Immunity and Ayurveda

 

The importance of immunity has come up since the covid -19 outbreak. Every human being knows its importance but little do they know how to build it. 

Since last few decades, excessive microbicide use in the name of hygiene and lack of constant interaction with plants, soil and other organisms has gradually made our immune system weaker, even though our overall health and lifespan has increased.

 

Immunity, is the mechanism to fight against specific organism which are harmful to our body. To protect us from widespread pathogens around and to break the chain of pandemic like situations various scientist developed various vaccines in the past 20^th century. Though the longevity of humans has been raised but resistance to the disease has not, even after vaccine development. There are various factors in the modern world because of which the immunity of humans are not so intact. 

 

In Ayurveda importance is equally given to the external factors which causes disease in our body. In aurvedic texts named Charak Samhita – concept known as Janapadudwansa i.e.,epidemic caused in a community due to common external factor such as air, water and land. Same factors can be considered in the modern world, air, water and soil pollution has great impact on our immunity. Other than this irrelevant use of antibiotics and noise pollution has impact on mental and gut immunity. 

 

 

Ayurvedic concepts related to immune system functions

 

There are few concepts which are enlisted in the Ayurveda texts about immunity.

Bala – ability of the system to repair and nourish itself and be effective in disease prevention.-

Vyadhi Kshamathwa - immune system to fight against the disease-causing pathogens, similar to the concept explained I modern science.

Ojas - supreme resilience

All the three above mentioned is only developed when the agni in a particular person is optimal or balanced. Agni is known as the digestive capacity of individual. Whenever the digestive capacity is compromised the immunity of the individual is compromised. 

 

 

Mind and its effect on immunity

Ayurveda explains the concept of a fit individual as blanaced agni, dosha, dhatu and malakria, prassna atma, indriya and mana (joyous and stable soul, perception and mind). So the interlinking of the mind with the body is justified. Meaning the immunity is built when the balance is well established when the mind is at balanced state. The influence of mind and emotion on our immunity is a very new system that is being studied in the past four or five decades, known as Psychoneuroimmunology. The mind and emotional thoughts hamper or process the functioning of our gut health, metabolism and eventually the immunity. 

 

Factors that act negatively on our Immunity

1. Environment – as we saw that environmental factors have high impact on the immunity as we live in the compromised surrounding. Air, water, and soil, the quality of such entities are degraded and so is the immunity. 
2. Improper diet habits – eating highly processed foods, packaged foods, preservatives and chemical/pesticide loaded foods disrupts the normal functioning of the gut. The gut which is the prime seat for absorption of nutrients hampers the process and leads to poor immunity. 
3. Irregular sleep – Night jobs, change in sleep patterns and timings.
4. High stress – increases the cortisol level in blood reducing the focus on immune system nourishment.
5. Excessive alcohol intake – excessive alcohol consumption disrupts the normal absorption of food, and destroys gut lining. It also impairs the response of the immune system against pathogens. 
6. Obesity – it is an indicator of sedentary lifestyle with poor lifestyle choices such as lack of exercise and depriving self from healthy food items. This factor is responsible for metabolic abnormalities inside the body and keeping immunity off the track.
7. Chronic medications – Long term use of antibiotics and certain other medications are also proven to be detrimental for immunity.
8. Excess grief and anger – holding grudges anger and grief are the emotional entities which produces inflammatory response inside the body. This inflammation sometimes is responsible for early ageing and attacking once own immunity, jargoned as autoimmunity. 

 

 Factors that will help in boosting the immunity as per Ayurveda.

 

• A well-balanced diet (with all six tastes and qualities balanced), based on one's dosha.
• Regular exercise as per body type. 
• Add herbs in daily routine such as – ginger, asafoetida, cumin, coriander, black pepper, mulethi etc. these spices and herbs are rich in anti-oxidants, carminative, kindles digestion. 
• Yearly panchakarma helps in eliminate toxins and aids in good immunity, it also protects us from the unwanted harmful effects induced to us from the environment.
• Immuno-modulator- rasyan drugs are the best ayurvedic herbs which is authentic and when consumed in moderation and under proper guidance helps built a strong and good quality of dosha, dhatu and mana (mind) 
• Ayurvedic treatments like shirodhara, abhyanga, pinda sweda etc. 
•  Drinking good quantity of liquids like buttermilk, narikel, certain herb infused juices will keep your body well hydrated and help in normal functioning of the cells. 
• Maintenance of good personal hygiene is also an important as with food and medication. 

Remember to be happy with yourself without hurting other humans in the surrounding which will help you develop other level of good immunity.