Anemia – An Ayurvedic perspective, herbal remedies and more
Overview
In Ayurveda anemia is compared with pandu roga. In this condition paleness of mucus membrane and skin occurs that result in diminished red blood cells and blood supply. It is more common in females as compared to males.
The anemia is basically due to an excess of Pitta dosha along with other doshas in the body. Dosha and dushyas in the body cause a decrease in the blood, loss of complexion, sensation loss etc that leads to anemia (pandu roga).
The prodormal symptoms in an anemic patient are:
- Dryness of skin, palpitation, fatigue, loss of sweat, excessive salivation, fatigue, , desire to eat mud, chalk, or clay, swelling around the eyes, indigestion, yellowish urine, stool, pallor of the skin, , loss of glow, anorexia, vertigo, fever, excessive sleep, feeble speech, cramps in calf region, hairfall etc.
Now let’s discuss in detail few of the shlokas that represents the Pandu roga (Anemia)
पाण्डु रोगा स्मृता : पञ्च वात पित्त कफे स्त्र्य। चतुर्थ : सन्निपातेन पञ्चमो भक्षणांमृद।च। चि १६
This shloka of charak samhita represents that pandu roga (Anemia) is of five types vataj, pittaj, kaphaj, sannipataj, and eating mud.
दोषा : पित्त प्रधानस्तु यस्य कुप्यन्ति धातुषु। शैथिल्यं तस्य धातूनां गौरवं चोपजायते। च। चि १६ /४
ततो वर्णबलस्नेहा ये चान्ये अप्योजसो गुणा। व्रजन्ति क्षयमतयर्थ दोष दुष्य प्रदूषणात। च चि १६ /५
सोअल्परक्तो अल्पमेदसको नि : सार : शिथिलेन्द्रिय। वैवर्ण्य भजते ,तस्य हेतुं ऋणु सलक्षणम। च चि १६ /६
These all three shlokas represent the samprapti of pandu (anemia) roga:
- The meaning of this shloka is Pitta dosha along with other Vata etc doshas causes aggravation of the Rakta etc dhatus that causes heaviness in the body.
- Dosha and dushyas get imbalanced in the body, causes disturbed immunity, complexion, sneha, and oja.
- The loss of all these dhatus in the body of a person causes blood loss, less muscles formation, immunity loss, and changes in the complexion. This all is called as pandu (anemia) roga.
These all are the signs and symptoms of an anemic patient.
तस्य लिङ्गं भविष्यत : हृदयस्पंदनं रौक्क्षयं स्वेदाभाव: श्रमस्तथा (च। चि १६ /१२ )
This shloka represents the Purvrupa (early symptoms) of pandu (anemia) roga:
Increase in heart beat, dryness in the body, loss of sweat, and lethargy in the body.
सम्भुतेअस्मिन भवेत सर्व : कर्णक्ष्वेडी हतानल। दुर्बल : सदनो आनन्दवीट श्रमभ्र्मनिपीडित। च। चि १६ /१३
गात्रशूलज्वरश्वासगौरवारूचिनर। मृदितैंरिव गात्रेश्च पीडितोंमथिततैंरिव। च। चि १६ /१४
शूनाक्षिकूटो हरित : शीर्णलोमा हतप्रभ। कोपन : शिशिरद्वेषी निद्रालु : ष्ठीवनो अल्प वाक। च चि १६ /१५
पिंडिकोद्वेष्टकटयुरूपादरुकसदनानि च। भवन्त्या रोहणा या सै विशेष श्चा सय वक्ष्यते। चचि १६ १६
The signs and symptoms of pandu (anemia) roga:
- Tinnitus, weak digestion, weakness, loss of appetite, fatigue, vertigo, fever, breathlessness, anorexia etc are seen in an anemic patient.
- Pain in the body, lean body, hair loss, uneasy mind, feeling angry without any reason, excess sleep, excess phlegm, not a very talkative person, back, chest region, and feet get tight, when doing some activity feel less energetic.
- These all are seen in an anemic patient.
According to Acharya Shushruta
- According to Acharya Shushruta some of the other complications of an anemic patient are vomiting, fever, excessive thirst, headache, anorexia, indigestion, fainting, malaise, diarrhoea, cough, burning sensation, hoarseness of voice etc.
- The reduction in the number of red blood cells is anemia that may be due to haemorrhage, malaria, hypersplenism, iron deficiency, protein deficiency, low folic acid, leukaemia, congenital anemia, aplastic anemia etc.<
Ayurvedic treatment for an anemic patient:
- In Ayurveda the basic concept of treatment is to balance doshas and dushyas in the body. If the root cause is treated more than half of the disease will get cured. Along with medicines diet and daily habits also plays an important role in the treatment.
Herbal Remedies for Anemia
- Planet Ayurveda offers various products that contain herbs which will increase the number of red blood cells in the body. Anemia care pack offered by planet Ayurveda possesses four products. The details of these products are mentioned below:
Punarnava mandur:
- It is a classical herbal formula used from ancient time for anemic patients. These tablets help to remove toxins out of the blood. It increases the production of red blood cells in the body. The tablets balance the imbalanced dosha in the body.
Dosage: Two tablets twice daily with plain water after meals.
Wheat grass powder:
- This is an herbal powder that contains extract of wheat grass. As wheat grass is full of nutrients and vitamins. It increases the production of RBCs in the body and balances all symptoms associated with anemic patients like fatigue, weakness, indigestion etc.
Dosage: One teaspoonful mixed in a glass of water. Drink this mixture twice daily.
Aarogyavardhini vati:
- These are classical herbal tablets that had been in use since ancient time for an anemic patient. The tablet detoxifies the body and increases the production of red blood cells. The tablets are prepared from various herbs.
Dosage: Two tablets twice daily with plain water after meals.
Chanderprabha vati:
- It is a classical formulation in Ayurveda that balances general weakness and the doshas responsible for anemia. The tablets contain loh bhasmas in it that increases the production of red blood cells in the body. It maintains the glow and color of the skin. These tablets give very effective results in anemia patients.
Dosage: Two tablets twice daily with plain water after meals.
These all are the Ayurvedic treatment for an anemic patient now let’s discuss a few of the home remedies that are easily available at home, mentioned below:
Home Remedies for Anemia
- Take one pomegranate fruit and one carrot make a fresh juice. Drink this juice daily.
- Take one beetroot, two carrots, leaves of spinach and coriander. Blend these all ingredients strain the ingredients and drink one glass of this juice daily in the morning.
- Spinach, coriander can also be used in soup form. This is very rich in iron and folic acid.
- Take sesame seeds or chia seeds, one teaspoon of each. Soak these two separately in a glass of water. Use these seeds to garnish your dishes. Consume daily as they are rich in iron content.
- Ridge gourd one of the best vegetable rich in iron content. All gourd family vegetables are good for an anemic patient. So consume these vegetables.
- You can also use sunflower seeds as they are rich in iron and minerals. These seeds give proper nourishment to an anemic patient.
- Use copper vessel jar for drinking water. Keep water in this vessel whole night. Early in the morning on an empty stomach drink water from this jar. As it provides various minerals to your body.
- Dates and raisins are rich in iron and vitamin C. So eat raisins and two dates daily. It gives you energy.
- Use green vegetables like broccoli, spinach, celery, mustard green as these are rich in iron that will increase RBCs production in the body.
- Eat a cup of yogurt by mixing a teaspoon of turmeric in it. As this remedy is good for an anemic patient.
Healthy tips for an anemic patient:
- Eat a healthy diet that is full of nutrients and minerals.
- Include green vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains, and grams in your diet.
- Perform pranayams like anulom vilom and kapalbhatti.
- Do perform yoga asanas like trikonasana, paschomittanasana, Sarvangasana, viparita-karani and yoga-mudra etc.
- For deep relaxation and rejuvenation of the red blood cells do meditation daily.
