Questioner: Next question is from Manisha. We have heard that in our culture there are many ways to boost immunity with the local resources available at home. Could you share some more light on building resistance using home remedies?
Sadhguru: Well, building up immunity is not going to happen overnight, this we must know. Generally, I believe, for variety of reasons – looking at the lifestyles, looking at the food patterns – I think, this must be checked, this must be medically checked. I think Southern Indian people are having a better immune system than a whole lot of other people in the world. Simply because of the food pattern, and the practices, and the whether and various other aspects.
You must understand, in a tropical climate, there are more life forms than anywhere else. Including micro-organisms, the number and variety of them is very very high. So, living in this land itself – the system becomes more resilient, because we are exposed to these things all the time. That is one aspect. Another thing is food. Another thing is lifestyles. All these aspects are there. Being farming communities, largely – most of us, if not in this generation, in previous generation, we have all come from farming communities – so people lived on the land. That itself gave them enormous strength.
In most other parts of the world, over 80% of the population moved away from farming, probably 100 years ago. In India, we’ve just moved away from the land, only in the last 25-30 years ago. This benefit is still there with us. It will not stay with us, if you are continuing… if everybody starts living in high-rise apartments without being in contact with the ground. And start living like lab rats, protected from everything. Well, our immunity will also go down. But, I think we still have this advantage.
But right now, what can I do to boost my immunity. As I said, it’s not a overnight solution. But, in a period of time, you can do this. Well, let me talk about very common things available.
One thing is, I must say this, you know, we are a sacred ash people. We’re always ash-made, one way or the other. There are different types of ashes, if you know how to use it. I can’t go about giving you instructions of this, over the… on the web. But, if you learn to use it properly, it helps.
Neem is available almost right across the country except in the mountainous places. Daily consumption of neem leaves.
Turmeric is anyway available. Now, they are making what is called as nano turmeric, where the absorption rate is way higher than the normal turmeric. Which also greatly enhances your immune system.
If you, if you soak gooseberry, or the amla, or the nallikkai, in honey, overnight along with some broken pepper, black pepper, or green pepper. Green pepper, I’m saying for those of you who are in other countries, green pepper does not mean chilli. We mean to say raw pepper. The pepper corn when it’s raw, which you might not have seen in most parts of the world. Here it’s common for us, it’s available. So, soak it in honey and everyday, about three spoons, three times a day. It works best, all these things work best, when you’re on an empty stomach. That’s the first thing that you take.
If you do these things, you can see a significant increase in your immune system. I would say, in 4-8 weeks one can see significant betterment of one’s immune system.
There are yogic practices which are hard to teach. But right now, just doing a chant and doing Isha Kriya, this will also enhance your immune system. Let this be very clear, that this is not treatment for corona virus. Nor is it a prevention. I did my chant so I go and do irresponsible things. It’s not going to work like that. These are things you do over a period of time and strengthen your system, so that, the next virus that comes, you might be in a better place to handle it. That is if you are there! Yes, don’t take this lightly. Do not take this lightly.
Right now, it is a challenge for everyone of us to stay alive through this period. That’s what it means. Do not think it’s some remote thing that happens to somebody else, in China or Italy. Right now, if we stay through… if you stay alive through this 6-8 months, that means we have handled this responsibly. If everyone of us stay alive, that means we are good. We have lived consciously and responsibly, that’s what it means. This is what… unfortunately the governments have to enforce by force, because a whole lot of people don’t seem to realise that this is necessary. And, they think, they think this is some fiction! This is not fiction. This is an imminent danger that we need to handle properly.
