Anemia is a disease in which the number or size of red blood cells or the amount of hemoglobin in the blood decreases and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and the cells is disrupted. Causes of anemia include malnutrition, bleeding, genetic abnormalities, chronic diseases, or drug poisoning. Deficiencies in some nutrients can lead to anemia, such as iron deficiency, vitamin B12, and folic acid. Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most common malnutrition causes. In this article, we will talk about this disease and the recommendations of traditional medicine for its treatment.
Symptoms of anemia
“Anemia treatment with holestic medicine”
Before talking about the treatment of traditional medicine, it is necessary to mention the symptoms of anemia. If you have such symptoms, you can contact us for an online consultation with a traditional medicine doctor.
Unusual fatigue as one of the symptoms of iron deficiency
Feeling tired is one of the most common symptoms of iron deficiency, affecting more than half of people with anemia. This is because the body needs iron to make a protein called hemoglobin, which is found in red blood cells. Hemoglobin also helps carry oxygen throughout the body. When the body is deficient in hemoglobin, less oxygen reaches the tissues and muscles, depriving them of energy.
In addition, the heart has to work harder to move oxygen-rich blood, which can make you tired. As a result, the symptoms of low blood oxygen and the risk of low hemoglobin should be taken seriously. Because fatigue is often seen as a normal part of a busy, modern life, it is difficult to diagnose iron deficiency. However, many people with iron deficiency have weakness, boredom, difficulty concentrating, or poor productivity at work and low energy level.
Paleness as a sign of anemia
Pale skin and paleness of the lower eyelids are other signs of anemia and iron deficiency and should be treated. When iron is deficient, it reduces redness of the blood. For this reason, healthy and red blood colors may be lost in people with iron deficiency. The dangers of low hemoglobin should be taken seriously and investigated to determine why hemoglobin is low.
In people with iron deficiency, this pallor can appear all over the body or be limited to one area, such as the face, gums, inside the lips or lower eyelids, and even the nails. This is often the first case that doctors look for as a sign of iron deficiency. But it must be confirmed by a blood test to be able to treat anemia.
Paleness is more common in moderate to severe anemia. If you pull your lower eyelid down, the inner layer should be bright red. If it is pale pink or yellow, it may indicate iron deficiency.
Shortness of breath is a symptom of anemia
Hemoglobin enables red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body.
When the body has a problem with low hemoglobin due to iron deficiency, the amount of oxygen supply also decreases. This means that the muscles do not receive enough oxygen to perform normal activities such as walking. As a result, the rate of respiration increases as the body tries to get more oxygen. For this reason, shortness of breath is one of the symptoms of low blood oxygen and therefore a sign of anemia.
Iron deficiency can be the cause if you experience shortness of breath while doing normal, everyday tasks that were once easy for you, such as walking, climbing stairs, or exercising. In general, shortness of breath is one of the symptoms of iron deficiency, because low hemoglobin level means that the body is unable to deliver the oxygen needed by muscles and tissues.
Headache and dizziness are symptoms of anemia
Anemia can cause headaches. This symptom seems to be less common than the rest and is often accompanied by lightheadedness or dizziness. In the case of iron deficiency, low hemoglobin levels in red blood cells mean that not enough oxygen reaches the brain.
As a result, blood vessels in the brain become swollen, causing pressure and headaches. Although there are many causes for headaches, recurrent headaches and dizziness can be signs of iron deficiency. In general, headaches and dizziness can be a sign of iron deficiency and one of the symptoms of anemia.
Heart palpitations a sign iron deficiency in the body
A significant heart rate, also known as a palpitation, can be another sign of anemia or iron deficiency. Low hemoglobin levels mean that the heart has to work harder to carry oxygen. This condition cause an irregular heartbeat or a feeling of a fast, abnormal heartbeat. In cases of severe anemia, this can lead to enlarged heart or heart failure.
However, these symptoms are not very common. One has to suffer from iron deficiency for a long time to experience them.
Dry and vulnerable hair and skin are symptoms of anemia
Dryness and damage to the skin and hair can be symptoms of iron deficiency. Because when the body is deficient in iron, limited oxygen directs itself to more important functions such as organs and other tissues in the body. When skin and hair are deprived of oxygen, they can become dry and weak.
Severe anemia is associated with hair loss and should be treated for severe iron deficiency. It is perfectly normal for some hair to fall out daily when washing and combing, but if the amount of hair loss is more than normal, it could be due to iron deficiency.
Swelling and pain in the tongue and mouth
Sometimes just looking in or around your mouth can give you a clue as to whether or not you have iron deficiency anemia. Swollen, inflamed, pale, or smooth tongue are signs of iron deficiency. Low iron deficiency hemoglobin can cause staining of the tongue, while low levels of myoglobin can cause pain, flatulence and swelling.
Myoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that supports muscles, such as the muscle that makes up the tongue. Iron deficiency can also cause dry mouth, red cracks in the corners of the mouth, or sores on the mouth.
Restless Legs Syndrome
Iron deficiency is linked to Restless Legs Syndrome. Restless Legs Syndrome is a severe need to shake legs at rest. It can also cause an unpleasant and abnormal itching sensation in the legs. This problem is usually worse at night, which means that people may have trouble sleeping.
The causes of Restless Legs Syndrome are still unknown. However, up to 25% of people with Restless Legs Syndrome are thought to have anemia and iron deficiency, and the lower the iron level, the more severe the symptoms.
Fragile or curved nails are a sign of iron deficiency
One of the most common symptoms of iron deficiency is brittle or curved nails called Koilonychia. This problem often starts with brittle nails that break easily and leave cracks. In later stages of iron deficiency, the nails become spoon-shaped. It is sunk into the middle of the nail and the edges are raised to make it look round, like a spoon. However, this is a rare side effect and is usually seen only in severe cases of iron deficiency anemia.
Other symptoms of anemia and iron deficiency
Abnormal craving: Craving for strange foods or non-food items called “pica”. The urge to eat ice, clay, dirt, plaster, or paper is usually a sign of iron deficiency. It can also occur during pregnancy.
Feeling anxious: Lack of oxygen in body tissues due to iron deficiency may cause anxiety. However, by correcting the iron level, this is improved or resolved.
Cold hands and feet: Iron deficiency means lack of oxygen supply to the hands and feet. Some people may feel cold in general or have cold hands and feet.
Recurrent infections: Because iron is needed for a healthy immune system, a lack of it may make you more susceptible to disease than normal.
Methods of treating anemia in traditional medicine
In modern medicine and traditional medicine, anemia is viewed in two different ways. In modern medicine, counting the number of red blood cells in tests is considered a criterion for diagnosing anemia, but in traditional medicine, in addition to the quantity of red blood cells, special attention is paid to the quality of these blood cells.
The four temperaments in traditional medicine are choleric, melancholic, phlegmatic and sanguine, all of which are needed in moderation in the body, and anemia occurs when the sanguine temperament is disturbed. Phlegmatic temperament is “cold and wet” in nature, but the sanguine temperament is “hot and wet”.
In fact, from the perspective of traditional medicine, when cold tempers prevail in the body, a person develops anemia, which indicates that the person has either not been able to absorb hematopoietic substances or has not received enough hematopoietic substances.
On a closer look, of course, reducing the increase in each of the four temperaments in the body can cause a variety of blood disorders, for example: Bile and phlegm may have entered the bloodstream too much, altering the quality of the blood and causing the blood to become abnormal.
• The quality and number of red blood cells, hematocrit and hemoglobin are among the points that determine the rate of anemia in traditional medicine.
• It is sometimes observed that a person referring to a traditional medicine doctor has symptoms such as sleep disorders, pimples and yellow skin, but his blood cell count is normal, in this case, his blood quality is not good.
To treat this type of disorder, in addition to prescribing iron to people, it also tries to stimulate the body’s blood-producing organisms.
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Is it effective to prescribe herbs to treat anemia in all people?
There are advertisements in cyberspace for the treatment of anemia, which has led some people to confuse the position of traditional medicine and herbal medicine. In herbal medicine, each plant is attributed a healing property, this is somewhat true, but the effect of these plants can not be observed without considering the temperament of people. Humans have different temperaments and it is not possible to generalize a specific and consistent treatment and method for anemia to all people.
Hematopoietic foods for anemia
In traditional medicine, hematopoietic foods have a very high variety. Any food with a hot and wet temperament can be potentially hematopoietic, such foods can affect a person’s personality, behaviors, and even perceptions:
- A variety of meats, especially mutton and quail meat that are well cooked (eating mutton with onions and turmeric when fully cooked helps to eliminate anemia).
- Honey egg yolk: It is a rich source of iron and is highly recommended for children and the elderly with iron deficiency anemia.
- Raisins, apricots or dried figs: Soak 10 to 12 raisins in water overnight. Eat raisins the next day before breakfast. Continue this treatment for a few weeks.
- Nuts (either in the form of a potion or chew 5 whole hazelnuts after a meal).
- apple puree (grate an apple every day, preferably red apple), add two tablespoons of rose water, two tablespoons of burdock juice and a little honey and then eat. This food also has a great effect on calming the nerves).
- Grape juice (one to two tablespoons in syrup with a very small amount of saffron).
- Honey syrup (daily honey consumption should not exceed two tablespoons).
Eating a mixture of three juices of dates, grapes and berries can be useful for treating or preventing anemia, but it is not recommended for all temperaments, because date juice can cause side effects in many people and in people with dry temperament or in dry weather.
Useful herbs and fruits to treat anemia
Among the plants and fruits we can mention alfalfa, nettle, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, parsley, clover, jujube, lip, chard, barberry, cherries, pomegranate, apple and carrot. Of course, before that, you should make sure that these foods are compatible with your temperaments. Traditional medicine doctor will give you an appropriate diet.
Harmful foods for anemia
- Poor quality fast food and sandwiches, canned food and leftovers
- Eat bread and foods containing baking soda
- People with iron deficiency anemia are advised not to eat iron-rich foods with dairy products, such as kebabs with yogurt or buttermilk.
- Do not eat calcium-rich foods at the same time as iron-rich foods at the same time.
- People with anemia should avoid pickles.
Note that it is ultimately your doctor who determines what diet or medication you should take based on your temperament. Any arbitrary prescription may cause you trouble.