YOHAN PERERA Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Traditional medicinal products which enhance immunity have been able to contain the COVID- 19 pandemic in Sri Lanka to some extent, an official said over the weekend.

President Ayurvedic Medical Association Dr. Prasadh Hendavitharana told a seminar organised by the National Movement for Social Justice on Sunday that traditional medicinal substances such as coriander which enhances immunity have been able to contain the spread of COVID-19 to some extent.

Consumption of traditional medicine such as Coriander which enhances immunity has resulted in the containment of the ongoing pandemic in Sri Lanka,”dr. Hendavitharana said.

However the issue with Sri Lanka is the absence of an organised programme to make use of traditional medicine to contain the pandemic. 

Additional Reporting

According to the UK Institue of Immunology :

The immune system is a complex system of structures and processes that has evolved to protect us from disease. Molecular and cellular components make up the immune system. The function of these components is divided up into nonspecific mechanisms, those which are innate (natural) to an organism, and responsive responses, which are adaptive to specific pathogens. Fundamental or classical immunology involves studying the components that make up the innate and adaptive immune system.

Innate immunity  ( Natural) is the first line of defence and is non-specific. That is, the responses are the same for all potential pathogens, no matter how different they may be. Innate immunity includes physical barriers (e.g. skin, saliva etc) and cells (e.g. macrophages, neutrophils, basophils, mast cells etc). These components ‘are ready to go’ and protect an organism for the first few days of infection. In some cases, this is enough to clear the pathogen, but in other instances the first defence becomes overwhelmed and a second line of defence kicks in.

Adaptive immunity is the second line of defence which involves building up memory of encountered infections so can mount an enhanced response specific to the pathogen or foreign substance. Adaptive immunity involves antibodies, which generally target foreign pathogens roaming free in the bloodstream. Also involved are T cells, which are directed especially towards pathogens that have colonised cells and can directly kill infected cells or help control the antibody response.

One’s individual ability to produce immune bodies, and thereby ward off pathogens, is influenced by one’s state of physical health, one’s nutritional status, and one’s emotional response (one’s level of mindfulness)