What
is Anemia ?
Anemia
is called 'pallor disease' in Sanskrit (panduroga), as it causes the
body to turn pale. There is a deficiency of blood, in quantity or
quality. It is a Pitta (fire) disorder, usually classified with such
liver disorders as jaundice and hepatitis. Physiologically, it is
thought to be caused by bile entering into and thinning the blood;
this is the general movement of Pitta in its disease development.
It can also be caused by high Vata or high Kapha (in which case these
humors are treated).
For
vata (air) types, anemia is usually part of a pattern of general deficiency
and malnourishment. For Kapha (water) it is part of a pattern of obesity,
edema and congestion.
Symptoms
are pale and lifeless appearance, lack of energy, low-grade fever
or burning sensation, irregular elimination, yellowish and scanty
urine, indigestion, vertigo, fainting and fatigue. For women, there
is scanty or pale menstrual flow or absence of flow altogether.
Causes
are wrong diet, eating of too much pungent, sour and salty food (these
tastes in excess aggravate both Pitta and the blood), alcohol, or
malnutrition. Anemia may follow traumatic injury, pregnancy, excessive
menstruation, or other conditions of excess bleeding. It may be brought
about by febrile diseases, the heat of which damages the quality of
the blood, or by liver disorders, which impair the liver's ability
to build up the blood. Excess sexual indulgence, which depletes Ojas
and thereby weakens all bodily fluids, can result in anemia.
Women
are prone to anemia owing to their monthly blood loss via menstruation.
The majority of women can benefit from diet or herbs to improve the
blood, particularly right after the menstrual cycle is over.
Differentiation
Pitta
(fire) caused anemia is due to bile thinning the blood. There will
be burning sensation, fever, and thirst. The skin and nails will be
pale with yellowish tinge, and bodily discharges will turn yellow.
Kapha
(water) caused anemia is due to excess mucus blocking proper digestion
and thinning the blood. The face, eyes, skin and urine will be white,
with excess phlegm and salivation. There will be edema, often overweight,
excess sleeping and heaviness of the limbs. Vata (air) type involves
dry skin with a darkish tinge, anxiety, tremors, insomnia, and constipation
and possible dehydration.
What
are the General Treatment ?
Nutritive
diet is indicated with foods, herbs and supplements to build the blood.
Good foods include red meat, bone soups, milk and sesame seeds (black).
Some fruit is good for building the blood, particularly the juice
of pomegranate or black grapes. Sugars are helpful, especially jaggery
and molasses.
Iron
supplements are indicated, as well as vitamins A and E. However, as
iron preparations weaken the digestion, they should be taken with
herbs to improve digestion such as ginger or cinnamon.
The
bowels should be regulated with laxatives as in most liver disorders
(laxatives help stimulate liver function by draining out excess bile
through the large intestine). In this more delicate condition, use
mild laxatives.
Important
Ayurvedic herbs are aloe gel, amalaki, haritaki, saffron, shatavari,
manjishta, and punamava. One-half to one gram of saffron in warm milk
can be taken daily with ghee.
Special
Ayurvedic iron preparations are excellent: humanized, non- toxic iron
oxides are prepared by repeated incineration of iron, as well as cooking
it in various herbal substances. Most common are Iron ash and Navayas
compound. Good formulas without iron are Shatavari compound.
Red
coral, gamet and ruby are good gems to wear for improving the blood,
particularly for Vata and ,Kapha constitutions. Pearl or moonstone
is good for Pitta and Vata..
We
offer some classical Indian supportive remedies for this disease which
are supposed to be taken strictly under medical supervision. Kindly
Ask a Doctor
