Anemia is a health condition in which the blood becomes deficient in the body. The deficiency of blood is caused due to iron deficiency. There are various methods in Ayurveda to meet the problem of anemia. Iron is an essential part of a protein complex called hemoglobin, present in the blood. Hence, if there is a lack of iron in the body, it will lead to deficiency of hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin functions to carry oxygenated blood to different parts of the body.
Hemoglobin is composed of heme group, which is an iron group and Globin, a protein group. If there is lack of iron in the body, hemoglobin will not form in the body. Due to hemoglobin deficiency, oxygenated blood will not be transported to all body parts and it will result in general body weakness.
Ayurvedic Treatments for Anemia
- Beetroot — It is an excellent source of iron. It also contains various other minerals which are important for other protective functions of the body.
- Figs — 3 to 4 figs should be eaten daily as figs are a rich source of iron.
- Apples — As apples contain a high amount of iron, these should be eaten daily.
- Citrus fruits — Lemons, oranges and other berries should be eaten at regular intervals in a day and not at once.
- Pomegranates — 20 to 50 ml juice of pomegranate should be taken daily.
- Radish — Pound radish and its leaves to extract juice and daily take 50 ml to build up the blood profile.
- Catechu — Take ½ to 1 gm powder of catechu with honey, twice daily .
- Neem — Pound some neem leaves and mix with honey and take approx. 10 gm daily.
- Wheat grass juice — It should be taken approx. 50 ml twice daily. It helps in improving blood profile.
- Punarnava — Make its decoction and take approx 20 ml, twice daily.
- Extract and mix fresh juices of carrots, spinach, tomatoes and drink daily.
- Jamun — It tones up the liver and causes an increase in the red blood cells and improves blood hemoglobin content.
- Mango pulp — It should be mixed with sweetened milk to increase the hemoglobin content.
Some other Ayurvedic treatments include –
- Yoga – Paschimottasana and Shavasana are two asanas in yoga to bring the body into a relaxed state and enhance blood circulation.
- Breathing deeply — At least for ten minutes, an anemic person should breathe deeply.
Ayurvedic View of Anemia
According to Ayurveda, anemia is caused due to vitiation either in the air, fire or phlegm body humors, or imbalance in all the 3 doshas.
These vitiated doshas tend to affect the blood or rakta dhatu causing a reduction in strength, color and medha dhatu, and a decrease in the vital force.
Characteristic Symptoms of Anemia
- Angular stomatitis – Due to iron deficiency, cracks and ulcers develop at the angles of the mouth.
- The nails become flat, concave and brittle.
- There could perhaps be cardiac dilation and an enlarged liver.
These are some of the Ayurvedic treatments for anemia.
