Health tips : NATURAL HEALING OF ANEMIA

DEFINITION

Anemia literally means “without blood”; it is either a deficiency of red blood cells or the presence of abnormal red blood cells, due to reduced production, abnormal production, excess destruction, or blood loss.

SYMPTOMS

Pallor, tiredness, dizziness, headaches, depression, slow healing, loss of sex drive, bruising, nervousness, shortness of breath, and palpitation.

TREATMENT

Diet

Foods Rich in Iron

Meat, liver from organically raised cattle, fish, egg yolks, blackstrap molasses, dark green vegetables (e.g., lettuce, spinach, alfalfa, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, parsley, celery, kale, cucumbers, leeks, and watercress), dried fruit (e.g., apricots, raisins, figs, dates, peaches, prunes, and pears), cherries, berries, bananas, grapes, apples, beets, carrots, yams, legumes, whole grains, rice, wheat, black cherry juice, grape juice, plus many others.

Foods Rich in Vitamin B12

Meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, comfrey (note: comfrey can be toxic if eaten in large amounts), bitter almonds, the seeds in apples and stone fruits* (such as apricots and prunes—vitamin B12 is synthesized from vitamin B17 in this case), fermented foods (such as yogurt, seed yogurt, grapes, and miso), wheat, sunflower seeds, seaweed, brewer’s yeast with vitamin B12 added, and spirulina.

*Please note: Seeds in stone fruits contain cyanide compounds that can be toxic and even fatal if taken in excess. Never eat more than 6 to 8 apricot, prune, or peach pits or more than 10 to 12 apple seeds per day. Such seeds are best eaten under supervision.

Foods Rich in Folic Acid

Dark green vegetables, liver, yeast, lentils, beans, grains, and spirulina.

 General Antianemia Foods

• Vegetarian food sources: Green vegetables, especially alfalfa, cabbage, chard, watercress, kale, parsley, spinach, comfrey, dandelion leaves, green onions, lettuce, cucumbers, leeks, nettles, beet tops, turnip greens, asparagus, spirulina

• Other vegetables: Onions, beets, carrots, legumes (lentils, black beans, etc.), yams, potatoes with skin

• Fruits: Dried apricots, figs, raisins, dates, grapes, bananas, plums, oranges, and grapefruits

• Nuts: Almonds, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds

• Other special vegetarian sources: Wheat germ, whole grains, blackstrap molasses, brewer’s yeast, miso, seeds of stone fruits (i.e., apricots, prunes, etc.), apple seeds, seed yogurts

• Lacto-vegetarian food sources: Yogurt, milk, kefir, eggs, cheese, cottage cheese

• Herbal teas: Dandelion leaf, comfrey, yellow dock, raspberry leaf, and fenugreek

• Nonvegetarian food sources: Liver, muscle meats, organ meats, eggs (especially egg yolk), fish

Antianemia Diet

The following diet may be useful as a guideline:

On rising

1 tbsp. blackstrap molasses in hot water, orange juice, or grapefruit juice

Breakfast

1. Yogurt, fruit, almonds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, wheat germ, and honey

2. Stewed dried fruits, plain or with yogurt and wheat germ

3. Muesli (granola) or oatmeal and milk

4. Eggs (not fried) and whole-wheat toast

Midmorning

Dandelion leaf tea, comfrey leaf tea, parsley tea, yellow dock tea, raspberry leaf tea, fenugreek tea, or any combination of the above

Lunch

1. A raw salad, primarily green, including any of the following: alfalfa sprouts, lettuce, cabbage, spinach, watercress, green onions, cucumber, parsley, beet tops, asparagus, kale, chard, and other green vegetables, plus carrots, beets, and sunflower seeds

2. Baked yam or potato in jacket, if desired, or

3. Cottage cheese or other cheese

Midafternoon

Same as Midmorning

Supper

Choose from the following:

1. Conservatively cooked vegetables, whole grains, and fish, liver, organ meat, or muscle meat

2. Miso soup with vegetables, seaweed, and/or fish

3. Egg or cheese vegetarian savory meal

Physiotherapy

• Sun and sea baths

• Outdoor exercise

Fasting

• Beet juice

• Red grape juice

Therapeutic Agents

Vitamins and Minerals—Primary

Vitamin B complex*: 50 mg three times per day.

Vitamin B12*: 25 mcg to 1 mg daily (orally). Also, 1 mg each of B12 and folic acid intramuscularly, one time per week.

Folic acid*: 400 mcg to 5 mg per day (especially needed in anemia during pregnancy).

Vitamin C*: 500 to 1,000 mg three to four times daily. Enhances hemoglobin production and folic acid usage, increases iron and vitamin B12 absorption, and conserves vitamin E.

Iron chelate or ferrous gluconate, fumarate or phosphate*: 20 to 50 mg per day when iron deficiency has been diagnosed.

Vitamin E*: 800 to 1,200 IU per day.

Vitamins and Minerals—Secondary

Vitamin B6

Calcium: 800 mg per day.

Copper: 3 to 5 mg per day or 1 mg per every 10 to 15 mg of zinc taken.

Trace minerals: (e.g., Celtic salt).

Zinc orotate: In cases of sickle cell disorder.

Others—Primary

Dessicated liver tablets*: 2 to 4 tablets three times per day

Apple cider vinegar*: Acts like vitamin C as a reducing agent to increase absorption of iron

Blackstrap molasses*: Source of iron

Brewer’s yeast*: 1 tsp. three times per day (source of B complex)

Intrinsic factor (raw stomach tablets)*

Probiotics*: Are especially indicated to give the flora every chance to manufacture B12 naturally.

Hydrochloric acid*: Where hydrochloric acid deficiency has been diagnosed, take with meals.

Others—Secondary

Chlorophyll

Pancreatic enzymes: 1 to 2 tablets with meals in cases of poor assimilation.

Protein supplements

Wheat germ

Reference :

Better Health through Natural Healing: How to Get Well without Drugs or Surgery by Ross Trattler, ND, DO, and Shea Trattler (2013)