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Influenza, & Immunity

Natural Immunity

Swine flu (swine influenza A H1N1)

It is still difficult for the experts to predict what will happen. The authorities have put great attention on protecting the public from a viral pandemic in the UK in the last five years and have issued advice to the public on what to do if you suspect that you have flu.

To compliment the health authorities advice Maharishi Ayurveda offers some simple steps you can take to help support your natural immunity.

The Ayurvedic Approach

The best approach is to have a consultation with your Maharishi Ayurveda Practitioner to get comprehensive health advice that takes into account your personal circumstances.

The Ayurvedic approach to immunity is based on the beej-bhumi (seed-land) theory. When the land is fertile all the seeds geminate and grow strongly and when it is infertile few seeds germinate and those that do grow weakly.

In this analogy the body is the land, viruses the seeds and fertility is ama - toxins produced as a result of weak digestion.

When the body contains ama it is a more or less fertile ground for infection.  Conversely ojas, the product of a healthy digestion, is the basis of coherent functioning of the mind and body and this in turn is a basis of resistance to infection.

Ayurveda provides the knowledge and techniques for minimising ama and maximising ojas and Maharishi Vedic Science  provides the complete range of Vedic technologies for the perfect health and immunity of the individual, family and society as a whole.

Maharishi Vedic Science - Links to Related Sites

Panchakarma

Panchakarma is Ayurveda's main cleansing and rejuvenating tool. It is a series of gentle massage, steam and intestinal cleansing treatments that remove ama from deep within the tissues and strengthen the digestive fire so that ama does not get formed in future.

Panchakarma treatments should be performed under the supervision of an Ayurvedic physician. But if you can't go to a Maharishi Ayurveda Health Centre you can still follow an Ayurvedic regimen at home to cleanse the body of ama.

Ayurveda Home Detox Programme

Maharishi Ayurveda Health Centre

Diet

If you feel less hungry at mealtimes than usual, or if you feel heavy and dull in the two hours immediately after a meal, these are indications that your digestive fire is burning low and ama is accumulating.  Follow the Ayurvedic Dietary Guidelines as much as possible. Stimulate the physiology through moderate exercise and spicy, bitter and astringent foods.

Cook your food with immune-enhancing spices such as cumin, fennel, coriander, turmeric, ginger and black pepper. This enhances agni (the digestive fire) and reduce ama. Try our Digestive and Immunity Spice Mixes. You can also take one tablet of the Maharishi Ayurveda herbal supplements Herbal Digest (mild) or Digest Plus (stronger) with each meal to enhance digestion.

Take two to three tablets of Herbal Cleanse at night to support regular elimination if necessary.

Dietary Guidelines

Digestive and Immunity Spice Mixes

Herbal Digest

Digest Plus

Herbal Cleanse

Herbal/Mineral Supplements

Herbal/mineral preparations are generally not very effective until any excess Ama is dealt with. When you have undertaken cleansing is the most effective time to start taking Maharishi Amrit Kalash, the premier supplement to build overall vitality and strengthen the immune system. The Nectar paste (MA4) supports all aspects of digestion the thirteen different agnis that are responsible for the whole digestion, absorption and metabolism.

The Maharishi Ayurveda supplement most targeted towards supporting natural resistance to viral infection is Meda Tablets (MA631), also known as Rasayana for Men. It is a renowned rasayana containing 33 herbs and minerals. The main ingredient is the mysterious substance called shilajit which is obtained from between rocks in mountainous areas but is basically of plant origin. The Ayurvedic texts sing the praises of the immuno-supportive effects of shilajit for both men and women, young and old. However It takes more than 3 months to prepare shilajit in the most effective way.

Maharishi Amrit Kalash

Meda Tablets (MA631)

Additional Herbal Support

Cold Season Defence (MA1404) offers nutritional support to the body's natural immunity. It helps regulate fluid balance and mucus in the lungs and sinuses; remove toxins and shleshma from the lungs, and cleanses the micro-circulatory channels that have been blocked by ama. It supports immunity and removes toxins that weaken resistance.

You can also drink a warm, immune-enhancing tea such as Sniffle Free Tea, twice a day with your meal or after it. The herbs in this thermogenic tea will help balance Kapha immediately.

If your head is feeling heavy or congested, you can also use Breathe Easy Aroma Oil to help create balance and clear the sinuses.

Breathe Easy tablets and Cold Season Defence tablets are immune-supporting enhancing herbal supplements that you can take during the winter season to reduce the risk of forestall respiratory problems.

Breathe Easy tablets are aimed more at supporting the upper respiratory system, and the body's natural resistance to the cold. Breathe Easy helps clear the channels, and when that happens, shleshma can be drained from the body. It strengthens the digestive fire, balances the production of moisture and mucus, supports resistance to cold temperatures, and enhances the bioavailability and circulation of vital nutrients.

Cold Season Defence

Sniffle Free Tea

Breathe Easy Aroma Oil

Breathe Easy

Lifestyle Tips for Boosting Immunity

In cold weather a warm bath each day is very necessary to warm the body, open the pores, and regulate your body's internal thermostat. This is important in both Vata and Kapha season (October-May).

Don't forget to do your daily Ayurvedic oil massage before your bath. Daily massage is very important for opening the channels, stimulating the digestion, removing toxins from the body, and pacifying the doshas. It is especially soothing to Vata dosha, which is seated in the skin. All of these factors make massage a vital therapy in strengthening immunity and preventing respiratory problems. (It's important to note that massage is NOT recommended if you already have a cough or other respiratory imbalance, because it can push the ama deeper into the system. Also refrain from a full-body massage during menstrual flow.)

The Vata, Pitta and Kapha Massage Oils are prepared with herbs so that the oil soluble ingredients are absorbed into the skin with the oil and help balance the named dosha.

Vata, Pitta and Kapha Massage Oils

Sleep & Exercise

Adequate sleep is important, especially  in Vata season, as it counteracts the lively, moving Vata. It is also essential for anyone in any season who wants to enhance immunity and resist disease.

Take Blissful Sleep Basic so support refreshing sleep.

If you have trouble falling asleep (a Vata imbalance) also take Blissful Sleep Vata;

If you wake frequently, especially between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m. with energy (a Pitta imbalance) also take Blissful Sleep Pitta;

If you sleep eight hours through the night but still feel exhausted when you wake up (a Kapha imbalance) also take Blissful Sleep Kapha.

Exercise is another important aspect of the Ayurvedic routine, because it helps enhance agni and burns away toxins. It's important to choose the right exercise for your body type and for the season, though. Daily walks and yoga postures are good for balancing all the doshas and especially suit Vata types, while more vigorous daily exercise is required by Kapha types to stay healthy. Exercise is especially important during Kapha season, because it helps to boost agni and your immunity when toxins are flooding the body.

Blissful Sleep Basic

Blissful Sleep Vata

Blissful Sleep Pitta

Blissful Sleep Kapha

Meda Tablets

It is a renowned rasayana containing 33 herbs and minerals

The Maharishi Ayurveda supplement most targeted towards supporting natural resistance to viral infection is Meda Tablets (MA631).

Meda Tablets - Now Available

Product information (Adobe PDF file)

60 tablets, 30g - approximately 15-30 days supply.