How does AC affect natural health? Whats the balanced way of using it as it cannot be discarded in modern day offices and homes?

Use AC as less as possible.
Get fresh and open-air access with timely breaks.
Have access to an air purifier during the day.
Spent your off-hours in nature and fill your lungs with oxygen through walking, Surya Pranayam, Sudarshan kriya. 2 and a half litre air is enough for your daily dose. 
Walk in the fresh air at night before getting into AC.
Put off AC after 3 AM if you have access to air and have your AC on fresh air mode.
If you have access to a roof, be there in your off office hours.
Deep breathing habit is the best way to save your prana.

Dear Health Seeker,  You may please refer my body wisdom" How to be healthy in Ac".

Working in an air-conditioned environment - take care of health the natural way

You may balance out by remaining in a non-ac environment after your office hours. Try to minimize ac facilities other than absolute must situations, Go for an early morning walk in a garden, do Non-violent pranayama daily. 

    V.S.Pawar    MIINT 

नमस्ते,

        त्वचा शरीर वर्ज्य पदार्थों को बाहर निकालने का एक बड़ा माध्यम है ,ए.सी. की वजह से हमारे त्वचा की स्वेद ग्रंथियां सिकुड़ जाती है, परिणाम स्वरूप वर्ज्य पदार्थ शरीर के अंदर ही रह जाते हैं, जिससे  हमारे रक्त का पीएच मान 7.36 से कम अर्थात् अम्लीय होने लगता है व हमारे अंगों की कार्य क्षमता कम होने लगती है, हम किसी न किसी रोग से  ग्रस्त हो जाते हैं , कार्यालयों व घरों में ए.सी.के वजाय बड़ी-बड़ी हवादार खिड़कियां व आस-पास पेड़ - पौधे होने चाहिए जिससे कर्मचारियों  या घर में रहने वालों को शुद्ध व ताजी प्राकृतिक हवा मिले, वे स्वस्थ व खुशहाल रहें व अपना कार्य और अधिक कुशलता से कर सकें ! 

                   डॉ.राजेश कुमार 

                  योग व नेचुरोपैथी फिजीशियन

The most important problem is that air conditioners impact the health of bone.there are many researches that elicit the fact that Vit D is reduced by the use of air conditioners.

As a consequence of impaired Vit D in our body, this increases the risk of Osteoporosis which in turn could increase the risk of easy fractures.

Some management tips are

1) Do walking atleast half an hour in the morning especially before 8 am preferably or before sunset so that you get enough Vit D through sunlight. Sunlight is the only Vit D source and very least quantity is obtained from other sources

2) Sunbathing might be another option provided your place you live doesn't have UV rays leak into your atmosphere

Other remedies are explained by other writers and hence I won't elaborate into other methods...

Hi Sumeet,

This is the most relevant question, given that the twin brother of Air Conditioners, which is Heaters during Winters, is also the norm, and will shortly kick into action in the coming months, especially in North India. My understanding guides me to know that our body cannot fathom the temperature being controlled at a constant level, indoors, and then when we step out, the temperature is a stark contrast.

Due to this contrast in temperatures, the internal body thermostat is made to face a polarisation, either that ofcool temperature inside. This constant push and pull, create a tension, a load on the body, and unnecessary expenditure of its reserves, which would have gone in either mental processes, or physical movement or food digestion, assimilation or/and elimination. The result is a feeling of sluggishness and lethargy, as compensation, because to compensate on expenditure on one hand means the body economises on the other.

Furthermore, the effect of usage of Air Cons, on human beings, has been documented as it is still only a relatively new invention with just a few decades, in usage. Surely, each one of us feels dehydrated, after 8 hours in an AC room. The reason being the unnatural change in pressure along with temperature, and to compensate this, loss of intracellular and extra-cellular fluid happens or in other words body water content falls. Dry skin is another visible side effect. However, we are unable to see the whole picture, as this happens on a subtle level.

I have lived in a very cold climate country and with snow falling outside, working indoors was made possible, only due to central heating. My understanding is that if the weather is so cold or unbearably hot, we simply should not be living there, and move to an area or region which is more habitable or has a far better climate. Traditionally this was followed in the North Indian region, where twin villages were the norm and two homes a regular practice. During winters, the hill region residents would move southwards towards plains, with a milder winter, and during summers, these villagers would shift home to the hills, with milder summers.

These days, we have resorted to living life in the same region, no matter what the temperature, even a soaring 45-degree celsius summer keeps us staying put in the same homes, due to the luxury of AC's. Of course, given the extreme heat, it feels easiest to switch on the AC, however, there are many practices that can help us balance the use of AC's, here are some that come to my awareness.

1. Begin the practice of growing plants indoors and outdoors-

I have filled my office and home space with plants, so much that hanging planters adorn our home, especially adding some respite from the heat when the gaze falls on them as they are constantly giving me a feeling of being in the garden. I have drilled holes and hung simple wire baskets from the roof, with indoor plants like Syngonium, ivy or money plant.

This is a picture from one of our classes, in the garden, under the pumpkin vine.

picture credit - www.parshada.com

2. Use an Air Dehumidifier -

This has been such a great success, where the dehumidifier removes excess moisture from the air, which was earlier giving the sticky and sweaty feeling! I have lived in a community in south India, called Auroville, where innovations are the norm, and 13 years ago when I moved there, solar dehumidifiers were the norm, and brought such a sense of ease to daily living, whilst keeping a pleasant atmosphere indoors alongwith being easy on the pocket as well as environment friendly, as it works on solar energy. Ofcourse electric dehumidifiers , also exist.

3. Adopt a healthy lifestyle -

When we adopt healthful living, especially as a lifestyle, the body adapts very well to summer heat, by inducing sweat and keeping us cool !

4. Replace Acidic foods and unhealthy lifestyle -

Acidic foods or foods made in a factory /processed can cause body organs to work vigorously to digest the complex nature of these foods. This overworking of body organs can cause the body to heat up, and it will cause further discomfort during summers. Instead, replace with fresh fruits and Fresh vegetables, and vegetables slightly cooked to ease digestion and keep the body cool from inside, during summers.

5. Use of AC above 26degree celsius -

I have seen this to give a more balance in my life, when the AC temperature is above 25 degrees, especially 28 degrees is what works for us. Since it lowers the contrast with outside temperatures, it doesnt tire out the body as much when one moves in and out of the AC.

6.Adding Siesta in Afternoons -

Many cultures, worldwide have coped with higher temperatures , by ample sleep and rest during the peak afternoon heat, so takinga Siesta is actually a healthy practice during extreme temperatures. Work efficeincy can also increase greatly when one is taking siesta, as i have personally experienced in my life.

7. Pranayam in Early Morning Air-

During summers, I try to wake up as early as 4:30 a.m., which is easy if the dinner, the night before was fruits or a light soup, and one went to bed by 9 p.m. Early morning is a great time to practice Pranayam, as toxins in the air are lowest, due to lesser traffic during the night. When the body has ample fresh air entering the lungs, the domino effect is that each and every organ of the body works better, and as a result during AC use, the body works better to remove the side effects like dehydration etc.

8. Wait for natural coolants to kick in -

Our body has the capacity to keep itself cool, but this means we need to allow the body intelligence to guide us. My practice since last 10years has been to sleep outdoors on the terrace, during summers. Of course, this option might not be available for all, in city life, but keeping doors and windows open, with the AC, is another way to balance!

When we do switch on the AC in our office or at home, the windows are all wide open, and door left slightly ajar. In the car when I switch on the AC, many times I leave the windows down, although this is not possible always.

Looking forward to learning more ways to balance the extremes in temperature naturally, hope more folks

will join this

Q & A.

नमस्ते

लगातार एसी वाले स्थान में बैठे रहने से मांसपेशियों में खिंचाव आता है, जो सिरदर्द का एक बड़ा कारण है। लगातार एक ही तापमान में न बैठें।

ठंड का सीधा असर शरीर के जोड़ों पर होता है, जैसे घुटने, हाथ और गर्दन। लगातार इसी अवस्था में रहने से बड़ी बीमारी का खतरा भी हो सकता है।

एयर कंडीशनर फिल्टर के गंदे होने के चलते सांस की परेशानी भी हो सकती है। इससे गले में खराश और छींक की समस्या हो जाती है।

ट्रैवल करते वक्त ट्रैफिक जाम होने पर यदि एसी ऑन रहता है तो सांस लेने में तकलीफ होती है। इसका कारण है कि  गाड़ी में माइक्रो जम्र्स होते हैं, जो सांस लेने में तकलीफ पैदा करते हैं। 

इन सभी दिक्कतों के साथ बुखार और न्यूमोनिया जैसी बीमारी होने की आशंका रहती है।

बुखार, स्किन प्रॉब्लम, ब्लड प्रेशर, ऑर्थाराइटिस, न्यूराइटिस जैसी बीमारियाँ भी हो सकती है।

70% कच्चा और 30% पका भोजन लेने से इसके दुष्प्रभाव से बचा जा सकता है।

कच्चे सब्ज़ियों का रस पानी के जगह पर लें।

फल नाश्ते में लें। कच्चा सलाद दोपहर के खाने में लें कच्चे सलाद के साथ पका हुआ भोजन ना लें। क्योंकि दोनो का पाचन समय अलग अलग है।

रात के डिनर में तेल रहित पका हुआ भोजन लें।

एक खाने से दूसरे खाने के बीच में विराम दें। रोज़ाना 15 घंटे का उपवास करें जैसे रात का भोजन 7 बजे तक कर लिया और सुबह का नाश्ता 9 बजे लें।

लंबा गहरा स्वाँस अंदर भरें और रुकें फिर पूरे तरीक़े से स्वाँस को ख़ाली करें रुकें फिर स्वाँस अंदर भरें ये एक चक्र हुआ। ऐसे 10 चक्र एक टाइम पर करना है। ये दिन में चार बार करें।

सूरर्य उदय के एक घंटे बाद या सूर्य अस्त के एक घंटे पहले का धूप शरीर को ज़रूर लगाएँ। सर और आँख को किसी सूती कपड़े से ढक कर। जब भी लेंटे अपना दायाँ भाग ऊपर करके लेटें ताकि आपकी सूर्य नाड़ी सक्रिय रहे।

खाना खाने से एक घंटे पहले नाभि के ऊपर गीला सूती कपड़ा लपेट कर रखें और खाना के 2 घंटे बाद भी ऐसा करना है।

नीम के पत्ते का पेस्ट अपने नाभि पर रखें। 20मिनट तक रख कर साफ़ कर लें।

मेरुदंड स्नान के लिए अगर टब ना हो तो एक मोटा तौलिया गीला कर लें बिना निचोरे उसको बिछा लें और अपने मेरुदंड को उस स्थान पर रखें।

एक नियम हमेशा याद रखें ठोस (solid) खाने को चबा कर तरल (liquid) बना कर खाएँ। तरल (liquid) को मुँह में घूँट घूँट पीएँ। खाना ज़मीन पर बैठ कर खाएँ। खाते वक़्त ना तो बात करें और ना ही TV और mobile को देखें। ठोस (solid) भोजन के तुरंत बाद या बीच बीच में जूस या पानी ना लें। भोजन हो जाने के एक घंटे बाद तरल पदार्थ (liquid) ले सकते हैं।

ऐसा करने से हाज़मा कभी ख़राब नहीं होगा।

जानवरों से उपलब्ध होने वाले भोजन वर्जित हैं।

तेल, मसाला, और गेहूँ से परहेज़ करेंगे तो अच्छा होगा।

धन्यवाद।

रूबी, 

प्राकृतिक जीवनशैली प्रशिक्षिका व मार्गदर्शिका (Nature Cure Guide & Educator)