Hemophilia is a rare inherited bleeding disorder characterized by spontaneous or excessive internal as well as external bleeding eventually leading to various comorbidities, progressive disability or even sometimes it costs life. Though the number of cases registered are limited to 20,000, there is a huge gap that not less than 2 lakh people are affected in India according to the factsheets of Hemophilia Federation of India (HFI). It is an X-linked recessive disorder affecting males more than the females, with an overall incidence of 1 in 4000 to 1 in 5000 live male births. Recent advances in biomedicine have arrived at treating the case with or without invasive episodic or prophylactic care. Many conventional researches are also aimed at creating more preventive strategies to help reduce the complications and thereby improving the Quality of Life (QoL) of individuals affected. But the fact that with advancement in diagnostics as well as therapeutic interventions, the life expectancy of individual affected are more promising. Yes, the people with hemophilia can also lead a normal life with actively engaging in most of the activities that other people do. The successful management of this condition through Ayurveda is possible with fewer side effects.
Ayurveda generally focuses on individualized treatment strategies based on dasha vidha pareeksha bhava (10-fold diagnostic techniques) rather than focusing a disease through ‘one drug cures all’ approach. Ayurveda treatment is generally aimed at removing the root cause of disease along with its active management through personalized ayurveda medicines and five purificatory procedures based on the severity and stage of disease. The instructions on proper diet and lifestyle guidelines are also advocated during the course of treatment. A proper nutrition and effective exercise plan are considered paramount importance in maintaining a good QoL. Regulated intake of vitamins and nutrient dense foods rich in fiber, calcium, and iron must be included in the diet for adequate synthesis of coagulation proteins. The sources of food must also contain fruits and vegetables like leafy greens, whole grains, low fat dietary products, sprouted seeds, oranges and other foods rich in vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin K and folic acid under recommended levels with regulated portion size for remaining healthy and stable.Herbs and its phytochemical constituents may play a major role in disease modulation, especially herbs like vasa (Adathoda vasica), kooshmanda (Benincasa hispida), yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Usheera (Vetivera zizanioides), lodhra (Symplocos racemose), amalaka (Phyllanthes emblica), Chandana (Santalum album) etc are found beneficial in clinically subjugating the condition. Moreover, people with hemophilia are advised to avoid or use the herbs like garlic (Allium sativum), Ginger (Zingiber officinale),Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) etc in moderation since they tend to prolong the clotting time. Contact AVPRF Speciality Clinics for related queries you may have regarding this medical condition. Never be late or disregard professional medical assistance since you have read this article.
Author:
Dr Santhi Krishna A S
Research Associate
AVP Research Foundation
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