Note: Please consult your physician before starting any nutritional supplement.

All information is provided for educational purposes only.

We live all our lives in contact with microorganisms, some of which are harmful to
us. These harmful microorganisms are referred to as pathogens and cause many
diseases. The immune system, which is made up of special cells, proteins, tissues,
and organs, defend us against germs and microorganisms every day.

In most cases, the immune system does a great job of keeping us healthy and
preventing infections from overwhelming the body. But sometimes problems with
the immune system can lead to illness and infection. This is particularly true of
these times; unhealthy lifestyle practices, stress, environmental pollution and other
factors have rendered our immune systems weak. Needless to say infections have
come back to haunt us.

The understanding of disease and infection in Ayurveda Herbs deviates from the
conventional understanding. According to Ayurveda, our bodies weaken because of
an imbalance in the body that creates an environment within the body where the
virus, bacteria and the other pathogens can survive and cause disease.

Guduchi effectively suppresses oxidative stress and thereby helps the body fight
infections.

Several lifestyle measures like diet and yoga, along with immune building herbs, are
advised as a prevention strategy while in diseased condition various herbs are used
to alleviate the condition.

Some of the infection-fighting herbs are described below.

Guduchi/Tinospora gulancha /Tinospora cordifolia

Guduchi is a large, glabrous, deciduous climbing shrub. It grows throughout tropical

India, ascending to an altitude of 300m. Its principle constituents are tinsporine,
tinosporide, tinosporaside, cordifolide, cordifol, heptacosanol, clerodane furano
diterpene, diterpenoid furanolactone tinosporidine, columbin, and ß-sitosterol.

Guduchi is used extensively in Ayurvedic Herbs preparations for the treatment of

various ailments. Its strength as an anti-pyretic and immunomodulator in the
treatment of malaria is reflected in its common name, Indian quinine.

Various studies have demonstrated the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory

activities of Guduchi. In studies which assessed the antimicrobial efficacy of the
herb, treatment with the herb was associated with significantly improved bacterial
clearance as well as improved bacteria-fighting capacities of cells of the immune
system.
In other studies which assessed the immunotherapeutic potential of the herb, the
extract of the plant was found to enhance the functioning of the immune system.

Various studies have demonstrated the role of oxidative stress in the development
and exacerbation of infectious and inflammatory conditions. And many herbs, by
virtue of their potent antioxidant activities, are not only powerful scavengers of
bacteria but also help suppress the associated infection and inflammation. Guduchi
effectively suppresses oxidative stress and thereby helps the body fight infections.

Manjishtha/Indian Madder/ Rubia cordifolia

Manjishtha is a prickly creeper or climber with rootstocks. Its principal constituents

are purpurin, munjistin, xanthopurpurin or purpuroxanthin and pseudopurpurin. The
roots are credited with tonic, antiseptic and astringent properties. They are used in
rheumatism.

Manjishtha is useful in the treatment of skin infections, ulcers, inflammation and

other skin disorders. It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiallergic actions.
Manjishtha is also a potent antioxidant herb.

Yashtimadhu/ Licorice or liquorice/Glycyrrhiza glabra

Yashtimadhu is a perennial herb found in subtropical and warm temperate regions.

None of the liquorice species occurs in India in the wild. But its use has been
reported for a long time in traditional literature.

The principal constituent of Yashtimadhu is glycyrrhizin. Yashtimadhu is used for

the treatment of asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis and chronic cough. It
modulates the immune system and has remarkable immuno-stimulant properties. It
has potent antioxidant activity as well.

Its anti-inflammatory action renders it beneficial in the treatment of various

inflammatory conditions including rheumatism, gastric, duodenal and oesophageal
ulceration or inflammation, heartburn and mouth ulcers. The plant also contains
phytoestrogens in the form of isoflavones such as formononetin, glabrone,
neoliquiritin and hispaglabridin A & B.

The herb is also known to alleviate irritable conditions of the mucus membrane,
strengthen the immune system and provide resistance in recurring infections.

Yashtimadhu has been investigated for its immunomodulating effects in various

research studies and found to have a powerful stimulant action on the functioning of
various cells of the immune system.
Amalaki, a potent antioxidant herb, has infection- fighting and immunomodulatory
actions.

Amalaki

Amalaki, also popularly known as Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis), is one of

the most potent antioxidant herbs around. Amalaki is widely used in traditional
medicine to treat many diseases. Its infection-fighting and immunomodulatory
actions are well known. Amalaki has been proven to have potent antimicrobial,
antioxidant and immunostimulating activities.

Herbs constitute a powerful armamentarium in our fight against infections. Herbs

have been shown to contain powerful antimicrobial compounds. They also help in
improving the body’s resistance to infection, which probably is the missing link in
recurrent infections and drug resistance.
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