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THE AYURVEDIC VIEW ON IMMUNITY:
Turning the Heat Up on the Common Cold
Come Fall, more than maple leaves turn red. Ever noticed how many red-
nosed people you see in the stores at this time? Kleenex sales go up,
and antihistamines fly off the shelves. Chances are, even as you read
this, you're trying to stifle a sniffle.
Take heart -- you can win the cold war.
And yes, you can do it without the standard ammunition of pills and
rubs. Believe it or not, something as simple as sleeping on time
could be your greatest anti-cold weapon!
Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of healing, has an interesting
theory on disease. It believes that all disease happens because the
elements that make up our body go out of balance. The common cold,
for instance, strikes when the body's digestive fire or "agni" is
dampened. What causes that? Well, the cold weather itself! Yes, the
temperature outside dips, and with it, your immunity.
Now look what happens: the dimmed fires inside fail to burn body
toxins or "ama" fully. The "ama" accumulates, clogging the micro-
channels of the body and generating phlegm. Phlegm, or "kapha",
combined with toxins or "ama" makes mucus. Result: a case of the a-
tissues!
Ayurvedic vaidyas say your body at this time is a land ripe and ready
for virus attack. When your immunity is strong, the "beej bhoomi"
or "body soil" is infertile -- it does not let virus grow. But when
manured with "ama", the body soil becomes fertile. Time for virus and
bacteria to start taking root.
So much for the cause. Now for the cure.
The key, obviously, would lie in keeping the body fires burning
bright. This is easily achieved, once you understand that a lot of
Ayurvedic advice is plain common sense and logic. Renowned Ayurvedic
vaidya (expert) Ramakant Mishra gives you the must-dos and don't-
evers for this winter:
Diet
Decembrrrrr. Common sense should tell you it's the season to stay
away from cold foods like ice-cream and yogurt. So will a vaidya. He
will add that you should avoid tomatoes, eggplant and bananas -- for
they are "cold" foods that slow down the "agni".
Keep your insides warm with warm spices -- cumin is considered the
ace "ama" burner. Stack up your spice rack with "thermogenic" or heat-
generating spices like black pepper, coriander, and cumin. Clove,
boiled with milk, is excellent too.
Vaidyas say cakes and desserts need more fire to digest. But that
doesn't mean you have to ignore your sweet tooth all winter.
Metabolize the sugar better with bay leaf, cinnamon and cardamom. The
ideal winter dessert? Apple stewed the Ayurveda way: one Red
Delicious apple, pierced with 4 cloves and boiled. Once done, remove
the cloves and savor the clove-warmed, energy-enhancing fruit.
Trust in turmeric, the yellow spice that kills "ama" and builds
immunity. All it takes is a quarter teaspoon of turmeric in your
lentils and veggies. Crushed fresh ginger will combat the heaviness
of a "rich" meal.
Lifestyle:
Follow the middle path: don't skip meals or overeat.
Eat fresh, well-cooked food.
Start your day with two glasses of warm water.
Do not fast during winter -- fasting weakens the body's defenses
Eat a timely lunch and an early dinner for good digestion.
Sleep on time -- not later than 10 p.m. Restful sleep builds
essential energy or
Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended
to replace standard medical care or advice.
Copyright MAPI, 2002.
For more information on Ayurveda or to subscribe to free newsletters,
plaese visit http://www.mapi.com
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