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congest the nostril on that side, opening the opposite one. This
is true whether one is upright or lying down. Therefore, it is not gravity alone that is involved, but also the vascular or nervous reflexes. Posture during sleep may play a crucial role In influencing the course of the nasal cycle.
Emotions have also been shown to produce rapid changes in nasal congestion and secretion. In-depth study of a large group of patients repeatedly demonstrated changes in turbinate size and colour in response to varying emotional challenges. Clinical observations of patients with chronic or recurrent nasal congestion found that congestion increased during periods of anxiety, conflict, frustration, resentment and guilt, but decreased during fear and panic. It has also been suggested that increased nasal congestion is associated with a passive, withdrawal response to stressors, whereas decreased congestion occurred in preparation for heightened respiration of an active fight or flight response. Increased ventilation demands can also alter nasal dominance. Nasal resistance can become low and nearly symmetric during exercise, re-breathing with a bag, and breath-holding. Physical factors such as temperature, humidity and irritants are also known to alter nasal congestion.
Many yogic practices, such as nadi shodhana pranayama, jala and sutra neti and the use of the yoga danda, directly influence the balance of breath in each nostril, inducing sushumna nadi to flow and meditation to supervene. Research at Kaivalyadhama Institute has also validated the efficacy of the ancient device of yoga danda, a stick placed under the armpit, which is traditionally used by yogis to manipulate the flow of the breath in the nostrils. The study verified that the breath in the nostril opposite to the yoga danda became markedly freer than that of the nostril of the same side in all subjects, irrespective of age or sex.
The yoga danda is fashioned of suitable length to pass from the ground to the armpit of the meditating individual. The ancient yogis found that by leaning slightly on this rod and applying sustained pressure in one armpit, the flow of
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