Home Remedies and Herbs for Anemia

Anemia is a condition of the blood that affects a wide number of people. It is sometimes referred to as an iron deficiency. This is because in anemia, there is not enough iron in the blood which is essential for proper oxygenation of the blood throughout the body. ¹

What Causes Anemia?

Anemia can be caused by a variety of different medical and lifestyle problems. Because anemia is linked to these different issues, it’s often best to have a doctor diagnose anemia rather than the patient trying to diagnose and treat themselves. Some of the most common causes of anemia are:

• Blood loss
• Poor diet
• Lack of ability to make red blood cells
• Inability to absorb iron
• Internal bleeding ²

What are the Symptoms of Anemia?

The symptoms of anemia are as varied as the individual it afflicts. Some patients such as pregnant woman may experience certain symptoms of anemia while other patients may not always experience the same symptoms. Some symptoms of anemia include:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Irregular heartbeats
• Chest pain
• Light headedness
• Headache
• Cold hands or feet
• Changes in skin color (usually pale or yellowish tinges can be seen with anemia) ³

How is Anemia Diagnosed?

Anemia is most accurately diagnosed by a physician. They will use a blood test taken from the patient to check for or confirm a suspicion of anemia in the patient. It is usually done through what is called a CBC, or a complete blood cell count. When diagnosing anemia; the physician is looking to see the blood count relating to the red blood cells being produced as well as the amount of hemoglobin being produced, and the hematrocrit which helps measure the amount of red blood cells in the patient’s body. If the counts are low, then the patient is considered to have anemia. ⁴

How is Anemia Treated?

The most common form of anemia is iron based deficiency anemia. Doctors will often tell a patient suffering from this type of anemia to take an iron supplement, and potentially change their diet to include more iron rich foods such as low fat red meat, iron rich vegetables, or other nutritional options. Treating anemia is a varied process, but this is the most common way for a medical professional to treat the condition. ⁵

Natural Medicinal Options for Anemia

There are some great natural options for helping to control and treat anemia. Many of them can be taken orally or eaten as part of a person’s regular diet. They include:

• Eggs
• Beans
• Lentils
• Figs
• Beetroot
• Ashwagandha Root Extract - Taken orally, this extract may help to help the blood to create or maintain its iron level.

The foods listed above are all rich in sources of iron as well as other nutrients that may help to curb some of the symptoms and problems associated with anemia. When used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, these all may be beneficial to the patient.

Conclusion

Anemia may sound like a scary condition to be diagnosed with. Patients often hear the word anemia and panic so it is best to be tested for anemia before starting any kind of treatment plan. Anemia can be managed relatively simply with dietary and other lifestyle changes. Patients with anemia usually go on to live full and productive lives while managing their condition.

References

1. http://www.healthline.com/health/iron-deficiency-anemia
2. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ida/causes
3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/dxc-20183157
4. http://www.medicinenet.com/anemia/page10.htm
5. http://www.everydayhealth.com/anemia/anemia-treatment.aspx