Strengthen Ojas for better immunity.

Strengthen Ojas for Better Immunity

By Dr Rajvinder Kaur BAMS

Ayurveda has many strategies to help prevent and treat infections in the body. It’s not all about the seriousness of the infective agent, we have to take into account the immunity of the person and how strong the system is to keep the infection at bay.

When Food we eat gets properly digested it is metabolized to seven different tissues (Dhatus) in the body. Rasa, blood, muscle, fat, bone, bone marrow and reproductive tissues. The end product of good digestion is Ojas. When a person has strong digestion the transformation of food to different tissues and to Ojas happens properly. Good Ojas means strong immune system

Ojas

So Ojas is our immune shield

  • Warm cooked food, vegetables, beans, lentils, grains, good quality oil and grass-fed dairy help to give strong and clean digestion.
  • We should avoid heavy hard to digest foods, ice creams, cheeses, chocolate biscuits, cold drinks, frozen processed foods, etc.
  • Cooking with unrefined and cold-pressed oils aid digestion. Ghee is fuel for Ojas.
  • Ginger, turmeric tea with cinnamon and other seeds helps to clear ama (toxins) from the body.
Ginger tea

There is a big emphasis on daily routine in Ayurveda

  • Eating your main meal in the middle of the day helps to balance digestive fire. Tune in with your digestion, do you feel hungry or not? Practice fasting once a week if your digestion and elimination is not regular.
  • Going to bed by 10 pm helps the body to get into deep rest as after 10 pm your mind can get stimulated and the body does not go into deep rest.
  • Ayurveda rituals like oil pulling (swishing oil in your mouth for 10 minutes), Abhyanga (self-massage), Nasya Drops (MA735/MP16) in the nostrils, are all beneficial.

Performing Abhyanga

Performing Abhyanga (oil massage) helps to strengthen the immune system as it has a relaxing effect on the nervous system and it helps to stimulate the blood circulation which automatically helps to get rid of toxins and inflammation from the body, also oil on the body works as a barrier towards germs.

Nasya

Nasya, putting oil (MP16) into nostrils prevents bacteria and viruses from entering the respiratory tract.

Oil pulling

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling helps to kill germs in the mouth. A Clean tongue is a representation of Ojas. Most of these viruses and bacterias enter into the body through the mouth, so oral hygiene is very important to prevent lots of infectious and gut-related issues. Oil pulling is a simple technique to maintain oral hygiene and to not let these microorganisms thrive in the mouth.

To perform oil pulling, put a tablespoon of warm sesame oil in your mouth and swirl around like mouthwash and discard it properly into a bin and rinse the mouth with warm water.

Reduce Stress

Stress will weigh down the immune system of a person, so learn to manage stress better. Regular yoga and meditation are proven to put mind and body into a deep phase of rest and its rejuvenating for the whole physiology. Blissful joy (MA1402) is a wonder herb for calming the nervous system.

Take a technology detox

Further Advice

  • Technology detox (regularly taking the time completely away from all your digital devices for your better physical, emotional and mental health) once a week gives a big boost to the immune system.
  • Breathing in the fresh air, walking in the forest, walking with bare feet on grass and walking on the sand all these simple things helps to improve gut microbiome, which in turn strengthens the immune system.
  • Curry leaves works on the protein synthesis channels and is a natural ama cleanser.
  • Use Probiotics or natural homemade yoghurt for gut health.
  • Guduchi and Manjistha are natural blood, bone marrow, and liver cleansers.
  • Tulsi tea: Tulsi helps to detox and strengthen the respiratory tract.
  • Dry hibiscus petals into stewed fruits and porridge, or as a tea.
  • Amla (Indian gooseberry) powder added into honey with ginger as a wonderful source of vitamin C and is a very effective antiviral.
  • Chywanprash Made from amla and 52 herbs as a preventive to cold and flu and strengthen lungs.
  • Shirodara is a wonderful treatment to rejuvenate the physiology, strengthen the immune system.
Dr Rajvinder Kaur BAMS

Dr Rajvinder Kaur BAMS

Dr Rajvinder Kaur BAMS attained her Bachelor Degree in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery from “Shri Krishna Government Ayurvedic College” in the state of Haryana in India. This is a six-year degree course covering all aspects of Ayurvedic Medicine. Rajvinder also has a Diploma in “Naturopathi and Yoga Science” and is a qualified Yoga teacher. Rajvinder worked in General Medicine in India and specialised in women’s health care.

Dr Rajvinder is available for consultations and treatments in Dublin and Wicklow. She can be contacted on 089 4583241.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this document is presented for the sole purpose of imparting education on Maharishi AyurVeda and neither the information nor the products are intended to diagnose, treat, mitigate, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition or are pregnant or lactating, please consult a health professional and it is recommended that you speak with your physician before making significant changes to your diet or routine.