The concept of immunity in Ayurveda is mentioned as Vyadhikshmatva. Vyadhikshamatva has the ability to fight and restrain the disease. The main aim of Ayurveda is to maintain the health of a healthy person and then restore the imbalance in the doshas. Ayurveda aims to balance imbalanced doshas with different immunity booster medicines that help in the proper functioning of all the dhatus (body tissues), upadhatus, and ojas. The classical texts of Ayurveda have given an elaborate description of Vyadhikshmatva, which can be correlated to immunity in modern terminology.
There are many commentaries available, and Vyadhikshamatva has been explained further in two categories, namely Vyadhi-balavirodhitvam meaning the body's strength to resist the progress of disease, and Vyadhi-utpadakapratibandhakatva which is the resisting power of the body that is competent enough to prevent the occurrence and re-occurrence of the disease.
Factors affecting the immunity of a person
The immunity of a person gets affected by many factors, and there are nine such factors that are mentioned in the texts of Ayurveda from which the immunity of the person declines.
- Ati-Sthoola: A person who is excessively obese
- Ati-Krisha: A person who is excessively emaciated
- Anivista-Mamsa: A person with improper musculature
- Anivista-Asthi: A person with weak bone or defective bone tissue
- Anivista-Shonita: A person with defective blood
- Durbala: Individual with constant weakness
- Asatmya-Aaharopachita: – A malnourished person and person who taken unwholesome food
- Alpa-Aaharopachita: Undernourished person
- Alpa-Sattva: Feeble-minded person.
Understanding the Three Types of Bala (Strength) in Ayurveda for Optimal Immunity
Similar to the above, the immunity of the person is good if the strength or bala of the individual is good. There are three kinds of bala as described in Ayurveda.
- Shaja Bala: It is that strength that exists in the constitution of the person in mind and body.
- Kalaja Bala: This is the strength of the individual that depends on the season and age. For instance, immunity is low during childhood, whereas during young age, immunity is at its peak.
- Yuktikrutaja Bala: This can be explained as acquired strength that is got from a balanced diet, lifestyle changes, and exercises.
Factors Influencing Immunity in Ayurveda
Immunity of the person is affected also by place of birth, time of birth, food consumed, stability of mind, exercise and physical activity, quality of sperm and ovum, etc.
- Place of Birth: The birth region plays an important aspect in immunity since climate, together with other environmental factors, influences health.
- Time of Birth: That is to say, birth in a particular season or time of the year is perhaps a factor that determines one’s herb, natural constitution, or immunity because certain seasons precipitate certain problems in the body.
- Food Consumed: A good diet boosts one's immunity, while an improper diet and eating habits only slow it down or even break it.
- Stability of Mind: Mental health is an immune system of the spirit and is fundamental to total health. Mentally, a stable and calm state will be conducive to body balance and stability, while anxiety or other feelings of stress or distress will lower immunity.
- Exercise and Physical Activity: Exercise strengthens muscles and the immune system and vice versa if one is a couch potato.
- Quality of Sperm and Ovum: These structures mean the health and quality of reproductive elements affect the vigor and immune response.
The Role of Agni in Immunity: How Digestive Fire Affects Overall Health and Resistance
Agni, digestive fire also influences immunity. It is our ability to digest, assimilate, and absorb nutrients in the body. If the agni is strong, then the invaders in the form of viruses, bacteria, etc, get neutralized or destroyed and are expelled out of the body.
If the Tridosha affects the agni and makes it impaired, then the metabolism will get affected and our natural resistance will decline, hence the immunity will also decrease. If the metabolic rate of the body decreases then the body tissues or the sapta dhatus don’t get nourished and hence the strength of the body declines. The Ojas which is the essence of all the 7 dhatus also decreases leading to low energy levels and low immunity.
Agni ‘digestive fire’ is considered to be a significant component of a good immunity system. This system controls the way the body breaks down food and the absorption of nutrients and includes the capacity to expel dangerous germs such as viruses and bacteria. Well protected, these invaders are easily disposed of the body when Agni is in its highest form or function.
However, whenever there is an aggravation of the Tridosha affecting Agni, digestion and metabolism are affected, hence the immune system of the body is weak. When metabolism decreases, the body’s tissues, or sapta dhatus, are unable to be nourished in their optimum manner and the physical strength diminishes. The Ojas which is composed of these 7 dhatus and the immune system deteriorates and leads to a state of lethargy and low immunity.
Integrating Ayurveda for Enhanced Metabolism and Immunity
Rasayana Shastra: The Ayurvedic Science of Rejuvenation and Immunity
Ayurveda has a beautiful branch of science that helps in rejuvenation, and that branch is called the Rasayana Shastra. Rasayana is a means to attain excellence in all the dhatus through special measures and medicines. Rasayana dravyas mainly deal with immunity and immune modulation and are extensively explored and used in Ayurveda, particularly in the form of Rasayana therapy. Rasayana helps in increasing the strength and immunity of an individual.
The other benefits of Rasayana therapy include a healthy long life, improved memory, intelligence, youthfulness, an improved bright complexion, and an increase in strength, vigor, valor, and sexual power. Ayurveda looks into multiple factors when it comes to improving immunity. Restoration of health with lifestyle changes along with rasayana dravyas will definitely help in improving the immune system of an individual.
Key Rasayana Dravyas for Enhancing Immunity
Some Rasayana dravyas that are prescribed are Amla, Haritaki, ashwagandha, Guduchi, Haridra, Shatavari, Guggulu, Shilajit, Tulsi, etc. They are prescribed in the form of churnas or lehyas.
Amalaki Powder: Amalaki Powder is packed with Vitamin C, Amla strengthens the immune system, aids digestion, and enhances the health of the skin. It also helps as an antioxidant to rid the body of oxidative stress.
Haritaki Powder: Haritaki Powder helps to clean the system, assist digestion, build up stamina, and help the body regulate all three doshas of Ayurvedic medicine — Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
Ashwagandha Tablets: Ashwagandha tablets are strong stress buster from the ashwagandha plant reduces stress and helps in increasing energy and physical and mental power to build up stamina and immunity.
Guduchi Tablets: Guduchi tablets are widely known for their health benefits for increasing immunity, fighting power, detoxification, and being a source of anti-aging vital nutrients. Guduchi also has the property of having a balancing effect on Tridosha and is also effective against infections.
Haridrakhand Powder: Rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, Haridrakhand Powder helps to boost the body’s defense mechanisms, facilitate digestion, and make skin glow. It also assists in the following of inflammation and control of infection.
Shatavari Tablets: Being revitalizing in nature, Shatavari tablets aid in nourishing the immune system and reduce reproductive diseases and hormonal inequalities, especially in women.
Guggulu Tablets: The main functions of Guggulu tablets can be described as the ones that have cleansing and anti-inflammatory effects. It is good for our bones and joints, helps us to lose or gain weight depending on what we want, and is good for the immune system as well.
Shilajit Tablets: A proven revitalizer, Shilajit tablets improve energy, cognitive function, and immunity through nutrition and energization of all the body cells.
Tulsi (Holy Basil): Tulsi is an adaptogen, and it is also known to help improve immunity and fight viral infections. Tulsi tablets assist to reduce stress, build up respiratory health, and uplift health in general.
Outro:
Therefore the information gained from the Ayurvedic perspective of immunity will be useful in attaining the ideal state of health. Thus, through an understanding of Vyadhikshmatva, Agni, and Rasayana therapy, people are capable of improving their natural immune system to diseases. Along with giving immunity booster medicine, nutrition, lifestyle changes, and some specific Rasayana dravyas’ inclusion certainly increase the immunity power.
The understanding of the fact that immunity heavily depends on many factors makes one embrace change in his or her daily activities in order to attain a healthy, long-lasting, and joyful life. From these practices, one can improve the immune system and have a balanced state of the body and mind.