Ayurveda is a 3,000 year old, Eastern philosophic approach to healing the mind and body. It is derived from the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda (knowledge). What can an Ayurvedic approach do for your immunity during COVID-19?
Before I jump into the details of Ayurveda, I want to talk about how I figured out that this type of diet and lifestyle is the knees bees for practically everyone! 2020 was a trying year for many of us. For myself, I went through a lot of medical issues which led me to research different diets and discover that all the things I had been eating were things I shouldn’t be eating at all or at least in moderation.
Finding Solutions to My Own Health & Wellness
I’m a pretty outgoing and energetic person to begin with, so when I found myself in the ER being diagnosed with a panic attack I knew things were NOT okay. I was short of breath and my heart rate was very erratic. I explained to the Dr. that saw me, how my heart rate was sky high upon standing, the random bruising that was found on my legs and the blood pressure and heart rate readings I was taking on myself throughout the day when I felt extremely dizzy. Not only was I extremely dizzy but if I stood over any length of time over an hour my feet and hands would go numb and my heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest. My head and skin was extremely itchy and I started to develop a rash on my back and upper arms.
Two visits to the ER could not solve the problem. They gave me an Ativan to help with anxiety to get my heart rate down and basically labeled me as having general anxiety disorder and told me to go see a psychiatrist. I felt as if I wasn’t listened to at all. This kind of treatment in an ER is unfortunately common from what I hear from my own clients, and that’s why they come to me; to advocate and do research for them. I have had migraines since the age of 5 and I can say I know my body VERY well, so at that point, my mind and my heart were not in sync because I KNEW something very wrong was going on with my body.
Perspective Matters, So Put Yourself in Others' Shoes
I want to note that it’s not the employees at the hospitals fault for not being aware of a chronic illness, they are there for traumas. ER workers have to be on their toes if a trauma comes through the doors and someone that comes in with a chronic illness that is going to be hard to diagnose will always be pushed off to a primary care physician or psychiatrist. I get it! I didn’t at first but I put myself in their shoes and thought long and hard why I didn’t feel heard. It’s all about each person’s perspective.
So, I went home and prayed and meditated on what I needed to do to solve my own problem and viola! I was lead to look up histamine intolerance issues. The reason I started with this perspective first, was because I knew I had some kind of heart issue going on but I wanted to get my immune system to where my histamine intolerance was not OVER the threshold. I knew that if I laid down every hour that I could control the heart rate and shallow breathing. Needless to say, I did a lot of research in bed!
Histamine Intolerance causes Immune Dysfunction
As I was reading the the high histamine foods I should avoid, I realized that most of everything that was on the DO NOT EAT list, I had been eating for months straight. Not to mention the HUGE bottle of wine I consumed a month earlier, which is jammed pack with histamine! So I started my journey of cutting out high histamine foods for 6 weeks. I found a Nurse Practitioner that actually listened to me. I brought all the information that I had researched to my initial appointment with her and she started me on low doses of medications to help lower my heart rate and antihistamines. I asked for her to order ALL thyroid labs, including the IgG antibody test, and she ordered a genetic test to match up possible medications that wouldn’t cause allergic reactions, as I am very sensitive to most chemicals and allergies were at an all time high for me.
She encouraged me to keep on with the low histamine diet I had found, which made me feel like I was in control of my own health for once in my life. I started reading a book off my shelf called, Food As Medicine by Todd Caldecott. His book talks about Ayurveda, which is “an ancient system of preventative health care and medical treatment that has been practiced in India for thousands of years.” As I read on further, it talked about the three Dosha types and provided a quiz that I took to see which dosha type my mind-body was made of. Turns out my dosha constitution is Pitta. I read the list of foods I should avoid and everything that was on my high histamine list I previously researched!
Ayurveda Diet
The thing I learned most about eating an Ayurvedic diet was that not only were the foods I should be eating help my body but my mind started to feel better too. Ayurveda is a whole system approach which helps the entire being through psychoneuroimmune pathways. Well, what that does that mean?!? If you break down the word psycho-neuro-immune, this means that Ayurveda can help with the bodies immune system and mental health through the neurological pathways that give positive feedback from eating the correct foods for your dosha type. Click here to find out your Dosha Type.
Since starting the Ayurvedic Diet, the way I think is clearer, my mindset is positive, I feel lighter and I don’t feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck!
Prepare your Body to Fight Against Covid
What does all of this have to Covid-19? It’s no doubt that the pandemic we’re living in has put a toll on our mental health. When our mental health is deteriorating and we feel drained, our bodies feel heavy, and you can get sick easily, which means your immune system is not acting like it should. This most likely will occur when our mind is an a constant negative loop, but did you know that what you’re eating could contribute to that negative cycle you keep overplaying in your head?
The best thing you could do for your body, in the reality we are living in, is to boost your immunity and the easiest way to do that is to start in the kitchen. I’ve been helping people with lifestyle changes since 2013 and 90% of the time people are most comfortable changing up their diet first. However, everyone is different and it takes different approaches to get into a healthy habit of chooses the foods that are right for your dosha type. The more consistent someone is with avoiding the foods that would cause brain fog, the easier it is to transition to a healthier lifestyle. If you start eating the foods you should avoid again, you’re gonna feel like a Mack truck hit you because your body is treating it as if it were toxin it’s trying to get rid of. It’s definitely a process, so don’t get down on yourself when you do eat something that makes you feel blah. Take it as a lesson and continue to treat yourself in a positive light. This type of self-care helps you bounce back quicker and stay on target to a healthier you. Take your vitamins daily and boost yourself with Vitamin D to raise your immune system and always drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated.
Conclusion
Find out your Dosha type by taking my quiz here. Ayurveda has been around for thousands of years and has stood the test of time. Not only does it heal your body from the inside out but also your mind. It's been proven to help with coping with the current pandemic we are in and is a holistic way to get your life balanced and feel free again. Not sure where to start? Book a Free 30 Minute consultation with me today and find out.
Rebekah Mays, RN
Stay tuned for more blogs on how to integrate Ayurveda into your daily life with herbal teas, recipes and self care techniques. Take my Dosha Type quiz to learn which type of foods you should me eating for your mind & body. Knowing your dosha will help you better understand yourself as a whole. Learn to journal before bed or when you get a quiet alone time. Don’t think you have alone time, make it a priority and find that time. Negotiate with family members if need be. Everyone needs that time for self reflection because it helps us let go of stress and really evaluate our mental clarity and goals in life.
References
Caldecott, T. (2014). Food as medicine: The theory and practice of food. Phytoalchemy.
Narayanaswamy V. Origin and development of ayurveda: (a brief history). Anc Sci Life. 1981;1(1):1-7.
Sung-Wan Kim, Kuan-Pin Su,Using psychoneuroimmunity against COVID-19, Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, Volume 87, 2020, Pages 4-5, ISSN 0889-1591.
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