The following guidelines and precautions to protect health and strengthen the immunity are based on the recommendations of Ayurvedic experts from the Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine at the Tribuvhan University in Kathmandu and renowned Ayurvedic doctors in India.
Regarding the ongoing global pandemic, it is useful to take preventive measures to strengthen the natural defense system of the body, with special attention to respiratory tract. As is well known, prevention is always better than the treatment, which is why it is currently the main task of every person to maximally support the activity of his immune system, which plays a key role in maintaining optimal health. As a "Science of life", Ayurveda works with a deep knowledge of health protecting herbs and their varied use. The recommendations below are supported by the classical scriptures of Ayurvedic literature as well as by modern scientific publications.
Warning: The recommendations and preparations below are not a drug for COVID-19.
1) Home Care And Preventive Measures to Strengthen Immunity
- Practice breathing exercises and meditation regularly every morning and evening for 5-10 minutes. From the Ayurvedic point of view, the power of the immune system is based primarily on the optimal function of the three life forces - prana, tejas and ojas. Prana is a life energy that oxygenates tissues when we consciously inhale and exhale, supports a harmonious metabolism and helps to calm down thoughts and emotions. Tejas is a burning flame of inner light, heat, digestion, metabolism and cellular intelligence. It is essentially a dynamic energy from a heat-treated diet. Ojas is the resulting substance that is formed during biosynthesis in each of the seven bodily tissues and is responsible for the overall vitality, strength, resilience and immunity. The natural development of the Ojas is strengthened by meditation, which takes place along with conscious observation of the breath* and vigilant concentration on the presence of life energy in the center of the chest.
* Breathe very slowly and quietly - so that if someone placed a thin thread in front of your nose, it would not even move. And when you exhale, try to exhale even slower than you inhaled.
- Drink 2-3 liters (1/4 - 3/4 of gallon) of warm water with lemon throughout the day. Add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to a cup of water. This is a simple home prevention for cleansing the throat and digestive system.
- Add the following spices to your daily diet: turmeric, cumin, coriander and garlic.
Recommended Ayurvedic Preparations:
- Take regularly herbal elixir CHYAWANPRASH and fruit AMLA.
- Follow a regular drinking regimen with AMLA drink ASHWAGANDHA, GINGER or TURMERIC. In the case of drinks, pour warm water over finely ground mixture, add a teaspoon of honey, mix well and drink all the content.
- Take preventively TULSI and DALCHINI tea for protection of the airways and respiratory tract. Always boil Ayurvedic herb mixtures for 3-5 minutes.
Recommended Ayurvedic Cleansing Methods:
- "Nasya" - regularly apply sesame or coconut oil to both nostrils after morning and evening hygiene. Apply 5 drops of oil lying down with your head tilted and let it pass through your nasal cavity. Cleansing the nasal cavity promotes good health and strengthens life energy or "prana". The regular rhythm of the breath is an important tool for conscious control of our thoughts and emotions and brings a psychosomatic balance that strengthens the vital functions of the body.
- "Kavala" - rinse the mouth with sesame or coconut oil in the morning and evening before brushing your teeth. Roll a tablespoon of oil in your mouth for 3 minutes and then spit it out. Finally, rinse your mouth with warm water. Cleansing the mouth benefits the health of the teeth and removes toxins, impurities and unpleasant taste from the entire area of the oral cavity.
- "Dhoopana" - clean the indoor air by using herbal and fragrant mixtures and also pay attention to the fresh supply of air.
2) Application during Quarantine or Isolation
Recommended Ayurvedic Products:
- Drink 0.5 liters (34 oz) of tea MANJISHTA in the morning and evening and during the day a cup (250ml) of tea TULSI, DALCHINI, KATPHALA and NAGARA. Always boil Ayurvedic herb mixtures for 3-5 minutes.
- Take a teaspoon of herbal elixir PRANAPRASH or CHYAWANPRASH 3 times a day (morning, afternoon and evening).
- Take AMLA drink GINGER or AMLA drink TURMERIC. In the case of drinks, pour warm water over finely ground mixture, add a teaspoon of honey, squeeze in the juice of 1/4 lemon, mix well and drink all the content.
Recommended Ayurvedic Procedures:
- Inhale DALCHINI tea to clear the airways and nasal cavities. Perform in the morning and evening.
- Gargle with a decoction of clove or with PRANA tea. Clove or the herbal mixture alone has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to soothe the sore throat. Always boil the herbal mixture for 5 minutes.
- Gargle with warm salt water. Perform 3-6 times during the day. Some studies have shown that gargling several times a day with warm salt water can help to reduce throat swelling, get rid of mucus and flush out irritating bacteria. Doctors generally recommend dissolving half a teaspoon of salt in one cup of water.
3) Health Care After Quarantine or Isolation
According to Ayurvedic medicine, taste and smell are associated with the right and left pulmonary vessels. If their function is impaired, then there may be a temporary loss of taste and smell. The quality of taste and smell is also associated with digestion. When digestive activity is impaired, irregular metabolism occurs, which can cause taste and smell disorders. Smell in particular is connected with the digestive tract. If we have a contaminated large intestine then its perception weakens. Taste perception is again connected with sufficient hydration of the body. If a person is dehydrated, then the perception of taste weakens. In summary, all five of our senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste) are part of the nervous tissue (majja dhatus), which is the transmitter of sensory stimulus and motor reactions from peripheral organs to the central nervous system in the brain.
Recommended Ayurvedic Products:
If individual symptoms persist, use these products in accordance with their preparation.
- Loss of taste and smell: tea PRANA and elixir PRANAPRASH, tea TRIPHALA and elixir PURISHAPRASH, tea JATAMANSI and elixir MAJJAPRASH
- Coughing and breathlessness: tea PRANA, elixir PRANAPRASH
- Increased fatigue and exhaustion: tea UDANA, elixir RASAPRASH
- Headache: tea PRANA
- Joint and muscle pain: tea MANJISHTA
- Insomnia: tea ASHWAGANDHA
- Memory and concentration disorders: tea BRAHMI, elixir MAJJAPRASH
- Anxiety and depression: tea JATAMANSI, elixir MAJJAPRASH
- Indigestion: tea SHUNTHI, tea GUDUCHI, tea TRIPHALA
- Increased blood pressure: tea SARPAGANDHA, elixir MANOPRASH
- Diabetes: tea MAHAPHALA, elixir AMBUPRASH