IRRITATION

Irritation plays a very important role in determining how an individual behaves in a given situation. A person behaves quite differently in familiar circumstances if he is suffering from a running nose or a toothache, there being a divergence between the two specific cases. Many people would avoid going to their place of work in these conditions not because they are afraid of spreading the virus, but because their changed behavior could alarm others. Irritation may be internal or external. Internal irritation usually takes the form of a pain or itching or secretion or occasionally an involuntary movement of a limb. External irritation adversely affects one of the senses, such as flickering light, an unpleasant sound or smell, dust, temperature or the movement of an object. To someone suffering from an internal irritation or a psychological condition, the addition of an external irritant can be quite disastrous. Even a normal and healthy person's thoughts can be decisively affected by an external irritation. Considerable research has been carried out on the effects of various irritating agents on the performance and efficiency of industrial workers. Fortunately human beings are endowed to a varying degree with an ability to manipulate their sensitivity to these irritating agents depending on their circumstances. Moreover, in all civilized societies there has been an organized effort to combat and reduce the sources of irritation. In most cases the effort has consisted of the implementation of sanitation and hygiene to contain the spread of irritating germs and gases. Landscaping helps to prevent dust, and lately air conditioning is becoming popular for controlling the temperature and humidity of enclosed environments.

The ancient Indian Aryans seem to have recognized the importance of irritation. Whereas the theory of Yoga defines it as the achievement of eternal peace and communion with the absolute, the practical exercises related to Yoga known as Asnas, when closely examined appear in many cases to be designed to condition the yogi to various types of irritation. The six types of yogic purification practices mentioned in the books of yoga are quite obviously meant to make the individual impervious to irritation. Neti Kriya whether done with thread or by pouring saline water through one nostril and making it flow through the other makes the nose and sinus tough and resistant to irritation. Dhautikriya or swallowing a seven meter long muslin cloth ribbon soaked in salt water and then pulling it back out through the mouth does hardly anything to the soul, but does certainly subject the mouth, throat and gullet to rigors which make usual irritations of these parts seem a pleasure. Basti kriya or anima must help combat irritations of the posterior and prevent constipation which is known to produce hallucinations; and Tratka kriya or fixing one’s gaze until tears come to eyes would remove irritation of the eyes. Other kriyas and asnas which consist mainly in stretching joints to limits beyond normal and maintaining the posture for extended periods help one to tolerate irritation of muscles and joints felt while taking unusual postures during very formal or informal encounters. One effect of breathing exercises is to slow down breathing rate and reduce oxygen supply to the brain promoting abstract activity of the brain while maintaining environmental awareness and full control of mental faculties. It should help to remove some of the illogical cross-links of the factual and abstract memories. Moreover, having stretched the tolerance limits one must find it relatively easier to concentrate and control one's actions. However, the effectiveness and usefulness of the improved conditions for analytical activity would only depend on the amount and quality of education and experience that the person has gained in the past. The ability of a Sufi or Yoga or Kungfu practitioner to remain calm in trying circumstances and to ignore intimidation or threat, certainly, has a profound effect on observers. However, some Yoga practitioners can also become quite a nuisance by their ability to persistently impose themselves in spite of repeated discouragement. Moreover, a person impervious to irritation has a greater likelihood of developing sadistic or masochistic tendencies which have to be controlled by other means.