It seems the season has brought plenty of colds and flu for everyone.  Our immune systems are challenged and there is a growing desire for natural, effective remedies.  Typical for the season, the weather is either cold and wet or cold and dry (and the occasional spurts of warm weather don't help to boost our immunity either!).  Ayurveda offers many natural remedies for cold and flu as well as ways to strengthen immunity and prevent future illness.

 

     Ayurveda describes cold and flu as being primarily due to an increase in vata (space & air) and kapha (water & earth) doshas.  Vata dosha is cold and dry.  Kapha dosha is cold and wet.  To restore balance and health we want to use the ayurvedic principle of similarities and opposites to decrease the cold and dry/wet qualities and increase heat, or pitta dosha. 

 

     It's important to note that in Ayurveda, there is a strong association between the digestive fire (agni) and immunity.  If the body cannot process and utilize the nutrients from the foods we eat, then it will not have the strength it needs to fight off illness.  The seasonal guidelines and cold and flu remedies mentioned below all make use of this principle. 

 

Ayurvedic remedies for cold and flu. 

     In The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies, Dr. Vasant Lad lists several herbal formulas for cold and flu. Ginger, cinnamon, lemongrass, cardamom, and holy basil are used to make teas, and honey is recommended as a sweetener.  Here's one tea formula Dr. Lad recommends:

- 2 parts ginger

- 3 parts cinnamon

- a pinch of cardamom

Steep one teaspoon of this formula in a cup of hot water for 10 - 15 minutes.  Strain it.  Add a half to one full teaspoon of honey. 

 

Other remedies include taking half a teaspoon of the ayurvedic formula Sitopaladi two or three times a day, or the combination of a half teaspoon of fennel seed powder mixed with one teaspoon of natural sugar. 

 

     A personal favorite of mine to fight off a cold/flu is a mixture of honey and turmeric.  Honey boosts immunity and reduces kapha.  Turmeric is a digestive aid (strengthens agni) and a natural antibiotic. 

 

     For cooking, Maharishi Ayurveda has recommended an "Immunity Booster Seasoning."

It's full of digestive herbs and spices that will strengthen agni and thereby boost immunity.

- 6 parts turmeric

- 3 parts ground cumin

- 3 parts ground coriander

- 6 parts ground fennel

- 1 part powdered dry ginger

- 1 part ground black pepper

- 1/4 part ground cinnamon

Mix the spices together.  For cooking, add a teaspoon of this mixture to a tablespoon of ghee (clarified butter, can be found at Fresh Air).  Sautee until the spices release their aroma.  Then sautee steamed vegetables in the spice-ghee mix, or add the spice-ghee mix to rice or other grains. 

 

     Ayurveda also makes use of yoga and pranayama to prevent cold and flu.  Inversions like headstand and shoulderstand are recommended if the individual is capable of doing these.  Spinal twists like marichyasana (a spinal twist while in a seated position) and jathara parivartanasana (spinal twist in a reclining position) are also recommended.

     Among the pranayamas (breathing techniques), ujjayi and bhastrika pranayama ('breath of fire') can be very helpful in preventing and even reducing cold and flu.  They can be practiced during illness as long as the airway is not blocked.  Bhastrika is especially useful for increasing the digestive fire and improving digestion.  It's performed by doing rounds of forceful (but not straining) inhalations and exhalations.  It strengthens the lungs (a cold and flu target) and heats the body. 

*Remember that one should never strain during yoga or pranayama practice, and that these techniques should be learned from a certified instructor. 

 

     According to Ayurveda, winter is a time when vata and kapha doshas are more easily put out of balance.  The imbalances of these doshas frequently result in cold and flu during the winter season.  We can boost our immunity by strengthening our agni, or digestive fire.  Agni can be strengthened with a few of the natural ayurvedic approaches to health -- nutrition, herbs and spices, yoga and pranayama. 

 

Peace and Good Health!

 

*The above information is for educational purposes only.  It is not meant to treat, diagnose, or cure any disease or illness.  It is recommended that before starting to use any of the information above that you consult with your trained health professional.