When I was in my twenties, I developed a bronchial cough every spring and couldn’t shake it for months. I finally consulted an Ayurvedic physician, who said, “Your problem is due to poor digestion, from eating too many heavy foods. And it’s been compounded by the antibiotics, which have killed the friendly flora in your intestines and weakened your immunity further.” I questioned this diagnosis, but since I was desperate, I took the herbal remedies and made the changes in diet and lifestyle that he suggested. And miraculously, I have never had a bronchial infection since. In fact, decades later, having made a conscious effort to improve my digestion using the practical principles of Maharishi Ayurveda, I rarely catch a cold.