The arrival of the monsoon season brings much relief from the scorching summer heat. But, with this sudden swipe in the temperature your immune system also receives a hit by allergies and respiratory illnesses.
The damp and moist environment during this time activates the bacteria and viruses and makes you more susceptible to infections such as the common cold, flu, and waterborne diseases. To keep yourself safe and fight off any disease that comes your way, you need to boost your immunity from time to time.
Luckily, you can do that naturally, by using ayurvedic herbs in your daily routine. In this article, we have shared 5 Ayurvedic herbs to boost your immune system.
Explore Krishna Ayurveda’s Immunity Boosters
What is the immune system?
Various other systems of your body have different, easily identifiable organs and tissues, but it’s not the same with your immune system. This is a complex network that is made up of numerous organs (like the spleen and lymph nodes), tissues, cells (such as white blood cells), and molecules (like antibodies) that circulate throughout your body.
The immune system is a multilayer shield that works hard to protect your body against invaders like bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and cancer cells. When it works correctly, it helps your body get rid of these germs and fight off infections and diseases to keep you healthy. It also limits the harm that invaders can do if they’re inside your body and aids in healing any damage that occurs in any area of your body.
Every time you suffer from a health issue this natural defence system destroys the microbe and keeps a memory of it. So, the next time the same microbes enter your body, the immune system recognises and defeats it quickly before it can multiply and make you feel sick.
However, when your immune system becomes weak due to an unhealthy lifestyle and poor nutrition, germs and other abnormal cells in your body cause diseases and infections like colds and flu easily. Such infections have many different strains and getting exposed to one type doesn’t give you immunity against the others.
Thus, maintaining a balanced immune system is of the utmost importance at every stage of life.
Here are 5 Ayurvedic herbs to boost your immune system
1. Tulsi (Holy Basil)
Tulsi is a wonder plant that is loaded with medicinal properties. This is the reason why it is a go-to ingredient in home remedies like kadha and balm for the common cold and flu. The bitter and slightly astringent leaves of tulsi have immense anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties that make them nature’s best antibiotics. It is also rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that help locate harmful bacteria and viruses in your body and destroy them.
Tulsi also has adaptogenic properties, which means it can help your body adapt to different types of stressors. Stress makes your immune system weak, thus by reducing it you can maintain a strong immune response.
Ways to use tulsi for immunity boosting
Ayurveda recommends that one should start their day with two to three fresh Tulsi leaves on an empty stomach every day.You can either chew them raw or boil a glass of water, add fresh Tulsi leaves and ajwain, and drink it. If you can’t handle the bitter taste of Tulsi, use the following Ayurvedic products that will provide equal benefits.
Also Read: 5 Amazing Benefits of Tulsi for Skin
2. Ashwagandha ( Indian ginseng)
This is one of the most popular Ayurvedic herbs to boost your immune system. Ashwagandha has been used in a wide range of medicines for thousands of years because it activates disease-fighting immune cells in your body. It makes your body resilient against infections and illnesses.
It also reduces the stress hormone cortisol, which can weaken your immune response when levels are too high. Overall, Ashwagandha reduces stress and anxiety and improves your sleep cycles, which is important for a healthy immune response.
Not only this but Ashwagandha is also used as a natural remedy by diabetes patients to reduce blood sugar levels naturally.
How to take ashwagandha for immune support
Though ashwagandha is a powerful herb, its effects are not immediate, so you have to take it regularly to notice its effects. Take any of the following ashwagandha supplements after breakfast or after eating a small snack.
Also Read: Ayurvedic Benefits of Ashwagandha
3. Giloy (Guduchi)
Giloy is the ultimate immunity booster that has been used and advocated in Indian medicine for ages. It has anti-inflammatory and antipyretic (fever-reducing) properties that make it useful for building up your immune system.
The herb is packed with powerful antioxidants, which means it can protect your body cells from harmful free radicals that weaken the immune system. Giloy is also beneficial for detoxifying your body; it purifies your blood, prevents bacteria from growing, and aids in fighting off diseases.
Some other benefits of Giloy that can help your immune system function better include improving digestion and liver health, reducing stress and anxiety, controlling high cholesterol, and many more.
How to have Giloy to boost immunity
Take 30 ml of Krishna’s Giloy Juice in a glass and add the same quantity of warm water to it. Consume this every day on an empty stomach in the morning and 30 minutes after dinner.
You could also have one tsp of Krishna’s Giloy Powder, mix it in a full glass of water, and drink it on an empty stomach in the morning and 30 minutes after dinner.
Also Read: What Are The Health Benefits of Giloy in Ayurveda?
4. Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
This sour and bitter-tasting fruit is considered a powerful superfood in Ayurveda. It is one of the richest natural sources of Vitamin C, which is known to have antioxidant and immunity-boosting properties. Vitamin C improves the activity of macrophages and other immune cells, and the antioxidants neutralize harmful free radicals that cause cell damage, premature ageing, and other health issues.
Amla also has anti-cancer properties and may help prevent the growth of cancer cells. It also protects your liver from damage and improves its function.
How to have Amla
You can consume it in raw form or as a refreshing amla juice, it is equally beneficial. If giving it to your child, you can use amla murabba (amla boiled with jaggery) or Chyawanprash.
If you are looking for a concoction of herbs for healthy hair, skin, digestion, as well as immunity, try Krishna’s Aloe-Amla Mix Juice.
5. Neem
Ayurveda considers neem a blood purifier and thus it is used widely as an immunity booster. It is very effective in cleaning toxins and impurities from your blood and keeps you safe from harmful pathogens. It also has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties that play an important role in flushing away foreign invaders from your body.
Though neem is commonly used to treat skin conditions, it can also be beneficial for building overall immunity if consumed in the form of leaves, oil, or supplements.
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