Ayurvedic Immunity Boost
Immunity Protocols -VATA Balancing and Ojas Building
Ojas is the first thing to be created in the
body of all living beings. It is ghee colored, it
tastes like honey and smells like roasted
puffed rice. – Caraka Samhita Sutrasthana 17.74
Vamadeva Shastri (Dr. David Frawley) “Ojas is replenished by special foods like milk and ghee, by special tonic herbs like ashwagandha, shatavari and guduchi, meditation practices, and mantras such as Om. When low, Ojas causes chronic, degenerative disease, as well as mysterious hard to treat infections and nervous disorders.”
~With special thanks to Dr. Jayagopal Parla
Ancient Vedic texts characterize epidemics as coming forth because life on earth has become unbalanced. Something that has changed in nature has brought forth a new organism. In Vedic terms Rudra or Shiva has brought on a Twara or fever where the body and mind form a heat reaction.
As Ayurveda begins to study this epidemic, we are learning that Covid 19 has both Vata (cold and dry bodies thus affecting the aging population) and Kapha (Cold, damp, sticky, heavy, and binding) components.
Once the virus enters our bodies in can lodge in our lungs, arteries, kidneys, intestines very quickly (Vata speed and movement) and then become a Kapha (phlegm or mucus) issue.
It takes strong Agni or digestive fire and Prana to help slow it down. It first sticks in our nose and in the secretions of the mouth. This can cause a loss of smell and taste. If this occurs, please contact your personal physician right away.
The manifestation can take between 2 and 14 days. The average being 5.1 days. The next signs are diarrhea, cough, runny nose, chills, headache, dizziness, malaise, confusion, and shortness of breath. Conjunctivitis has also been a sign of the infection. Please call your medical physician if you suddenly develop conjunctivitis.
Those with high AMA (undigested material)* conditions, asthma, heart conditions, obesity (BMI above 40), diabetes, immunocompromised systems, chronic kidney disease or on dialysis are especially susceptible.
More Protocols for Keeping our Immunity High.
Chanting mantra like the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra and other chants to Shiva and Dhanvantari can be very helpful. Or to your personal deity.
Practicing Pranayama is extremely important as is adequate sleep, and regular bowel movements.
Keep your Vata in balance because this is a Vata disease.
Make good food choices.
Practice Dinacharya - An ayurvedic routine to help balance Vata.
Viruses can stay in your nose for a few days affecting taste and smell.
Scrape your tongue
Oil Pulling to keep your mouth healthy and clean - brush your teeth with neem powder and
Rub neem on teeth and gums.
Nasya or Ayurvedic nose drops - Anu Thailum
Neti Pot
Meditation practice.
Vata lowering Yoga asana
Never rush into practice. Put you minds in a calm space and place your emotions in a condition of rest. Slow down and deepen your breath.
Vata Yoga asana should emphasize the pelvic region and colon, the main sites of Vata. They should aim at releasing tension from the hips and lumbar spine. Keep the spine supple. Spinal twists are excellent making sure the breath is full or they will increase Vata. Forward bends offer immediate relief for excess vata. Standing postures that emphasize strength, stability and calm are very good and careful backbends are excellent too.
Sitting poses like Lotus, Badha Konasana, Viransna, Slow Sun salutations, Standing poses like Warrior I and II, Triangle, *Tree pose (growing roots into the earth). Forward bends, headstand, cobra, camel, locust, pachimottanasna, Kurmansa, Janu Shirsasana, Navasana, Yoga mudra and a long 10-20 minute savasana.
Pranayama - for lungs and lymphatic system
3 x a day
Deep abdominal or Resonance breathing for 3 minutes
Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing) 3 min
Bhastrika 3 min
Foods
Sautéed Endive or rutabaga
Napa cabbage
Dark Greens Soup:
celery 6 sticks
parsley 1/4 cup
asparagus 4 stalks
Kale 1/2 cup
arugula 1 cup
cilantro 1/2 cup
Cook in water - boil and mush or run through a blender
Heat coconut or sesame oil add green onions, leeks, chives, oregano, basil, oregano, fennel, cumin or caraway
separately cook brown rice
Mix everything with lemons, limes, and some Himalayan sea salt
Lung Strengthening Foods - keep your lungs dry
Leeks
Salad especially bitter greens
Chives
Spring onions
Spanish onions
White onions
Green onion
*Black Pepper*
Lilac Tassel
Goldenmilk (turmeric milk)
Liver Health - Kutki or Bhumiamalaki
Take Guduchi with garlic, ginger and black pepper
*Low Sugar Chywanaprash is excellent to take every morning followed by warm water or herbal tea. Chywanaprash’s main ingredient is the Amla berry, one of the most concentrated sources of Vitamin C.
Triphala 2 grams 3 x a day to keep out colon clean.
Herbs for Kidney Health:
Gokshura
Haritaki
Punarnava
Guduchi
Herbs for Heart Heath:
Cinnamon
Turmeric
Amalaki
Guduchi
Punarnava
Arjuna
Ojas Building Foods:
Dates
Almonds
Chywanaprash
Ashwagandha
Brahmi
Cardamon
Ghee (In moderation if there is excess Kapha)
Ojas milkshake in previous email
Stimulate the Jatru Marma (located below the clavicle notch) - Thymus gland, immunity - autoimmune problems, balance, immune system, stimulates Ojas and Dhatu agni and helps eliminate āma.
Avoid cold foods, yogurt, ice cream. Drink warm water.
You can sprinkle a pinch of sitopaladi or tulasadi in your chai - Dr. Lad
· When Agni becomes weakened or disturbed, food is not properly digested. The undigested food accumulates in the GI tract and turn into a toxic sticky substance called Ama. Ama can clog the intestines and infiltrate other tissues causing disease. Ama is the root cause of most disease. It can induce constipation, indigestion, gas and diarrhea, body stiffness, and mental confusion. It can be easily detected as a thick coating on the tongue.
Be safe, be well and be careful.
Hari Om
