Coronavirus: Can this be the cure?

I have been tracking and researching coronavirus for quite some time now.  At first glance it was some virus from China but then it just went global. The situation started to worsen and till date there is no cure.  It reminded me of the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus in 2002 that infected humans in the Guangdong province of China.  The fatality rate of this virus was 10%, but the total number of cases reported were about 8000.  So the spread rate was less as compared to the coronavirus.  Then we had the MERS-coV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) in 2013.  The death rate was more but the spread rate was less than 3000 people.   Coronavirus is at a different level altogether.  The spread rate is that every 1 patient infects 3 new people.  As per CNN the current worldwide cases are 723000.  The figures are getting alarming.  My research on coronavirus and yoga has brought to light a strategy that could get help to contain this virus. We all know that there is no medicine till date and any breakthrough seem distant.  So, it is time to change our strategy and look elsewhere for the cure.

Let us understand what is a virus.  Viruses are single celled micro-organisms.  They are far smaller than bacteria.  Bacterium has DNA and cytoplasm within the cell wall.  Complex biological processes are going on within that cell wall.  The bacterium feeds from its surrounding and once its size reaches a maximum it replicates itself.  A Virus cannot replicate on its own.  It needs a host or medium to replicate itself.  The DNA contained in the virus infiltrates the cell and replicates itself by using enzymes from the host cells. Now let us look at the mechanism of infection.

Mechanism of infection

This virus is transmitted mainly through touch.  So, when a person who is infected touches things like doorknobs, keys, cell phone, he or she transmits the virus to that particular object.  If then a healthy individual touches that thing, the virus is transmitted to the hand.  Now the virus is transmitted to whatever he/she touches.  If the person touches his/her face, nose, skin the virus enters the nasal cavity and goes into the lungs and lodges in the mucosa.  Some people do not get infected and are asymptomatic but can still transmit the virus.

The Lungs

The cellular structure of the lungs comprises of air sacs called alveoli.  The alveoli are made of two types of cells called pneumocytes.  The type 1 pneumocytes are concerned with actual gas exchange and the type 2 pneumocytes secrete a surfactant to reduce surface tension.  Reduction of surface tension helps avoid collapse of the cells.  The virus lodges in the mucosa and enters the alveoli, type 1 pneumocytes.  The coronavirus has spikes made of protein on it.  The virus looks for a particular type of enzyme and binds to it and enters the cell.  Once the entry has been gained, it starts to do its thing and releases its own RNA.  It now starts to use the constituents of the cells and replicate itself and we have an infection.  This damages the pneumocyte.  The pneumocyte reacts to this and uses a defense mechanism to save itself.  This leads to vasolidaltion (edema) and increased capillary permeability of the cells and the contents of the cells start to leak around the alveoli.  This fluid starts to compress the alveoli and can also enter the alveoli.  So, the surfactant concentration gets reduced and the alveoli start to collapse.  This will lead to hypoxemia-reduced oxygen level.  There is consolidation in the alveoli and the patient tries to cough it out.   So, the individual has fever, shortness or breadth, productive coughing symptoms (consolidation).  In worse-case scenario, it could give rise to GI symptoms and consequently lead to multi-organ failure.  That is one painful way to die.

The Probable solution

First weapon, Kapalbhati:

I will demonstrate how physiologically yogic pranayam could help cure or minimize damage to the lungs.  This yogic pranayam is also known in the west by the name of cardiac breathing and is taught to patients with heart disease.  This is none other than kapalbhati.  People have many myths about kapalbhati.  This kapalbhati has no contraindications; however, it is strongly advised that you should do it under the guidance of a yoga therapist.  This is known as half-breadth kapalbhati.  There is another form in which one has to be very careful wherein there is forceful exhalation and contraction of the stomach.  I will come to that later.  Let us look at some anatomy and physiology of the lungs.

The trachea is lined with cilia which are hair like structures which catch dust and other particles that try to enter into the lungs.  The lungs are made of air sacs called alveoli, which are lined with pneumocytes.  As explained above, pneumocytes type 1 are for exchange of gases and type 2 secretes surfactant to reduce surface tension to keep the alveoli from collapsing.

Working of lungs:

A normal person can breathe 0.5 liters or air without forceful inhalation, known as the tidal volume.  If you breathe deeply and exhale deeply you can breathe in and out 4.5 liters of air.  So, your lung capacity is about 4.5 liters.  After regular expiration 2.3 liters of air remains and if you exhale forcefully only 1.2 liters of air remains.  Research shows that when you practice kapalbhati your lung capacity increases.  People who sit at a desk and do not do deep breathing or exercise, their lungs can only expand to inhale approximately 0.5 liters of air.  Physical activity demands more air and in order to cope with that they need to breathe in more air but their lungs are not flexible enough.  This is what causes shortness of breath.  When you practice kapalbhati, the lungs get a good exercise and become elastic.  The diaphragm is exercised and is able to achieve a full contraction easily.  So the lungs become more efficient at gas exchange due to increased ability to inhale and exhale.

How could Kapalbhati help a coronavirus patient?

 As explained earlier, the virus can enter through the nasal cavity into the trachea and then into the lungs and attaches to the mucosa.  The first defense we have against foreign particles is the cilia, the hair like protrusions in the trachea.  When you practice kapalbhati, the forceful exhalation can throw the virus droplets out.  Then when it lodges into the mucosa, the forceful expiration again can throw off the virus and prevent it from attaching to the mucosa.  So, people who are in close contact with infected individuals or frequent risky areas they should practice kapalbhati as a preventive measure.  So, such individuals should perform 300 repetitions of kapalbhati twice a day.

When a person is infected and there is consolidation in the lungs, i.e. productive cough symptoms, the patient, if able, should perform kapalbhati.  The action of kapalbhati gets rid of two things, water in the lungs and dust.  The lungs secrete approximately 1 litre of water every 24 hours to moisten the air.  The half-breadth exhalations of kapalbhati get rid of the dust and water making it less conducive for bacterial and viral growth.  These micro-organisms require dust and moisture to replicate themselves.  Research shows that people who practice kapalbhati have reduced respiratory rate and heart rate and increased capacity of inhalation and exhalation, which are the opposite of symptoms shown by patients with coronavirus.

In conclusion, we know that kapalbhati helps reduce cough and could also help to reduce/eliminate coronavirus symptoms.  Even if the coronavirus has entered your lungs, kapalbhati can be instrumental in throwing them out before they attack the type 1 pneumocytes.  So, I feel instead of waiting for a vaccine breakthrough, we must practice kapalbhati.

Of note, some patients may not get rid of the consolidation (productive cough) accumulated in the lungs.  For them we have another weapon called Ujjayi pranayam.  It is possible that these patients may already be so critical that any attempt at kapalbhati may not be possible.  These patients could practice ujjayi pranayam.

Second Weapon, Ujjayi Pranayam:

Ujjayi pranayam is forceful frictional inhalation and exhalation.  The throat is contracted and then inhalation and exhalation is performed.  This pranayam is very beneficial for people who have stubborn, productive, thick cough that they are unable to get rid off by even practicing kapalbhati.  By performing ujjayi, you can get rid of this stubborn cough.  When you practise ujjayi, heat is generated due to friction and this melts the cough and gets rid of it.

Similarly, patients with acute coronavirus infection can get rid of the consolidation (productive cough) by ujjayi pranayam.

Both the above listed pranayamas together are very potent and have great benefits.

So, it is my humble request to the general public, doctors, nurses, and patients to practice kapalbhati and ujjayi twice a day.

Note:  If anyone would like to have more information or would like me to upload a video on how to do the above pranayams, please contact me.