How Does Mewing Technique Works?- Benefits and Ayurvedic Perspective

ABSTRACT

Mewing technique has been a rage since the past few years. Every person who wants to redefine and shape their jaw line is curious about the Mewing technique. There have been massive claims about mewing technique changing and reconstructing the shape of your jaw and helping in the treatment of various disorders. It has been a craze among young adults ever since it began going viral on social media. This practice claims to change the person’s appearance for the better and is named after a British orthodontist Dr John Mew. In this article, let us have a look at the Mewing technique and its correlation with an ancient Yoga practice.

INTRODUCTION – WHAT IS MEWING TECHNIQUE

Mewing technique is a rage these days. This technique includes keeping your tongue on the roof of your mouth to aesthetically make the jaw line square and reposition it properly. This technique is in contrast to the normal instinct of keeping the tongue at the base of the mouth. People who are accustomed to mewing naturally train their tongue to rest at the roof.

HOW EXACTLY TO MEW?

• lose your mouth
• Relax your mouth
• eep your bottom teeth behind your upper teeth
• Move the tip of the tongue at the roof of the mouth without touching the teeth
• Hold for 10 seconds. Gradually increase the time.
• Repeat this technique until your mouth naturally takes this position.

DOES MEWING TECHNIQUE WORKS?

Mewing technique is a controversial topic. Most believers say that regularly doing mewing technique helps reposition the jaw, treating the snoring and sleep apnea disorders. This is more of an aesthetically and cosmetically inclined exercise. People believe doing mewing can leave you with a well defined jawline.

MEWING TECHNIQUE IS BELIEVED TO GIVE FOLLOWING BENEFITS

• Jaw muscle pain
• Mouth breathing
• Crooked teeth
• Double chin
• Sinusitis
• Snoring
• Swallowing
• Sleep apnea

Having said this, many orthodontists around the globe do not take any responsibility for the benefits of the mewing technique. Orthodontists say that the before and after pictures circulating on social media regarding mewing technique are unreliable and they have not seen much results with the mewing technique. This also brings them the concern that people who may actually need corrective surgery or medical intervention at certain levels may get influenced by the concept of mewing technique and will end up doing more harm than good.

While mowing technique may not be really dangerous, it still doesn’t have any long term benefits. Mewing technique has no credible research evidence to its name and still remains an unproven technique in medical science.

IS THERE ANY NEGATIVE EFFECT OF MEWING?

Mewing is not a harmful technique. It’s just a long term process that may or may not give any results in the long term. However, never try to cure a serious issue with just mewing because it may worsen over time and lead to health complications such as TMJ pain, undesired change in facial structure or misalignment of your teeth.

AYURVEDA PERSPECTIVE ON MEWING: KHECHARI MUDRA

Although Ayurveda has no direct mention about mewing technique, it does mention about Khechari Mudra that we can co relate with the mewing method. Khechari Mudra is a yogic practice that is mentioned in Ayurveda and Yoga textbooks. Although this mudra is not exactly like mewing technique, the initial part of this Mudra is similar to mewing technique.

In this, the tongue is rolled up and kept in touch with the roof of the palate. The next step in Khechari mudra is to then lock the tongue in the nasal activity.

IMPORTANCE OF KHECHARI MUDRA

In the ancient Sanskrit language translates to supreme reality or space. The person who practices Khechari Mudra goes in the state of bliss and becomes fully aware of the supreme reality. This is an advanced Yoga practice that enables practitioners to reach a higher state of self-consciousness. It helps the Yogi or the practitioner overcome the urge to drink and eat.

CORRECT METHOD TO DO KHECHARI MUDRA

1. Relax in any comfortable Yoga Asana
2. Close the eyes
3. Concentrate on Ajana Chakra
4. Close the mouth
5. Roll up your tongue
6. Touch the tongue to the roof of the mouth
7. Stay still for as long as you can.
8. Once you can keep it still for longer periods of time, push it backwards
9. Try touching the uvula over the period of time
10. Post that, try pushing your tongue upwards towards the nasal cavity.
11. Gradually lock the tongue in the nasal cavity
12. Once you can hold the tongue in the nasal cavity, breathing rate will go down.

When the tongue reaches the nasal cavity and when the yogi is able to keep it there for a few minutes, tongue stimulates various points in the nasal cavity which eventually results in the secretion of a fluid that is considered equal to nectar. Initially this fluid when secreted may taste a bit salty. This kind of salty fluid should be spitted out by the practitioner. Over time with practice, one can stimulate the centers and the sweet tasting nectar will be released which is said to nourish the human body and overcome the urge of thirst and hunger. However, it takes months and even years to master this Mudra to get the maximum benefits.

BENEFITS OF KHECHARI MUDRA

1. Yogi remains healthy and free from diseases.
2. Boosts the immune system
3. Body attains high levels of spiritual energy
4. Yogi becomes capable of attaining Samadhi
5. Yogi is able to overcome thirst, hunger.
6. Nectar nourishes the body and stops the aging process
7. Mudra stimulate the Chakras and lets the yogi travel in astral planes
8. Kundalini energy is raised and chakras are stimulated.
9. Yogi attains the awareness of the god.
10. Stimulates the production of neurotransmitters that have a calming and soothing effect on the body.
11. Gives major control over the speech.

PRECAUTIONS WHILE DOING KHECHARI MUDRA

Although this mudra looks easy to do, it is a much more complex method. If Khechari mudra is done the wrong way, it can do more harm than good. It is very important to follow a set of precautions while performing Khechari Mudra.

SOME OF THE PRECAUTIONS YOU MUST TAKE ARE

1. Go Slow. Do not try to fasten the pace of the mudra. It takes years to master the art.
2. Do it correctly. Wrong method can injure the tongue and lead to major complications.
3. Always practice the mudra in the presence of a Yoga expert.

EFFECT OF KHECHARI MUDRA ON THE OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY

Khechari Mudra offers various benefits. This tongue lock gesture provides the body with the nectar, helps the yogi to live a healthy disease free and a peaceful life. The effect of the Khechari mudra on the physical body is very evident. However, it has equally good benefits when it comes to the internal subconscious parts of the body. It majorly affects the chakras and the tissues of the body as well.

Khechri Mudra effects on

1. CHAKRAS

Khechri mudra or the tongue lock gesture increases the Kundalini energy in the body and leads to its upward movement. This increase in energy stimulates all the chakras of the body leading up to the stimulation of even the Ajna chakra. This is how Khechari mudra stimulates all the body’s chakras and energies.

2. BODY TISSUES

There are many physical benefits of Khechri mudra along with all the mental and spiritual benefits. This gesture due to the production of nectar nourished the body tissues and cells. It increases the immunity, also called as Ojas in Ayurveda. Khechari Mudra leads to an optimal stage of physical, mental and spiritual health.

CONCLUSION

Mewing technique is a rage all over the internet. While mewing technique may or may not have any real time evidence according to science, yoga and Ayurveda the ancient sister sciences correlate the latest mewing technique with Khechari Mudra (or the tongue lock gesture). Mewing technique may not be really dangerous and may or may not define your jawline but it is always beneficial to consult a doctor if you have any pains. Khechari Mudra on the other hand is an ancient yogi technique to attain one’s higher self and has proven benefits on the physical, mental and spiritual health of the person. Both these techniques should be performed under the guidance of an expert.