Feeling tired during the hectic work schedule is usually neglected by most of the working women. In majority of the cases, the reason may be a hidden enemy- Anaemia.
Anaemia is a condition in which there is a lack of healthy red blood cells in blood which leads to reduced oxygen flow to body tissues. Anaemia is an indicator of poor health and poor nutrition. Though the percentage of prevalence is more in children, an above average prevalence of anaemia is also seen in elderly and women of reproductive age( especially during pregnancy). The most common diagnostic tool is reduced Hb level in blood.
Causes
- Impaired red blood cell production
- Increased RBC destruction
- Blood loss
- Fluid overload
Signs and symptoms of anaemia
- Skin- paleness, coldness
- Respiratory – shortness of breath
- Central – fatigue, dizziness, fainting
- Blood vessels – low blood pressure
- Heart- palpitations, rapid heart rate, chest pain, angina, heart attack
- Muscular – weakness
- Eyes – yellowing
- Intestinal – changed stool color.
- Spleen – enlargement
Types
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Vitamin deficiency anemia/ Pernicious anaemia
- Aplastic anemia
- Haemolytic anemia
- Sickle cell anemia
- Anaemia is associated with other diseases(bone marrow disease, Cancer, AIDS etc.)
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA)
According to WHO’s report, IDA accounts for half of the total anaemia cases. It is caused by shortage of adequate iron in the body by which reduced amount of haemoglobin is produced. Iron deficiency anaemia accounts for a major cause of morbidity in women. IDA is a major sign of concern in the healthy life of a woman whether in childhood or in reproductive age or in older ages. Menstrual loss, abnormal uterine bleeding and pregnancy put women at risk of developing iron deficiency. IDA among children affects their cognitive and motor development and makes them prone to infections. In pregnant women also, it results in adverse outcomes such as pre-term delivery, low birth weight infants etc. Anaemia affects the quality of women’s life also as the presenting symptoms are fatigue and tiredness.
How ayurveda views this condition?
Anaemia can be correlated to Pandu roga explained in Ayurveda samhitas. The disease is characterized by qualitative decrease (teekshna guna) and quantitative increase(sara, drava, snigdha) of pitta which in turn vitiates kapha, vata, raktha, twak and mamsa and imparts pandu varna (paleness) to skin. Causes of the disease are mentioned as lack of nutritious food, virudhahara, stress, anxiety, lack of proper sleep, untimely food etc. which are very common in the dayto- day life of women.
The most important function of raktha is presented as jeevana along with varnaprasadana (enhancing complexion). The raktha dhatu kshaya occurring in panduroga will subsequently lead to improper nourishment and deterioration of rest of body tissues. Panduroga if untreated may lead to sopha (inflammation) and visarpa.
How to effectively manage this condition?
The treatment principle of panduroga is.
- Rakthaprasadana
- Pittasameekarana (balancing pitta)
Proper snehana and sodhana procedures to be adopted. Proper use of deepana and pachana drugs help in correcting agni and enhances the bioavailability of nutrients in food.
The formulations which can be used:
- Kashayas like punarnavadi kasayam, vyoshadi kasayam, vasaguloochyadi kasayam etc. and lehyas like drakshadi lehyam, amalaki rasayanam.
- Arishtas like draksharishta, lohasavam, ayaskriti, dhathryarishtam etc. to be used according to the condition of the patient.
- Bhasmas like loha bhasma, mandora bhasma etc. with suitable anupanas like honey or ghritas like dadimadi ghrita, kalyanaka ghrita, mahathikthaka ghrita etc can be given after assessing agni.
- Lauha kalpanas like navayasa lauha, sapthamrutha lauha, mandoora vataka, punarnavadi mandoora etc with buttermilk or honey in proper dose and duration.
Use of buttermilk as anupana, enhances the drug action since the iron absorption is triggered in presence of lactic acid.
Diet Necessities
Besides medicines, diet modifications are inevitable in correcting anaemia. That is why ayurvedic texts give specific emphasis to the diet schedule of child, adolescence, garbhini (monthly basis) and old age. 50% reduction of anaemia in reproductive aged women is one of the six global nutrition targets for 2025 by WHO which stresses its impact in society.
So, let’s try to include following in daily diet:
- Take old shali rice, barley, green gram, red lentils, peanuts etc.
- Iron rich foods like beef and other meats, egg, beans, green leafy vegetables, ragi, dry fruits; Vit.B12 rich meat, dairy products, fortified cereals, soya beans.
- Citrus fruits, tomatoes, bananas, melons, berries, amalaki, draksha, and vegetables like carrots, sugarcane juice, ash gourd, garlic, beetroot, spinach, tree spinach(chayamansa), pointed guard etc.
- Turmeric, ginger, jaggery, honey to be included in daily diet.
