Press Release
On March 24th 2024, Patanjali Japan Foundation conducted its 45th monthly interactive session on the benefits of yoga in alleviating symptoms of Kafunsho (or pollen allergy) and Asthma. The session was presented by Varada sensei and Genboku sensei at 8:00 AM JST and was joined by numerous attendees and other experts.
What is Kafunsho?
Kafunsho is a form of allergy that occurs when the body reacts excessively to pollen that has entered the bodily system. These pollen mainly come from “Sugi” or cedar and “Hinoki” or cypress, which are species of trees native to Japan. Today, the country has some of the world’s densest cedar forests which are objectively beautiful to look at, but has proven to also have damaging effects on one’s health especially during this spring season.
Kafunsho includes symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion and irritation of the eyes. These symptoms can heavily affect one’s productivity and day-to-day life, but there are many ways yoga can help prevent and ease such symptoms.
The session emphasizes the importance of saying no to allopathic medicines and instead, learning natural ways to treat Kafunsho and asthma.
Session Content
The session began with Varada sensei and Genboku sensei briefly summarizing the connection between the development of allergic symptoms and our immune system. They signify the importance of regulating and maintaining a healthy and strong immune system in order to not only treat symptoms of Kafunsho but to also prevent it in the first place.
Genboku sensei stresses that yoga is much more than just an exercise and that its practice has a very intricate connection to improving our immune system. For example, practicing yogasana improves blood circulation and practicing pranayama helps improve respiratory health, both of which are important factors in boosting our immune system.
Genboku sensei and Varada sensei also explained how stress can be a major factor in making someone prone to the symptoms of Kafunsho. Yoga is of course a core measure in treating and preventing stress and anxiety.
Practical Measures
In the next section, Genboku sensei and Varada sensei introduced several practical measures in treating and preventing Kafunsho. This included; Jalneti, Kapalbhati, as well as three asanas including Padahast asana, Parvat asana, and Bhujang asana.
◇ Jalneti
Jalneti can help rinse out all the unwanted bacteria and pollen-filled mucous lining, as the warm water loosens and dissolves any internal build ups. This improves nasal airflow and reduces nasal congestion which is the most common symptom of Kafunsho.
◇ Kapalbhati
Kapalbhati has similar effects of clearing nasal passages but it is also effective in maximizing oxygen flow and improving our blood circulation. Maintaining a healthy circulation of the blood helps boost our immune system that combats allergens.
◇ Padahas asana, Parvat asana, and Bhujang asana
All three of these poses share similar roles in stretching the chest and lung muscles. Varada sensei underlines that the expansion and contraction of our chest helps create more space in our body for nice, fuller breaths. This is especially important for those who are struggling with asthma caused by allergens.
Discussions
The session ended with a 20 minute discussion amongst the attendees on the following topics / questions, in order to clarify their learnings from the session:
- What is the main trigger for allergies?
- How does yoga help cleanse both the body and mind?
- How can yoga help prevent allergic symptoms?
Attendees also shared how a lot of the knowledge shared in this session was very new to them and that they are keen on making yoga a part of their daily lives, especially given how easy it is to practice the above measures without any special equipment or space.
Conclusion
It is clear that the practice of yoga goes much beyond contorting the body into impressive poses. Yoga is a great alternative to allopathic medicines (which often have unwanted side effects) and is a great long-term method for both preventing and curing the dreadful symptoms of this current season.
English 
日本語