Ayurveda for Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)- Herbs, Diet

Anstract

Platelets are blood cells that help stop bleeding by forming clots. A normal platelet count is 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter.  A person with a low platelet count can be at a greater risk of uncontrolled bleeding. Platelets form in the bone marrow from the cells. If the body has a low platelet count, then a condition like Thrombocytopenia can occur. Let’s just break down the term “Thrombocytopenia” and know the exact meaning of the term. The word “Thrombocytes” means platelets and “Penia” means decreased quantity. So here we get to know the real meaning of “Thrombocytopenia,” which means the decreased number of platelets in the body. Let’s just discuss in detail about its types, causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and most importantly its Ayurvedic overview.

Intoduction

Immune thrombocytopenia purpura or ITP is an autoimmune disorder caused by low platelet count.  In this condition, bruising starts easily when your blood can’t clots. ITP is more common among young women and in adults, most cases are of chronic ITP. In this condition, internal bleeding or subcutaneous bleeding can occur if the platelets are decreased. It rarely causes bleeding into the brain and can occur during pregnancy. if someone is having low platelet count during pregnancy, they have a high risk of heavy bleeding during delivery time. ITP usually does not affect the fetus. The normal range for platelet concentration is 150,000 to 450,000 per cubic mm. If platelets levels are below 10,000, a person has a high risk of bleeding. This condition is self-limiting in children. In this condition, our immune system destroys healthy platelets in the spleen. Platelets play a very important role in blood clotting and decreased number of platelets can lead to bleeding symptoms. The risk of blood clots is higher in this condition. Inflammation rate is very high in this condition and can last for several years or may be a long lasting disease. The symptoms can be managed on time, but if left untreated for a long time, then the condition will get very worse and may even lead to brain haemorrhage. 

TYPES OF ITP

There are mainly two types of ITP

1. Acute thrombocytopenic purpura: It lasts less than six months and usually occurs in children. It often occurs after an infection.
2. Chronic thrombocytopenia purpura: It lasts longer than six months and more and usually takes time to resolve. Women are more likely to be affected than men.

Causes

No exact cause is known as it is an autoimmune condition.

Signs and Symptoms

Here are some common signs and symptoms

1. Easy bruising
2. Reddish and purple spots mostly in lower legs
3. Blood in urine and stools
4. Bleeding in the skin(bleeding worsens when platelets decreases)
5. Heavy menstrual flow
6. Bleeding from gums
7. Epistaxis(bleeding from nose)
8. Feeling tired
9. Weakness
10. Blood in vomit

Dignosis

Here are some possible diagnostic criteria

1. Low platelet count test
2. Bone marrow biopsy
3. Complete blood count(CBC)
4. Peripheral blood smear
5. Other blood and urine tests

Treatment

1. Corticosteroids
2.  Rh immune globulin
3.  Immunosuppressive drugs
4.  Thrombopoietin receptor agonists
5.  Splenectomy

Ayurvedic Overview of ITP

According to Ayurveda, ITP is correlated with Teerykgata Raktapitta which comes under Raktapitta disorders. It is a bleeding disorder in which Rakta (blood) is vitiated by the Pitta dosha. So, mainly the doshas involved here in this condition are Rakta and Pitta. This condition is mainly caused by Pitta imbalance which causes inflammation in the body and then leads to bleeding. After that, Ama (toxins) form in the body and undigested food particles accumulate in the digestive system which leads to inflammation and bleeding. In this, bleeding occurs from some internal cause like some trauma and injury too. It is caused due to Atapa sevan (excessive exposure to sun), excessive intake of Ushna (hot foods), Kshara (alkaline foods), Lavana (salty foods), Amla (sour foods) and katu (spicy foods) and Vidhai (corrosive foods). Due to consumption of all these foods Pitta gets aggravated and then mixed with Rakta dhatu (blood tissues). Due to hot nature of Pitta dosha dhatus (tissues) like mamsa, and meda get mix with rakta and increases the quality of rakta dhatu, due to the pressure the walls of blood vessels gets damaged and then the blood starts flowing through the various opening of the body.

Treatment

Stambhana chikitsa (motionlessness) , Langhan (fasting),  Tarpan (pooling eyes with medicated ghee or oil), use of herbal ghee like Vasa ghrit and Palash ghrit (Butea monosperma), Praval pishti (Calcium compound), Godanti bhasma (Gypsum calcined powder), Pushyanuga churna, Lodhrasava, Usheerasava, Kutaja (Holarrhena Antidysenterica) ,Shatavari (Asparagus Racemosus), Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra) , Gokshura (Tinospora cordifolia),  Draksha (Vitis vinifera),  Durva (Cynodon dactylon)

1. For Urdhwaga Raktapitta- Padmakadi tailam 10-20 drops empty stomach three times a day with milk
2. For Adhoga Raktapitta- Shatavaryadi kwath 25-40 ml empty stomach three times a day with sugar

Panchakarma Therapy for ITP

1. Shodhana (Purification)
2. Pratimarga haran (Elimination in opposite direction)

 Some Home Remedies for ITP are

1. Drink Papaya juice and wheatgrass daily
2.  Use pumpkin seeds
3.  Drink beetroot juice to increase platelets
4. Pomegranate juice and aloe vera juice should also be consumed

Herbal Remedies for ITP by Planet Ayurveda

Planet Ayurveda is a GMP-certified company. All the products of Planet Ayurveda contain pure herbal ingredients and the products are made under the guidance of MD experts.  No preservatives are added to their products. So, it is very safe to use. They provide ITP care packs, including all formulations that work wonderfully in ITP management.

Product Description

1. Immune Booster Capsules

Immune booster is a herbal product of Planet Ayurveda which helps in increasing immunity in the body. Ingredients added to this are- Grape seed (Vitis vinifera), Cow colostrums (Bovine colostrums), Bhumi amla (Phyllanthus niruri), Amalaki (Phyllanthus emblica)

Dosage : 2 capsules twice daily

2. Ashwagandha capsules

Ashwagandha capsule is a herbal product of Planet Ayurveda which helps in strengthening the body, boosting our energy and immune system. Ingredients added to this are-  Pure standardized extract of herb Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily

3. Giloy capsules

Giloy capsules are a single herbal formulation by Planet Ayurveda which is used in many disorders and is helpful in encouraging the immune system. It has anti-inflammatory action and antioxidant benefits that help in ITP patients. It helps with increasing your platelet count in a natural way. Ingredients added to this are- Standardized extract of giloy (Tinospora cordifolia)

Dosage: 1 capsule twice daily

4. Gandhak rasayan

Gandhak rasayan is a classical medicine by Planet Ayurveda which is used in bleeding disorders like ITP. It is also helpful in strengthening bone marrow.  Ingredients added to this are- Purified sulphur compound.

Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily

5. Kumar kalyan ras

It is an ayurvedic formulation by Planet Ayurveda used for increasing immunity in ITP as it helps in the prevention of the immunosuppressive activity of the body and allows the platelet count to rise. Ingredients added to this are- Ras-Sindoor ( Formulation of mercury), Mukta Bhasma (Pearl Calx), Swarna Bhasma (Gold Calx), Abhrak Bhasma (Mica Calx), Loha Bhasma (Iron Calx), Swarna Makshika Bhasma (Formulation of Iron and Copper

Dosage: 1 tablet twice daily

6. Brahmi chyawanprash

It is a traditional Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation by Planet Ayurveda which is used in many disorders. It is used in ITP for increasing platelet count. Ingredients added to this are- Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri), Dashmoola , Bala (Sida cordifolia) , Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera), Bhumi Amla (Phyllanthus Niruri), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Nagarmotha (Cyperus Scariosus), Jivanti (Leptadenia Reticulata), Punarnava (Boerhavia Diffusa), Jeerak (Cuminum Cyminum), Lawang (Syzygium Aromaticum), Kesar (Crocus Sativus), and Sharkara (Saccharum Officinarum).

Dosage: 1 tsp twice daily

7. Suvarna Vasant Malti ras

It is a classical herbo mineral formulation by Planet Ayurveda treating autoimmune disorders like ITP. It helps in the prevention of the immunosuppressive activity of the body and allows platelet count to rise.  Ingredients added to this are - Swarna Bhasma (Gold Calx), Mukta Bhasma (Pearl Calx), Darada (Purified Cinnabar), Maricha (Piper nigrum), Kharpara (Zinc Ore), Parada (Purified Mercury), Gandhak (Purified and processed sulphur).

Dosage -  tablet twice daily

Conclusion

In this article, we talked about Immune thrombocytopenia purpura, also known as ITP,  an autoimmune disorder affecting so many people in the world. ITP is caused by many reasons like hepatitis or viruses. We discussed an Ayurvedic overview on ITP which is correlated with Raktapitta. I talked about home remedies for ITP, its ayurvedic treatment and some herbal remedies by Planet Ayurveda. So, this was all about ITP. Hence, this condition should be treated on time, otherwise it can lead to a very serious complication