Crisis as an opportunity: the coronavirus pandemic from an Ayurvedic perspective

I've just come from the weekly market and the atmosphere is bizarre. People are waiting in long queues in front of the stalls, more than two metres separate them from the person in front, there is an eerie silence.

A virus is keeping Germany and the world on tenterhooks. The number of new infections is rising exponentially, one breaking news story follows another and public life is being drastically restricted.

Let's look back just two months. The new year had begun and many of us had wishes, goals and plans. We were looking forward to the approaching spring, the upcoming holidays or a successful business year.

And now? There is a great deal of uncertainty, sadness, primal fears are forcing themselves upon us, inner dialogues are separating us from one another. Is this the end, the apocalypse? No!

What happened?

Around three months ago, an epidemic began in China, originating in the unbridled, illegal trade and consumption of infected wild meat. After initial attempts to cover it up, which are typical of authoritarian regimes, the true extent of the epidemic became known to the world in mid-January - unfortunately too late. The virus had already spread and, thanks to globalisation, travelled happily and unnoticed around the world. After China, the highest number of infections - as of 17 March - are in Italy, Iran, Spain and South Korea, with Germany in 6th place ahead of France, the USA and Switzerland.

The aim of all government measures is now to slow down new infections and thus also the severe courses that require intensive inpatient medical care. According to virological estimates, two thirds of us will contract COVID-19 sooner or later - 80% with only mild to moderate symptoms, 20% with clinical deterioration, 5% with the need for invasive ventilation.

We can and must all work together to ensure that our healthcare system can cope with the increasing number of seriously ill patients and that conditions such as those currently prevailing in Italy are avoided.

The Exposure prophylaxis serves to prevent contact with pathogens. They are familiar with all the necessary measures for contact avoidance, hand hygiene, disinfection, sneezing and coughing etiquette from the media.

Now is not the time for conspiracy theories, trivialisation or ignorance. It is also not the time for causal discussions - now is the time for us all to look after ourselves and help others. With heart, compassion and understanding.

COVID-19 from an Ayurvedic perspective

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus replicates and multiplies primarily in the throat and upper airways, in Ayurveda Prana Vaha Srotas called.

It usually produces a dry cough (Vataja Kasa), fever (Jvara), possibly shortness of breath (Shvasa), tiredness and fatigue, headaches and aching limbs, occasional diarrhoea, sore throat or a cold.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, an infection leads to an increase in Vata Dosha and a blockage in the Prana Vaha Srotas. TCM doctors have examined coronavirus patients and almost always found thick white tongue coatings, which Ayurvedically indicate Ama.

Fever is the result of dosha and ama in our nutritive juice (rasa dhatu) and a blockage of the sudorific channels (svedavaha srotas).

The following five strategies emerge from this analysis:

·       Maintain, protect and keep airways clear

·       Avoid new ama and reduce old

·       Strengthen Agni and regulate digestion

·       Soothe Vata Dosha

·       Nourish ojas to strengthen the immune system

What can we do?

A lot! Ayurveda is needed now more than ever.

In addition to the Exposure prophylaxis there is the Disposition prophylaxis to reduce our susceptibility to illness and defuse the possible course of disease. This is at the forefront of Ayurveda.

The best prevention against infection is our healthy and personalised lifestyle, which leads to a strong immune system.

Pay attention to Hot and freshly prepared vegetarian food every day with lots of vegetables, sweet and ripe fruit, wholesome cereals, pulses (mungdal, masoordal), healthy fats (ghee, olive oil),
walnut oil) and lots of spices. Drink warm water and ginger tea. Avoid fatty, cold and heavy foods, yoghurt and cheese products, ready meals and reduce alcohol to a minimum.

My personal top 5 foods for strengthening the immune system are ginger, horseradish, chilli, garlic and lime. Incorporate these into your diet every day if possible.

In the Ayurvedic morning routine you should first drink a glass of hot water (60°) and remove plaque from your tongue. Rinse your mouth daily for ten minutes with sesame oil, ghee or ayurvedic oil mixtures. Cleanse your nose with salt water and drip 3-4 drops of oil (Anu Taila, Shadbindu Taila) or ghee into each nostril. Inhale the vapour of thyme or crushed ajwain seeds in hot water with a little sea salt for 10-15 minutes daily.

Ayurvedic food supplements have been used for 2000 years to strengthen the immune system and the respiratory tract. These include the five classic recipes

·       Chyavanprash Amla pulp >>> 1 heaped teaspoon with ginger tea

·       Dashamula Churna >>> 1-2 teaspoons daily in warm water

·       Sitopaladi Churna >>> 1-2 teaspoons daily with thyme honey

·       Triphala Churna / tablets >>> 1 tsp / 5 tbl. in the evening with warm water

·       Trikatu Churna >>> ½-1 teaspoon daily with thyme honey

Five famous individual plants are

·       Amalaki to strengthen the immune system

·       Curcuma for defence against infection

·       Guduchi to strengthen the immune system

·       Pippali for expectoration, infection defence and immune strengthening

·       Vasaka to facilitate breathing

Ask an experienced Ayurveda therapist for the best possible individual selection from the products listed above.

Using the crisis as an opportunity

It is in our nature not to often scrutinise systems that seem to function automatically. If we are subjectively well, we change very little about our attitude and the resulting lifestyle.

Let's take a look back at our lives: which events were milestones and brought about the greatest development? What have we learnt the most from? What has shaped us the most?

These are usually painful experiences that harbour the potential for great transformation. Each and every one of us should slow down now, pause and reflect on our own lives. What do I want to change once the storm of the pandemic has passed? Who and what are really important to me in life?

What if the coronavirus meant that

·       we change our lifestyle because health cannot be taken for granted?

·       we consume less and more consciously animal foods?

·       we return to our core values and not just work through to-do lists?

·       we live more in harmony with nature and its rhythms?

·       we get closer to our friends, neighbours and families?

·       we respect and support each other more?

·       can formerly hostile peoples come together and end wars?

·       worldwide poverty, hunger and oppression come to an end?

·       globalisation no longer relates exclusively to economic interests?

·       nature, its plants and animals be more respected and protected?

That would be great!

Certainly not all ten of the consequences mentioned will materialise immediately, but every single step is valuable.

Suffering arises from our clinging to impermanence, said Buddha over 2500 years ago. The roots are ignorance, attachment and aversion. If we free ourselves from the illusion of being able to maintain impermanence and immerse ourselves in the present moment, an inner freedom arises. From this, we can master all crises, learn from them and grow from them. Corona would then have a deep meaning.

I wish you all the best from the bottom of my heart!

With best regards from Bad Homburg,

Ralph Steuernagel