Published in Vijayvaani.com
Part I HERE
Effect of negative ions
on menstruating women.
Menstruation, a process
vital for the procreation of our human race is the least researched subject
around the world. It is not about a few days of the menses flow, but it is a
continuous process of some change happening in the woman’s body throughout her
menstruating life. In the first week of the menstrual cycle, there is
pre-dominance of Kapha dosha, which increases the vitality of the
person. During ovulation and after, Pitta dosha becomes predominant
which is manifest as acne or pimples in the face (for some) and many become
irritable in nature.[i]
In pH terms Pitta is low in pH value indicating higher levels of positive ions!
With the onset of menses flow there is a continuous generation of positive ions
around the woman due to the dead tissues getting flushed out. Positive ions (cations)
are associated with dead tissues that enhance bacterial activity. The promotion of anion (negative ion)
sanitary napkins as a remedy to reduce the discomfort and bacterial effects
during menses is proof enough that science recognises generation of more
positive ions during menses.
This raises a question
why not allow women into temples, the source of constant generation of negative
ions - during her menses so that she can be greatly relieved of the pain,
discomfort and mood swings caused by low pH aided positive ions in her body.
This can be answered in two ways.
1. Temples have been
found to be negative ion generators for the benefit of the entire community
with the entire community taking part in the generation of the same by
worshiping in the temple. Suppose there are 100 persons in a community where at
any one time, 5 persons may be having menses. If those 5 persons are going to
enter the temple, the high level of positive ions in them can mess up with the
‘negative ion-only’ atmosphere of the temple. It is like mixing a drop of
poison in a pot of milk. The temple nurtured by a community for the well-being
of the community cannot be disturbed of its composition for the sake of the
few, particularly when other means are there to cater to their needs at those times.
By staying away, if the anion-purity of the temple can be maintained, then that
is the best way in the interest of the masses.
2. The generation of
positive ions associated with menstruation is part of the natural process of
removing the dead tissues from the system. In such a scenario, exposure to high
levels of negative ions (as in a temple) would be against this natural and
necessary process. So a counter therapy should aim at reducing the adverse
physiological and psychological effects of positive ions. It is here the
traditional practices of Rajaswala Paricharya sound very much logical
and far advanced than the present level of our knowledge of menses related
problems. The traditional practices include remaining outdoors and secluded
from others, rest from all physical activities, specific diet, not to have
complete bath etc. A study done on 30 women to test the effect of these
practices of Rajaswala Paricharya found an improvement in relief to issues
related to physical and psychic well being[ii].
With the knowledge of
effect of negative ions, we can deduce the extent of exposure to negative ions by
the menstruating women to get relief from her physical and mental stress while
at the same time not tampering with the natural process of removal of dead
material associated with positive ions.
The primary feature of remaining
outdoors in seclusion from every one, which is looked down upon with disdain
today, has a positive effect of offering an anion-rich environment. The maximum
concentration of positive ions is found inside houses today and it could have
been so in olden times too. By offering the menstruating woman a separate room,
she is exposed to free flow of air and therefore to anion-rich atmosphere.
About 85% of anions are absorbed through our skin. Just by keeping away from
people and remaining outside, she is able to get the refreshing ions needed to
reduce her stress. The terminology used in Tamil for menses is ‘veLi’, meaning
outside or outdoors – which is self-descriptive of a state of wellness in terms
of ion-therapy for a menstruating woman.
It is known that
vigorous exercise reduces the pH level thereby increasing the positive ions.
Seen from this perspective, one can understand why the menstruating woman was
exempted from doing all physical activities.
The supply of negative
ions comes from her foods which are highly alkaline. This food is collectively
known as ‘Havishya anna’ – the food used as oblations in yajna! It
includes rice, moong, sesame, jiggery, ghee, cow’s milk etc. Sceptics who find
fault with the tradition of menstruating woman keeping away from the temple and
puja should ponder over the fact why she is asked to take the yajna-food during
her menses. Doesn’t this convey that the body of the menstruating woman is a yajna
kunda and menses blood is like agni, that she has to offer Havishya anna to get
maximum positive benefits? It is a
practice in Tamilnadu even now to offer jiggery mixed sesame balls to the young
girls during their menses. This quickens the process the easy and painless flow
while supplying negative ions to her body. Even now there are women who are
wary of taking sesame sweets while nearing their menses date, for the reason
that sesame induces menses.
Positive ions during
death.
A bath generates negative
ions but also causes exertion which is related to positive ions. That is why Rajaswala
Paricharya recommends incomplete bath to her. The traditional practices with
reference to bath under different circumstances further reinforce the ion-
theory in ashaucha (impurity). Death is associated with positive ions. The wail
and sad state of mind of the near and dear also generate positive ions. The
extended period of ‘impurity’ for the close relatives of the dead is better
understood when seen through the ion-theory. It will take them for a while to
come to terms with the loss of the person and stop crying. As long as they are
crying, they will be surrounded by positive ions only which will increase the
mental irritation of everyone around them. So it is better for these people to
remain secluded for a while after death of their dear one so that the ion
balance for others would not be upset. This is similar to why women stay from
temples during menses.
This also justifies why
a temple remains closed when someone dies in close vicinity. As long as the
body is lying in state, positive ions keep growing around. (Cell death is
associated with ion movement)[iii].
Once the body is removed, negative ions are injected through water – that is
why cleaning by water is done. Shudhikaran is done not only after a
death, but also when a child is found to have urinated or defecated within the
temple premises. The process of Shuddikaran can be understood better from the
effects of negative ion. The Shuddhi ritual involves water and there are
researches establishing the effect of thoughts and chanting on water molecules.
Whenever water is involved, the process of negative ion generation can be taken
for granted. Even in our house we are generating negative ions while taking
shower bath. The bath given to the menstruating woman on the fourth day (end of
menses) is similar to shower bath which in traditional way involves pouring
water on her through a sieve from a height.
Effect of negative ions
in Sabarimala on women of menstruating age.
Sabarimala temple is
situated on a mountain surrounded by dense forests. The location itself is
brimming with a heavy dose of negative ions. By an estimate it is more than
10,000 per cubic centimetre in forested and hilly regions dotted with
waterfalls or streams. The access path is also full of forests which once again
ensure continuous exposure to negative ions. To cap it all the temple situated
on top of the hill generates high level of negative ions by the rituals and
abhisheka material brought by millions of devotees. What does this high dosage
of negative ions do to the people?
Research[iv]
says that high dose of negative ions reduces male infertility, but the same
cannot be said about female fertility. It is on record that the female
fertility in mountainous regions is less compared to plains. The ‘corpus
luteum’[v]
found in the ovary and produced during every menstrual cycle and is responsible
for secreting progesterone (a hormone responsible for maintaining pregnancy)
doesn’t function well in altitudes. The development of corpus luteum depends on
luteinizing hormone (LH) which is correlated to the level of pH value in
the body. It is here temple chemistry comes into relevance as temple
ingredients are associated with high pH value.
A study by Ding et al
has found a relationship between pH value and LH, a hormone needed for
ovulation and formation of corpus leteum.[vi] It is found that LH peaks several times in
high pH range. For normal ovulation, the LH must peak only once. In the normal
functioning of the menstruation cycle, the LH level keeps gradually rising
within a safe limit (1.9 to 12.5 IU/L) in the beginning. In the middle of the
cycle it peaks at around 8.7 to 76.3 IU/L which causes the ovary to shed the
ovum. After this LH level must come down to 0.5 to 16.9 IU/L. This means the pH
level in a woman’s body keeps fluctuating from low in the first half, to sudden
high in the middle (to cause ovulation) and then dropping down for the second
half of the cycle. This means that a fertile woman should not have continuous
high levels of pH.
The study has found out
that LH level peaks several times when the pH level is high. In a place like
Sabarimala, where the pH value must be the highest compared to any other
temple, owing to its location in forested hill and highly alkaline ingredients
used for worship, a trip to the temple by a woman of menstruating age would expose
her to high dose of negative ions continuously for days. This causes the LH
level in such a woman to peak irrespective of the date of the menstrual cycle
thereby causing premature ovulation or ovarian dysfunction.
Traditionally it is
believed that restriction on women is for their own benefit. It must noted that
an expert in menstrual studies has recorded that her menstruation advanced by a
week after she visited Pampa when the Sabarimala season was on with many devotees
thronging over there.[vii]
It is not difficult to guess the causes. With the discovery of effect of
negative ions on LH and through that on ovulation, the traditional view only
reiterates the traditional belief that Hindu practices are scientific and not
dogmatic.
The locational factor
of Sabarimala temple is incomparable with any other hill-temple like Tirumala
or Ahobila. There had never been a tradition of vrat going for more than
a normal menstrual cycle of a woman and never a compulsory walking all the way
through the forests to reach the hill temple in the case of other temples. The
negative ion concentration in Sabarimala is likely to be the highest among the
hill temples and this is detrimental to the reproductive health of the woman.
In addition to the ion
theory, the concept of God plays a role in creating the benefits for the
community. Every form of the Supreme
Being has a name- form-action associated with It[viii]
and the one wishing to draw the benefits from that form has to adhere to the rules
associated with it. Or else there is no meaning in building temples and
consecrating the deity with elaborate rituals. Vigraha being the last form of
the Supreme Being to facilitate easy access to the devotee, and its
manifestation carefully done through temple science, it is nothing but
foolishness to interfere in or alter the temple traditions.
Conclusion
Temples with
consecrated deities have come up in large numbers only in the last 1500 years. This
seems to be in tune with the rise in population and stressful living
conditions. The ever growing stressful conditions demand that temples are
maintained in their pristine purity to help the community draw optimum levels
of benefits – one facet of which revolves around the generation of negative
ions. The motto of Hindu religion namely
‘Sukha’ (happiness), exemplified by the Upanishadic vachan “Sarve Bhavantu
Sukhinah” is best served by the temple concept. In
times when the universality of Upanishads is being frowned upon, it is our wish
that those sitting as arbiters for the Sabarimala case understand the temple
concept as a way of nature and the traditions around it as way of life that are
needed to be respected and therefore left untouched.
[i] “Why
TED banned the talk on Science Behind Menstrual Practices” https://mythrispeaks.wordpress.com/2018/10/08/why-tedx-banned-the-talk-on-science-behind-menstrual-practices/
[ii]
“Rajaswala Paricharya: Effect on menstrual cycle and Its associated symptoms”
Dr.Pallavi Pai et al.
[iii] “Ion movements in cell death: from
protection to execution” https://scielo.conicyt.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-97602002000200012
[iv] “Miraculous effects of Negative Ions
on Male Infertility” https://www.ecronicon.com/ecgy/pdf/ECGY-SPI-0S102.pdf
[vi] [vi] “Preponderance of basic
isoforms of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) is associated with the high
bio/immune ratio of LH in healthy women and in women with polycystic ovarian
disease”. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1955538
[vii] https://mythrispeaks.wordpress.com/2018/10/23/sabarimala-verdict-fabricated-rights-over-real-experiences-of-women/
[viii] Changogya Upanishad 8-14-1
