Tuesday 17 April 2018

Heliotherapy or Treatment by Sunlight

The Sun has been considered as a source of energy since ancient times. This source of infinite energy has the properties by which several diseases could be cured.
The Soothing Sun
Wikimedia Commons by Lux Raimbow Rafael

The Solar treatment to cure the diseases is called heliotherapy. It is completely a natural way of treatment in which no medicine or herb is used. In heliotherapy, the color band within the rays of the sun is used to treat the diseases.

It has been found that each of the seven colors of the sunlight has their peculiar characters.
It is on the basis of the use of the characteristic properties of these colors that the different maladies are treated.
The seven colors in the sunlight are violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. This is commonly defined as VIBGYOR.

In heliotherapy, these seven colors are divided into three groups.
1. The first group consists of yellow, orange, and red colors i.e., YOR.  
2. The second group consists of only the green color i.e., G.
3. The violet, indigo, and blue i.e., VIB, are put in the third category.

Medicines in Heliotherapy
It is very easy to prepare the medicines in heliography. These medicines are essentially and actually just a pure and ordinary water.
The ordinary water is put in the bottle of the desired color and placed in sunlight for 6 to 8 hours and the medicine is prepared.  

Doses and Types of Medicines
According to the judgment and experience, the practitioner of heliotherapy could use the combination of different colors as per the needs of the patients. He studies several factors related to the patient like physiology, age, etc. before determining the specific assortment for a particular ailment in the solar treatment.
As an example, if a patient is to be given the blue medicine, he could also be administered indigo or violet medicine 2-3 hours after the first one.

Nature and Effect of Different Colors
It is necessary to know about the nature and the properties of primary colors of the sunlight before starting heliographic treatment. Otherwise, the desired results could not be achieved or the problem may aggravate.

The Effect of Different Colors
The properties of different colors divided into three groups are as follows.

1. Orange is the chief color of the first group consisting of three colors i.e., YOR. This color is a mixture of its adjacent colors, which are Red and Yellow. The nature of orange color is warm and it is very useful in the diseases due to cold and phlegm (or Kapha or the watery element as explained in Ayurveda). It increases the blood circulation.
In combination with yellow color, it strengthens the functions of stomach, kidneys, and intestines. This color improves the digestion too.
The most surprising effect of orange color is that it replenishes the deficiency of Iodine.
When administered with red color, it helps in cough, influenza, pneumonia, fever, gastric, diseases of the lungs, nervous disorders, arthritis, deficiency of red blood cells and tuberculosis.

2. Green is the only color in the second category. The nature of green color is cool and it purifies the blood. It destroys the toxic elements and removes them from the body through sweat, urine, cough, and stool.
It is very effective to destroy the effects of Vata (or the airy element as explained in Ayurveda).  It helps to build and strengthen the muscles in the body.
This color inhibits the growth of infection-causing germs. It keeps the mind cool due to its cool character and strengthens the functions of the brain.
The green color is used to treat all problems of the eyes.
The green medicine is very useful in the treatment of heart diseases. It controls the high blood pressure.
The green medicine is taken on an empty stomach or half an hour before eating anything.

3. The primary color of the third group in VIB is blue even though the indigo and the violet colors are also present in the group.
The property of the color is cool and is used as an antibacterial and antivirus medicine. The bacteria do not survive long in the environment of blue color.
It is used to treat the diseases of the mouth and the upper part of the throat.
The swelling in the body due to Pitta (or the fiery element as explained in Ayurveda), is also treated by green color. The green medicine is very effective in case the pus is formed in any part of the body. It is also effective in a headache, sunstroke, high blood pressure, toothache, swollen gums, diarrhea, mouth ulcers, pyorrhea, and cholera.

What is Vata, Pitta, and Kapha     
According to Indian Ayurveda, the diseases are caused due to the imbalance of three constituents in the body. These three constituents are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

i) Vata is an airy element characterized by dry, cold, and light properties including all types of minute movements in the body. The derangement of this element causes pain, windy humor, flatulence, gout, rheumatism, etc.

ii) Pitta or bile is the fiery element secreted by the stomach and the bowels. It flows through the liver and permeates to spleen, heart, eyes, and skin. It is characterized by heat or hotness and is a sharp and sour moist liquid. It uses the bile to improve the metabolism and digestion. The body heat, burning sensation, and redness of the skin are its chief characteristics.

iii) Kapha or phlegm is the watery element. It is characterized by heaviness, coldness, tenderness, softness, and slowness. It nourishes the body as a carrier of nutrients. All the soft organs are made by Kapha. It gives the sense of taste and perception. It nurtures and lubricates the joints.