HATHA YOGA/PART 13
CHAPTER 13.
THE ASHES OF THE SYSTEM
THIS will not be a pleasant chapter to those of you who
are still bound with the old notions of the impurity of the body, or any part
of it—if there chance to be such among our students. Those of you who prefer to
ignore the existence of certain important functions of the physical body, and
feel a sense of shame at the thought that certain physical functions are a part
of their everyday lives, will not relish this chapter, and may even regard it
as a blot upon the book—a thing which we should have omitted—something which we
should have ignored. To such we would say that we can see no use (and much
harm) in following the policy of the ostrich in the old tale, who, dreading his
hunters, would stick his head in the sand, and, shutting the hated things from
sight, would ignore their existence until they overtook and captured him. We
have such respect for the entire human body, and all its parts and functions,
that we are unable to see anything impure or "un-nice" about it. And
we can see nothing but folly in the policy which refuses to consider and
discuss the functions referred to, or any others. The result of this conventional
policy of dodging the unpleasant subjects, has been that many of the race are
suffering from diseases and ill health brought about by this folly. To many who
read this chapter, what we say will come as a new revelation—others who are
already acquainted with that of which we speak, will welcome the voicing of the
truth in this book, knowing that many will be benefited by having their
attention called to it. We purpose giving you a plain talk about the ashes of
the system—the cast off waste of the body.
That such a talk is
needed, is evidenced by the fact that at least three-quarters of the modern
people are sufferers from a greater or lesser degree of constipation and its
baneful results. This is all contrary to nature, and the cause is so easily
removed that one can scarcely imagine why this state of affairs is allowed to
continue. There can be but one answer—ignorance of the cause and cure. If we
are able to aid in the work of removing this curse of the race, and in thus
restoring normal conditions by bringing people back to nature, we will not mind
the disgusted expression upon the faces of some who glance at this
chapter and turn to some more pleasant subject—these very people being the ones
who need this advice, the most of any of our readers.
Those who have read the chapter in this book upon the
Digestive Organs, will remember that we left the subject at the stage where the
food was in the small intestines, being absorbed and taken up by the system.
Our next point is to consider what becomes of the waste products of the food
after the system has taken up all the nourishment it can from it—the material
which it cannot use.
Right here it will be as well to state that those who
follow the Yogi plan of eating their food, as given in other chapters, will
have a much less amount of this waste matter than the average man or woman who
allows his or her food to reach the stomach only partially prepared for
digestion and assimilation. The average person wastes at least half of what he
eats—the waste matter of those who follow the Yogi practice being comparatively
small and much less offensive than that of the average person.
In order to understand our subject, we must
take a look at the organs of the body having to do with it. The large intestine
of the "Colon” (the large bowel) is the part of the body to be considered.
The colon is a large canal nearly five feet in length, passing up from the
lower right-hand side of the abdomen, then passing over to the upper left-hand
side, then passing down again to the lower left-hand side, where it makes sort
of a twist or curve, and grows smaller, terminating in the rectum or exit of
the waste matter of the system.
The small intestine empties into the colon by
means of a small trap-door arrangement, on the lower right-hand side of the
abdomen, this trap-door is so arranged that it allows matter to pass out, but
will not allow it to pass back. The Vermiform Appendix, the seat of
appendicitis, is just below this entrance. The colon rises straight up on the
right-hand side of the abdomen, then makes a curve and passes right over to the
upper left-hand side; then descends straight to the lower left-hand side, where
the peculiar twist or curve called the Sigmoid Flexure occurs, following which
is the rectum or smaller canal leading to the
anus, which is the opening in the body through which the waste matter passes
out of the body.
The colon is a great big sewer through which should pass
freely the sewerage of the system. Nature intends this sewage to be removed
speedily, and man in his natural state, like the animals, does not long delay
this necessary casting off. But as he grows more civilized, he does not find it
so convenient, and so he postpones nature's calls, until at last she gets tired
of calling his attention to the matter, and goes off and attends to some of her
other numerous duties. Man helps along this abnormal unnatural state of affairs
by neglecting to partake of sufficient water, and not only does not give the
colon sufficient fluids to properly moisten, soften and loosen the waste matter
on its way from the system, but he even lets his body run so short of fluids
that nature, in desperation, draws back through the walls of the colon some of
the water already given it for its use—failing to get spring water for her
work, she must needs use sewer water. Imagine the result! The failure of man to
allow a free passage of this refuse matter from the colon results in
constipation, which is the source of innumerable cases of ill-health the real
nature of which is generally not suspected. Many people who have a movement of
the bowels each day are really constipated, although they do not know it. The
walls of the colon are encrusted with impacted waste matter, some of which has
been there for many days, a small opening in the middle of the mass allowing
what is absolutely necessary to pass through. Constipation means a state in
which the colon is not perfectly clean and free of impacted faecal matter.
A colon filled, or
partially filled, with old faecal matter is a source of poison to the whole
system. The colon has walls which absorb the contents of the colon. Medical
practice demonstrates that nourishment injected into the colon will be absorbed
rapidly and carried to the blood. Drugs injected in the same way reach the other
parts of the system. And as before stated, the fluid portion of the waste
faecal matter is absorbed by the system, the sewage water being used in
nature's work because of the shortage of purer fluids in the system. It is
almost incredible how long old faecal matter will remain in a constipated
colon. Cases are of record showing that when the colon is cleaned, among the
masses of old faecal matter has been found cherry stones, etc.,
eaten several months before. Cathartics do not remove this old faecal matter,
as they simply loosen up what is in the stomach and small intestines, and pass
it off through the little opening in the hardened faecal matter with which the
walls of a badly constipated colon is lined. In some persons the colon is
impacted with hardened faeces, almost as solid as soft coal, to such an extent
that their abdomens become swollen and hard. This old waste matter becomes
sometimes so foul that it becomes the breeding place of worms, and even
maggots, and the colon is filled with their eggs. The waste matter, or faeces,
which is passed into the colon from the small intestine, is of a pasty
substance, and if the bowels are clear and clean, and the movements natural, it
should pass from the system in but a trifle more solid state, and of a light
color. The longer faecal matter is retained in the colon, the harder and drier
it becomes, and the darker in color. When sufficient fluids are not taken, and
nature's calls are ignored until a more convenient time, and then forgotten, a
drying up and hardening process ensues. When later the movement is had, only a
portion of the faeces passes out, the balance remaining to clog up the colon.
Next day a little more is added, and so on, until a case of chronic
constipation is manifested, with all its attendant evils, such as dyspepsia,
biliousness, liver troubles, kidney troubles—in fact, all diseases are
encouraged, and many of them directly caused by this filthy condition of the
colon. Half of the cases of female trouble are caused or aggravated by this condition.
The absorption by the
blood of the faecal matter in the system, is occasioned in two ways, first, the
desire and need of the body for fluids; second, a desperate effort of nature to
throw off the waste matter by the skin, the kidneys and the lungs. Foul
perspiration and foul breath are often caused by this effort of nature to get
rid of what should have passed from the colon. Nature recognizes the great
source of danger of allowing this foul mass to stay in the system, and so
resorts to the desperate plan of throwing it off in other ways, even at the
risk of half-poisoning the blood and body in so doing. The best proof of the
number of physical ailments and disease caused by this unnatural state of the
colon, is the fact that when the cause is once removed people begin to recover
from many ailments apparently unconnected with the cause. In addition to the
fact that diseases are caused and encouraged by this state of the colon, it is
a fact that one is far more likely to contract contagious diseases, and diseases like
typhoid fever, etc., by reason of a neglected colon furnishing a fine breeding
place for the germs of these diseases. In fact a man who keeps his colon clean
and healthy, is believed to run but very little risk of diseases of this kind.
Just imagine what must be the result when we carry a sewer around inside of
us—is it any wonder that diseases which are occasioned by filthy conditions
outside thrive on inside of the body? Use a little reason, friends.
Now that we have said enough to call your attention to
the seat of many troubles (we could fill hundreds of pages with still stronger
remarks on this subject) you are perhaps in a condition to ask: "Well, I
believe that all this is true, and that it explains much that has been troubling
me, but what must I do to get rid of that foul condition, and to regain and
keep normal health in this respect?” Well, our answer is: "First get rid
of the abnormal filthy accumulation, and then keep yourself sweet and clean and
healthy, by following nature's laws. We will endeavor to show you how to do
both of these things.”
If the
colon is but slightly filled with impacted faeces, one may get rid of it by
increasing the fluids and by encouraging regular movements, and by treating the
intelligence of the cells of the stomach (as hereinafter described). But, as
over half of the people who are mentally asking us this question, have colons
more or less filled with old, hardened, impacted, faecal matter, of an almost
green color, which has been there for months, perhaps longer, we must give them
a more radical remedy. As they have gone away from nature in contracting this
trouble, we must aid nature somewhat in restoring lost conditions so that she
may thereafter have a clean colon to work with. We will go to the animal
kingdom for a suggestion. Many centuries ago the natives of India noticed that
certain birds of the Ibis family—a long-billed bird—would return from journeys
into the interior in a wretched condition, which was due either to their eating
some berry which was very constipating, or else having been where there was no
water to drink—possibly
both. This bird would reach the rivers in an almost exhausted condition,
scarcely able to fly from weakness. The bird would fill its bill and mouth with
water from the river and then, inserting the bill into the rectum, would inject the water into the bowel,
which would relieve it in a few moments. The bird would repeat this several
times, until the bowel was completely emptied, and would then sit around and
rest for a few minutes until its vitality was restored, when, after drinking
freely from the river, it would fly away as strong and active as ever.
The chiefs and priests of the tribes noticing
this occurrence, and its wonderful effect upon the birds, began to reason about
the matter, and finally some one suggested that it might be tried to advantage
upon some of the old men who, by reason of their non-activity and sedentary
habits, had departed from nature's normal plan and had become constipated. So
they managed to construct a primitive implement resembling a syringe from the
reeds, with a sort of blow-pipe attachment, would inject warm river water into
the bowels of the old men suffering from this complaint. The results were
wonderful—the old men took on a new lease of life, took unto themselves young
wives, and began to again enter into the active work of the tribe, and to
resume their positions as heads of the tribe, much to the amazement of the
younger men who had considered the veterans out of the contest. The old men of
other tribes heard of the occurrence and began coming in, borne on the
shoulders of the young men—they are said to have walked home unaided. From all
the accounts handed down, these primitive injections must have been of a most
heroic character, for they speak of the use of "gallons of water,"
and by the time the treatment was concluded the colon of the old tribesmen must
have been thoroughly cleaned out, and in a condition which would give the
system no more poisons. But we are not going to advocate such heroic
treatment—we are not tribesmen, remember.
Yes,
the abnormal condition calls for a temporary aid to nature in getting rid of
this foul accumulation in the colon. And the best way to get rid of it once and
for all is to follow the example of the Ibis and the old Hindu tribesmen with
the aid of perfected twentieth century apparatus. All that is needed is an ordinary
cheap rubber syringe. If you have a fountain syringe, so much the better, but a
cheap bulb syringe will do the work. Take a pint of pretty warm water—as warm
as the hand can bear with comfort. Inject the water into the bowel with the
syringe. Then hold the water in the colon for a few minutes,
and then let it pass from the system. The night time is the best for this
practice. The next night take a quart of
warm water and use it the same way. Then skip a night, and the second night
after, try three pints; then skip two nights, and the third night after try two
quarts. You will gradually get used to retaining this quantity of water in the
colon, and the larger amount will pretty well clean out the old matter, the
smaller injections washing away the looser fragments, and generally dislodging
and breaking up the hardened mass. Do not be afraid of the two quarts. Your
colon will hold much more, and some persons use gallon injections, but we
consider this rather too much. Knead the abdomen before and after the
injection, and practice the Yogi Complete Breath after you get through, in
order to stimulate you and generally equalize the circulation.
The result of these injections will not
appeal to the esthetic tastes of people, but the question is to get rid of the
filth once and for all. The contents of the colon brought away by these initial
injections are often of a most offensive and unpleasant nature, but certainly
it is much better to have this filth out of your system than in it—it is just
as foul when in you as when it is expelled. We have known of cases in which
great lumps of fecal matter, hard and green as corroded copper passed from
people, and the stench arising from the vessel was such as to bring a most
convincing proof of what harm had been wrought upon the system by its
retention. No, this is not pleasant reading, but it is necessary in order to
make you realize the importance of this internal cleaning. You will find that
during the week in which you are cleansing the colon, you will have little or
no natural movements of the bowels. Do not let this worry you, for it is caused
by the water washing away that which ordinarily would have been evacuated in
the stool. In a couple of days after the cleansing process is completed, you
will begin to get down to natural and normal movements.
Now,
right here, we wish to call your attention to the fact that we are not
advocating the continuous use of the syringe—we do not consider it a natural
habit, and fail to see its necessity, as we believe that natural habits
persisted in will cause anyone to regain the normal movement of the bowels,
without the use of any outside help. We advocate the syringe only as a preliminary
measure in order to clear away past accumulations. We see no
harm, however, in the use of the syringe, say once a month, as a preventative
of a recurrence of the old conditions. There are several schools of teachers in
America who advocate the use of the syringe as a daily duty. We cannot agree
with them, for our motto is, "get back to nature,” and we believe that
nature does not call for the daily use of the syringe. The Yogis believe that
plenty of pure, fresh water, and a regular habit of going to stool, and a
little "talking up” to the bowels, will do all that is necessary to keep
one free from constipation.
After you are through with the week of syringe treatment
(and even before that), start the normal use of drinking water, as we have explained
in our chapter on that subject. Get the two quarts of fluids inside of you each
day, and you will find quite an improvement. Then start the habit of going to
the stool at the same time each day, whether you feel an inclination or not.
You will gradually establish the habit, and nature is fond of falling into
habits. Then again, you may really need an evacuation and not be aware of it,
for you have deadened your nerve calls by repeated refusals to heed them, and
you will have to begin all over again. Don't neglect this—it is simple but
effective.
You will find it advantageous to give
yourself autosuggestions while sipping your cup full of water. Say to yourself.
"I am drinking this water in order to supply my system with the fluids it
needs. It will make my bowels move freely and regularly, as nature
intended." Carry the idea in your mind of what you are trying to
accomplish, and you will be apt to get your results quicker.
Now for an idea which may seem absurd to you,
unless you understand the philosophy back of it. (We will tell you how to do it
now, and talk about the philosophy in another chapter). This consists in
"talking up" to the bowel. Give the abdomen (along the lines of the
colon) several gentle slaps with the hand, and say to it (yes, talk to it):
"Here, you Colon, I've given you a good cleaning out, and made you fresh
and clean—I am giving you all the fluids you need to do your work properly—I am
cultivating a regular habit in order to give you a chance to do your work—and
now you got to do it." Slap
the region of the colon several times, saying, "And now you've got to do it." And you will find
that the colon will do it. This
seems like child's play to you, probably—you will understand the sense of it
when you read the chapter on Involuntary
Control. It is merely a simple way of accomplishing a scientific fact—a plain
way of calling into play a mighty force.
Now, friends, if you have suffered from constipation, and
who has not, you will find the above advice valuable. It will bring back those
rosy cheeks, and beautiful skin—it will banish that sallowness, that furred
tongue, that foul breath, that troublesome liver, and all the rest of the
family of symptoms arising from the clogged colon—that stopped up sewer which
has been poisoning the body. Try this plan and you will begin to enjoy life,
and to be a natural, clean, healthy being. And now in closing, fill up your
glass with sparkling, clear, cool water, and join us in the toast, "Here's
to health, and lots of it," and while you drink it down slowly, say to
yourself, "This water is to bring me health and strength—it is Nature's
own tonic."
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