Can we boost immunity with traditional preparations?
By Chandre Dharmawardana-May 3, 2020I maintain a webpage, on Sri Lankan herbs and plants, and several people have written, via the website (dhweb.org/place.names/bot2sinhala.html) asking about boosting one's immunity, using infusions, and inhalations, made from traditional herbs.
We remember from our childhood, how preparations of "inguru (ginger), koththamalli (coriander)", fortified with other substances like "sudu-loonu" (garlic), "pathpaadagam" (Mollugo cerviana), "Veni-vael-gaeta" (Coscinium fenestratum), "Rasakinda (Tinospora cordifolia), depending on the need, were given to children, by parents. Pathpadagam and Veni-vael-gaeta were added for a fever accompanying the malaise. Even hot tea has inched forward as an "immunity booster". In addition, "dum aelleema", i.e., inhalations of steam, augmented with various aromatic herbal substances, such as "heentala" (Tulsi), cloves, cardamon, camphor, citronella, etc., are well known home remedies.
The steam inhalations helped to loosen the blocked nasal canals, while children loved the "Thal sookiri" (sugar from the Palmyrah palm) and lemon drinks, given for "sore throat". Application, and sniffing of camphorated oil, drinking hot broth, are familiar, and bring one the nostalgia of childhood, and even a sense of well-being. Chewing "Nelli" fruits (Phyllanthus embelica) is another pleasant memory of home remedies. Clearly, if these products are used in a home setting, then there is evidently a benefit, at least psychologically; that should translate into some positive physiological benefits, as well. However, some warnings have to be heeded. For instance, infusions from "polpala" (Aerva lanata) should not be regularly used as it has adverse effects on the urinary tract.
There are other substances like turmeric (curcuma longa), an integral part of South Asian cooking, now a recognized "anti-inflammatory". Other "relatives" of turmeric are "araththa" (alpinia calcarata) and "vadha-kaha `` (Acorus calamus) long recognized for their medicinal value. This list is pushed to the extreme with claims that regular use of cannabis ("Ganja"), or drinking cow urine, are also "essential" to boosting immunity.
Such home remedies are found in all cultures, using belief systems and plants endemic to each region. In temperate climates, other plants, like Eucalyptus and its oils that are not found in Sri Lanka, are used in home remedies. The root of the Astragalus, a type of Milk Vetch, is extensively used in Chinese medicine, while Echinacea Tea and ginseng are well known even in the West. Gutokola is reputed to have all types of "immunity boosting" properties. The anti-malarial drugs, proposed for COVID-19, are found in certain Chinese herbs that have their local analogues.
One soon realizes that there is not a single plant that has no "medicinal use", as mentioned in one of the Buddhist discourses. In effect, humans, in their evolution, from hunter-gatherers to moderns, have tried everything to wade off illnesses. However, it is the body itself which is the greatest doctor and the best drug manufacturer, as we explain below.
Let us ask how our "immune system works". By the "immune system" we mean hundreds of types of proteins and cells that are in our tissues and organs. These cells can distinguish between harmless invaders and harmful invaders. Our body is teeming with bacteria and viruses that we need. This is called our microbiome. A human being is not one person, but a huge collection of living beings (cells, viruses, etc) cohabiting together: So it is like a vibrant city, when healthy.
The body has T-cells that act like the policing system of a city and recognize dangerous invaders. The attack against the invader must be precise and proportional. If the immune system under-reacts, or overreacts, you become very ill. A city has fire-fighters, specializing in fighting fires, similarly the body has special cells for special tasks. If the body had previously encountered, say, chicken pox, and has built defensive cells that recognize a chicken-pox invasion, the body quickly checks the chicken-pox invasion, using specialized troops. Such specialized cells (called antibodies) must be deployed to ensure that just the right defence is applied, at just the right level. The specialized cells can be acquired the hard way, by fighting an invader. An easier way is by fighting a "mock invader" provided by a vaccine, I.e., a substance that mimics the invader, but in a gentler way.
However, even if the body had the "template" for making antibodies, because the individual was vaccinated, his reaction, and his defences, may be weak, if he is not physically, and mentally fit, and unable to rapidly produce the proteins (antibodies) needed to face the emergency. Every organ in the body, be it the brain, the heart, the kidneys, the gut, etc., all participate to make the antibodies and eliminate the waste products of the battle; these are dead cells, detritus and body fluids.
The key to a strong immune system is Good Physical and Mental Health (GPMH). If that is provided, the body will do its own part by identifying the diseases and making the drugs (antibodies). So, what are the most important factors for GPMH? The universal answer is well known! A good balanced diet free of noxious substances, like sugar, alcohol or smoke, plenty of physical and mental exercise, adequate sleep, avoidance of stress, and doing what one enjoys!
All substances are toxins if certain thresholds are exceeded. Vitamins are toxins that become beneficial if taken in small prescribed quantities, and should be provided as supplements, as the diet may not supply what is needed. Vitamin C and Vitamin D have been named as important prophylactics. But then, what about the coriander and ginger tea, the "pas-panguva", or the "Seethaa-Raama guli" or "Thipal kashaaya"? Or medicinal steaming sessions, etc? (see dh-web.org/place.names/bot2sinhala.html#herbal for detailed discussions.)
The Peradeniya-University Chemistry, under Professor Sultan Bawa, established a great tradition of chemical analysis of Sri Lankan natural products and herbs. Indian and Chinese scientists, and Big Pharma, have also investigated these herbal products. Where clinical tests have been done, they show no clear evidence 1that the traditional remedies help us much – although, in mild cases, they may cut down the duration of the malaise while the body does its job.
Linus Pauling, the great visionary scientist and Nobelist, made a serious case for using high doses (e.g., 1-2 g/day for an adult) of Vitamin C as a prophylactic. It takes 10-20 oranges to make so much vitamin C, and so you take tablets. It is said to counter even the common cold and flu. However, even here clear evidence is lacking! In more serious cases, using home remedies (e.g., Papaya-juice against Dengue) can be dangerous by delaying a patient from getting proper professional treatment.
If home remedies are harmless, or mildly beneficial, what can we say about Ayurvedic medicine itself? Western medicine, too, was a herbal system, derived from the practices of the Greeks, Romans and Arabs, and became gradually "scientific". It, too, believed in the four humours ("va-pith-sem-rudhira") and "evil spirits" causing disease. Surgeons did not even wash their hands or tools. But it moved to the germ theory of disease definitively in the 19th century.
One area of research that is wide open is the effect of herbal remedies on the microbiome. While lacking theoretical clarity, traditional practices are known to help certain illnesses. If patients prefer to be treated by indigenous medicine, they should have that possibility. It will even relieve the hospital system by siphoning patients to an alternative system that they are happy with. China has long exploited this approach.
However, can Ayurvedic hospitals treat new illness, like COVID-19, if it can't handle Dengue, Mumps, Measles or Malaria? Trained Ayurvedic doctors are far better informed about diseases than the public, and hence care, in an Ayurvedic hospital, would be a positive step, over home care, if these hospitals have the needed facilities, and nurses. Only about 1-2% of the "confirmed COVID-19 cases" become acute and need intensive care. Hence a significant majority can be nursed, within a care system, where nursing and general health, rather than specific interventions, are emphasized.
Many illnesses are cured if you keep the doctor away!
