– Dr. Abhay M. Shankaregowda, BNYS, MD-Yoga Clinical)
Professor & Principal, Maharishi Aurobindo Subharti College & Hospital of
Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University
Hygiene is a Greek word from Hygeia- the Goddess of health. The word ‘Hygiene’ means cleanliness. It is the Science of health including all factors which contribute to healthy living & preventive aspects.
It is broadly classified as Physical Hygiene & Mental Hygiene.
Physical Hygiene is further classified as Environmental & Domestic.
Environmental Hygiene implies a clean surrounding which includes both Domestic and Community Hygiene.
Domestic Hygiene includes household cleanliness, ventilation, fresh air, and use of soaps, proper lighting, hygienic storage & preparation of food, proper disposal of waste, clean toilets, floors and the need to avoid pests, rodents & insects.
Community Hygiene includes hygiene of community as a whole emphasizing on basic sanitary services, good water supply, proper disposal of human excreta, solid & liquid wastes, education, food sanitation, housing, and control of vectors carrying disease/infection.
Hygiene is not the only responsibility of sanitarians, municipalities or health department but every citizen should be involved in the preservation of health & hygiene.
Personal hygiene can be promoted by personal cleanliness within the setting/ conditions, where the people live in which includes bathing, washing, clothing, cleanliness of toilets, clean habits like cleaning teeth, nails, sneezing, coughing etc.
Mental Hygiene:
A Sound mind in a sound body is an old saying which aptly describes the need to have good mental health in an individual. Mental health is difficult to access and treat.
The state of psychological well being is characterized by proper adjustment to the external environment, subjective feeling of well being in an individual & absence of mental illness.
Health is important for happiness. Mental Hygiene deals with the condition and laws of mental health. It aims at conserving and improving the mental health of an individual and the community. It requires mass knowledge about psychology, psychiatry, medicine, sociology, biology, child study and education.
Ways to possess good mental health
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- Being cheerful: Cheerful is the best mental tonic.
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- Cultivating virtue/practical view
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- No depression
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- Better education- the better upbringing of children
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- Better home conditions
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- Better social surroundings
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- Better living
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- Better outlook
Characteristics of Mentally Healthy Person
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- Feels comfortable
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- Feels reasonable, secured and adequate
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- He neither underestimates nor overestimates his own abilities
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- He accepts his shortcomings and has self-respect.
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- He is interested in others and loves them
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- He has friendships-long lusting and satisfying
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- He is able to feel part of a group without submerging in it.
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- He is able to take responsibility for his neighbours and his fellowmen
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- He is able to meet the demands of life
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- He does something about the problems as they arise.
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- He is able to think for himself and to make his own decisions
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- He sets reasonable goals
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- He shoulders his daily responsibilities
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- He is not taken over by his own emotions of fear, anger, love or will.
Warning signs of a Mentally ill Person
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- The person is always worried
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- He/ She is unable to concentrate because of unreasonable reasons
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- He/ She is continuously unhappy without a justifying cause
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- He/ She loses temper easily and very often
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- He/ She has regular insomnia
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- He/ She has wide fluctuations in their moods from depression to elation and back to depression, which incapacitates them
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- He/ She continuously dislike people
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- He/ She is upset if the routine of life is disturbed
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- He/ She is constantly bitter with everybody
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- He/ She is afraid without real cause
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- He/ She feel they are always right and other person is always wrong
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- He/ She has numerous aches and pains for which doctors cannot explain
Causes of Mental Disorders
Mental Disorders have multiple causes like organic conditions, metabolic causes, neurological causes, endocrine causes, chronic diseases, hereditary, Socio-pathological Causes.
Social and environmental factors which are associated with mental ill-health like worries, stress, tensions, frustrations, anxieties, broken homes, poverty, Urbanization, Cruelty, neglect, rejection, depression etc.
There are some crucial points in human life cycle.
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- Pre-natal period
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- 1-5 years of age
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- School children
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- Adolescents
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- Old age
At these stages of life, there is need for affection, belonging, achievement, independence, recognition and approval, need of sense of personal worth.
Psychological Factors: Nursing part of parents, Proper care and affection which otherwise results in anxious, overconfident, timid, shy, irritable, decreased confidence because a number of failures and depending nature of the individual.
There are 4 types of persons
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- I am ok, you are ok- Optimist
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- I am ok; you are not ok- Egoistic/ criticizing nature
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- I am not ok; you are also not ok- Pessimists
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- I am not ok; you are ok- Depressive
Stress
It is a biochemical reaction in the body, initiated by an internal or external stimulus that disturbs the dynamic equilibrium of the systems in the body.
Eustress | Distress |
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Healthy stress, Necessary, Helps us to be on the top, Competitive stress, Helps to gain success | Unhealthy, Causes Emotional disturbances, Breakdown of human functioning at physical and mental levels |
During stress there are three responses.
- Flight
- Fright
- Fight
On continued and repeated stress, the effect is on the individual’s health.
Prevention of Mental ill Health:
3 stages: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary
Primary prevention
Primary prevention requires one to identify high-risk groups and prevent mental ill-health before it occurs. Proper care is needed for individuals who tend to be mentally unstable like dropouts from school, depressed individuals, divorced couples, disabled people and aged people etc,. This can be done in mental health facilities and Community Health Centre’s, Emerging services like mails, internet, telephones etc can be used. Other than prevention in a crisis adequate attention is given to the individuals leads to prevention of the breakdown of an Individual & improves group functioning in the society.
Secondary prevention
Secondary Prevention can be done by early detection and prompt treatment by screening and counseling at family and community levels.
Tertiary Prevention
The necessity of tertiary prevention arises for those do who not respond for secondary prevention or need hospitalization. It helps Prevent Chronicity & allows patient to return home as early as possible. It also includes follow up care, counseling the family, counseling the community regarding the disorder to accept him as one of them, counseling the patient to take care of himself & his family. Help the individual to adequate readjustment & return to full participation in home & community.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a branch of Psychology that deals with understanding the mental disturbances and provides solutions to such identified problems.
It Includes:
Transactional Analysis: Conversation of an individual is analyzed to observe the behavior while talking in a group Neuro-linguistic programming: Opinion / way of perception are changed by prolonged discussion.
Counselling: To give a solution & tell what is right & what is wrong
Personal Life & Prevention of Disease (Naturopathic Approach)
Skin
Skin should be clean & healthy, Cold water bath preferred, Moisture should be prevented – prevents fungal infection & other infections, Sun bath – vit D & renders good health of skin, Massage – improves elasticity & texture of skin improvement in circulation .Prevents scars, pimples, wrinkles etc., Steam bath opens sweat pores, elimination through sweat, Full immersion bath, Mud bath – texture & complexion of skin, Athapa snana / banana leaf bath, Neem leaf bath in hot water, Full wet sheet pack—Vasodilatation and improves elimination through skin.
Mucus
Nasal, Gastric mucosa hygiene and proper cleansing can be done by regular hydrotherapy cleansing, steam inhalation, enema, colon hydrotherapy and fasting.
Mouth
Dental Hygiene- Charcoal + salt, Neem sticks, Tongue should be cleaned.
Eyes
Delicate and more sensitive organs daily cleaned with cold water, Eye cups-improves eyesight, Warm palming, use of blue light to soothe and calm down.
Urinary tract
Cold water drinking, proper micturition in frequent intervals and cleansing, use of diuretic juices.
Ears
Wax protects dust, cleaned regularly with help of an expert.
Food Habits
Fasting regularly, Gap between two meals, Natural foods- antioxidants, Food-cleanliness.
Water
Purified preferably, boiled and cooled, at least 2-3 liters/day.
Naturopathic Approach towards Mental Hygiene
Naturopathy believes in well being of an individual at all levels. A Healthy mind is an essentiality for total health. Naturopathy emphasizes on three basic things
- Positive thinking
- Prayer
- Shifting of environment
Positive thinking is an essential mode of preventing & handling mental ill health, which is looking forward to a brighter aspect or positive side of a person or a thing. Negative thinking is to think of dark side of a person /thinking at the damaging effects on the individuals at all levels. Prayer gives assurance & helps in concentration. It helps in the slowing down of the thought process of mind & diverts it towards spirituality. Vibrations from the chanting play an important role in modifying the thought process which helps in mental health. Meditation is a good to measure to improve mental health. But it is difficult to practice by a mentally unhealthy person. Shifting of environment provides better conditions for mental well being. Because of climatic changes as well as change in the surrounding. Stress should be avoided, Stress management techniques should be learnt, Prayer, meditation and yoga are beneficial.
Hygiene According To Yoga
Hygiene is explained as a part of the Niyamas in the Ashtanga Yoga of Pathanjali. It emphasizes on internal and external cleanliness as a basic need to practice Yoga as well as lead a moral and healthy life. Pathanjali explains Soucha as when practised gives rise to detachment of one’s own physical body. Kriyas like Neti, sutra neti, dugdha neti-desensitise mucosal membrane-prevents allergic reaction, Upper GIT- Vamana Dhouti, Vastra dhouti, Danda dhouti, Trataka- eye exercise helps to strengthen and cleanse the eyes, Kapalabhati-decreases CO2, Nauli, basti clean the lower GI tract and strengthen them.
The concept of personal life and prevention of disease explained in Nature cure helps in keeping the person hygienic and prevents a large number of diseases.