What They Never Told You About Your Health

There is more and more talk of societal ills, psychosomatic illnesses, the placebo effect. Does the health of our body depend on the well-being of the psyche ?

The main characteristics of modern medicine are the following:

• A passive attitude on the part of the individual. Someone else takes responsibility to reduce or destroy the virulent aggressors by disinfectants, antibiotics, antiseptics, and other forms of anti something.

• The products used have a physio-chemical or biochemical action on the organism and or the environment.

• A mechanist orientation, whereby matter governs everything and each problem can be reduced into its composite parts.

• What is experienced in-vitro is reproducible in-vivo : with logic and rationality we can draw universal conclusions and transfer their application from one species to another.

• Medical science of the 21st century should integrate a new approach to sickness and healing. The individual takes an active approach, drawing on his own reserves of energy to fight off external aggressions. This would require an awareness of the source and functioning of this energy.

• Mediator-transmitted methods of activating natural immunity.

• Complex conceptualization, i.e. the body is considered as living and heterogeneous, it can not be separated into different components (physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual) without losing its identity. It evolves over time and adapts according to events and circumstances. It has a psychological and physical memory (the immune system and the memory of aggressors, for instance) which allow it to adapt itself over time.

• Remedies provide information; information does not, however, exist in a vacuum, it only becomes real when received and treated by the receiver.

• Importance of prevention and control of environmental factors which lower the body’s capacity to respond.

To understand the underlying psycho-physiological mechanisms of the body, let’s take a look at some scientific principles brought to light by ancient oriental knowledge, in particular the Indian tradition of yoga.


Primitive Nervous System and plexuses

The very complex human nervous system developed as a result of a long evolution of animal species. The one-celled amoeba displays all the main characteristics which differentiate a living organism from an inert entity. The first neural mechanism appeared with the hydra, the medusa and the sea anemone. It consisted of a nerve cell and fibres in their most basic form.
The earthworm developed a cerebral ganglion, a sub pharyngeal ganglion and two ventral nerve cords, as well as nerve plexuses spread out along its entire body, each plexus having relative autonomy from the others: there is merely an embryonic central unity, and the system depends on the coordination between the plexuses.
The appearance of vertebrates corresponds to the creation and development of a central nervous system which, by becoming more complex, improved coordination of its diverse functions. First was the functional development: in the frog and alligator the olfactory sense is well-developed, to facilitate finding food and protection against predators.
In fish and birds, the cerebellum is highly developed and plays an essential role in regulating tonus and muscular coordination.

With the appearance of superior vertebrates, we observe an increase in the cerebral hemispheres and a relative decrease in the cerebellum in the human being the maximum ratio is reached, with the hemispheres composing 83% of the brain.

However, when looking at the conscious mind, the most complex and exterior of the centralised systems, we should not forget the units which underlie it. On a functional level, the system is at first unconscious, functioning by reactions more or less automatic or instinctive, then later by conditionings acquired by experiences of growing complexity.
Evolution occurs through a dialectic between desire (which Jung later called libido) supported by the left sympathetic system, and the experience of action/reaction, supported by the right sympathetic system. The parasympathetic is the real support of this evolution, by assuring a balance between the two complementary systems of left and right. The consciousness is merely a more or less impotent witness to the phenomena it observes.
But the development of the conscious system does not replace or obscure the system which preceded it in the scheme of evolution. The autonomic nervous system still governs the basic vital functions of the organism. Clinical disorders originate in this system barely understood by modern medical science. At present the only approaches which encompass an awareness of this system are homeopathy and oriental medicine.



The nerve fibres situated to the left and right of the autonomous system come together at different points in the spinal cord, forming knots: the plexuses. There are seven major plexuses, all situated near essential endocrine glands. According to oriental knowledge, these plexuses, or chakras, have an unusual characteristic in that they are capable of influencing one’s behaviour. One’s behaviour would directly affect the hormonal system which would in turn modify the functional balance, and vice versa. Each plexus is coordinated with the others but maintains a relative autonomy: information is transmitted by enzymatic processes. For example, assigning oneself objectives too difficult to achieve would engender dissatisfaction which would have a direct repercussion on the solar plexus, manifesting in gastric difficulties and, in an extreme case, culminating in an ulcerous condition. Each plexus is sensitive to behaviour related to its properties.

From the base of the spine to the top of the head (fontanel bone area), these plexuses appear in order of increasing complexity and subtlety in terms of the evolution of consciousness, as presents Maslow in his famous pyramid of satisfaction of needs, known by all students of marketing.
The chart below summarizes oriental knowledge of the nervous system, synthesizing different approaches to bring an understanding of the energy system which maintains the balance of our being. Here is a brief description :

The subtle energy system

The pelvic plexus



If we refer to yogic knowledge concerning the chakras, the first plexus (Muladhara Chakra) is situated at the tip of the coccyx, close to the perineum. It is responsible for the innocence and purity of the organism, protecting it from any harmful foreign body. The magnetism inherent in innocence can be seen in the excellent sense of direction of migrating birds. Lack of respect for this innocence and purity (in the form of consumption of drugs or extreme sexual behaviours, for instance) is at the origin of genetic troubles in general and diseases such as AIDS, Parkinsons Disease, Multiple Sclerosis.


The aortic plexus


The second plexus, corresponding to the Swadisthan Chakra, located at the level of the pelvis, is the base of intuitive knowledge on the left side and creativity on the right side. It is symbolised in mythology by God the creator, which corresponds to the role of the liver, in the distribution and transformation of energy to the various organs. This centre is disturbed by excess planning or mental or physical overactivity.


The celiac plexus

The third plexus is one of the well known Chakra : the Solar Plexus or Manipura or Nabhi Chakra, innervates the intestines, the liver, and the stomach. It is sensitive to satisfaction in all areas: food, comfort, money… This satisfaction can be established by self-mastery, the teaching of which was handed down by different prophets (Mohammed, Christ, Buddha,) to encourage right conduct. Obtaining material satisfaction is necessary before attaining satisfaction on a more subtle level as sociologists such as Jung and Maslow have described, towards an awareness of the Self. This chakra is disturbed by dissatisfaction (the basis of consumerist capitalist culture) and by the acceptance of false teachings.


The cardiac plexus

The fourth plexus, of the heart (Anahatha Chakra), is sensitive to affective relationships with our mother (or the image we have of her) on the left side, and with our father on the right side. The central part along with the thymus assures the principal of security and self-confidence (and is responsible for the production of antibodies in childhood). Too much attachment to, or neglect of, those close to us can disturb this centre, thus a certain stability with regards to family life is important in maintaining the balance of the heart chakra.

The cervical plexus
The fifth plexus, of the throat (Vishuddhi Chakra), concerns our social relations, our position (extremes of which are one who dominates or is dominated), the principle of self-esteem and dignity, the way we communicate with others, the ability to witness events with a certain amount of detachment.




The Optic Chiasma
The sixth energy centre (Agnya Chakra) is situated at the optic chiasma and calls upon a more subtle quality of detachment, that of forgiveness of oneself and others. In fact, whether one forgives or doesn’t forgive, nothing in the situation changes, but not forgiving makes only oneself feel bad, so why not avoid this suffering? The proper functioning of the ego and superego depend on this centre. Lack of respect for the principles of forgiveness and detachment can result in psychic and behavioural problems.

The limbic area
The limbic area (Sahasrara Chakra) is located at the top of the head, close to the pituitary and pineal glands (which themselves depend on the sixth energy centre). It is the most subtle of the seven centres, and is concerned with spirituality in the large sense, i.e. awareness that not everything that exists is governed by material phenomena. One main quality of this centre is an integration of understanding the place of the human being in the microcosm and macrocosm. This state of understanding is reached when one realises the Self and the individual ego begins to indentify with the universal ego. (In fact, what significance does the notion of me have when we consider that each and every atom of which we are composed is a transitory phenomenon, a mobile form of energy). Very few people have reached that stage of evolution of consciousness whereby life is perceived as a play of relations and interactions of energy fields, at an individual as well as cosmic level.

Ida Nadi
Ida Nadi corresponds to the left sympathetic nervous system, which begins at the pelvis plexus and climbs the left side of the spinal cord, crossing the optic chiasma and arriving at the right hemisphere of the brain. The quality associated with the left sympathetic channel is that it supports our emotions, our intuitions, the feminine aspect of our personality, the yin or lunar aspect: its nature is cold and humid, and it governs everything related to water in our organism. It corresponds to conditionings, that is everything accumulated by past experience (the superego). It also provides support for the destructive forces of the organism: it controls the mechanisms of preservation and defence destruction of aggressive agents but also destruction of the self in the form of ageing.

Pingala Nadi
Pingala Nadi corresponds to the right sympathetic nervous system and begins at the aortic plexus, climbs the right side of the spinal cord, terminating in the left hemisphere of the brain. Its domain of influence includes everything to do with action, dynamism, creativity, the masculine aspect of our personality, the yang or solar aspect. It is the basis of the awareness of I. It looks after future plans, construction, and expansion. It is symbolized by the dynamic young executive of the modern world. If overdeveloped, it obscures all other aspects of one’s personality. It is characterized by all that is hot and dry, in contrast to the cold and humid left side.

Sushumna Nadi
Sushumna Nadi corresponds to the parasympathetic nervous system and is located in the centre. It starts at the sacrum, and with the exception of a short interruption, ascends to the limbic area at the top of the head. The parasympathetic system constantly works to maintain a balance between the left and right sympathetics, but is frequently sabotaged by our behaviour which tends towards the extremes of action or emotion, left or right. It is responsible for re-establishing homeostasis (functional balance in the organism).
The transmission of messages and information is carried out in part by an electro magnetic component (located at the level of nerve fibres), relayed by the hormonal system – the signal is transported by chemical agents, either between the synapses of the nerve fibres or in the tissues, reaching as far as the cell receptors. It is here that the regulation of trace elements and physiologic balance initiated by the nerve plexuses and hypothalamus intervenes. In terms of conscious development, it corresponds to the Self as described by Jung, it is the basis of the evolution of species.


Parasympathetic, the central path, the Tao
Eastern spiritual traditions explain that a certain energy resides in the sacrum bone (it is said to be a fraction of the primordial cosmic energy), capable of developing under certain conditions, and of vibrating the other plexuses with the help of the parasympathetic nervous system. This suggests that each plexus has a way of acting which is not solely chemical and electromagnetic, but which encompasses another component of the energy field : much more subtle and for lack of a better word labelled vibrations.
In anatomical terms, the parasympathetic nervous system has a peculiarity: there is a gap in the line of nerve bundles going from the brain to the base of the spinal column, at the level of the stomach (thoracic and lumbar columns). Because of this, the tenth cranial nerve which carries the most parasympathetic fibres was called the vagus nerve. The physiological consequence is that the brain is unaware of what lies below the solar plexus (for lack of liaison) and thus the energy residing in the sacrum bone remains in the unconscious.
Yogis claim that this energy has been waiting since the dawn of evolution for the consciousness of humans to be sufficient to conceive of an integration with the universe, before starting to function. This phenomenon can be compared to the sexual functions, which only activate when a certain level of maturity is reached in the human body.
The awakening of this energy manifests in an experience called self-realisation described in many traditions but also by modern authors including Jung, Einstein, Maslow, Gandhi, Marcelle Senard, Kahlil Gibran.


Self- Realisation
The awakening of the spiritual energy in the sacrum manifests as a vibration capable of creating an energy bridge between the two extremes of the parasympathetic channel, joining the vagus nerve to the hypogastric plexus, thus making possible a conscious connection with the sacred aspect of the parasympathetic system. The vibrations generated at the sacrum level can be compared to a radio broadcast, reacting on the hypogastric plexus, then the aortic, then the solar plexus, cardiac, cervical, and up to the top of the head. As with electro magnetic waves, these vibrations radiate in the environment like a transmitter which sends its energy by antennae, amplified in the case of larger wire receivers. Thus each plexus becomes like a transmitter in tune with and interacting with the vibrations of the universe and those of other humans or objects in the immediate environment. When this energy traverses the top of the head, a connection (called yoga) is established with the primordial cosmic energy and the person experiencing this feels a cool breeze (spiritus in latin) coming out of the top of the head and on the palms of the hands, a phenomen illustrated and described in numerous cultures (as in the Pentecost at the time of Christ). In this state, intuitive or supra normal information which Russian researchers attributed to torsion fields (capable of transmitting information without energy at a speed superior to light), can reach the conscious mind sensitized by this evolutionary experience. Effects of this awakening include a regeneration of damaged plexuses, and a reestablishment of the balance between the two sympathetic channels. Another effect is the possibility to physically feel the state of one’s plexuses or of those on whom one places one’s attention. This awareness allows one to adjust one’s behaviour according to the qualities of plexuses, thus achieving a balance (Tao) necessary for optimal well-being.
In concrete terms, the practice of yoga , or meditation represents a state of awareness without thoughts, characterized by a calming and harmonizing of all bodily functions, thus improving or even curing a large number of psychosomatic ailments.

Perhaps you are wondering how this phenomenon occurs?
How can you initiate the awakening of this energy capable of repairing damaged energy circuits?
How can you feel your chakras, judge their state and correct them?
How can you feel a real inner peace which is unperturbed by stress?

In a word, how to feel good ?

It’s simple!
In the olden times, one had to meditate for years and sacrifice one’s worldly life in order to achieve a state of inner peace and balance. We could become ascetics in the forest, but there is a much easier way in these modern times. One simply needs to ask someone who already has this energy awakened, like a candle which has been lit, enlightens another candle. In this way the connection with the collective unconscious is established. You may not immediately reach a state of total enlightenment, but the light in your spirit will have been awakened. Through meditation this awareness of your subtle system increases, as well as the state of thoughtless awareness. Like a messy room in the dark, once you turn on the light it is easier to clean up the room.
So if you want to awaken your energy and experience for yourself all of the above, come and find out about Sahaja Yoga and we will show you how you can achieve a real state of well being.
We do not charge any money, as how can you pay for something which is already inside you?

Internet site : www.sahajayoga.org