Some of us are preparing to perform Haj, Muslims’ pilgrimage to the holy sites in Makkah, this coming season and thinking of the logistics for this once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journey. Not long ago, Haj provisions were composed of personal attire, bed sheets, towels, sleeping mattresses, water-tanks, kitchenware, food supplies, and maybe pain-killers and antiseptic solutions. However, in recent years things have changed. A-to-Z preparations are reduced to just personal belongings.

Because the all-necessary materials are provided on site by your Haj organizer who is responsible for the trip, your task is simplified to only take very personal belongings and prescribed medication.

In addition to that, I would like to suggest a first-aid kit made of natural remedies to boost your immune system in order to perform your spiritual journey without health complications.

Before starting with the kit, I recommend beginning, today, to equip your body with energy and boost your immune defenses to sustain the hardship of the trip in order to fight pathogens and viruses. Let us see how to do that.

First of all, I cannot talk about building immunity without first emphasizing a healthy diet.

Weeks before the scheduled pilgrimage, you should give special attention to your daily nutrition. You should significantly increase fruit and vegetable consumption. Meals should be balanced with protein (fish, poultry, legumes), carbohydrates (whole bread and grains), dark red, green, orange, and yellow raw and lightly cooked vegetables (leafy greens, cabbage, roots, gourds, tubers), and colorful fresh fruits (citrus, dates, apples, papaya, kiwi, bananas, and berries). Vegetables, fruits, and their juices supply the body with cleansing antioxidants and bioflavonoids. Lemon and lime disinfect the body and protect against germs.

Spices (ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, cloves, cardamom), condiments (raw onions, garlic, mustard, vinegar, hot peppers, cayenne powder) and healthy fats (olive, corn oils) are required for an immune-boosting diet. Snacks should consist of fresh or dry fruits and raw nuts. Keep away from fried, fatty, and fast foods, additives (colorings, aspartame, preservatives), red and fatty meat, refined sugar and grains, and hydrogenated fats (in biscuits and snacks). These burden the body and weaken the immune system.

Water and fluids are essential to the body systems. Remember to drink purified water and avoid bottled water that has been exposed to the heat and sun. Heated plastic bottles leach chemicals into the water. This includes diet drinks containing aspartame. Aspartame is a neurotoxin, harmful to both brain and body, particularly when it is heated above 30 degrees Celsius. Such chemicals weaken the body defenses (Google “Aspartame and Gulf War Syndrome” for more information). Avoid drinking sugar-sweetened soda; they contain around ten spoons of sugar per can. Sugar consumption sabotages your immune-building efforts to fight bacteria and viral infections.

Herbal infusions made with tea, oregano, mint, thyme, rosemary, sage, lemongrass, peppermint, chamomile, and verbena, flavored with immune boosting spices such as cloves, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, star anise, cumin, fennel, fenugreek (hulba), and caraway seeds detoxify and disinfect the body. Gargle with the infused herb before drinking it warm to kill germs. Sweeten your hot drinks with honey instead of sugar. According to Palestinian doctor Hani Younus honey increases immunity against H1N1 and flu viruses, which can be suppressed by some honey components.

Tea and some infusions have diuretic properties, which promote body water loss, an undesirable effect when performing Haj tasks. It is best to drink them after a sodium-containing meal. Soups with garlic, onions, black pepper, cayenne, and spices are hydrating, nourishing, and immune boosting. Active culture yogurt with a sprinkle of salt is nutritive and helps retain water. Avoid too much salt if you have high blood pressure, and drink plenty of water.

Star anise and basil leaves are respectively recommended by Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines to protect against the swine flu, H1N1 and other viruses. The infusion of star anise is more effective on an empty stomach. I prefer to pulverize it and sprinkle it on hot drinks. Twenty basil leaves blended with some water the first thing in the morning can prevent H1N1 virus and the flu or at worst minimize their symptoms.

Physiological saline solutions or seawater nasal sprays are available in pharmacies. Inject a small amount with a needle-less syringe or spray into both nostrils two to three times a day. Spit the solution through the mouth or sallow it. Along with hot drinks and gargling, saline clears airways from pathogens.

One week before the scheduled date of the Haj trip, take a multivitamin and mineral supplement (zinc and selenium strengthen immunity) from a health store to maintain healthy immune defenses and enhance cellular and enzymatic functions. A supplement of vitamin C, 1,000 mg, with bioflavonoids also protects against viruses. Nutrients like N-acetylcysteine over 1,000 mg daily and L-Lysine, 500 mg on an empty stomach with water or juice (not milk), suppress the spreading of H1N1 virus and reduce its symptoms. Probiotic supplements offer health protection, too.

Three days before the start of the trek, take Echinacea capsules from your health store. The combination of echinacea, elderberry, and vitamin C with bioflavonoids boost the immunity on the cellular level to protect against flu viruses.

Boswellia gum (luban shihri) has antibiotic properties, which detoxify infections and mucus.

Whether soaked in a little water and taken in supplement form first thing in the morning and at bedtime or even sucked as a throat soother, it is effective. To disinfect and refresh the air in the tent or common area, burn a lump of the gum. It destroys airborne bacteria and viruses.

Maitake, shiitake, reishi, or cordycep extracts support the immune system and fight viral and digestive infections.

Expose your body to direct sunlight for just twenty minutes a day to allow the skin synthesize vitamin D, a nutrient that nourishes cells and builds immunity. Too much sun exposure causes sunburn and sunstroke; both can be harmful. The sun is a blessing during Haj. It dries stagnant waters; kills airborne germs and viruses; and raises body temperature enough to destroy pathogens.

With your first-aid kit and immune defenses ready, you will be, inshallah, safe and well-protected before, during, and after the trip in order to perform Haj rituals in the best of health and make your lifetime spiritual journey a fulfilling, enjoyable, and memorable experience. You may feel it is too soon to prepare yourself for Haj, but early protection is better than cure. Haj maqbool, inshallah!!!