Emblica officinalis
Family:  Euphorbiaceae.

Indian Name:
Indian Gooseberry (Amla)

Botanical Name: 
Emblica officinalis, Euphorbiaceae

Other Names:
Indian Gooseberry, Emblic myrobalan, Amla, Amalaki

Therapeutics:
Gooseberry (Amla), in Ayurveda, is considered the best herb for simultaneously balancing all the three doshas - vata, pitta and kapha (laws of the physiology). It is especially effective and unique in its ability to increase the quality and quantity of Ojas, the master coordinator between mind and body. Indian Gooseberry or Amla is used for all Pitta diseases, all obstinate urinary conditions, anemia, biliousness, bleeding, colitis, constipation, convalescence from fever, cough, diabetes, gastritis, gout, hepatitis, hemorrhoids, liver weakness, to relieve stress, osteoporosis, palpitation, spleen weakness, tissue deficiency, vertigo. It increases red blood cell count and regulates blood sugar, heart tonic, cleanses mouth, stops gum bleeding, stops stomach and colon inflammation, cleanses intestines, strengthens teeth, aids eyesight, remove intestinal worms, reduces hyperacidity, eye and lung inflammations, ulcerations, G.I. disorders, painful urination, and internal bleeding.

At IVAC, Gooseberry (Amla) is used in various preparations and treatments like Kashayasekha, Shirodhara, Avagaha sweda and Udvarthana. Amla is also used in herbal beauty therapies like Soundaryavardhinis (facials) and Keshinis (hair treatment) for improving skin complexion and hair growth.

 Dates

Name: Kharjura

Botanical name : Phoenix  dactylifera Linn.

Family : Arecaceae

English : Date palm.

PLANT DESCRIPTION :

A tall palm tree grows up to 40 meters in height. Leaves pinnate, 5 meters long, lower part of leaflets modified to spine; flowers in long spadices, unisexual; fruits oblong berries, reddish when ripe. Pulp sweet, fleshy; seeds cylindrical, with longitudinal furrow in front.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES AND USES

Dates pacifies the imbalance in vata, pitta, reduces anemia, debility, general weakness, bronchitis, dry cough, asthma, burning sensations, migraine, and gastric complaints. Eating 2 dates will give you 120 calories. With their high sugar content, dates give you an immediate rush of energy and they are delicious! Dates are rich in iron content - it purifies and even strengthens the blood by increasing hemoglobin level.

Anemia:

Anemia is defined as a qualitative or quantitative deficiency of hemoglobin, a molecule found inside red blood cells (RBCs). Since all human cells depend on oxygen for survival and hemoglobin normally carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues, anemia leads to hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in organs. The three main classes of anemia include

• Excessive blood loss (hemorrhage or chronically through low-volume loss),
• Excessive blood cell destruction (hemolysis) ]
• Deficient red blood cell production (ineffective hematopoiesis).

Most commonly, people with anemia report a feeling of weakness or fatigue in general or during exercise, general malaise and sometimes poor concentration. People with more severity report with dyspnea (shortness of breath) on exertion and very severe anemia prompt the body to compensate by increasing cardiac output, leading to palpitation and sweatiness, and to heart failure.

Pallor (pale skin, mucosal linings and nail beds) is often a useful diagnostic sign in moderate or severe anemia and other useful signs are cheilosis and koilonychia.

Anemia in Ayurveda

Anemia is called as Pandu roga in Ayurveda caused by two types of Pitta (Heat Energy), Paachaka Pitta & Ranjaka pitta. Paachaka pitta is responsible for the proper assimilation of the digested food & Ranjaka pitta is responsible for color to the blood. If this does not happen, then the minerals in the foods – especially iron – do not pass out into the blood properly resulting in deterioration the quality of the blood.

Diet and Lifestyle activities normally leads to anemic condition through various factors like intake of hot, sour and salty food, alcoholic beverages, traumatic injury, pregnancy, menstrual disorder and other bleeding conditions, febrile diseases, liver disorders, kidney disorder, excess sexual indulgence.

Pandu roga is diagnosed by several conditions like pale or lifelessness, low energy, low grade fever or burning sensation, irregular elimination or yellowish and scanty urine, indigestion, vertigo, fainting, fatigue, and women may notice a pale or scanty menstrual flow or no flow at all, etc.,

Organic milk from free range cows, boiled with black sesame seeds, pomegranate or black grape juice, molasses, sucanat (whole cane sugar) are all good food for anemia as indicated in Ayurveda along with herbs like Aloe vera, Triphala, Saffron, Shatavari, Manjishtha and Punarnava.

Treatment for Anemia at IVAC:

Normal amount of red blood cells	Anemic amout of red blood cells

At IVAC, Anemia is managed by alternative system of medicines, which are natural and comprehensive in practice. Our expert vaidyas will review your daily routine and identify factors that could be causing this chronic disorder. Ayurvedic Detox program comprising of Virechana (Purgation Detox) and Matrabasti along with various rejuvenation therapies like Sarvangadhara, Kasayaseka, and Shastika Sali Pinda Sweda etc., are administered in order to cleanse the toxins and improve immunity thereby ensuring the improvement. Lifestyle modifications with respect to diet and exercise will also form significant part of the treatment procedure. You will be provided with a detailed understanding of which food to favor and avoid for your condition along with the herbal medications to consume to bring down the anemia. Together with the main ayurvedic treatment, Yoga, Meditation, Breathing Techniques, Reiki, Acupressure and other Natural therapies are also suggested and provided.

...Happy healing at IVAC!