Anaemia Unani View

Anaemia is a common ailment where there is a decrease in the quantity of hemoglobin or in the number of red cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the tissues, and are present in almost half the blood in the body’s veins and arteries. It only has a lifespan of approximately 120 days before it is being destroyed then replaces. About 1 trillion or 100 million red blood cells are created everyday in the bone marrow. Iron, proteins, vitamins, especially folic acid and vitamin B12 are required to reproduces these new cells. Among these raw materials, iron and protein are essential in building up hemoglobin. Each person should have about 15gm of hemoglobin per 100 ml of blood, and a blood count of approximately 5 million red cells per millimeter of blood.

Symptoms
Most common symptoms are: feeling weak or lacking of energy, dizziness, and fatigue. Other symptoms includes looking dull and tired, worn out, tired looking eyes, shortness of breath, premature wrinkles, headache, poor memory, wounds slowly healing, lung palpitations and paleness of skin.

Causes
Main causes are either due to defects in the bone marrow, or due to lack of iron, vitamins, and proteins, which weakens the formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow. Other important causes to take note of are the heavy loss of blood due to an injury, bleeding piles, or excessive blood loss during menstruation for women.

Anaemia can also occur due to a lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which is needed for digestion of iron and proteins, and the presence of intestinal parasites or worms. Hookworms, pinworms, round worms and tape worms feed on the supply of blood as well as on the vitamins.

Unani Home Remedies
Treatment using Vitamin B12:
Eat meats, specifically kidneys and liver, and some dairy products for they contain vitamin B12 which is needed for preventing or curing anaemia.

Treatment using Beets:
Beets have high iron content, which helps in the formation of red blood cells. Beet juice contains potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulphur, iodine, iron, copper, carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins B1, B2, B6, niacin, and vitamin P (bioflavonoids). It also helps strengthens the body’s resistance to sickness and is an excellent remedy for anemic children and teenagers.

Treatment using Fenugreek:
Cook fenugreek leaves and give it to adolescent girls during their menstruation period. It helps in new blood formation. Its seeds are also rich in iron which can also be used to cure anaemia.

Treatment using Lettuce:
Lettuce contains a considerable amount of iron that easily absorbed by the body. Regularly consuming lettuces will help prevent anaemia.

Treatment using Spinach:
Spinach is a leafy vegetable that is a high source of iron. It helps in the formation of hemoglobin and building up the new blood cells when absorbed by the body.

Treatment using Soyabean:

Soya bean is rich in iron and also has a high protein value. It should be given to anemic person in a very light form, preferably in the form of milk or soymilk, to aid them from weak digestion.

Treatment using Almonds:
An almond contains 1.15 mg or copper for every 100 gm. The copper, along with iron and vitamins, acts as a catalyst during the reproduction of hemoglobin. Take 7 almonds, remove the think red covering, soak it in water for about two hours and ground into a paste. Eat the paste once everyday for 3 months.

Treatment using Sesame Seeds:
Black sesame seeds are rich source of iron. Soak 1 teaspoon of black sesame seeds in warm water for a couple of hours, strain it, then ground it into powder. Mix it in a cup of milk sweetened with sugar.

Treatment using Honey:
Honey contains iron, copper and manganese, so it helps in building new red blood cells in the body.
Treatment using Other Foods
Other rich sources of iron are bananas, black grapes, plums, strawberries, raisins, onions, squash, carrots, radish, celery, and tomatoes.