With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic tightening its grip around the people, there is a necessity for all of us individually to adopt certain measures for self-care. The Ministry of Ayush too has brought out some documents prescribing these and one such is “Ayurveda Preventive Measures for self care during Covid-19 Pandemic”.

The entire document is in easy language and formatted pointwise to make the reading easy.

It starts with recommended general measures. These include drinking lukewarm water frequently; including common spices like haldi (turmeric), jeera (cumin), dhaniya (coriander), saunth (dry ginger) and lahsun (garlic) in cooking, consumption of fresh amla fruit (Indian gooseberry) or those products made of this fruit; and eating freshly cooked food which is easily digestible.

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Besides this it also suggests gargling with warm water with a pinch of turmeric and salt; practising Yogasana, Pranayama daily and meditation for at least 30 minutes as advised by the Ministry of Ayush National Clinical Management Protocol for Covid-19 prophylaxis; and sleeping for at least seven to eight hour while avoiding day time sleep.

After these general instructions, the document moves to measures to promote immunity. These are consuming 20 grams of Chyavanprash in divided doses on empty stomach with lukewarm water and drinking 150 ml of hot milk with turmeric once or twice in a day.

The second option advices taking 500 mg of Guduchi GhanVati or Ashwagandha 500 mg tablet twice daily with lukewarm water after meals while the option three tells one to drink herbal tea/decoction or kadha made from 3 gm powder comprising Tulasi (Basil)-4 part, Dalchini (Cinnamon)-2 part, Shunthi (Dry Ginger)-2, Kalimirch (Black pepper)-1 part, mixed in 150 ml hot boiled water once or twice a day.

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To make it tasty and flavoured, one can add gur (jaggery), munakka (raisin), chotti elachi (cardamom).

Further it is pointed out that Vasa (Malabar nut), Yashtimadhu (Liquorice root), Guduchi (Giloy), may be added but this should be done based on the individual’s constitution, seasonal changes and geographical variation, all in consultation with the Ayurveda physician.

Drinking milk is included in the suggested options two and three also.

Moving from diet, the guidelines deal with Ayurvedic procedures like applying sesame or coconut oil or ghee made from cow’s milk or Anu Taila in both the nostrils twice a day, morning and evening. Also suggested is taking one tablespoon of sesame or coconut oil in the mouth, swishing it in the mouth for two to three minutes without drinking it. After spitting it, rinse your mouth with warm water. This can be done once or twice daily.

For conditions of dry cough or/and sore throat the document advocates steam inhalation once a day with plain water or with fresh pudina (mint) leaves or ajwain (caraway seeds) or karpur (camphor) once a day only.

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Taking lavang (clove) or mulethi (liquorice) powder mixed with honey or natural sugar two to three times a day helps in case of cough or throat irritation. However, if the symptoms persist, a qualified physician needs to be consulted.

For full text of the guidelines please click:

Ayurveda Preventive Measures for self care during COVID-19 Pandemic