| Журнал: Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 87 (2020) 8–9 |
Department of Psychiatry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Dhanvantari Nagar Post, Pondicherry 605 006, India
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| Год: 2020 | УДК: |
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to high levels of psychological distress in the general public, including
symptoms of anxiety and depression. Such distress is associated with alterations in immune function, including
an elevated risk of viral respiratory tract infections. In this light, the possible effects of Ayurveda, a traditional
system of medicine promoted by the Indian government as an “immune booster”, are examined from the point of
view of psychoneuroimmune mechanisms as well as the “meaning response” described by Moerman. It was
found that many of the measures advocated in their guidelines could positively influence immunity either by
direct effects on symptoms of depression or anxiety, or through their symbolic significance. Therefore, it is
possible that such traditional practices could be beneficial both in terms of psychological quality of life, and in
terms of moderating the risk of infection.