SEARCHING FOR HEALTH

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 9 September 1933, Page 8

SEARCHING FOR HEALTH

NEURASTHENIA AND INSOMNIA

VALUE OF DEEP BREATHING. TREATMENT FOR, NERVE TROUBLES. (By' “Physical Oulturist. ”) (All Rights Reserved). As no two persons are built quite alike, so do nerves affect each one differently, though the symptoms may be the same. Neurasthenia is tlie mime given to a group of symptoms resulting from disorder of the nervous system, most of which is caused by the strenuous mode of living in modern times. Nervous exhaustion is a result of modern restlessness and intensity of life, and was seldom found among our forefathers. Much of nervous exhaustion may be traced to modern conveniences, such as electricity, motor cars, telephones, noise and rush of business; these all conduce to keep i the sense organs on the alert, and the body m a state of tension. 1 have invariably found, in tlie most stubborn cases, that when one is suffering from neurasthenia that breathing exercise is a sure cure. As I have indicated, no two persons are built alike. While it may suit one to take in deep draughts of air, another will, under similar conditions, need to inhale in a much milder form, or otherwise, as often happens in a carburettor when too much air is drawn in, it results iri too rich a mixture. Under such circumstances the subject will experience a swimming or a, dizziness in the head, which is nature’s warning that for the time being enough oxygen has been taken. , • . In nearly all cases of neurashema tlie exercises are inclined sto be hurried, in place of which they should be indulged in a slow manner and more attention paid to stretching and coinplete relaxation oil exhaiiiig. Tins more particularly, applies in cases of insomnia, from which nearly all neurasthenics suffer. Some complain of chronic fatigue, mental depression add headaches, while generally there is depressed general nutrition and digestive disorders. , , , Indigestion is brought about by these conditions and readily responds to deep breathing. Constipation is one of the ailments that many neurotics complain of Pills and other laxatives to a certain extent bring only temporary relief, while deep bieathing exercises, which work upon the abdominal region, will right the evil. One may be physically strong yet suiter torments with nerves—another may be not strong physically, added to which are nervous disorders, the same class of treatment which suits the one is quite unsuited to the other. In both cases breathing exercises may, with advantage, be taken. However, they should be taken fin a different manner. . To illustrate my meaning: J know of a case of a young woman who had been an invalid for some years and was expected to be such till tlie end of liie, suffering from headaches for days on end. Following one such bout, a medical practitioner was .called in, arid, acting on his advice the patient commencecl “deep breathing” )en , < X~ ficial results. At the end of a month the patient was again laid aside with a throbbing head. It was then foujitl she had doubled her chest capacity. Following further advice she took in shallow draughts of air; in her ease it was too rich a mixture. To make a long story short, she is now enjoynig good health and is earning her own ( living. [ln case this story may not be believed the Editor is empowered to give the fullest information to any genuine inquirer]. Now follows a case m the opposite direction, one of the physically strong tormented with nerves. -He used to take his exercises early in the morning until some months later, so devoid was he of nerves that he took a. passage in an aeroplane while the machine looped the loop and similar stunts. He is now a prized member of a gymnasium team. | While most neurotics complain ot j loss of. sleep, there are others whoj state they sleep so densely that they; have a difficulty in awaking.. However, insomnia is most common. It has been] found that deep breathing and relaxing exercises, if persevered with are a sure cure for sleeplessness. I do not for a moment think that the average person considers the part tine spine plays in I ica! t} 1. Xt has been truly said that if the spine is not in normal condition, one cannot enjoy good health. In search of which, if one will exercise one’s own will power and stretch, stretch, stretch, alternately stretching and relaxing, there would be less need to call in foreign aid. Stretching, relaxing and deep breathing would save many unnecessary operations. Vigorous health results from normal function; quality- of function in the body n pre-determined by the quantity of nerve energy transmitted over tlie nervous system from the brain. _ ...... By exercising his own will power a weakling may become strong—and the strong become stronger. ..