The COVID-19 pandemic has been an eye-opener for all of us
in many ways, especially concerning our health. We now realise that the
greatest protection we have against any threat is our own body. Only by
strengthening our immunity and investing in preventive healthcare can we truly
achieve long-term wellbeing.
So, what do we do now?
Keep your body devoid of metabolic toxins with naturopathy
treatments.
During these COVID-19 times, you might have heard that ‘it
is not the virus that kills you, but your body’s hyper reaction to it’. One of
the most basic tenets of naturopathy is based on the same insight. It states
that ‘a seed is not as important as the condition of the soil’. Our body’s reaction to any disease-causing
agent depends on how supportive our body is to the growth of those diseases. If
we make our bodies non-receptive, the disease can’t take hold. Naturopathy
treatments can get rid of toxins so that the soil (our body) does not support
the growth of these seeds (disease-causing agents). With the help of a naturopathic
diet to provide the right nutrition for the body and natural treatments
which enhance and optimise the circulatory, nervous, hormonal, and metabolic
functions; the naturopathic system of medicine can clean and heal our body and
make it healthy.
Nourish your body with natural, fresh, live, wholesome,
rainbow food.
“What should we eat?” is one of the most common questions a
doctor hears in his or her clinical practice. There are thousands of theories and
diet programs available, but none satisfies all the expectations. The
reason is simple. There is no one-diet-fits-all solution. Everybody is unique
and your body’s nutritional needs vary depending upon various internal and
external circumstances. The one truth that doesn’t change is that natural food,
when fresh and live, is the best. Food that is not altered by science or
technology but remains wholesome is the healthiest. Another important tip is to
make sure your diet contains food with different natural colours or what we
call a ‘rainbow’ diet. Each colour represents a phytonutrient that is present
in the food, and the greater the variety the more diverse your diet is, which is
essential for the normal functioning of your body.
Enrich your vitality with proper and scientific rest.
The basic concept of naturopathy is that the body can heal
itself when given a chance. That ‘chance’ is nothing but rest. Timely and
adequate sleep along with intermittent fasting are two basic but essential
methods to keep it functioning optimally and to maintain its defences against
diseases. While sleep helps for daily repair and regeneration; intermittent
fasting helps to remove old, unwanted, extra foreign cells through the
activation of autophagy*.
*Please consult your doctor before you
start intermittent fasting.
Activate your immunity with exercises.
We are all aware of the benefits of exercise, but this has
greater significance now during these COVID-19 times. Along with all the other
known benefits, one of the most important roles it plays is in keeping our defence
systems and immunity active. Exercises which involve alternative stretching
and relaxing, squeeze the muscles and thereby keeps the lymphatic system – the transport
mechanism of our immune cells – functioning smoothly. Exercises also help to
keep the defence system active by inducing mild physiological stress to the
system.
Harmonise your system with natural elements.
In these modern times, we have become disconnected from our
natural environment and have paid the price. If we look at the mortality data
from COVID-19 cases, Vitamin D deficiency played a major role. Vitamin D is a
nutrient which the body can produce through exposure to sunlight, but unfortunately,
a majority of the population is suffering from this deficiency. Regular
interaction with the five natural elements – sun, pure and natural water, earth,
unpolluted air, and nature’s energy, will keep your body in complete harmony.
Manage your stress well to activate your body’s healing
systems.
Chronic stress is like a constant war going on in your body
and mind, and this prevents your natural healing mechanisms from being activated.
Stress also causes a domino effect starting with hormonal reactions and leading
to a disruption in the normal functioning of your cells. Laughter, meditation,
socialising, and learning new things will help you manage stress more effectively
and keep yourself healthy.
Be punctual to your body, listen to its natural rhythms,
and plan your day accordingly.
Our body works in different rhythms, which are optimised
based on the inputs from the internal and external environment. These rhythms
are called ultradian rhythm, infradian rhythm, and circadian rhythm. Among
these, the circadian rhythm is considered the most important as most of our
hormonal and metabolic functions are affected by this. However, your lifestyle
confuses these inputs with exposure to artificial lights and temperatures, late-night
eating habits, the consumption of unnecessary drugs and other chemicals, etc.
which disrupt the normal functioning of your body. The remedy lies in sun
gazing, avoiding coffee in the late evenings, keeping away from artificial
lights, not exposing yourself to extreme sounds and temperatures, etc. are the
simplest but the most effective ways to maintain the normal rhythm of our body
Remember, your body has amazing recuperative powers.
Being healthy is not just about preventing disease. It’s
about allowing your body to return to its normal state naturally. When you do
this, you awaken the healer within you and activate the healing mechanisms and
restore the balance.
This is especially true in these COVID-19 times, which is
about the survival of fittest. Follow the principles of Prakruthi Chikitsa or
Nature Cure and you can achieve preventive health, build immunity, correct
lifestyle disorders and its comorbidities at the onset, and prevent
degeneration of one’s body.
To know more, talk to the doctor here: www.prakritishakti.com/talk-to-doctor/
-Written by
Dr. Cijith
Sreedhar.
