How to boost your immunity with Ayurveda

The traditional Indian medicine system, Ayurveda has a lot of potential for both preventing and treating illnesses. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a renewed interest in Ayurveda, especially for boosting immunity to fight the disease.

It’s been a tough time during that years, especially for our immune systems. The COVID-19 virus has highlighted how vulnerable we can be to new germs. Even with the vaccine, the virus keeps changing, so we can’t be sure we’re fully protected.

With viruses and germs around us, we’ve learned how crucial a strong immune system is. It’s not just about preventing illness, but also avoiding long-term effects. Now is the time to consider traditional practices like Ayurveda for natural ways to boost our immunity and improve our ability to recover. So let’ s discovery the Immunity in aspect of Ayurveda. 

What is Immunity According to Ayurveda?

In the Ayurvedic texts, Immunity is referred as ‘vyadhi-kshmatva’. Vyadhi-kshmatva is composed of two words – Vyadhi and  Kshamatva where Vyadhi means ‘Disease’ and Kshamatva means ‘to resist’.

“The immunity, vyadhi-kshamatva, is a strength within all of us that resists the causes of diseases and their aggressive tendencies.”

Ayurveda believes immunity comes from both what we’re born with (inherited reserve) and what we build up over time (acquired reserve).

Immunity in Ayurveda in classified under three. These are:

• Sehaja vyadhi-kshmatva– This is what we get from our genes and is present from birth. 
• Vyadhija vyadhi-kshmatva– This develops when a germ enters our body, our immune system makes specific antibodies to fight it off. 
• Yuktikrit Vyadhi-kshmatva– This comes from a healthy diet, good lifestyle, and overall well-being.

What Are The Factors That Influence Ayurveda?

Things that either make our immunity stronger or weaker are:

• Ojas Health: The health of our body tissues’ essence called Ojas.
• Digestive Power (Agnibala): Refers to how well our digestion works.
• Natural body constitution (Prakruti): Those with a healthy Kapha Prakruti tend to have a stronger immune system than those with Vata.
• Balance of Doshas: Having a balance of the three Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) in our body.
• State of Mind (Mansika Doshas): Refers to the balance of mental qualities in Ayurveda.

What is Ojas Health? 

The combination of your inherited (Sahaj) and acquired (yukti) organ reserves is called Ojas in Ayurveda. Ojas is important because it nourishes and organizes how the body works. Building Ojas helps us fight infections and stay healthy. If Ojas gets low, we become more prone to illness.

What is Digestive Power? 

According to Ayurveda, good digestion and gut health are crucial. Healthy digestion feeds our tissues (sapta dhatu), which then supports our heart and boosts immunity. When digestion is not working well, it can’t break down nutrients properly for our tissues, leading to lower Ojas. A weak digestion can also create toxins (ama) that block channels and hinder nutrient absorption and emotional balance.

What is state of Mind (Mansika Doshas)? 

 In Ayurveda, the heart is where Ojas resides, so emotional balance is vital for a healthy immune system. The heart is the source of breath (prana), mental balance (manas), and nutrition (rasa). That’s why Ayurveda focuses on daily routines (Dina Charya) that nourish both the body and emotions, keeping our immune system strong.

Ways to boost your immunity with Ayurveda

To boost your immune system naturally, Ayurveda suggests having a balanced diet, a healthy lifestyle with daily routines, and using herbs. These help in balancing the Doshas, in  improving digestion, and building healthy tissues. Let’s have a quick look how we can improve and maintain our body defence system- immunity. 

Maintaining healthy immune system with healthy diet

There is no doubt whatever we eat our body reflects it. One can maintain healthy immunity by having a whole food diet, avoiding over-eating, avoiding refined and processed foods, avoiding excessive of tea and coffee, avoiding alcohol and smoking. 

Instead, include food rich in vitamins and minerals, including pulses and adding vegetables rich in nutrients, antioxidants, carotenoids in your diet. Eating a lot of fruits which are enriched with plenty of minerals and vitamins. These all things maintained a healthy immune system. All the vitamins and minerals play a big part in keeping our body healthy and boosting our immune system.

What we eat directly affects Ojas and either strengthens or weakens our immunity. While natural, organic food is great, it’s more crucial to focus on a diet based on whole foods.

Adding Milk and Ghee to your diet

Milk and ghee are important in Ayurveda for building Ojas. Milk is seen as a complete, nutrient-rich food, as long as you’re not lactose intolerance. Moreover milk with a pinch of turmeric is tremendous for immunity and adding a teaspoon of ghee in milk can resolve many gut related issues. 

Healthy Lifestyle and following Daily regime 

In addition to eating healthy, living a healthy lifestyle is crucial too. Practicing yoga, doing Pranayama (breathing exercises), and staying active with regular exercise all contribute to a strong immune system. Spending time outdoors in nature and getting enough Vitamin D also play a key role in maintaining a healthy immune system.

Following Daily regime that is Dincharya. Dincharya refers to taking care of yourself and following  particular daily habits which helps with healing, detoxifying, and nourishing your body.

What are the different Ayurvedic immunity boosters? 

There are many herbs, formulations and ayurvedic practises that helps in boosting and maintaining a healthy immune system.

Some of the herbs to boost your immunity with Ayurveda are:

1. Sitopaladi churna: Sitopaladi is a great immune booster and effective churna made from five compounds one of which is  cardamom. Cardamom is rich in antioxidants and helps to protect against damage from free radicals and has strong anti-inflammatory properties .

Sitopladi acts as a powerful Ayurvedic medicine for respiratory problems, digestion, and allergies. It works by helping to improve lung function, boost the performance of your lungs, and strengthen your immune system.

 2. Chyawanprash: Chyawanprash is a powerful herbal tonic with is composed with nearly 50 ingredients. It’s known as an Ayurvedic Rasayana, helps in boosting immunity and physical strength. This tonic also detoxifies the body, lowers cholesterol for heart health, and enhances vigor and vitality while slowing the aging process with its antioxidants. It’s a brain tonic too, improving memory and brain function, and it even improves skin complexion and fights infections with its antioxidants and antimicrobial properties.

3. Abhangya:The ancient Ayurvedic abhyanga massage is Ayurvedic oil massag which is a integral part of the daily routine or Dinacharya. It’s not just relaxing but it acts  as immunity booster too. When used with certain Ayurvedic oils, abhyanga strengthens the body’s natural defenses. Sesame oil, known for its antioxidants and deep skin penetration, detoxifies and improves immunity.

4. Nasya: A simple way to prevent infections is by putting a few drops of ghee, sesame oil, or coconut oil in your nostrils is called Nasya. It boost immunity by clearing the nasal passage and preventing infections. This practise should be done on an empty stomach about an hour before bathing and is done in a simple way–  Lie down with your head tilted back and put 4-5 drops in each nostril. That’s it. 

5. Herbs: Herbs like guduchi, tulsi, turmeric, amla, ashwagandha, ginger, cinnamon and a lot more act as immunity boosters and help in preventing illness and maintaining a healthy immune system. 

Jiva Ayurveda has shared the similar note on how to boost your immunity with Ayurveda naturally

I am sure, after reading this article, you will have a better ideas on:

1. How do I boost my immune system quickly and naturally?
2. what build natural immunity?
3. What is the best natural immune system booster?
4. What can I drink to boost my immune system?

Stay healthy stay safe. See you in the next article!