Strengthening Immune System in Times of COVID-19
The scaring outburst of novel Covid-19 pandemic has engulfed the globe and the entire world is battling its debilitating effects as no system of medicine is having any experience to justify any approach to its prevention or management. Holding the belief that prevention is better than cure, the golden word coming to the rescue is age old tenets of IMMUNITY. The concerns regarding immunity have become far more relevant as scientists are working day and night to develop a vaccine but that’s a time-taking scientific process and we need to patiently wait for this. Thus, the only way to cope up is by improving your immunity so that even if this novel virus invades your body, you can fight against the pathogen effectively and prevent yourself from becoming critically ill.
There are simple public health practices to help reduce the spread of the corona virus infection: regular hand washing, wearing masks, avoid touching the face with unwashed hands, avoid close contact with sick people, and disinfecting frequently touched objects. Adequate nutrition is another important way to help reduce the risk and impact of virus infections, as well as to build a more resilient immune system over the long term. Therefore, there is a greater need to support our health and wellbeing, primarily our immune system. However, there’s no single pill or supplement you can take to boost your immune system.
1. Homoeopathy for Immunity
Our immune system is our body’s defence against harmful organisms and substances that causes sickness. Some people have good immunity and therefore less prone to infections, while those who have weaker immunity fall sick more often as they are susceptible to disease-causing microbes which makes us prone to illnesses and infections.
The conventional medical treatments today tend to focus on treating or controlling symptoms, however, what they fail to do is improve the body’s immune system. On the other hand homoeopathic therapeutics primarily attend to the goal of augmenting the person’s own inherent defences and immune system to defend and heal itself, and helps treat the root cause of frequent illnesses (low immunity), provide long-lasting relief and prevent recurrence of infections. Thus, Homoeopathic medicine can act as both preventive and curative medicine.
Homeopathy has been repeatedly used during various epidemics to improve immunity. In fact, the phrase, ‘genus epidemicus’ was coined by the founder of homoeopathy, Dr Samuel Hahnemann, to indicate the remedy which could serve as a prophylactic during epidemics. Homoeopathy has proved its worth in many epidemics like scarlet fever, yellow fever, cholera, Spanish flu etc to name a few.
These immunotherapy remedies have been used for over 200 years. The basis of homoeopathy, called the principle of similars, suggests that a micro dose of a substance will heal whatever pattern of symptoms this substance causes in large doses. The homeopathic practitioner takes a detailed history of the patient, analyses his symptoms, and then chooses a remedy to treat symptoms which when administered to healthy subjects correspond to the manifestations of the disorder (symptoms, clinical signs, pathological states) in the individual patient. Hence, it is always recommended to consult a specialized homeopath before you undergo any medication.
2. Basics of Healthy Lifestyle
Your first line of defence is to choose a healthy lifestyle alongside homeopathic treatment. Here are some tips that can help you.
- Eat healthy: Consumption of foods rich in Vitamin C and anti-oxidants such as dark green, red, yellow, and orange fruits and veggies, lemons, berries, amla, citrus fruits, kiwi, apples, red grapes, kale, onions, spinach, sweet potatoes, and carrots are known to boost immunity naturally. Intake of zinc, vitamin D, essential fatty acids EPA and DHA is also essential.
- Sufficient Sleep: Get minimum of 6-8 hours of sleep in a day. The body uses sleep as a means of healing itself,
- Practice yoga and deep breathing exercises to combat stress.
- Regular exercise: Exercise helps to reduce inflammation and accelerates the circulation of disease fighting white blood cells which help your body fight off infections. Exercise can help to boost immunity and prevent you from catching it in the first place. Exercise is also associated with the release of endorphins which are natural hormones that affect the brainin positive ways. They ease pain and promote a sense of relaxation and well-being – all of which can help you de-stress and sleep better, which in turn improve immunity.
- Follow basic hygiene protocols like washing your hands frequently
- Strengthen relationships
- Practice stress management as constant stress is deleterious to health because a steady cascade of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, weaken the immune system.
- Quit smoking
- If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation
3. ROLE OF YOGA
Yoga is one of the most effective and time-tested natural immunity boosters that can lead to a healthy sickness free body. Yoga is a holistic practise which helps lower stress hormones that compromise the immune system, conditions the lungs and respiratory tract, strengthens the nervous system, stimulates the lymphatic system to oust toxins from the body and brings oxygenated blood to the various organs to ensure their optimal function.
Since colds and flu, allergies, asthma etc attack the bronchial passages, it makes sense for conditioning the lungs and maximising one’s breathing capacity with PRANAYAMA. Prana refers to the universal life force and ayama means to regulate or lengthen. Pranayama means working in the dimension of prana and helps build resistance of the respiratory tract to preying organisms Taking daily conscious, mindful deep breaths helps to balance the nervous system, reinforces the respiratory system, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones and plays a major role in immune function.
About The Author
Dr. Shruti Gora is presently working as Chief Medical Officer (Homoeopathy) with Dept. of AYUSH, Govt. of NCT of Delhi. She has done her BHMS from Nehru Homoeopathy College, Del..
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