Sickle cell anemia is an inherited medical condition which is caused by inherited abnormal haemoglobin which produces sickle shaped red blood cells. These sickle shaped cells are fragile and prone to rupture due to situations such as injury, dehydration, and anesthesia. The hemolysis of these abnormal red blood cells causes sickle cell anemia and the blocking of the circulation due to these abnormal cells after rupture creates symptoms in different parts of the body including severe anemia, migratory pain crises, joint pain and swelling, bacterial infection, liver and spleen congestion, lung and heart injury, leg ulceration, aseptic necrosis and damage to the bones, and damage to important organs of the body like the eye, brain, kidney and the nervous system.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment for sickle cell anemia is aimed at treating the root cause of the disease as well as treating the presenting symptoms of the condition. Herbal medicines are given to treat anemia, joint pains and infections as well as to resolve the block in the microcirculation to important organs like the eye brain, kidney and nervous system. Medicines which act on the liver and spleen are given in order to treat congestion of these organs. Herbal medicines are also given to remove the ruptured and abnormal sickle shaped red blood cells either through the gastrointestinal system or through the kidneys.
In addition, Ayurvedic herbal medicines are given which act on the bone marrow, the blood tissue, as well as the liver and spleen so that medicines act on the DNA and genetic matter of the red blood cells and gradually alter and correct the dysfunctional status of red blood cell production in the bone marrow. This helps to gradually correct the dysfunctional sickle cell production, so that repeated episodes of sickle cell anemia can be reduced or stopped altogether. Treatment needs to be given regularly for about six to nine months, in order to bring about significant improvement in the condition.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment thus has a significant role to play in the management and treatment of sickle cell anemia.
The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at www.ayurvedaphysician.com
