Recovering from the Flu & Pneumonia: Keeping Digestion Strong with Ayurveda

The flu hit me hard this time, and now it’s turned into pneumonia. It’s been exhausting, but instead of focusing just on suppressing symptoms, I’m turning to Ayurveda to support my body’s natural healing process. The most important thing? Keeping my digestion (agni) strong. Ayurveda teaches that digestion is the foundation of immunity—if digestion is weak, toxins (ama) build up, making it harder for the body to fight infections and recover.

Why Digestion is the Key to Recovery

When illness strikes, the body directs its energy toward fighting off pathogens, often slowing down digestion. That’s why heavy, raw, or processed foods can make things worse—they create more ama, clogging the system and making recovery slower. Instead, I’m sticking to light, warm, and easy-to-digest foods: kitchari, vegetable soups, well-cooked rice, and herbal teas.

I’ve been drinking ginger tea and tulsi tea throughout the day—both are powerful for clearing mucus, reducing inflammation, and keeping digestion strong. But there are also other incredible herbs that support both the lungs and detoxification:

• Pippali (Long Pepper): A fantastic lung tonic that helps break down mucus and enhances oxygenation.

• Licorice Root: Soothes the throat and supports respiratory health while nourishing agni.

• Vasa (Malabar Nut): A well-known Ayurvedic herb for clearing the lungs and expelling excess phlegm.

• Trikatu (Ginger, Black Pepper, Long Pepper): A digestive booster that also clears congestion and enhances metabolism.

• Guduchi (Heart-leaved Moonseed): A deep detoxifier that supports the immune system and clears lingering infections.

• Turmeric: Helps reduce inflammation, supports the liver, and clears toxins from the blood.

  
  

Supporting the Liver for Faster Recovery

When dealing with infection, the liver is working overtime to filter out toxins. The last thing I want is to overload it with difficult-to-digest foods. Instead, I’m choosing:

• Bitter greens (lightly cooked) to cleanse the liver

• Turmeric and ginger for anti-inflammatory support

• Coriander, cumin, and fennel to support digestion and detoxification

  
  

I’ve also been dry brushing in the mornings and doing gentle self-massage (Abhyanga) with warm oil to stimulate lymphatic flow and help my body flush out toxins.

Home Panchakarma for Recovery

A full Panchakarma cleanse is best done under guidance, but there are simple at-home detox practices that can support faster healing:

• Oil Pulling in the morning to remove toxins from the mouth and reduce bacterial load.

• Nasya Therapy (medicated nasal oil drops) to keep the nasal passages clear and lubricated.

• Steam Inhalation with eucalyptus, tulsi, or licorice to clear mucus and open up the lungs.

• Gentle Castor Oil or Triphala at night to support elimination and keep the gut clear of excess ama.

• Sweating (Swedana) with a warm bath or herbal steam to help release toxins and open up circulation.

• 
  

Rest, Breathe, and Let the Body Heal

While all of this helps, the biggest thing I’m focusing on is rest. The body can only heal when it’s not in a stressed state, so I’m listening to my energy levels, staying warm, and letting myself slow down.

This experience has been another reminder that Ayurveda isn’t just about treating symptoms—it’s about supporting the body as a whole. By keeping digestion strong, clearing out ama, and supporting detoxification, I know I’m giving my body the best chance to recover fully and naturally.

More ginger tea, more rest, and trusting the process—this too shall pass.