Blog Anaemia – Natural Herbal Treatment

What is Anaemia?

Anaemia is a condition caused by a lack of red blood cells. It means that the body’s tissues and organs cannot get enough oxygen.  Red blood cells are given their colour by a red pigment called haemoglobin – this pigment is also responsible for transporting oxygen around the body. So when there is a lack of red blood cells, there is also a shortage of haemoglobin – and not enough oxygen is delivered to the various tissues and organs.

Is Anaemia Common?

Anaemia is quite a common condition and it appears it’s getting more common. The most common type of anaemia is iron deficiency anaemia and about 15% of females, especially females in their reproductive years, would have iron deficiency anaemia. This is by far the most common form of anaemia in Ireland.

Causes

Iron deficiency anaemia commonly results

• Due to excessive menstrual loss
• Plus possibly the involvement of low B12, low vitamin B12, again which is quite common. There are a lot of people are requiring pretty regular B12 injections to kind of keep them going.
• Due to inadequate dietary intake of iron
• There can be other factors. A very significant factor could be a lack of acid in the stomach and this is becoming a problem.The absorption of iron requires an acidic stomach and as does the absorption of calcium, and as does the breakdown of protein. All of these things require an acidic stomach.

Other types of anaemia are:

• Megaloblastic anaemia
• Haemolytic anaemia
• Sickle cell anaemia
• Thalassemia
• Aplastic anaemia
  

  Source – Wikimedia Commons

What Are The Symptoms Of  Anaemia?

General symptoms of anaemia may include:

• Fatigue, tiredness, lethargy
• Breathing difficulties on exercise
• Dizziness
• Palpitations
• Angina (chest tightness on exercise)
• Leg pains
• Pale complexion.

So How Does A Medical Herbalist Treat Anaemia With Natural Herbal Medicine?

A Medical Herbalist, would complete a full medical case study and ask the right questions and from that, you’ll be pretty sure if it is anaemia. You don’t really need blood tests but then again blood tests will confirm the level and you can measure a response but you know, the type of symptoms that will be seen in people with low iron and consequent low haemoglobin levels. Haemoglobin carries the oxygen so you’re going to have less oxygen circulating in your body so you won’t be able to exercise as much. You’ll have less energy. You may drop your weight.

For iron-deficiency anaemia, a medical herbalist will recommend changes to your diet to increase your iron intake foods rich in iron include lean meat, green vegetables, fruit, wholemeal bread and beans.

But depending on the cause, there’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Let’s say it’s down to not having enough acid in the stomach to absorb or to facilitate the absorption of the iron. That’s different than perhaps if there’s a menstrual cause.

You address whatever are seen to be the main factors involved in the low iron and the consequent low haemoglobin. So you may have to supplement with B12. Vitamin C is a key component in the absorption of iron so supplementation with vitamin C is essential. The best supplement for iron deficiency is Floradix.

Floradix is a natural iron supplement which is available as an elixir and in tablet form. The elixir is made from herbs, fruit and vegetable juices (such as spinach, fennel, nettle, beetroot, grape and blackcurrant), and other ingredients that increase energy, vitality and resistance.        

Anaemia, won’t subside. It needs to be treated.  The cause of the iron deficiency needs to be identified and treated.  So from the herbal end of it, you would give herbs that would improve liver function. It’s centrally involved in iron metabolism.

You would give herbs

• To improve general digestion
• Supplement with vitamin C
• Possibly supplement with Vitamin B12
• You may refer the person to the doctor
• They may need B12 injections

There’s a hereditary component in some of these things so that may involve having to be constantly watching your iron levels throughout your life, and this is a common thing. If the person corrects the things that are involved that are part of the problem, the person may go on to live a normal life without any assistance, but initially, invariably assistance is required.

 

If you have any questions about anaemia or are worried that you may be anaemic please be sure to contact us