Porphyria is a group of inherited disorders which result from incomplete conversion of porphyrins into heme, which is present in all body tissues, but is most commonly found in the red blood cells. The build up of porphyrins in the body causes symptoms like abdominal pain, constipation, vomiting, muscular pain, convulsions, tingling and weakness, confusion, hallucinations, high blood pressure, and red urine -- all symptoms arising from a dysfunction of the nervous system. When porphyria affects the skin, it causes symptoms like itching, redness, swelling, blisters, and red urine. Porphyria can be precipitated by medications, fasting, smoking, infections, surgery, stress, menstrual hormones, excessive use of alcohol, and exposure to sun.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment for porphyria is aimed at reversing the incomplete conversion of porphyrins into heme. Ayurvedic herbal medicines which act on the blood tissue at the microcellular level are given in high doses in order to normalize the metabolism of porphyrins into heme. In addition, medicines which act on the bone marrow are also given so as to have a combined effect with the above mentioned medicines to correct porphyria. Medicines are also given to flush the porphyrins from the circulation either through the gastrointestinal tract or through the kidneys and the urinary tract. This results in a reduction of porphyrins from the circulation and from the nervous system, which in turn brings about a gradual improvement in symptoms like pain, tingling and numbness, convulsions, skin symptoms, and red urine.
Ayurvedic herbal medicines are also given to strengthen the nervous system as well as the subcutaneous tissue and skin, so as to help in the improvement of the affected individual and bring about an earlier relief from all the symptoms of this disease. Immunomodulatory herbal treatment also helps in reducing the overall treatment time In addition, medicines which normalize and regulate the cellular metabolism of all the tissues is also added to the treatment, so that patients do not have a relapse of the condition after discontinuing the medicines.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment can thus be judiciously utilised in the management and treatment of porphyria.
The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com
