10 Ayurvedic Tips to Boost Your Immunity
Ojas: Boosting your Bliss through Seasonal Practices
You know when you feel on the edge of good health, where you are getting by okay, but not feeling completely vibrant and not thriving the way you believe you can? You may be experiencing chronic low immunity. What keeps the immune system strong may be a mystery to you if you eat right, rest well, and keep a regular yoga practice and yet still feel blah. True vitality from an Ayurvedic perspective says that the health of the seven tissue layers or dhatus which make up the human body are responsible for the state of our immunity. These tissue layers are Rasa (lymph), Rakta (blood), Mamsa (muscle), Medha (fat), Asthi (bone), Majja (bone marrow) and Shukra (semen/reproductive tissue). Each layer respectively feeds the next eventually determining our immunity. The final essence of building these seven tissues is called ojas.
Ojas is a Sanskrit word meaning life sap, immunity, radiance, inner vitality, vigor, or life juice. It is the essential substance or essence of the body that protects and sustains us and determines our emotional, physical and mental health and happiness. Excellent ojas comes from a consistent seasonal practice that honors the Ayurvedic principles of sustainable health and longevity. This is not something we can fake, manufacture or buy. It comes from a commitment to inner happiness, consciousness and a balanced healthy lifestyle. We build our ojas by feeding the tissues properly one layer at a time and by mindfully observing these practices.
Winter is the ideal season for nourishing the seven tissue layers of the body and building ojas. The healthy building up of these tissues is crucial to our longevity especially if we have become depleted through the year from disturbed metabolism, depression, mental stress, poor sleep, excessive indulgence and general prajnaparadha or ‘crimes against wisdom’ as well as overuse of pharmaceutical drugs and other intoxicants and general lack of self care. All these factors cause toxins to build in our body and we need proper digestion and rest to get us back on track and to maintain and build our vitality.
In the winter, ojas is boosted as our internal fire increases and nourishes us with a warm glow from within, protecting us from the cold. Because we are set up by Mother Nature to build, strengthen and nourish during this season, following a sound daily practice will go a long way in securing vital immunity for the year ahead. A daily practice for winter brings the sustenance much needed and most essential for thriving with the inert nature of this season. By eating warm, light and nourishing food and avoiding any type of fasting in winter you can sustain your health and build immunity for the coming spring season. By including rejuvenating herbs, and fortifying tonics with the appropriate daily and seasonal routines you can keep colds, coughs and other respiratory ailments at bay and also boost mental and emotional wellbeing. These restorative herbs and foods are known as rasayana or rejuvenating substances.
Wintertime is a beautiful opportunity for self-care. Our immunity is strengthened through rest and increased metabolic activity where we build our ojas. When our ojas is low and depleted we are beginning a cycle of compromised health but when it is strong, juicy and luscious we are setting ourselves up for a lifetime of inner and outer beauty.
Adjusting our diet according to the seasonal routines and needs of the body and following the Ayurvedic treatments for seasonal transitions, can prevent a build up of ama or toxins in the body. These deplete healthy tissues and lead to fatigue, low immunity and can eventually accumulate into more advanced disease states.
By refining our food choices, our practices and our mindset through the winter we can thrive all year round. As we prepare for spring when the snow begins to melt and the toxins in our bodies are ready to be softened and released, we shift our practices to detoxifying and letting go. In Ayurveda there is no one-size-fits-all philosophy. Learning from nature we align ourselves with the wisdom provided and by applying the practices we discover increased resistance to disease, more energy, tranquility, cheerful outlook, mental clarity and emotional balance.
That is the ultimate ojas!
10 Winter Immune Boosting Tips:
1. Eat light, warm foods.
2. Avoid eating or drinking anything cold, because cold foods and drinks will reduce the digestive fire.
3. Avoid heavy, difficult to digest sweets and fried foods. Enjoy sweet root vegetables, broths and soups.
4. Daily self massage in the morning with warm oils such as sesame or sunflower strengthens the skin and muscles and nourishes the tissues. This practice daily enhances a feeling of love and wellbeing.
5. Take warm baths in the evening with epsom salts and warming essential oils such as ginger, cardamom, eucalyptus, rosemary, cinnamon, cedar, pine, juniper, basil.
6. Include warming spices such as cardamom, ginger, cumin, turmeric and cinnamon in your foods.
7. Make sure to get enough sleep and avoid oversleeping.
8. Explore including in your diet, Ayurvedic rejuvenative herbs taken as teas or tonics such as: ashwaghanda, turmeric, triphala, amla (Indian Gooseberry), tulsi (holy basil), chyavanprash (an Ayurvedic formulation of rejuvenating herbs plus honey and ghee). All these are available at your health food store or online at various Ayurvedic herbal suppliers.
9. Enjoy warming and energizing exercise such as active yoga, walking, hiking, and snowshoeing. These enhance circulation and build strength.
10. Allow yourself space and time for meditative reflection, inner contemplation and pranayama practice.
Here’s to your health, a thriving winter and a juicy ojas!
About the Author
What's your Ayurvedic dosha? Take this quiz and find out
The balance of your Ayurvedic doshas, also known as prakruti, is a key part of understanding your holistic health.
Doshas are the three energies found in nature, and also in the human body. They are broken down into three types: vata, pitta and kapha. The doshas are responsible over our bodies, minds, emotions, and thoughts. From birth, we are each individually made with a very specific blend of the five basic elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth. That unique blend is your prakruti, or what uniquely constitutes your individual body, and can be broken down by a combination of the three doshas: vata (ether + air), pitta (fire + water), and kapha (water + earth).
The three doshas are the building blocks to understanding our prakruti, and once you understand which is your dominant dosha, you can know what your balanced state looks like. This is vital, as through this lens you can spot exactly when your body goes out of balance, and how to bring it back into balance. Humans are being of nature, constructed from the same five elements, and thus can use the opposing elements as needed to bring us back into balance.
It all hinges on knowing your doshas, however. You can get a general sense of where your dosha balance lies, and go from there to correct the problems. You can even seek out the help of an Ayurvedic practitioner, who can take a look at your insights and prescribe anything from food and herbs to a new lifestyle. Thanks, Ayurveda!
Tally up the number of v’s, p’s, and k’s you receive (standing for vata, pitta, and kapha), whichever you have the most of is your dominant dosha:
1. Physique
- v) I am a slender person and I hardly gain weight
- p) I am medium build
- k) I am well built and I gain weight no matter what I do
2. Skin
- v) My skin is dry, thin, and itches often
- p) My skin looks flushed; I have lots of moles and freckles on my body
- k) My skin is smooth and soft, it looks pale sometimes
3. Hair
- v) My hair is dry, thin and brittle
- p) My hair is neither dry nor oily (for men: I have a receding hairline)
- k) My hair is thick, full, lustrous, and slightly oily
4. Face
- v) My face is oval
- p) My face is triangular (pointed chin, prominent jaw line)
- k) My face is round
5. Eyes
- v) My eyes are small; they feel dry often and have a bit of dullness (usually brown)
- p) My eyes are medium in shape; sharp & penetrating (usually blue)
- k) My eyes are big and round in shape, full eyelashes
6. Hands
- v) My hands are generally dry, rough; slender fingers; dry nails
- p) My hands are generally moist, pink; medium fingers; soft nails
- k) My hands are generally firm, thick; thick fingers; strong & smooth nails
7. Joints
- v) My joints are small, prominent bones, and often crack
- p) My joints are medium and loose
- k) My joints are large, sturdy, with lots of muscle surrounding
8. Activities
- v) I am a very active person (always on the go, mind constantly thinking)
- p) I like to think before I do anything
- k) I am steady and graceful (I don’t like to rush)
9. Actions
- v) I walk fast and talk fast
- p) My actions are very thoughtful and precise
- k) I like a slower pace and I take my time to accomplish things
10. Sleep
- v) I do not sleep soundly at night. I tend to toss and turn. I wake up early in the morning
- p) I am a light sleeper but if something wakes me up, I can go back to sleep easily
- k) I am a heavy sleeper
11. Appetite
- v) Varies, sometimes I feel hungry, sometimes not, I feel anxious if I don’t eat
- p) I always feel hungry. If I don’t eat I get irritable and angry
- k) I don’t feel very hungry. I can go without food easily for a day
12. Bowel Movement
- v) I tend to have constipation and can go a day or two without a bowel movement
- p) I am regular and sometimes stools are loose (tend to get diarrhea)
- k) I have no problem. I wake up to go to the bathroom.
13.Voice
- v) My voice tends to be weak or hoarse
- p) I have a strong voice, I may get loud sometimes
- k) My voice is deep, has good tone
14. Emotions
- v) I am a born worrier, I often feel anxious and nervous
- p) If things don’t happen my way, I feel irritable and angry
- k) I am a happy person, very caring and loving
15. Weather Preference
- v) I love warm and humid weather
- p) I enjoy cool weather, I dislike a warm climate
- k) I like warm but dry weather
16. Sweating
- v) I sweat little but not much
- p) I sweat profusely and it might have an unpleasant odor
- k) I never sweat, unless working very hard
17. Memory
- v) I remember quickly and forget quickly
- p) I remember what I want to remember and never forget
- k) It takes me a while to remember, but once I do I never forget
18. Actions
- v) I tend to be spontaneous
- p) I am a list maker. Unless I plan, I don’t do anything
- k) I don’t like to plan, I prefer to follow others
19. Stamina
- v) I like to do things in spurts and I get tired very easily
- p) I have medium stamina
- k) I can work long hours and maintain good stamina
20. Mind
- v) My mind gets restless and racing easily
- p) I get impatient easily
- k) It takes a lot to make me mad. I usually feel very calm
21. Decision Making
- v) I change my mind more often and will take time to make a decision
- p) I can make a decision easily and stick with it
- k) I want others to make the decisions
22. Personality
- v) “Is it too late to change my mind”?
- p) “It’s my way or the highway”
- k) “Don’t worry, be happy!”
23. Sports
- v) I like action
- p) I like to win
- k) I like to have fun
24. Health Problems
- v) My symptoms are mainly pain, constipation, anxiety and depression
- p) I often get skin infections, fevers, heart burn, and hypertension
- k) I tend to get allergies, congestion, weight gain and digestive problems
25. Hobbies
- v) I like art (drawing, painting, dance) and travel
- p) I like sports, politics, and things that get my adrenaline pumping
- k) I like nature, gardening, reading, and knitting
