Owing to our fast-paced, unhealthy, and stressful lifestyles, our immune systems have taken a major hit. When the immune system weakens, the body becomes vulnerable to various diseases. Common problems like the flu, fever, cold, and cough can be easily avoided by following certain methods to keep the immune system healthy.
Yoga practice helps us stay fit holistically and in the most natural way. While asanas and pranayama keep us physically and mentally healthy, mudras are also an integral part of the yoga practice.
Hand mudras help stimulate various pressure points in the fingers and activate each of the five basic elements: air, water, fire, space or ether, and earth.
So, if you often suffer from colds and coughs, we’ve listed some of the best mudras to support your recovery. You can practise these mudras during meditation or at any time you feel comfortable. They can be done for 10–15 minutes, three times a day, or for 45 minutes in one sitting.
While it’s best to focus on one mudra that suits your specific concern, practising two mudras a day is also fine. However, avoid switching between mudras too often, as this may prevent you from experiencing the desired results.
Below are six of the best mudras for relieving cold and cough. You can choose one or two of them and practise consistently for effective results.
Bhramara mudra is a simple hand gesture that helps reduce allergic reactions such as the common cold, runny nose, tonsillitis, hay fever, skin rashes, itching, and sneezing.
Reducing lung and sinus congestion can help ease the symptoms of breathing disorders such as bronchitis and asthma. Bhramara Mudra also helps strengthen and support the immune system, which often becomes weakened in such conditions.
Including this mudra in your daily practice during seasonal changes, such as in autumn or spring, can help keep allergic reactions at bay.
Steps to perform
- Sit in any comfortable meditative pose such as padmasana or sukhasana, or any other pose of your choice.
- Keep your back straight and have your drishti at a focal point in front of you to align your head with the spine.
- On both hands, curl your index fingers so that the tip touches the base of the thumbs.
- Join the tips of the middle finger and thumb and keep the remaining fingers comfortably extended.
- Place your hands on your thighs with palms facing upwards.
- Hold the mudra for a minimum of 7 minutes.
Linga Mudra is believed to increase body temperature and improve respiratory efficiency. The upright thumb in this mudra symbolises the Hindu deity Lord Shiva..
The greatest strength of Linga Mudra lies in its ability to generate heat within the body. This inner warmth helps the body fight infections, reduce mucus buildup, and manage conditions such as the common cold, bronchial congestion, and other respiratory issues.
However, you should be careful not to overdo this mudra. Practise it only while the symptoms persist, as excessive heat generation can be harmful to the body.
Steps to perform
- Sit in any comfortable meditative pose such as padmasana or sukhasana, or any other pose of your choice.
- Keep your back straight and have your drishti at a focal point in front of you to align your head with the spine.
- Bring your hands in front of your chest and place them in the namaste position.
- Interlock all your fingers keeping the right thumb extended upwards. Join your left index finger and left thumb around the right thumb to form a circle.
- Place your hands near the navel and hold the mudra for at least 8-10 minutes.
Surya Mudra helps increase the body’s fire element, which revitalises and energises both the mind and body. It is also known as the Agni Vardhak Mudra or Fire Enhancer Mudra, as it strengthens and balances the fire element within.
Surya Mudra helps maintain body temperature during the winter and prevents symptoms such as shivering, dry skin, sore throat, common cold, and joint discomfort.
Regular practice of Surya Mudra can help relieve symptoms of cold and cough. While the effects may not be immediate, consistent and long-term practice can be deeply healing and therapeutic.
Steps to perform
- Sit in any comfortable meditative pose such as padmasana or sukhasana, or any other pose of your choice.
- Keep your back straight and have your drishti at a focal point in front of you to align your head with the spine.
- On both hands, fold your ring finger so that the tip almost touches the middle of the palm. With your thumb, press the middle part or phalange of the folded finger.
- Place your hands on the thighs or knees with palms facing up.
- Hold the mudra for a minimum of 10 minutes.
The internal body temperature is believed to rise as a result of this mudra’s ability to increase energy. Prithvi mudra helps in removing weakness and fatigue which are often accompanied by cold and cough. Since it deals with the earth element, it aids in preventing nasal cavity allergies, a common factor for cold and cough.
However, people with kapha dosha should practice this mudra with caution as the earth element is already dominant in them. Extended practice can lead to excess mucus and imbalance in the elements. Stop the practice of this mudra as soon as the symptoms are reduced.
Also Read: Prithivi Tattva: Earth Element Functions and Use in Body
Steps to perform
- Sit in any comfortable meditative pose such as padmasana or sukhasana, or any other pose of your choice.
- Keep your back straight and have your drishti at a focal point in front of you to align your head with the spine.
- On both hands, join the tip of your ring finger to the tip of the thumb and keep the remaining fingers comfortably straight.
- Place your hands on the thighs or knees with palms facing up.
- Hold the mudra for a minimum of 10 minutes.
Apana vayu mudra is often called the Mrit Sanjeevni Mudra due to its reversing effects on an oncoming heart attack. Additionally, it strengthens our immune system as someone with a weak immune system is prone will catch a cold and cough frequently and also take time to recover from it. Further, it aids in the detoxification of the body on a physical and emotional level, which can also pose to be a trigger for allergic reactions.
Steps to perform
- Sit in any comfortable meditative pose such as padmasana or sukhasana, or any other pose of your choice.
- Keep your back straight and have your drishti at a focal point in front of you to align your head with the spine.
- On both hands, join the tip of your middle and ring finger to the tip of the thumb and keep the remaining fingers comfortably extended.
- Place your hands on the thighs or knees with palms facing up. You can also keep your palms facing down in case you are stressed or feeling anxious about your health.
- Hold the mudra for a minimum of 10 minutes.
Vayu mudra is performed for balancing the air element in our body. It helps with relieving gastric problems and also strengthens the immune system. By working in the pressure points in the index finger, it stimulates the energetic wave in our body and makes the antibodies work toward preventing any onslaught of allergens or viruses entering our body.
Vayu mudra also keeps stress at bay which can also weaken your immune system and make you prone to catch cold and flu.
People with a pronounced Vata or having a Vata constituent should perform this mudra in moderation as it will further increase the air element in their bodies.
Steps to perform
- Sit in any comfortable meditative pose such as padmasana or sukhasana, or any other pose of your choice.
- Keep your back straight and have your drishti at a focal point in front of you to align your head with the spine.
- On both hands, fold the index finger so that the tip touched the base of the thumb. Place the thumb on the middle phalange while keeping the remaining fingers straight.
- Place your hands on the thighs or knees with palms facing up.
- Hold the mudra for a minimum of 7-10 minutes.
Conclusion
Mudras are an excellent way to keep your immune system healthy and functioning at its best. Regular practice also helps maintain balance among the five elements. Practising one or a combination of mudras is a natural way to prevent and reduce allergic reactions.
