Can Ayurveda Protect Us Against Diseases like COVID19?

Ayurvedic medicine or Ayurveda, a Sanskrit term translated to “knowledge of life” is one of the world’s oldest holistic approach for the whole-body healing system. It was developed more than 5,000 years ago in India. It believes and has some proven evidence that our health depends on a sensitive balance between the mind, body, and Spirit.

Ayurveda works on the concept of prevention is better than cure. It promotes good health not to fight diseases and also provides treatment to specific health problems. People in India have been using it for more than 5000 years. Ayurveda emphasizes good health and treatment through good lifestyle practices.

Ayurveda encourages the use of herbal remedies, meditation, yoga, and dietary changes. 

Ayurveda says every person is created out of 5 elements found in the universe – Space(ether), Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. People use ayurvedic medicines for maintaining their health, building strength and stamina, reducing stress, etc. According to research, people who practice yoga regularly, meditate, have a lower risk of asthma, high Blood pressure, and Arthritis.

How Ayurveda been practiced in Indian households since 1000’s of years:

We all know that to stay healthy need a good lifestyle and healthy diet routine because when our body digests the food, it absorbs the nutrients and releases the energy.

There are several traditional practices we do at home right from oil treatments to prescribed diets.

• We start our day with Pranayama, the foundation of Ayurveda, and a simple breathing technique to soothe and replenish your body.

• Take a warm water bath followed by a self oil massage.
• The most common is the Turmeric Milk or Golden Milk, a beverage that is traditionally made by warming up pure milk with turmeric, ghee, cinnamon, and ginger. This golden milk is loaded with benefits right from building an immune system, fight back infection and diseases, rich in antioxidants, maintain good heart health to lower blood sugar level, and many more. 
• Cold treatments like, mixing 1/2 tsp of ginger juice to 1/2 tsp of honey taking twice a day. Gargle with a mixture of a pinch of turmeric powder with hot water also soothes sore throats.
• To settle down your migraine pain or headache, try ginger tea or apply cloves power with cinnamon oil directly on your forehead.

• Fortunately, your pimple and skin issues can also subside in Ayurveda, which says breakout happens due to Pitta Dosha. It can liquify by using cooling ingredients like applying and drinking aloe vera juice, drinking more water, avoiding spicy and oily foods, consuming fennel, and coriander seeds.

How Ayurveda can help build immunity to fight against diseases like COVID19

Humans are born with a low immune system, and the constant interaction over the period with pollution, lack of a healthy lifestyle, improper routine, diet, make our immune system weaker.

Ayurveda has explained the concept of immunity under multiple topics. First is Bala, the notion of strength, the ability of the system to repair, nourish itself, and help in preventing diseases. Second is Vyadhi Kshamathwa, develop resistance to illness, the ability of the immune system to fight against disease-causing pathogens. The third is Ojas, the notion of correlation between digestion and immunity.

The aspect of an immune system is majorly related to the digestive system, the importance of the food we consume.

The 7 Major Factors that affect Immunity

1. Irregular sleep
2. High stress/tension
3. Obesity
4. Imbalance diet
5. Alcohol Intake
6. Chronic Medication
7. Dehydration

Ayurvedic Tips to Improve Immunity(includes tips from Ministry of AYUSH for self-care in COVID19 crisis)

You can refer Ayush Ministry Guidelines in detail here

1. Take a well-balanced diet
2. Practice Yoga, Pranayama and meditation for at least 30 minutes daily
3. The practice of fasting like a detox plan to cleanse the body
4. Recommended consumption of ashwagandha and amla
5. Start your day with 2 Tulsi leaves
6. Spices like Haldi (Turmeric), Jeera (Cumin), Dhaniya (Coriander), and Lahsun (Garlic) advised in cooking
7. Recommended consumption of Kadha made from Tulsi, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Ginger twice a day.
8. Haldi Milk or Golden Milk once or twice a day
9. Steam inhalation of ajwain should be practice daily
10. Ginger Honey mixture to reduce sore throat or throat irritation

Ayurveda was our Past can it be our Future?

The answer is yes, Our Union Ayush Minister Shripad Naik shows the confidence that Ayurveda can treat COVID-19. He added, once the scientific validation of some formulas done, our country will be ready to provide the treatment to Coronavirus patients.

He described how coronavirus attacks the immune system, and if you boost your immunity, then the virus will not attack you. Yes, it affects the respiratory system, but with the ayurvedic treatment, we can also improve the functioning. Ayurvedic treatment help in building a massive defense to stop the virus from spreading. Some studies suggest that 60-70% control on the spread of coronavirus in India is due to better immunity of people and home remedies guided by Ayurveda.

Conclusion:

Over the period, the changed lifestyle, stress, diet, pollution, and other environmental factors affected our body so badly that we are highly vulnerable and easily attacked by any virus, infection, or diseases. And to prevent, Ayurveda can help us build strong immunity to fight against any such viruses and infections in the future and that too in a truly natural way.

It’s high time and we should give back the respect to our 1000 years old holistic approach to healing the body. Let’s unite, learn, share, implement, and fight back.

Shweta Dubey

Shweta is the founder of Positive Shades and MommyWelt having over a decade of corporate experience in software, corporate training, and health care industries. She handled community growth by mentoring, motivating people, and encouraging teamwork. She loves making friends and discovering new venues.