With the pandemic raging for the past couple of years, millions have lost their lives to this disease and many more millions have struggled to get past the terrible after effects of this ailment. The human organ that has taken the biggest hit when afflicted by Covid has been the lungs. Many people, who have recovered, still carry scars on their lungs, which unfortunately impact their day to day living. Ayurveda has remedies that can help you strengthen your lungs and help you manage it better.
Some of the common respiratory issues being faced post Covid include:
a. Cold
b. Asthma
c. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
d. Pneumonia
e. Tuberculosis
f. Allergies and Infections
g. Bronchitis
Even though Covid would have impacted your lung health, those having a history of lung and respiratory diseases are the one who are the most affected. Your overall lung health is normally dependent on the following factors:
- Diet
- Levels of Pollution
- Seasonal allergies
- Lack of Exercise
- Low Immunity
- Smoking
Ayurvedic therapies, being conducted by leading Ayurvedic Hospitals in Bangalore and Kerala, which help in strengthening your lungs include:
a. Nasya Karma: This therapy includes the application of medicated drops through the nostrils which prevents allergies caused by air pollutants. To be done daily under medical supervision, this helps in flushing out pollutants from the nasal cavity and prevents the pollutants from crossing the nasal pathway.
b. Gandusha Karma/Oil pulling: When lungs get impacted, the first reaction is to start breathing through the mouth. This is an unhealthy practice as such breathing can allow pollutants to enter the body, thereby lowering immunity and increases chances of diseases and allergies. Oil pulling therapy provides the barrier to prevent the entry of pollutants through the mouth. It cleans the harmful bacteria and strengthens the mucous lining of the mouth to fight various allergens present in the air.
c. Breathing exercises: Breathing techniques like pranayama, kapal bhati etc. can be of significant help in cleansing the airway and combating the ill effects of Covid.
d. Abhayanga/Massage: It helps in improving blood circulation and getting rid of toxins that have entered the bloodstream by various means like inhalation or skin. Regular Abhyanga with sesame oil or other medicated oils infused with herbs increase the body’s immunity and helps keep the person energized.
e. Swedana/Fomentation: This is a procedure to induce sweating. The sweating caused by boiling medicinal herbs helps to liquefy and melt the adherent doshas (toxins) and expel them in an efficient manner, thus removing pollutants from our body. Facial steam can also be taken by adding eucalyptus oil, basil oil, tea tree oil, and carom seeds to cleanse and strengthen the nasal barrier for pollutants.
f. Dhawana: Washing the skin and bathing with medicated water helps in flushing out the pollutants stuck to the skin and mucous membrane.
g. Diet and herbs: Fresh healthy food and Ayurvedic herbs, under medical supervision, can also assist in making sure that your lungs regain their health. Ingredients like ginger, carom seeds, black pepper and cardomon can be included in the diet. Herbs like Tulsi, Pippali, Triphala, mulethi, Ashwagandha, Shankhpushpi, Shatavari and Brahmi can be consumed as advised by your Ayurvedic physician; in order to strengthen the respiratory and immune system.
Itoozhi Ayurveda is a traditional Ayurvedic Hospital in Kerala, with operations in Bangalore. They specialize in lifestyle treatments including Lung therapy, ENT treatments, Weight Loss treatments, Panchakarma and Eye diseases.
