Support Your Resistance to Disease

Flu: Six Things You Can Do to Support Your Resistance to Disease

With headlines reporting the spread of the Covid19 flu, everyone is wondering how to stay well. And while health authorities race to develop vaccines for the specific strains, until then they can only advise us to avoid travelling to affected areas and to wash our hands frequently to reduce the chance of getting infected and to isolate oneself if one becomes infected.

Yet there is more that we can do to build our resistance and resilience to infection. In fact, the ancient science of Ayurveda specializes in just this area: strengthening the body’s natural defence systems.

Resistance and resilience are closely linked with digestive strength. Ayurveda says that if digestion is weak our food is not fully digested and the residue, called ama, accumulates in the body providing a fertile ground for infection This is as farmers are aware if a soil is fertile any seeds that fall on it will not only germinate freely but will also grow strongly.

Symptoms of ama accumulation are stiff joints, sluggish digestion, dullness or headaches, and fatigue. If your digestion is strong and there is lightness and strength in the body, then the seeds of infection will not be able to take hold.

The ideal course of action to maintain good health is to consult your Maharishi AyurVeda practitioner regularly – traditionally four times a year. Of the many things that Maharishi AyurVeda offers to maintain health, your practitioner will help you identify the most important. In the meantime here are six ways to help keep your natural defence systems in good order:

Eat Lighter in Spring

Everyone is more susceptible to respiratory problems during the spring. Spring is called Kapha season in Ayurveda, when the wet, cool weather can lead to a build-up of Kapha dosha, creating more heavy, cool and lethargic tendencies in the mind and body.

Follow the ayurvedic dietary and lifestyle guidelines for Kapha season. This is the time to eat light (think hot, spicy soups and cooked greens), and exercise (to rev up the digestion and shed unwanted pounds). It’s also the time the body is flooded with toxins that have built up over the winter, so spring detox is a must.

Drink hot water throughout the day and take Triphala Rose (MA505), a mild and non-habit-forming herbal tonic for the digestive system that helps keep your body’s waste-removal systems moving.

Eat Resistance -Boosting Foods

There are certain Ayurvedic foods that build ojas, a quality associated with good health and a feeling of lightness and bliss in the body.

In general, resistance-boosting foods include those that are fresh, organic, easy to digest, pure and wholesome. These include whole grains and fresh, organic vegetables and fruits. Light dairy products, such as ghee (clarified butter), and lassi, a probiotic digestion-enhancing drink made with water and fresh yoghurt, also enhance resistance.

During spring, incorporate more spices in your diet to stimulate your digestion and resistance. The quick-start way to do this is to flavour your soups and veggies with Organic Kapha Churna (spice mixture) or start your day with a cup of Organic Kapha Tea.

Here’s an Immunity-Boosting Spice Mix you can make at home or get our ready-made Resistance Spice Mix.

Avoid Resistance-Busting Foods

If you want to increase your resistance, stay away from hard-to-digest foods.

Commercially processed items, as well as canned, frozen, and packaged foods, are old and difficult to digest, so they weaken resistance. Leftovers, fast foods, foods are grown with chemicals, and foods laced with preservatives tax the digestive system and clog the channels of circulation, creating a sluggish, compromised defence system.

Get Plenty of Rest

Lifestyle also impacts resistance. Staying up late, working at night, eating at irregular times, and sleeping during the day can all affect the digestion and body rhythms – and thus compromise the defence system.

That’s why it’s important to follow the Maharishi AyurVeda daily routine, rising early in the morning, (before 6 a.m. is ideal) and going to bed before 10:00 p.m. and practice Transcendental Meditation regularly of course.

  • Peace At Night Aroma Oil can help you fall asleep at night. During flu season, use Inhalation Oil (MA634) to stimulate resistance.

Don’t forget that Gandharva music is very balancing and useful in all circumstances.

Power Up with Herbal Supplements Before You’re Sick

  • Maharishi Amrit Kalash Nectar Paste (MA4) is our premium product for creating ojas and boosting general health.
  • Maharishi AyurVeda Chyavanprash is also a very traditional formula with broad health benefits particularly for strengthening the respiratory system.
  • Amlaberry (MA1) is known to strengthen the lungs and resistance. A rich source of Vitamin C, it contains the Amalaki or Indian Gooseberry that is also found in Maharishi Amrit Kalash Nectar Paste (MA4). This amazing fruit is considered a powerful Rasayana, or ayurvedic elixir, all by itself.
  • To help keep the respiratory channels clear Throat Sooth syrup (MA3357). This great-tasting syrup has the right combination of spices and herbs to clear toxins and mucus from the sinuses and lungs and helping to prevent bronchial infection.
  • Breathe Easy tablets (MA1405) and Sniffle Free Tea likewise help keep the digestion keen and maintain resistance to nasal and respiratory infection from the common cold.
  • Keep your digestion strong with Herbal Digest (MA927) a great general digestive or Digest Plus (MA154) a stronger digestive or Trikatu with Clove (MA99) a strong digestive with side benefits for the respiratory tract.

Panchakarma

We cannot complete this round up of ways to boost your resistance without mentioning the Maharishi AyurVeda Panchakarma which is the most thorough way to remove ama from the body and boost resistance to disease.

Now available at two UK clinics in NorthWest England and Eastern England.

And If You Do Fall Sick?

Stay home and avoid exposing others. Drink plenty of hot liquids, get lots of bed rest and follow all of the preventive precautions to help move through your flu or cold quicker.

With the help of these Maharishi AyurVeda guidelines, we wish everyone a healthy spring season.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this document is presented for the sole purpose of imparting education on Maharishi AyurVeda and neither the information nor the products are intended to diagnose, treat, mitigate, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition or are pregnant or lactating, please consult a health professional and it is recommended that you speak with your physician before making significant changes to your diet or routine.