According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 or coronavirus disease is an infectious disease caused by coronavirus. Since coronavirus is a newly discovered virus, currently there is no vaccine to prevent this disease. This is respiratory disease which affects different people in different ways. WHO says that most of the infected people will develop mild to moderate symptoms and recover without any special treatment. Also people with good immunity power are less affected by this disease. Only the ones with severe medical conditions or aged above 60 have higher chances of going into severe stages of the disease and death. Prevention is always better than cure, hence WHO has provided several precautionary measures to protect oneself from coronavirus disease. These measures are mainly based on personal hygiene. Apart from this, several other precautionary measures can be taken to build and improve our immune system, which helps us resist the disease. Ayurveda provides several easy solutions to boost our immune system.
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian medicine system, believed to have originated from God Dhanvantari. This medicinal system has been developed since Vedic period, and is still practiced in India. Ayurvedic therapies are based on substances extracted from plants (herbal compounds), minerals and even metals. Few of the tonics used in this medicinal system can be easily prepared at home. In this article, a few simple Ayurvedic precautionary measures are presented which help one to build a better immune system. The techniques presented here are easy to prepare and practice at home. The ingredients used in the recipes are easily available in most of the supermarkets in Europe.
Lemon (Zitrone) and orange (Orange) are high on Vitamin C, which supports normal functioning of the immune system. These fruits are also high on fiber, control blood sugar level and prevent skin damage. During times like this (outbreak of coronavirus) and winters, it is suggested to regularly consume juices of these fruits with hot water. Frequent consumption of hot water with lemon juice every morning with an empty stomach, boosts your immune system and keeps your skin fresh. It also protects your skin and gradually prevents aging. Instead of spending money on vitamin supplements, one can easily prepare these recipes on a daily basis at home.
Turmeric powder, also called Kurkuma in German, is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It is typically consumed in small amounts, and is used in most of the Indian cuisines. It improves metabolism, prevents bleeding and infection, and regulates blood pressure. Turmeric can be consumed with milk or water, which helps to boost the immune system.
Take a glass of water in a container. Add half a spoon of turmeric powder to the water. Boil the water thoroughly for 3-4 mins. Thorough boiling of water with turmeric is very essential (adding turmeric to hot water does not have the similar effect). Turmeric tea can be consumed with honey or 2-3 spoons of lemon juice (do not boil lemon juice with water).
Ginger (in German Ingwer), improves digestion, reduces gas, easing cold, and supporting cardiovascular health. Pepper (in German Pfeffer) on the other hand is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant which reduces the blood cholesterol level, improves blood sugar control and eases flu. Cumin (in German Kreuzkuemmel) is a rich source of iron and is helpful for better digestion. Regular consumption of these substances in small doses helps to maintain good health and enhance one's immune system. A simple Ginger and Pepper tea recipe is given below.
Take a glass of water in a container. Add half an inch of ginger or 1 spoon of ginger powder and 2-3 pinches of pepper powder to the water. Additionally you can add one spoon of cumin seeds to the water. Boil the water thoroughly for 3-4 minutes. One can add milk to the water while boiling. Ginger and Pepper tea can be consumed with honey. This tea is very good for food digestion.
In order to protect oneself from the corona disease, one has to essentially take precautionary measures and maintain personal hygiene. Along with these measures, one can follow a good diet by consuming hot cooked meals. The tea recipes presented in this article can be easily prepared at home and they help to boost the immune system of the body. It is suggested to frequently drink hot water with lemon and prepare other teas whenever the ingredients are available. They can be consumed regularly, especially during the winter season to protect oneself from cold or flu, with several other benefits. These methods are usually followed at Indian homes, and also very suitable for colder countries like Germany and Switzerland. As said before, prevention is always better than cure, hence let us all try to take care of ourselves by personal hygiene and good diet and maintain social distance to eradicate the spread of this disease.
Disclaimer: The recipes presented in the article are not the cure or vaccine for the coronavirus disease. They only build up one’s immune system, hence helping one to be less prone to the infection.