Top 5 Ayurvedic Formulations and Herbs for Flu Season

1. Chyavanprash

1. Trikatu

1. Tulsi

1. Ginger

1. Yasthimadhuka

Chyawanaprash

This tonic jam is revered as an elixir of life in Ayurveda and has been used for thousand of years to rejuvenate the whole system. It is one of the most popular and well known ayurvedic formulations. Chywanaprash is named after a sage named Chyavana.

• Chyawanaprash is the superior of all rasayana formulations.
  Rasayana is the seventh branch of Ayurveda which deals with the prevention of ageing, disease and minimisation of degenerative processes and increasing ones Immunity.

• Benefits and uses:
  • Preserves youth and slows down ageing
  • increases body strength and facilitates recovery from illness and stress
  • strengthens the immune system, especially good for the lungs,
  • excellent rejuvenator for body and mind
  • it purifies and develops the seven body tissues (dhatus)
  • best all round elixir, It increases Ojas (vital essence)

• Directions for use: Take 1-2tsp daily, followed by warm water/milk/ herbal tea

Trikatu churna – the three spices formula

The ingredients of this formula are sunthi, maricha, and pippali (ginger, black pepper and long pepper). The energetic of the spices are pungent, heating, light and dry. It awakens digestion, digest toxins (AMA) and helps to alleviate cough, asthma and benefits breathing by clearing sticky mucus and phlegm. It is also a great remedy for hay fever. This formula should be used in caution if you are suffering from high pitta and hyperacidity.
Best to make a paste combined with honey.

Tulsi – Holy Basil

Tulsi is considered a very sacred plant, high in sattva. It imparts the quality of lightness and spiritual clarity. A wonderful herb to increase immunity and to lift the heaviness of a fever, cough and colds.
The energetic are pungent, bitter, heating, dry and light. Tulsi clears kapha and mucous from the lungs and upper respiratory tract. It has Jvarahara properties (alleviates fever) by inducing sweating and therefore bringing the temperature down.
Other benefits of tulsi are improving one’s stamina, boosts the immunity, anti microbial, anti inflammatory properties as well as lifting ones spirits and helping with depression.
A wonderful herb during the winter month. Tulsi teas are also recommended during the winter month.

Ginger

A universal medicine and the ayurveda practitioners best friend. Ginger clears AMA (digestive toxins) from the plasma and blood. It warms the digestive system, increases agni (digestive fire) and the secretion of enzymes. It clears colds and alleviates cough and breathing difficulties.
In Ayurveda fresh ginger (ardraka) is used as well as dry ginger (sunthi).
The Sanskrit word arkraka means moist and sunthi means dry.
Ginger has a Vata and Kapha balancing effect and Pitta increasing.

• If you are suffering from a cough and cold try adraka swarasa (fresh squeezed ginger juice). Mix the juice with honey and take 2 tsp, 2-3 x daily

Great combinations are:
• Cinnamon, lemongrass and ginger
• Ginger, lemon and honey

Yasthimadhuka- Liquorice

Yasthimadhu means the sweet stick. The sweetness of liquorice is 50 times greater then sucrose. The Ayurvedic energetic are sweet, bitter, cooling and moist. Liquorice is a great expectorant and anti inflammatory. Yasthimadhuka is used in asthma and bronchitis and dry coughs with difficult to expectorate. It is a great remedy for sore throat and laryngitis when the powder is mixed with honey. Small liquorice stick can be chewed and the juice is swallowed, this will improve a sore throat and relieves hoarseness of the voice. A warm liquorice tea is also beneficial to gargle to soothe your throat.





Before taking any ayurvedic herbs/ formulations it is advised to see an Ayurveda practitioner for an Ayurvedic health assessment.

We hope you enjoyed the reading and we look forward to hearing from you.
Have a beautiful day
With love from Lakshmi Ayurveda