Energy Medicine. C. Norman Shealy
called chi (known in other Asian cultures with differing spellings). In Western philosophy, prana is referred to as the life force. The Sanskrit word, prana, means “vital life” and the force is considered one of the five “organs” of vitality or sensation. Prana also means breath. In the Vedic system, the other organs of vitality are:
• Vac (speech)
• Cakus (sight)
• Shotra (hearing)
• Manas (thought, which includes nose, mouth, eyes, ears, and mind, apparently physical eyes rather than “sight,” which is Cakus)
Prana is the foundation for all of the traditional aspects of Indian medicine, known as Ayurveda (discussed below), as well as of yoga itself. It is believed to flow through a network of fine subtle channels in the body called nadis (considered the flow of consciousness). To some extent the nadi concept is similar to the meridians of acupuncture. The most subtle form is breath, but it is also found in blood and in a concentrated form in the semen of men and vaginal fluid of women. Expounded upon in the Upanishads, prana is part of all life, but is not itself the atman or individual soul. In Ayurveda, the sun and sunshine are considered a source of prana.
The Vedic “Nadi” System
Yoga teaches that there are three main channels by which prana flows through the body: the ida, pingala, and sushumna. Ida follows the left side of the body terminating at the left nostril; pingala follows the right side of the body terminating at the right nostril; and the sushumna flows up the center. As described in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia:
“Nadis are thought to carry a life force energy known as prana in Sanskrit, or qi in Chinese-based systems. In particular prana (active) is supposed to circulate inside Pingala, while apana (passive) is supposed to circulate inside Ida. Inside Sushumna is supposed to circulate kundalini when awakened. The Ida and Pingala nadis are often seen as referring to the two hemispheres of the brain. Pingala is the extroverted (active), solar nadi, and corresponds to the right hand side of the body and the left hand side of the brain. Ida is the introverted, lunar nadi, and corresponds to the left hand side of the body and the right hand side of the brain (crossing occurs in the optical chiasma). These nadis are also said to have an extrasensory function, playing a part in empathic and instinctive responses. The two nadis are believed to be stimulated through different practices, including Pranayama, which involves alternate breathing through left and right nostrils, which would alternately stimulate respectively the left and right sides of the brain. The word nadi comes from the Sanskrit root nad meaning “channel,” “stream,” or “flow.” The rhythmical breathing and special breathing techniques are supposed to influence the flow of these nadis or energetic currents. According to this kind of interpretation (which is the Yoga interpretation) the breathing techniques will purify and develop these two energetic currents and will lead to special breathing exercises whose goal is to awaken kundalini.
Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna
“Amongst these ducts or nadis, three are of the utmost importance: the Medullar Sushumna, which interpenetrates the cerebrospinal axis from the perineum to the juncture of the lamboid and sagittal suture of the cranium, and it is associated with both nostrils being open and free to the passage of air. The ‘lunar Serpentine Ida’ of the left side, of a pale color, negative polarity. It is associated with feminine attributes, the Yin element of Chinese philosophy, and an open left nostril; the solar Serpentine Pingala of the right side, red color, positive polarity. It is associated with masculine attributes, the Yang element of Chinese philosophy, and an open right nostril. Those are the main nadis, but in some tantric texts more than 72,000 nadis are cited. They all start from the central channel of the chakras to the periphery, where they gradually become thinner.
“The Sat-Cakra-Narupana, one of the earliest texts on nadis and chakras, explicitly refers to these three main nadis, calling them Sasi, Mihira, Susumna.
“In the space outside the Meru, the right apart from the body placed on the left and the right, are the two Nadis, Sasi and Mihira. The Nadi Susumna, whose substance is the threefold Gunas, is in the middle. She is the form of Moon, Sun, and Fire even water also; Her body, a string of blooming Dhatura flowers, extends from the middle of the Kanda to the Head, and the Vajra inside Her extends, shining, from the Medhra to the Head.
“Sushumna (alternatively known as Susumna) Nadi connects the base chakra to the crown chakra. It is very important in Yoga and Tantra in general. Alternative medicine also refers to Sushumna sometimes. In Raja Yoga or Yoga of Patanjali, when the mind is quietened through Yama, Niyama, Asana and Pranayama the important state of Pratyahara begins. A person entering this state never complains of Dispersion of Mind. This is characterised by observing the movements/jerks in Sushumna, the central canal in the subtle body. The movements indicate the flow of Prana through the central canal and in the process, the sushumna makes the way for the ascent of Kundalini.
“Pingala is associated with solar energy. The word pingala means “tawny” in Sanskrit. Pingala has a sunlike nature and male energy. Its temperature is heating and courses from the left testicle to the right nostril. It corresponds to the river Yamuna. The Ida and Pingala nadis are often seen as referring to the two hemispheres of the brain. Pingala is the extroverted, solar nadi, and corresponds to the left hand side of the brain. Ida is the introverted, lunar nadi, and refers to the right hand side of the brain.
“Ida is associated with lunar energy, though sometimes it is based on solar energy. The word ida means “comfort” in Sanskrit. Idā has a moonlike nature and female energy with a cooling effect. It courses from the right testicle to the left nostril and corresponds to the Ganges River. Ida nadi controls all the mental processes while pingala nadi controls all the vital processes and everything, whatever you needed.”
(For more information, visit the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadi_%28yoga%29. Used under Wikipedia terms: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.)
Incidentally, one of the key yogic practices is breathing through alternate nostrils, and there is significant scientific evidence that single-nostril breathing has physiological effects primarily on that side of the body. Prana enters the body through the breath and goes to every cell throughout the circulatory system.
In the Ayurvedic system, the seat and activity of Prana are primarily respiration through the nostrils to the heart and from the lungs to the nostrils. Major “divisions” of prana are apana, samana, vyana, and udana.
Apana controls the movement of energy from the navel to the bottom of the feet. It assists in elimination of stool, urine, semen, and menstrual flow. It is also critical for moving the fetus through the birth canal during labor.
Samana is the energetic movement between navel and heart, assisting digestion and assimilation to nourish the entire body. It regulates temperature and the human aura is a reflection of this pranic activity.
Udana is the energy from throat throughout the head. It keeps us erect. If it is out of balance, vomiting and unsteadiness may occur. Udana is essential for speaking and singing, etc., but it is also the energy of our intent!
Vyana energy pervades the entire body, assisting circulation. It coordinates the nervous system, muscular activity, contraction and expansion, balance, and co-ordination.
To some extent, prana is the foundation for virtually all subtle energy. The most basic use of prana as a healing technique is pranayama, which brings prana into the body by controlled breathing. Prana is considered primordial cosmic energy or the cosmic connection to the body, and the Upanishads say that prana is Brahman, which is