Strengthen Your Immunity

A little Ayurvedic wisdom goes a long way to helping you navigate flu season without catching a bug. Ayurveda offers many simple and easy practices to help build & protect your immune system. Here's a few tips.

Effect of Cold on the Immune System

Contact with the cold reduces immunity. Your respiratory tract is especially vulnerable when the temperature drops. Throughout the fall, your body walks a delicate tightrope - too much blood in the surface (skin, respiratory membranes) and your body temperature will drop. Too little blood in the surface and your skin's immunity will decrease. When you breathe cold air, it makes your mucus membranes cold, which retards your body's ability to fight disease. Your nose gets stuffy when it's cold because your nasal passages get swollen, an adaption which prevents you from breathing cold air through your nose. Unfortunately, this swelling traps bacteria in your sinuses, and your body has to fight off these trapped bugs.

If your throat feels cold, or your sinuses are swollen due to cold (a stuffy nose), you may be under-dressed. In that case, find a warm place to recover. If you catch a chill, for any reason, wrap yourself in blankets or warm clothing until you feel very warm (but avoid heavy sweating). Before you venture back outdoors, don a scarf, a hat, a warm sweater and a cozy jacket. Keep your neck, head, chest, and feet warm. These activities will boost your immune confidence, dispel immune crushing coldness, and restore your strength to fight off a fall cold.

In the past, a common cold used to mean a fall cold - characterized by a surprise cold snap on a day when you are under-dressed. It takes your body all autumn long to develop adequate defenses and insulation for wintry weather. A cold snap can overwhelm these defenses and cause sickness.

Diet to Boost Immunity

Eat mindfully and prioritize foods that are appropriate for your constitution and the season. Chew your food well and avoid distractions while eating to support healthy digestion. Avoid eating at least 2 hours before bedtime.

Sleep to Boost Immunity

Incorporate a supportive night routine that will prepare you for a restful sleep. Massage the scalp and feet, diffuse calming essential oils such as lavender and jasmine. Turn off electronics early and dim the lights. Journal or meditate and take a few slow, deep breaths to relax the mind.

Exercise to Boost Immunity

Incorporate a simple daily exercise routine to help support lymphatic circulation. In Ayurveda, consistency is usually better than intensity. If you overdo it, you'll hurt your body and find it harder to keep up the pace. A five minute stretch can be a great start. Take a walk in the morning, do some yoga or any exercise at all to get your circulation up.

Clear the Sinuses with Neti

Ayurveda recommends washing your sinuses daily in the morning and before bed with a neti pot. Cleansing the sinuses can help to remove excess mucus due to congestion and rid the nostrils of pollen and other allergens.

Herbs to Boost Immunity

Echinacea, tulsi (holy basil) and osha tinctures are immune boosting favorites to keep on hand. Begin taking them at the first sign of an illness, such as a tightness in your neck, swelling in your throat, or a warm forehead. Taken early enough, these herbs will prevent illness from settling into your body. If you miss that window, take them anyway - they will shorten the length of time you are sick and help you recover faster.