The body's inherent capability to fight against and prevent the entry of any unrecognized substances such as bacteria, viruses and other forms of pathogenic & non-pathogenic forms of microorganisms, is known as Immunity. Nowadays, most of the diseases with which peoples are suffering feom are either due to their weak immune system or due to their poor lifestyle.

Topics Covered:

  • Introduction.
  • What is Immunity and Immune System?
  • Types of Immune System.
  • How immune system helps fight against disease?
  • Five Ayurvedic ways to Boost Immunity & Immune System.

 1. Introduction:

Nowadays, due to poor lifestyle, health of the individuals is bing affected a lot and they are surrounded by immense varieties of diseases. Weak immune system is one of the reason. Why not? Immune system is the only guard present inside the body to fight against the harmful and fatal diseases. Like our country has three defence system to protect from any external invasion or attack, similarliy our body also has three layered defence system to protect from entry of any micro-organism or harmful substances which are not part of our body.

Now, Let's proceed further to understand what is immunity and immune system in some what detail.

2. What is Immunity & Immune System:

The body's inherent ability to fight against and prevent the entry of any unrecognized substances such as bacteria, viruses and other pathogenic & non-pathogenic forms of micro-organism inside the body is known as Immunity. Whereas the system performing this function is known as Immune System.

3. Types of Immune System:

Basically, Immunity is of two types:

i. Active Immunity; and

ii. Passive Immunity.

i. Active Immunity: Active immunity is the innate immunity. In other words, it is the natural or inherent capability of the body to fight against diseases.

ii. Passive Immunity: Passive immunity is the aquired immunity either through mother to the baby or through some antigenic treatments.

Immunity in details may be classified as the Cell Mediated Immunity which involves various types of body cells responsible for imparting immunity to our body such as Esinophylls, Basophylls, Neutrophylls, T-Cells & B-Cells.

Above all, the major functions of immunity is to protect our body from various infectious and non-infectious diseases; and thereby helps in keeping our body healthy.

4. How Immune System helps fight against Diseases?

Let's understand this with an example,

Our country have three defence system to protect our country from external attacks or invasions. These includes Army(Thal Sena), Air Force(Vayu Sena) & Navy(Jal Sena). These three forces protect the entire country through three different dimensions; and when it requires three different forces combines there effects together to prodce the syneristic effects.

Similar to our Country's Defence System, our body also has a defence system commonly known as Immune System. This three dimensional defence system of our body is known as "three line of defence". This three line of defence includes:

i. First Line of Defence: This includes Skin, Mucous Secretions, Gastrointestinal Tract, Respiratory Tract, etc. This first line of defence provides physical and chemical barriers to our body.

ii. Second Line of Defence: This is a non-specific defence system which includes body processes like phagocytosis, pinocytosis, lysozymal activity, etc.

iii. Third Line of Defence: This involves cellular and tissue level specific immune responce. This involves blood cells (Lymphocytes) such as T- Lymphocytes & B-Lymphocytes, which are further involved in various antigen-antibody reactions.

5. Five Ayurvedic ways to Boost Immunity & Immune System:

The five different Ayurvedic ways to boost immune system at next level includes:

a. Instead of Coffee or Tea, Prefer Herbal Tea or Kadha in the Morning: If you are also a bed tea lover and start your day with a cup of Coffee or Tea, then stop this habbit immediately. Instead of drinkinf Caffeine and Tannins loaded drinks in empty stomach; start your day with sipping tea of Tulsi, Pippali (Long Pepper), Ginger, Cinnamon, Sunthi, etc. 

These variety of spices contains strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compoents which helps strengthen and cleans the upper respiratory tract. You can add Jaggery powder, Honey or Lemon to enhance the taste of the tea or Kadha.

b. Keep your Food as Simple as Possible: Ayurveda says "Purity of Foods leads to the Purity of Thoughts". It meas that what you will eat will reflect on your personality. Try to keep your food as simple as possible. And try to accomodate more and more number of satvic foods in your diet. Avoid consuming red meat and other processed meat.

c. Oil Pulling Therapy or Gandusha: It is an Ayurvedic way of cleaning your mouth to remove bacteria and other associated micro-organisms to improve the oral hygiene.

To perform this, follow the below mentioned steps:

- Take about 1 table spoon of Sesame or Coconut oil in mouth.

- Do not drink this oil, swish it around in the mouth for 2-3 minutes and then spit it off.

- After spitting the oil off rinse your mouth with luke warm water.

- This can be done once or twice a day.

Oil pulling or Gandusha improves oral and Nasal Immunity. It hydrates the mucous membrane which in turn prevent the entry of bacteria, fungus and other assocciated micro-organism. If you are suffering from bad breath or from other oral problems like pyria, then this is a process of choice for you.

d. Nasya Kriya: It is a simple practice of applying a few dops of Ghee, Sesame Oil or Coconut oil in the nostrils. Nasya can be administered on an empty stomach around an hour before taking bath.

To perform Nasya Kriya lie down straight, put 3-4 drops of Ghee, Sesame oil or Coconut oil in each nostrils. 

It is an excellent way to increase immunity as it helps to ward off infections by clearing our nasal passage.

e. Golden Milk or Turmeric Milk: A cup of turmeric milk a day is believed to work wonders for your immunity. Turmeric contains speific alkaloids known as Curcuminoids or Curcumins. Curumins has strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which prevents infllamations of the body cells. Curcumins also promotes the growth of the brain Cells.

To prepare turmeric milk, add half tea-spoon of turmeric powder in 150 ml hot milk. This can be taken once or twice a day for strong immunity.