Anaemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a main part of red blood cells and binds oxygen. Anaemia may be divided into three groups mainly, Anaemia caused by blood loss; or caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production; or by destruction of red blood cells. Red blood cells can be lost through bleeding, which often can occur slowly over a long period of time, and can go undetected. This kind of chronic bleeding commonly results from the conditions such as ulcers, bleeding piles, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach), and cancer; drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen, which can cause ulcers and gastritis or Menstruation and childbirth in women, especially if menstrual bleeding is excessive and if there are multiple pregnancies. Abnormal or decreased red blood cells may be due to lack of minerals and vitamins needed for red blood cells to work properly and can lead to conditions like Sickle cell anaemia, Iron-deficiency anaemia, Vitamin deficiency, Bone marrow and stem cell problems, and other health conditions.
Ayurveda also adds that intake of too much of sour, salty, alkaline, hot, spicy, incompatible foods, black gram, sesame seeds/oil; over exertion, sleeping during the daytime, stress, fear, anger and grief may lead to anaemia. Anaemia is diagnosed based on symptoms like looking pale, loss of appetite, lethargy, fatigue, body-ache, dyspepsia, giddiness, breathlessness on exertion, malaise or fever, hair loss, palpitation, oedema around the eyes. Appropriate and timely identification of the type of anaemia and its cause helps decide the line of treatment and medication.
Though internal medications are mainly prescribed, a nutritious diet and a healthy lifestyle goes a long way in bettering the outcome. The shodhana (detoxifying) treatments like snehana (oleation), vamana (therapeutic emesis) and virechana (mild laxative to moderate purgation) are administered if necessary. Foods which are rich in iron, vitamins and minerals and a good lifestyle that includes sufficient sleep, avoiding over-exertion and anger is advisable. Dietary recommendations include flours of whole wheat, red rice, millets (jowar, ragi, bajra); soups of lentils, green gram; ghee, fruits such as amla (indian gooseberry), pomegranate, apples, black grapes, strawberries etc. and all greens and vegetables like spinach, ridge gourd, carrots etc. that are dark in colour help restore the haemoglobin levels. An anaemic person may need to moderate his physical activities and also practice few of the relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga.
MSRICAIM has specialized consultants who can suggest the right management approach for this condition.
For more details and booking:
Contact:
M S Ramaiah Indic Centre for Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine (MSR ICAIM)
A unit of Gokula Education Foundation (Medical)
New BEL Road, MSR Nagar
Mathikere PO
Bengaluru – 54
Tel: +91-80-22183456
Mob: +91-9900581203 / +91-9632128544