By volunteer ┃Posted: January 21, 2018

Studies say that the prevalence of anemia in the US almost doubled between 2003 and 2012. This condition is caused by lack of oxygen flow in the body, which further causes:

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Fast heart rate
• Shortness of breath
• Hair loss

The root cause of anemia

What causes lack of oxygen flow in the body? Here is what experts say:

1. Lack of hemoglobin: Hemoglobin is the oxygen carrier in the red blood cells (RBCs) of the body. When sufficient hemoglobin is not produced, the size of the RBCs diminish, causing an inadequate flow of oxygen. Insufficient production of hemoglobin is caused by iron deficiency.

2. Oversized RBCs: Oversized RBCs are caused by deficiency of either folic acid or vitamin B12. When RBCs become oversized, they cannot pass through blood vessels, obstructing the flow of oxygen.

Clearly, anemia is caused by certain nutrient deficiencies. But, what causes these deficiencies? Let us find out.

The root cause: understanding anemia through ayurveda

According to ayurveda, nutrient deficiencies arise because of vikirita pitta or pitta (the fire element) flowing in an abnormal direction. So, the underlying cause of anemia isn’t an apparent nutrient deficiency but something gone wrong with the body’s fire element. Here are the causes of this condition:

• Excessive consumption of sour and salty food items
• Excess physical exertion

Naturally, to attend to these causes, you’ll have to do a little more than including iron-rich or vitamin B12 rich food items in your diet. Following are some home remedies which tend to all causes of the disease:

1) Avoid salty, sour and spicy food.

These food items direct pitta in an abnormal direction which causes nutrient deficiencies. So, it is recommended to avoid them.

2) Tap the benefits of nature’s pharmacy.

There are certain plants in nature which help reduce the effects of anemia. The best examples are neem and tulsi. Neem is rich in iron. Tulsi is rich in iron and vitamin C - a vitamin which helps in the absorption of iron.

3) Have anjeer milk.​

This is a home remedy to increase hemoglobin in the blood as anjeer is rich in iron. It is recommended to boil pieces of anjeer and cardamom in milk on a low flame and drink it at bedtime. Do this twice a week.

4) Consume ghee in the morning.​

Ghee balances the pitta dosha. It tends to the root of anemia, which is an aggravated pitta. It’s recommended to consume 10 ml of ghee early in the morning on an empty stomach.

5) Consume food from iron utensils.​

This is an age-old technique. The food in an iron utensil absorbs iron from it, making itself potent for an anemic patient.

6) Have suitable fruits and vegetables.​

Certain fruits and vegetables act as excellent supplements for an anemic patient. Beets, for instance, are rich in folic acid. Pomegranates and apples are rich in iron. Also, take fruits rich in vitamin C as they help in the absorption of iron.

Based on inputs by Sunanda K, Sri Sri Ayurveda Doctor.