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DIABETES:
In Ayurveda, diabetes is known since 3,000 years ago.
The association of frequent urination with sweet testing
substances in the urine was first reported in Charaka
Samhita, the ancient Ayurvedic classic.
Allopathic drugs like insulin, sulphonylureas, biguanides
have definitely helped in controlling the blood sugar
levels and improving the quality of life but none of
them has been unequivocally successful in maintaining
normal glucose levels and avoiding later stage complications
of diabetes. About 15 to 20% of patients with newly
diagnosed non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus have
little or no response to sulphonylureas and with each
year of treatment, about 3-5% of the patients, who have
achieved better acceptable glycaemic control, lose their
responsiveness. Biguanides therapy is associated with
lactic blood disorders, water retention and several
others.
In spite of all the advances in therapeutics, diabetes
still remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality
in the world.
Ayurveda recognizes the disease right from the Vedic
period with the name prameha. The word prameha denotes
prabhuta mootrata (excessive urination) and aavila mootrata
(turbid urine) and madhumeha means the flow of madhu
(sugar) from the body. Depending on the physical constitution
or body type (prakriti), or the health status of an
individual, Ayurvedic classics advocate two different
types of therapy schedules for diabetics. They are as
follows:
1. Apatarpana (de-nourishment) and samshodhana (cleansing):
This treatment is prescribed if you are obese and heavily
built. In this, along with anti-diabetics drugs, maximum
stress is given on de-nourishment of fats and elimination
of endotoxins by way of various exercise, fasting and
panchakarma (five fold therapies viz. emesis, purgation,
enema, blood letting and errhines)
2. Santarpana (replenishment) and brumhana (body bulk
promotion):
This is prescribed if you are chronically ill, with
low immunity and underweight due to the draining of
essential nutrients. This therapy helps in providing
the easily acceptable nutrients and micronutrients to
rebuild body tissues and help strengthen the defence
mechanism without increasing circulating blood sugar,
fats and other metabolites. This prevents further damage
and ensures enhanced healing and repair.
SELF HELP
APPROACH AND AYURVEDIC REMEDIES
- Prepare decoction by adding haaro (Terminalia chebula),
naagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus) and lodhra (Symplocos
recemosa) bark in boiling water and take it 40 ml
twice daily.
You can also prepare decoction by boiling rakta chandan
bark (Santalum album), arjun bark (Terminalia aruna),
devdara bark (Cedrus deodara) and kustha root (Saussurea
lappa); and take 40 ml twice daily.
- Fresh juice of the whole plant of giloy (Tinospora
cordifolia) along with honey may also be taken.
- One gram of triphala (Terminalia chebula+Terminalia
bellirica+Embelica officinalis), shilajit, and lohabhasma
mixture meet the mineral requirements of diabetics.
- Cold onfusion of turmeric (Curcuma longa), triphala
and daaru haldi (Berberis aristica) in the daily dose
of 30 ml is a proven remedy that you can try.
- You can take powder of dried neem (Azadiracta indica)
leaves added with turmeric, bitter gourd and giloy
(Tinospora cordifolia), two to three grams twice a
day.
- During recent years. certain individual herbs are
screened extensively for their blood sugar lowering
effect. They are leaves of Gymnema sylvestre (gudmar),
bark of Pterocarpus, vat (Ficus bengalensis), leaves
of tej patta (Cinnamon tamale), methi (Foeniculum
vulgare) and fruits of karela (Memordica charantia.
You can use these herbs alone or in combination, 3
to 5 grams twice daily with water or buttermilk before
food.
- The herbo-mineral preparations like shilajatvaadi
vati, vasant kusumarkar rasa, gokshuraadi guggulu
can be taken after consulting Ayurvedic physician.
- Organic green tea is very useful in diabetes.
Other herbs that are used in diabetes in different
form are: jamun (Syzygium cumini), bael (Aegle marmelos),
onion (Allium cepa), garlic (Allium sativum), aloe
(Aloe vera), custard apple, neem (Azadiracta indica),
cabbage and turmeric (Curcuma longa).
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