Boost Your Immune System with Ayurveda

As we move through Vata season, dryness and cold dominate our bodies making us feel more tired and weak. Vata can influence how we feel in our bodies, leaving us with the feelings of anxiety, low mood and difficulties with sleeping. These are signs of Vata imbalance in our bodies. Spices can help us to feel more energised and prevent any autumn/early winter flu.

How to balance our stress levels?

As our energy levels drop down, we feel more stressed about not being able to keep up with the fast-paced world. If we experience too much stress, we might feel overwhelmed which lowers our performance and hinders our cognitive and emotional abilities. To feel more balanced throughout this season, Tory advises us to take 1/2 teaspoon of Ashwagandha 3x a day and swish it down with warm water. Ashwagandha, also called “Indian Winter Cherry” or “Indian Ginseng” can be found in India, Africa and parts of the Middle East. It has been long used in Ayurveda to increase the energy and reduce pain and anxiety. Ashwagandha helps to normalize our cortisol levels, thus reducing stress and anxiety in our body, leaving us with an energised and calm feeling.

Boost your immune system

With the temperatures dropping down, our first defence system in our body is lowered leaving our bodies vulnerable to diseases. When we have a strong immune system it fights off pathogens, bacterias and viruses and helps to prevent us from infections and diseases. To boost the immune system we can use the combination of turmeric and honey. Mix the honey and turmeric in the ratio of 1:1 and use 1x- 2x a day one teaspoon. You may also add a black pepper to clean the lungs a bit more. Once you get a cold, you can use this remedy to fight it off. Use the same combination but take it in a following manner:

Day 1- take a teaspoon every hour

Day 2 - take a teaspoon every 2 hrs

Day 3 - take a teaspoon every 3-4hrs

Additionally, Roos advises to mix some warm water with 1/2 teaspoons of turmeric and 1/2 teaspoon of salt whenever we feel a sore-throat coming. We use this as a gargle anytime we feel the pain in our throat.

Digestion & well-being

Cardamon is a kitchen spice that (like most spices) adds flavor to our dishes while also giving health benefits to our bodies. It stimulates Agni (the digestive fire), relieves constipation, flatulence and bloating. During the Vata season cardamom is used as one of the ingredients of the ‘sweet spice mix’ to bake cookies and cakes. If you add a pinch of cardamom to your coffee, like they do in the Middle East, it will reduce the negative effect of the caffeine on the nervous system and will reduce the acid effect on your stomach. If you don’t drink coffee, cardamon is the most common ingredient of chai, a fragrant spiced tea, very popular in India that is becoming more and more present in western cafes.

a piece from the upcoming ebook ‘Kitchen Spices & Herbs as a Remedy’ by Patricia Veltri and Sylvana Pronk

These are simple remedies which you can prepare at your house to protect yourself during flu season. Stay healthy!