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Ayurvedic solutions for anemia in women

Our blood is composed of – the red blood cells, white blood cells and the platelets. The first ones or the red cells contain hemoglobin; an iron rich protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body. Anemia is a condition when our blood doesn’t have enough red cells. Described in ayurvedic literature as ‘Pandu roga’ or commonly referred to as ‘Raktalpta’. Anaemia affects a large number of our population, more commonly the women. Modern medicine describes anaemia according to its causes that range from simple deficiencies of iron, folic acid, vitamin-B to certain conditions where the red cells are damaged due to infections, intake of drugs and some autoimmune or chronic disease process. Ayurveda attributes wrong or under nutritious diet and the doshic imbalance or the physiological malfunctioning as the main reasons for anemia. On an average more than twenty percent of the female population suffers from anemia.  

Except weakness and fatigue, mild anemia does not produce any serious symptoms. Its worsening or chronic forms are accompanied by a number of systemic disturbances like the pallor of skin, gums and nails, tachycardia or fast heart beat, shortness of breath, chest pain, anorexia and low immunity. In women these presentations are compounded by many other problems like menstrual disturbances such as excessive or less bleeding, irregular periods, recurrent infections, edema, general rundown and lassitude.

Anemia poses greater risk for women who are of child bearing age or are going through a phase of pregnancy. Due to loss of blood during periods or increased demand for the development of fetus during pregnancy, the iron reserves in the body are depleted more rapidly. Though capacity of body to absorb iron from the diet is a crucial factor, but on an average the Indian woman’s food and eating style does not support her in this regard.
 
In our country, majority of women are not only vegetarian but are also not mindful to avail a nutritious diet. In the rural, poverty stricken and uneducated sections of society, the girl child is mostly anemic and undernourished. Anemia is less common among the section of society which does not subscribe to certain beliefs that come in the way of getting proper nutrition from the diet. Among non vegetarian foods - egg, fish, liver and other red meats are an excellent source for iron.
 
Vegetarian diet composed of whole grains, leafy green vegetables and fruits provide sufficient blood forming factors. Palak, methi leaves, chukandar, carrots and tomatoes among vegetables and apple, banana, black grapes and plums from the fruit side are a good source of iron. Vitamin C enhances the absorption of iron and concomitant use of citrus fruits with a balanced diet can be of great help in anemia. Calcium, zinc, antacids, junk foods and additives found in packed and preserved eatables interfere with the proper absorption of iron.
 
Ancient ayurvedic seers developed a number of formulations which not only improve the hemopoietic system but also counter complications of anemia. Starting from simple bhasmas of lauh, mandoor and swarn makshik there are several other ayurvedic medicines like punarnava mandoor, navayas lauha, lauhasava and pradrantak lauha which are easily absorbed and help women to fast gain normal health. On the preventive side, right from the childhood, women should be emphasized on taking a diet which includes all the essential elements necessary to keep the body fit and healthy.
 
 
(The writer is a Ludhiana-based senior ayurvedic physician and Guru at the Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth).