Coronavirus infection: Ayurvedic remedies to keep your immunity in action

Though ayurvedic medicinal practice can not be a substitute for vaccines and medicines, the herbs and spices have immense benefits for a human body. Since ages, Ayurvedic remedies have been passed on with proven health benefits. Be it chewing a small piece of ginger for bloating or having a tulsi-adrak chai to beat the common cold, Ayurvedic remedies have a special place in Indian households.

When COVID was just spotted and the COVID causing coronavirus was still a novel one, people adopted Ayurveda to boost their immunity. Every Indian household smelt of kada, the ayurvedic tonic comprising a number of herbs and spices.

Taking into account the common symptoms of COVID, here are few remedies that can actually help you beat COVID, if you are having symptoms like headache, sore throat, runny nose, etc.

Holy basil or Tulsi has both medicinal and religious significance in Indian households. It is very effective against the common cold.

"...studies reveal that tulsi has a unique combination of actions that include: Antimicrobial (including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antimalarial, anthelmintic), mosquito repellent, anti-diarrheal, anti-oxidant, anti-cataract, anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive, radioprotective, hepato-protective, neuro-protective, cardio-protective, anti-diabetic, anti-hypercholesterolemia, anti-hypertensive, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic, anti-pyretic, anti-allergic, immunomodulatory, central nervous system depressant, memory enhancement, anti-asthmatic, anti-tussive, diaphoretic, anti-thyroid, anti-fertility, anti-ulcer, anti-emetic, anti-spasmodic, anti-arthritic, adaptogenic, anti-stress, anti-cataract, anti-leukodermal and anti-coagulant activities," says a research study.

If you have phlegm due to cold, you can eat 3-4 leaves of Tulsi everyday.

Read: Omicron less likely to put patients in long COVID; details here

The gingerols and paradols present in ginger have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Ginger also has has several terpene compounds such as β-bisabolene, α-curcumene, zingiberene, α-farnesene, and β-sesquiphellandrene which make it a strong antioxidant and also account for its strong aroma.

To beat COVID symptoms one can boil a dry ginger in 2 cups of water and sip it slowly throughout the day.

The ultimate Ayurvedic remedy, Triphala, is actually a mixture of three vital herbs: amla or Indian gooseberry, bhibhitaki or beleric (Terminalia bellirica) and haritaki or black myrobalan.

One can consume Triphala with hot water as it is said it helps in bowel movement. It can also be consumed as tea. The best way to have Triphala is at night, before going to bed.

Another effective Ayurvedic remedy to beat cold and sore throat is a mixture of black pepper, long pepper and ginger powder.

As per experts, this mixture is anti-inflammatory in nature and boosts the immunity.

To ease the sharp taste of black pepper one can mix honey in this mixture. Experts suggest licking this mixture throughout the day.

When COVID was new to all of us, the Ministry of Health had advised people to try Ayurvedic remedies. One of such remedies was milk and turmeric.

Commonly known as Haldi Doodh, this concoction of milk and turmeric is widely used in our homes when someone catches cold.

To get the benefits of this, one should consume half teaspoon Haldi (turmeric) powder in 150 ml hot milk once or twice a day.

No Indian is known to herbal tea or desi kadha. Even before vaccinations were found out, Indians drank kadha every single morning to keep their immunity in action against the coronavirus.

A typical kadha is prepared from Tulsi (Basil), Dalchini (Cinnamon), Kalimirch (Black pepper), Shunthi (Dry Ginger) and Munakka (Raisin) and is consumed once or twice a day. One can add jaggery (natural sugar) and / or fresh lemon juice as per taste.