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.