How to get rid of COVID- 19 pandemic and how to enhance your immunity against it through Ayurveda, Yoga and Pranayamas
In the current time, COVID-19 pandemic has become a major problem for all the countries of the world. COVID-19 pandemic causing the loss of thousands and even millions of people. The virus behind the pandemic -COVID-19( also known as SARS-CoV-2 originated in Wuhan China) led to severe global socioeconomic disruption, cancellation of various political and sporting events and worldwide shortages of supplies due to panic buying of essential materials. In this critical time schools, universities and colleges are closed, people are in a panic, cities are closed and everybody has force to sit in their home in their house with the family. Currently there is no vaccine and medication available for COVID-19 so in this very critical time Ayurveda has a great way of prevention and cure for this pandemic COVID-19.
How Ayurveda, Yoga and Pranayama boosts our immunity against the pandemic
This ayurvedic prevention against COVID-19 starts with daily routine which includes wake up early in the morning, rinse your mouth, brush your teeth, drink warm water (you can also use warm saltwater) , do a yogasana-tadasana and clean your belly. After that scrape your tongue to remove dirt from it and then do pranayamas by sitting in a clean place.(All these are mentioned in various sacred scriptures of Ayurveda written by Indian sages such as ‘Charaka Samhita’ written by great Indian Sage ‘Charaka’.) You can take juice of Basil and Giloy(Tinospora Cordifolia) which is highly beneficial in this situation. You can take herbal tea after doing pranayamas which contains ayurvedic herbs such as ginger or cardamom or few leaves of basil or mint or cinnamon or fennel. This is part of our daily routine (Dincharya) in the morning as mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic books. You should use turmeric in your diet as a natural herbal supplement that supplements the immunity of your body. Massage (or self massage) is beneficial for you which nourishes your skin and calm your nerves using any of the organic oils such as musturd, coconut, olive or amla (Emblica Officinalis) etc.. People should use some of the highly beneficial ayurvedic herbs that are helpful in building the immunity and preventing the infection such as amla (Emblica Officinalis), neem (Azadirachta Indica), kutki (Picrorhiza Kurroa), tulsi (basil) and giloy (Tinospora Cordifolia). According to yoga guru Ramdev consuming decoction of giloy and basil with black pepper, ginger and turmeric will boost immunity and kill all kinds of viruses. The main target organs of this COVID-19 are lungs (our respiratory system) that can be cleared by regular practice of some highly beneficial pranayamas ( ‘PRANAYAMA’ – a technique to control our breadth and mind) such as Anulom Vilom pranayama, Bhastrika pranayama, Kapala Bhati pranayama etc..
Most beneficial pranayamas to increase immunity against Coronavirus
- Bhastrika
- Anulom vilom pranayama (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
- Kapalabhati
- Brahmari
- Utjayi
- Utgeet
- Sheetali
- Sheetkari
- Suryabhedan pranayama
Pranayamas helps in enhancing and repairing the body’s respiratory functioning. You can do these pranayamas twice a day for half an hour to one hour or more acoording to your capability.
Yoga Asanas( Special techniques of twisting and bending of body parts) helpful in protecting people from the virus
Yoga Asanas helps to expel the toxic secretions from the lymph glands. Some of these Asanas are:
- Sarvangasana
- Shashankasan
- Paschimottanasana
- Padahastana
- Matsyasana (Fish pose is done after Saravangasana)
- Dhanurasana ( prone posture)
- Ushtrasana (camel pose)
- Bhujangasana (snake pose)
These asanas helps in the removal of lymph toxins, expanding chest posteriorly and enhance the elasticity, strength and volume of muscles and chest cavity.
Other than pranayamas and yogasanas Jala Neti is an effective cleansing technique that helps in the cleansing of respiratory system and helps the body to fight against bacteria and viruses and Vamandhauti is a type of practice (part of satkarma) which systematically cleans the alimentary canal and improves the working of respiratory tract.
How meditation helps to prevent COVID-19 and reduce its ill effect
To overcome the anxiety due to this COVID-19, meditation gives you inner strength and enhances your positive thinking so you can stay calm, fearless and happy in this period. Meditation plays an important role in controlling the emotions and help people to remain at ease at such critical time. There are different types of meditation such as Mindfulness, Mantra meditation, Vipassana, Trataka, Chakra meditation, Yog Nidra etc.. People can choose any one of them according to their capability and ease.
At present people should enjoy only home made and hygienic vegetarian food such as chapatis, fresh vegetables, pulses, saladas, boiled rice, fresh clean fruits, porridge made with mung bean and rice(khichri) and avoid non vegetarian food. Always use hot food and avoid cold drinks, iced water, yogurt, ice cream and cold iced beverages. These cold food materials will suppress your digestive fire and reduces your natural resistance. According to some Ayurveda experts, people should eat a tablespoon of Chywanprash daily which help prevent the spread of the virus and enhances their immunity.
At the time of worship in home (at morning and/or at evening) people should do aarti(offering light) with burning of camphor and lightning an earthen lamp with cow’s ghee. Aarti should be accompanied by blowing conch, bell ringing and clapping, whose voice and light destroy the germs of the surrounding area and positive energy is generated. Also, clapping at the time of aarti produces marma(pressure) which improves the functioning of heart, lungs and kidneys and increases the physical energy. People should chant different mantas during worship time such as Gayatri mantra, MahaMrityunjaya manta and/or chant simply ‘Om’, ‘Om Gam Ganpatye Namh’, ‘Hari Om’, ‘Om namah Bhagwate Vasudevaay’, ‘Om aim hreem kleem chamundaye vicche'(Extremely powerful Goddess Durga mantra-Mother Nature) etc.. These mantras creates vibrations of higher consciousness which supports and protects our family, friends, neighbors, state, country and even whole world.(If chanting anyone of these mantras will be done together by the people of an area, country or the world.)
Sleeping well at night after 2-3 hours from sunset is directly linked to a healthy and strong immune system.
To prevent being affected from illness caused by coronavirus, you must keep your JatharAgni(digestive fire) strong. Thus illness will not happen to you. To do that, follow your dinacharya( Daily routine) as mentioned above and follow the above guidelines. Instead of shaking hands, do Namaste which is a very beautiful Hindu gesture in which there is no direct hand-to-hand contact. So don’t worry, don’t be nervous with this COVID-19 pandemic. Stay happy, calm and confident in your homes as it is my firm believe that this pandemic will eradicated completely within a couple of months. Share and spread this vital information of great power of yoga, pranayamas and ayurveda against the destruction of COVID-19 pandemic globally with your friends, family members, relatives, colleagues and all others you know.
