While there are no medicines for Covid-19 as of now, it is highly advisable to take preventive measures which help boost our immunity in these challenging times. Enhancing the body’s natural defence system or immunity plays an important role in maintaining optimum health.
For preventive health measures and boosting immunity with special reference to respiratory health, the Ministry of AYUSH has recommended the following selfcare guidelines. These are supported by Ayurvedic literature and scientific publications.
General measures
Drink warm water throughout the day.
Daily practice of Yogasana, Pranayama and meditation for at least 30 minutes as advised by the Ministry of AYUSH
Spices like haldi (turmeric), jeera (cumin), dhaniya (coriander) and lehsun (garlic) are recommended in cooking
Ayurvedic immunity promoting measures
Take chyavanprash 10gm (1tsf) in the morning. Diabetics should take sugar-free chyavanprash.
Drink herbal tea/ decoction (kadha) made from tulsi (basil), dalchini (cinnamon), kali mirch (black pepper), shunthi (dry ginger) and munakka (raisin) — once or twice a day. Add jaggery (natural sugar) and/ or fresh lemon juice to your taste, if needed.
Golden Milk — Half teaspoon haldi (turmeric) powder in 150 ml hot milk — once or twice a day.
Simple Ayurvedic procedures
Nasal application — Apply sesame oil/ coconut oil or ghee in both the nostrils (PratimarshNasya) in morning and evening.
Oil pulling therapy — Take 1 tbsp sesame or coconut oil in mouth. Do not drink. Swish in mouth for two to three minutes and spit it off followed by warm water rinse. This can be done once or twice a day.
During dry cough/ sore throat — Steam inhalation with fresh pudina (mint) leaves or ajwain (caraway seeds) can be practiced once in a day.
Lavang (clove) powder mixed with natural sugar/ honey can be taken two-three times a day in case of cough or throat irritation.
These measures generally treat normal dry cough and sore throat. However, it is best to consult doctors if these symptoms persist.
The above measures can be followed to the extent possible as per an individual’s convenience. These measures are recommended by Padma Shri Vaidya PR Krishnakumar, Coimbatore; Padma Bhushan Vaidya Devendra Triguna, Delhi; Vaidya PM Varier, Kottakkal; Vaidya Jayant Devpujari, Nagpur; Vaidya Vinay Velankar, Thane; Vaidya BS Prasad, Belgaum; Padma Shri Vaidya Gurdeep Singh, Jamnagar; Acharya Balkrishnaji, Haridwar; Vaidya MS Baghel, Jaipur; Vaidya RB Dwivedi, Hardoi; Vaidya KN Dwivedi, Varanasi; Vaidya Rakesh Sharma, Chandigarh; Vaidya Abichal Chattopadhyay, Kolkata; Vaidya Tanuja Nesari, Delhi; Vaidya Sanjeev Sharma, Jaipur and Vaidya Anup Thakar, Jamnagar.
Disclaimer: The above advisory does not claim to be treatment for COVID 19
