, bodyache, headache and drowsiness.

तत्र स्वप्नं संवाहनानि च ।। – च. सू. ७.२३

निद्राघाते पिबेत् क्षीरं स्वप्याच्चेष्टकथा नरः ।। – सु. उ. ५५.३३

The treatment consists of inducing sleep by drinking buffalo’s milk or fresh (unboiled) cow’s milk, light massage and listening to pleasant stories. In addition to the above biological urges mentioned in the literature, it is important to respect and not to suppress any urge example urge to maintain optimum body temperature. Thus when one feels chilly, one should not suppress the desire for warm clothes, warm room and hot food and vice-versa.

15. Complications, Sequele, Prognosis and Treatment

Complications and sequele. Suppression or induction of urges can give rise to any disease predominantly of vataja variety.

Prognosis : Excessive thirst, severe colicky pain, vomiting of faceal matter & emaciation indicate bad prognosis in patients suffering from diseases due to suppression of biological urges.

Treatment : The treatment is directed towards educating the patient to attend promptly to and never to suppress the biological urges. Vataprakopa is the end result of suppression of all the urges. Hence one should advise diet, activities and medicines which would subdue and normalise the increased vata. In addition suppression of some biological urges result in accumulation of waste products, which can be dangerous to life. Hence, one should always be vigilant and see that the waste products do not accumulate in the body example frequent micturition is advised for evacuation of residual urine in bladder atony. One should use enemas, purgatives, emetics and snuffs etc. to see that the waste products do not collect and are not retained in the body.

As opposed to biological urges related to biological needs which should never be suppressed, one should always exert and control all other desires, instincts, emotions and mental processes. Thus one should always attempt to control one’s sex instinct, though once involved in the sex act one should not suppress ejaculation. Similarly one should control one’s sorrow, though one should not try to suppress tears. One should always exercise control over one’s emotions like fear, anger, envy, jealousy, hatred, greed and love in excess. One should always suppress impulses to steal and to harm others and behave shamelessly. One should always inhibit impulses to make harsh, untimely or false statements while speaking. One should continuously exercise control over one’s sense and motor organs and follow the dictates of his conscience. One should always follow the rules of good conduct and while following these one should not be attached to the worldly affairs. Thus a person who controls his mental processes enjoys a happy and healthy life.