With people across the globe infected with Corona virus, it has indeed become an economic and social threat.
In Wuhan, China, the very first Corona virus case surfaced in 2019. Presently, it has managed to spread significantly to South Korea, Italy and Iran including India and the U.S. The W.H.O (World Health Organization) on 11th February 2020 had declared the current situation to be pandemic and named the disease ‘COVID-19’. It is also popularly termed as ‘2019-nCoV’ or ‘2019 novel coronavirus’. The term ‘COVID-19’ has the letters ‘CO’ meaning ‘corona’, ‘VT; meaning ‘virus’ & ‘D’ for disease. This outbreak as declared by the WHO is ‘public health emergency with great international concern’. Primarily, declaration was because of the concern of the virus causing major blowout in those countries suffering from poor health systems.
The article is not meant to make any claims to provide perfect cure to those infected with coronavirus. Rather, the common belief is that following Ayurveda and Yoga, it can help develop better immunity as well as reduce kapha. This way, the body is made less prone to get affected with coronavirus.
Is coronavirus a contagious disease? How it spreads?
Firstly this is not any airborne disease. But this communicable virus does spread easily with mucus droplets through air released by mucus and respiratory track by the infected patient as he/she talks, breathes, sneezes or coughs.
Who needs to take great care?
Attending medical staffs and doctors are required to be much more vigilant as they deal with infected patients as the chances of them contracting this disease are very high. Also people with low immunity such as old people, pregnant woman and small children might get affected.
Symptoms & signs
Both human beings and animals are likely to get affected with corona virus. Several nervous and respiratory symptoms are noticed like giddiness, pneumonia and common cold. The respiratory system when affected could fail. Vital organs in severe cases like brain, liver and heart functions could get affected.
On getting infected, the symptoms of Coronavirus may show up in about 2-14 days. Hence, what are the typical symptoms and signs?
- Respiratory system: Few symptoms may emerge like cough, sore throat, breathlessness, headache, running nose and tiredness. With regards to critical cases, patients may suffer from septic shock, respiratory failure and/or multiple organ failure/dysfunction.
- Digestive system: Abdomen pain combined with vomiting and diarrhoea.
Muscular system: Body ache and fatigue. - Nervous system: Demylination may be caused by Coronavirus in the central nervous system, while the body and brain experiences impaired coordination. Source
- Immune or Lymphatic system: Fever
Mild cases might resemble bad cold or flu. But people might pass on the virus unknowingly even before symptoms are experienced.
General precautionary measures to be taken
The best way to avoid getting infected by such epidemic threats is to take extreme precaution than wait for cure. The Local Public Healthcare segments and the W.H.O have provided valuable guidelines like:
- Wash hands frequently for approximately 20 seconds.
- Do not touch your face with hands.
- Do not travel unless deemed emergency.
- If going out in public place to travelling, use mask.
- Do not panic or spread unwanted rumours pertaining to the disease.
Can Yoga & Ayurveda help to deal with this current epidemic?
Yoga & Ayurveda have managed to stay focused towards preventing diseases prior to treatment. According to traditional science, it is necessary to focus on the body’s inner immune system and also take external precautions.
Ayurveda
Corona Virus as per Ayurveda tends to disturb Kapha and Vata dosha equilibrium. Hence, Pitta vardhak diet is recommended, which is to simulate pitta until Vata and Kapha dosha is well balanced with better lifestyle. As given below, making some changes in food habits is sure to help restore back the essential body functions.
- Consume vegetables like Fenugreek as it absorbs abnormal kapha.
- Drink plenty of milk and turmeric powder.
- Include spices in food like turmeric, ginger and garlic for assimilation and to stimulate taste.
- Avoid cold drinks, cold food and ice creams.
- Consume fruits like lemons, oranges and papaya.
Intake of Rasayana herbs such as Giloya kwath, Ashwagandha and Dashmul kwath does help to enhance internal immunity.
It is necessary to take Ayurvedic medicines, as prescribed by experts like Sitopaladi Churna, Draksharishta, Talisadi churna & Yashtimadhu with honey and Khadiradi vati which are chewable tablets.
Ayurveda Therapy
Abhyanga: Applying oil all over the body and massaging properly helps stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and enhances blood circulation. Moreover, its calming effect offers better metabolism balance.
Herbal steam: With herbal fomentations, fats get detoxified, thereby reducing body weight. It also increases digestive fire, thus stimulating metabolism.
Nasya: It develops better immunity by cleaning sinuses and nasal track.
Niyama: According to guidelines. This is to maintain better personal conducts.
Shaunch: Maintaining of environmental and personal cleanliness. Drink only boiled water and clean vegetables thoroughly before cooking and fruits before consumption.
Svadhyay: Get to know the symptoms associated with the disease. Do introspect as well as seek medical help at the earliest.
Diet: Consume plenty of vegetarian and Satvik food. As per an article posted in the ‘Times of India’, it is completely safe to consume seafood in India, since no link still has been established between coronarvirus and seafood. Scientists are still trying to explore the link that exists between coronavirus and bat & snake. “The only crucial thing which you require to take proper care of is to ensure hygienic and full cooking of the meat and not consume it half-raw or uncooked. This way, animal meat transmitted disease can be avoided.”
Lifestyle: Stay in warm regions, be stress-free, sleep well and walk regularly.
Yoga Asanas
Performing different types of bending and twisting postures does help the lymphatic system to get strengthened. There is a need to release secretions arising from the body’s lymph glands.
Shashankasan: This is a sitting posture, where forward bending helps to release lymph toxins effectively from body, thereby improving immunity.
Padahastana: This is standing posture where forward bending helps to release lymph toxins effectively from body to improve circulation. Paschimottanasana does help posterior expansion of the chest.
Sarvangasana: This is supine posture, where body and legs are to be raised upwards till shoulder region. It helps to release toxins from the lower limb portion and out of the body, thus reducing pressure upon the lower body.
Matsyasana: On completion of Saravangasana pose, do perform fish pose. This complementary posture provides equanimity, while taking care of other body parts like the neck.
Dhanurasana: This is prone posture, where you need to lie on your abdomen and twist both hands and legs backwards to resemble your body similar to a bow. Likewise several backward bending asanas are present like snake pose (Bhujangasana), camel pose (Ushtrasana) do help to increase muscle and chest cavity elasticity, strength and volume.
Meditation: This is strongly recommended in meditative posture. The spine and chest is offered adequate space, thereby resulting in healthy breathing process. Mental cleansing is offered with healthy breathing.
Finally, we are to respect our Mother Earth, while practicing Ishwar Pranidhan, meaning surrendering self to God to benefit human kind as a whole.
Finally, you have to Sullener Yourself to the almighty God, Spend more time in Prayers and doing good.
