Anaemia and its Ayurvedic Management
Anaemia is that typical condition when the blood stream lacks haemoglobin or the red blood corpuscles (RBCs).
It is important to know about the functions of the bloodstream to understand the condition known as anaemia.
CONSEQUENCES OF INADEQUATE RED BLOOD CORPUSCLES
The red blood corpuscles (RBCs) flowing in the blood stream transport oxygen to all the parts of the body. Oxygen maintains and upkeeps the functioning of the cells in our bodies. Inadequate number of RBCs lead to the following consequences (symptoms).
SYMPTOMS OF ANAEMIA
An anaemic person suffers from inadequate oxygenated blood (red blood corpuscles). So his appearance appears pale. Moreover, such a person is susceptible to many ailments.
Owing to the non-presence of or inadequate RBCs, such a person feels weak at the slightest physical labour.
CAUSES OF ANAEMIA
There are several causes of Anaemia. Among them, the following four reasons are important.
(i) Malfunctioning of the bone marrow, liver or even the stomach can cause to defective or less production of blood;
(ii) Owing to certain complicacies the blood corpuscles may be destroyed within the body itself immediately after they are formed;
(iii) Poor dietary habits may also lead to inadequate blood forming ingredients; and/or
(iv) Internal or external haemorrhages may also cause Anaemia. Such internal bleeding may happen due to some injuries or also due to some ailments like piles. On the other hand, external bleeding may happen from the genital tract, anus, lungs, mouth or the nose.
BOOSTING THE LIVER: EASY HOMEMADE MEANS
If the patient's liver is weak then he/she should regularly have sweets prepared with sesame (til) seeds and then dipped in molasses or sugar-candy (gur) syrup.
Note: Don't remove the outer husk of the sesame seeds. The husk contains iron which is beneficial for boosting the functioning of liver.
AYURVEDIC EXPLANATION
In Ayurvedic terminology, Anaemia is called Pandu. This condition – Pandu roga – is caused by the vitiation of the Pittas. The best way to treat this ailment is through purgation. So, the Ayurvedic principles pay the utmost attention in clearing the natural purgation processes of the human body. In fact, this is the first and the most important step to treat Anaemia.
Naturally enough constipation is treated on a war-footing by the Ayurvedic physicians of their patients. It is only after constipation is cured permanently that the other medications are recommended for the person concerned.
CONSTIPATION MUST BE CURED FOR FAST RECOVERY
Constipation is the root cause of all the diseases. Women should be particularly careful to keep constipation at bay. Constipation clashes with the natural functioning of many hormones.
If you are suffering from constipation, have Triphala powder four times daily. Be very particular to have a teaspoonful of Triphala powder before retiring for the night. Follow it up with a glass of water.
One can also mix the Triphala powder with water and drink the concoction.
Immediately after rising from bed in the morning, one should drink at least five full glasses of water. This also helps in regular movement of the bowels.
Constipated people must have lots of water during the day. Water is a natural purgation agent. The toxic materials accumulating in our bodies are purged through the sweat, urine, and stool. These three purgative means are aided in their functioning by water. Hence there is the need to consume lots of water.
An Ayurvedic medication – Punarnava mandura – can also be taken by the person. However, this medicine needs to be taken in large doses thrice daily for the optimum effects. Punarnava mandura is a mild laxative.
MAKE BOWEL MOVEMENT A HABIT WITH KIDS: THE STRATEGY
The thumb-rule is that the children should be inculcated the habit of regular movement of their bowels the moment they arise from bed. This urge for this activity should come naturally to them.
To aid the process, the children should be made to drink atleast five glasses of water immediately after they get up on their empty tummies.
DIETARY REGIMEN
Anaemic people must daily have fresh green vegetables, preferably in their raw forms as salads.
These people must also consume lots of boiled and raw leafy vegetables.
WHAT NOT TO EAT
Anaemic persons must avoid fried and also sour food items like curd. These items adversely affect the liver.
AYURVEDIC TREATMENT
Ayurveda treats the causes of bleeding. There may be several reasons for the bleeding in any part of the body. However, there are three important common reasons for the bleeding or haemorrhage in the internal organs. The common causes of bleeding are accidents; malfunctioning of the important internal organs; and nutritional deficiencies.
Hence, Ayurvedic treatment first diagnoses the causes of the bleeding and attempts to plug this loophole.
BLEEDING DUE TO ACCIDENTS
If the cause of anaemia is due to some bleeding from some internal organs following accidents, then surgery may be called for. But surgery can be carried out depending on various other ancillary conditions. The important ancillary causes are thyroid and sugar. Unless the readings of the thyroid and sugar are normal, surgery cannot be done on the patient.
THYROID & BLOOD SUGAR READINGS & THEIR SIGNIFICANCES
It is for this reason that diabetics (who have high or low blood sugar levels – including fasting and PP) and patients suffering from thyroid malfunctioning have to undertake many clinical tests. Besides, they should also follow a strict dietary and other regimen so that these readings show the normal percentages. And, surgery can be done on the patient (to treat the affected internal organs) only if the readings are normal.
BLEEDING DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING OF THE INTERNAL ORGANS
Such causes of bleeding may happen in any of the viscera or organs of the body. These may be the bone marrows, stomach or even the liver,
In such cases, the commonly prescribed medications are Punarnava mandura and Punarnavadi mandura. These medications contain 22 ingredients. Among them, the most important ones are the powdery form of Mandura and Punarnava.
MANDURA
Mandura is a by-product of iron-ore. It is rich in the assimilable form of iron.
Ayurvedic pharmaceutical processes refine it further to make it further assimilable.
PUNARNAVA
Punarnava is an elixir for normal healthy people as well. Punarnava has no toxicity.
Along with Punarnava, the other important ingredient -- Mandura – is used for the preparation of the Ayurvedic drugs, viz. Punarnava mandura and Punarnavadi mandura.
Punarnava has strong rejuvenating qualities.
Punarnava Is rejuvenates the portion or the viscera whose vitiation causes Anaemia. The two compound drugs -- Punarnava mandura and Punarnavadi mandura — along with the other drugs prepared with Punarnava contain many other ingredients. They together stimulate the organs, cure the ailments affecting these internal organs and also regulate their functioning.
These ingredients have the following positive effects. They help the following processes: assimilation, absorption and digestion of food.
Preparation process : Mix one gram of this drug with a spoonful of honey. It can also be taken as linctus.
The Dose : Adult patients should have it four times daily. However, the children should have one teaspoonful of the mixture twice daily.
Ayurvedic diet for Anemia
The main dietary requirement for those with anemia is to pack meals with as much iron giving produce as possible, as iron is the vital nutrient in reproducing red blood cells.
Some suitable foods are as follows:
Sesame seeds
Almonds
Spinach
Soya beans
Animal fat
Radish
Carrot
Tomato
Blackberries
Bananas
Apple
Ayurvedic Herbs and Herbal Supplements to Remedy Anemia
Punanava (Boerhaavia diffusa)
Ghrtitkumari (Aloe Vera)
Lauh Bhasma
Lohasava
Dhatri Lauh
Navayas Lauh
These herbs all provide the necessary iron and protein to reinvigorate the bodies’ production of red blood cells.
All the above herbs come in variety of ways, from herbs to capsules and powders and can either be taken singularly or as a by-product of other Ayurvedic remedies.
Ayurvedic Yoga Positions to Remedy Anemia
The following positions stimulate the whole body and inner system in a positive way to help combat anemia. All are quite simple but shouldn’t be tried without the attention of a qualified Ayurvedic yoga instructor.
Shoulder stand (Sarvangasna). A self-explanatory position where you balance the body on your shoulders and hold the position.
Posterior stretch (Paschimotthanasana). This helps reinvigorate a poor digestive fire.
Corpse Pose (Shavasana). Lie flat on your back and relax.
It is also recommended that you spend as much time in the sun as is possible, as the suns-rays stimulate the production of red blood cells.
All the above articles / blog posts are not the original contribution from author, please consider a opinion of qualified doctor, if you considering this. usage of medicine without proper advice may injurious to your health. If you need a advice please contact Dr. Anil Joy email:
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