Experiencing mild symptoms of Covid-19? If yes, along with consulting your doctor, there are a few kitchen remedies and lifestyle hacks that can help you.
According to the director of AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), Dr. Randeep Guleria, most people in home isolation or in the hospital do not actually need any specific treatment, but they are in panic.
He says, “More than 85% of people will recover without any specific treatment. Most of them may have symptoms like common cold and sore throat and over a period of 5 to 7 days, they will recover with symptomatic treatment.”
With that, there is good enough reason for you to show yourself some love and care in some time-tested ways at this hour.
8 simple daily hacks to boost immunity
Ayurveda holds a treasure trove of secrets on effective ways to improve one’s immunity. Here are some simple hacks from Ayurveda that you can add to your routine:
1. Lemon & honey
Drink warm water with lemon juice and honey as soon as you get up in the morning. This concoction strengthens immunity and helps shed those extra kilos as well.
2. Drink Tulsi water throughout the day
Tulsi leaves have antiviral properties. If you can keep a bottle of water with a few drops or leaves of Tulsi while you are working or when you are in the kitchen,it acts as a significant aid in boosting your immunity.
3. Have chyawanprash in the morning
Chyawanprash consists mainly of amla, rich in antioxidants, and a lot of other immunity-boosting herbs. Those who are diabetic must make sure that they consume sugar-free chyawanprash, ugar dampens our immunity.
4. Use alternatives to white sugar
Whether you eat sweets or drink sherbet –please make sure you are eliminating white sugar from them for the next few days. One teaspoon of white sugar reduces your immunity by 50% for the next 2 hours.
Use jaggery, honey or brown sugar as a substitute for white sugar.
5. Good sleep
If we don’t sleep for 7-8 hours, and only sleep for 4-5 hours, there is an impact on the immune system to the extent of 30-50%. So, having sound sleep is very important. There are several ways by which you can improve your sleep.
6. Keep mind stress-free & relaxed
Studies show that when our mind is stress free and happy, the body heals faster. These times we must remember that we should not only take care of our body but the mind as well. So, refrain from watching the news and filling your mind with negativity. Include pranayama and meditation in your routine, practices proven to reduce stress and anxiety.
7. Drink immunity-boosting herbal tea
Kitchen herbs and spices, turmeric especially, are very good for strengthening immunity. Kaada or herbal tea uses the goodness of these kitchen spices to boost immunity. Though do note that, it is advisable to not have too much of herbal tea, as that can create excessive heat in the body.
Recipe for herbal tea:
– Boil two cups of water along with 2 black peppers, one-fourth cinnamon, and some tulsi leaves.
– Filter it and add a teaspoon of jaggery.
8. Follow food routine:
A few food habits can go a long way in sustaining your immunity.
- Keep your body hydrated. Drink plenty of warm water throughout the day. Do not make it excessively hot.
- Have lemon or fresh citrus juices with honey or jaggery.
- Use certain spices like cumin seeds, turmeric, ajwain, cinnamon, black pepper, cloves and cardamom in your daily food. These are natural immunity boosters.
- Prepare food that is low on oil and fats.
- Have a balanced diet that is protein rich. Have pulses, khichdi, boiled vegetables or any of the fibre rich foods which keep the immunity high.
- Have plenty of coloured fruits and vegetables, wash them thoroughly and consume them.
- Maintain your alkaline levels with zinc rich foods like oats, spinach, milk, cheese, pumpkin seeds, cashews, curd and dry fruits. Zinc helps to build immunity and also keeps the nervous system healthy.
- Keep some of your temptations at bay: Doing that is like penance which is a short-term sacrifice for long-term benefit.
- Avoid cold beverages, canned juices, and aerated drinks.
- Avoid white sugar, confectionery, baked products, sweets, chocolates and ice creams.
- Avoid snacking oily and junk food.
- Reduce the amount of trans and omega 6 fatty acids, basically vegetable oils.
- Cut down on alcohol and smoking.
Treating mild symptoms with kitchen remedies
Congested chest
1. Inhale steam: Put mint, tulsi leaves and ajwain seeds during steam inhalation. Its effect becomes much stronger that way.
2.Rub some eucalyptus or camphor oil: When you rub some eucalyptus oil or camphor oil on the chest, it eases out the inflammation in the alveoli, the small sacs in your lungs which help in inflow and outflow of oxygen. Their inflammation causes breathing problems.
Coughing
- 1. Gargling: Gargle with warm water mixed with some turmeric and salt in it. Gargling eases throat pain as well.
- 2. Steam: Steam with mint leaves or ajwain seeds also helps in curing dry cough.
- 3. Clove powder: Take clove powder with honey twice or thrice a day. It relieves throat irritation.
- 4. Special ginger & coriander drink: Take a handful of coriander seeds and dry ginger and boil it with two glasses of water, filter it and drink it.
Headaches
- 1. Warm water & cold compresses: Keep a warm bucket of water in front of you, and immerse both your feet in it. At the same time, keep a cold compress on the head. If you have an ice pack or something, keep that on your head. It takes the blood flow of your body directly to your feet and it constricts the vessels in your brain. When the blood flows towards the feet, it reduces inflammation of the blood vessels in your head.
- 2. Aroma therapy: The aroma of Lavender oil or Tulsi oil eases out the respiratory system. If you have either of the oils at your home, eat it in an aroma vessel and inhale the vapors.
- 3. Heliotherapy: Exposing oneself to the sun and air in the morning is called heliotherapy. This will improve your Vitamin D levels, which will reduce stress and of course, build immunity. It also helps in managing any symptoms of flu.
Bodyache
Take 2 tablets of Ashwagandha with warm water twice a day. Alternatively, ten grams of Ashwagandha powder can also be taken with warm milk.
Ayurvedic processes to restrict virus from entering the respiratory tract
1. Lubricate your nose
If you take some desi ghee, or coconut oil or sesame oil and rub it in your nostrils in morning and evening, it helps to lubricate the entire nasal passage. It restricts the virus from entering into your respiratory tract.
2. Oil pulling
Take one tablespoon of sesame or coconut oil in your mouth, but do not drink it. Swish it in the mouth for 2 to 3 minutes and spit it off, followed by rinsing your mouth with warm water.
Happy healing!
Written based on inputs by Dr. Anjali Ashok, Vaidya, Sri Sri Tattva
