Treatment of Sideroblastic Anemia in Ayurveda

Abstract

Blood is the most essential fluid in the body and it is also considered as the base of life. This very fact is mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic texts. Acharya Sushruta had given the benefit of blood in a phrase i.e.

Here, Acharya focused on the importance of blood by mentioning it as the base of the living, the life is only sustained due to blood and it must be preserved from any kind of loss. But despite injuries some pathological conditions such as anemia can affect the blood and its oxygen carrying and delivering ability. Anemia is a condition in which there is a lack of healthy Red Blood Cells that carry adequate oxygen to the different body tissues. In this article, we are going to discuss one type of anemia i.e. sideroblastic anemia its clinical manifestations, possible causes, and best Ayurvedic formulation for the management of Sideroblastic anemia.

Introduction

Sideroblastic anemia is a form of anemia in which the bone marrow produces ringed sideroblasts rather than healthy erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells). In this particular type of anemia, the body has iron available but the body was unable to incorporate the available iron in hemoglobin, which is required by RBCs for transporting oxygen efficiently.

Sideroblasts are nucleated precursors to mature red blood cells (erythroblasts) which are normally present in the bone marrow, and enter in the blood circulation after maturing in the erythroblast having granules of iron accumulated in the mitochondria that surrounds the nucleus. But the characteristic of this disease is finding ringed sideroblasts in the circulation. When the iron-laden mitochondria form a ring around the nucleus , then the sideroblast is termed as ring sideroblast. Normally it can only be seen in bone marrow and is the subtype of basophilic granules of the erythrocyte. When these ringed sideroblasts are present in the circulation it leads to the diseased condition termed as sideroblastic anemia.

Sign and Symptoms

The clinical manifestations of sideroblastic anemia is fatigue, pain in the chest after exertion, weakness, malaise, episodes of dyspnea (difficulty in breathing), change in skin color that turns hands and arms pallor, dizziness, pale nails, and associated systemic features such as hepatomegaly or splenomegaly (enlargement of the liver or spleen), tachycardia (increased heart rate), increased palpitations, and headaches.

Causes

Sideroblastic anemia can be classified into three categories on the basis of its cause i.e. congenital sideroblastic and acquired cononal sideroblastic and acquired reversible sideroblastic anemia. All of these conditions involve dysfunctions associated with haemoglobin synthesis or processing, which leads to the formation of iron rings around the nucleus of the sideroblast.

Congenital sideroblastic anaemia may be X-linked (defect in ALAS2 gene), autosomal recessive involves mutations in the SLC25A38 gene or rarely present with a genetic syndrome such as pancreatic insufficiency, ataxia and myopathies. Whereas the cause of acquired clonal sideroblastic can be considered under a broad term of myelodysplastic syndrome, which can develop into acute myeloid leukemia and similar other hematological malignancies. And the excessive alcohol use is the leading cause of developing acquired reversible sideroblastic anemia and other causes such as vitamin B6 deficiency, copper deficiency and lead poisoning. 

Ayurvedic View

The generalised condition of anaemia is correlated with pandu in Ayurveda. The clinical features of pandu roga as given by Acharya Charka are as-

The patient of pandu roga is presented with Alprakto(scanty blood), alpamedsko(fat/marrow deficiency), nisarah (loss of glow), shithilindriyah (sensory blunting), karanshaved(tinnitus), hatanalah(agnimandya- indigestion due to weak digestive fire),  sadnoanndwisht (anorexia), durbalah (weakness), shram (fatigue), bhram (vertigo), gatrashool(pain in the limbs and body parts), jwar (fever), shwash(exertional dyspnea), shoonakshikuto(swelling around eyes), shishirdveshi (aversion to cold), sheeranlomah (fall of hair), shteevnoalpvakah(excessive salivation & feeble speech), pindikoudvestan (cramps in calf region), hatprabh(loss of luster due to pallor of the skin), like clinical presentations. These all features can be easily observed in the patient with Sideroblastic anemia.

Treatment of Sideroblastic anemia

Planet Ayurveda Is The Herbal Manufacturing Unit That Is The Also The Global Supplier Of Herbal Medicines That Are Being Formulated With Strict Adherence To Ayurvedic Principles And Methodologies. The Raw Ingredients For These Medicines Are Obtained From 100 % Natural Sources And These Herbal Or Herbomineral Formulations Are Being Made In The Strict Supervision And Guidance Of The Team Experts Lead By The Ayurvedic Physicians. These Products Are Being Formulated Using Ancient Time Tested Formulas. 

Best Herbal Remedies for Sideroblastic anemia as suggested by Planet Ayurveda's experts for the treatment of sideroblastic anemia

These are

1. Green Essentials
2. Spirulina Capsules
3. Punarnava Mandur
4. Hemo Plan Syrup
5. Suvarna Basant Malti Ras

Product Description

1. Green Essentials

Green Essentials are the polyherbal formulation made on the suggestion of Planet Ayurveda’s experts for promoting the activeness and freshness of the body. These capsules help in improving the dizziness and fatigue related symptoms of Sideroblastic anemia and also providing the body with essential nourishment. The ingredients of these capsules include wheat grass, amalaki (Emblica officinalis), grape seeds, green tea and spirulina.

Dosage- 1 capsule twice daily with plain water, after meal.

2. Spirulina Capsules

Spirulina Capsules are prepared from spirulina (a blue green algae), which is a potent source of nutrients. The phycocyanin is the most powerful plant-based protein which is obtained from this algae and is essential in anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, pain-relieving properties. It is the rich source of chlorophyll, thus helping in boosting the metabolism and enhancing the oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin in affected patients with Sideroblastic anemia.

Dosage-1 capsule twice daily with plain water, after meals

3. Punarnava Mandur

This is a classical polyherbal preparation available in tablet form, which is being used for anemic disorders and other blood-related ailments. The ingredients of these formulations include Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa) which is one of the best herbal diuretics and having blood purifying abilities which is being aided by the other ingredients of the tablet i.e. Sunthi (Zingiber officinalis), Pippali (Piper longum), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Haritaki (Terminilia chebula). Also the mineral ingredient mandoor (detoxified iron ore) is essential in improving the condition of patients of Sideroblastic anemia.

Dosage-2 tablets twice daily with plain water, after meals.

3. Hemo Plan Syrup

The ingredients of this polyherbal syrup formulated by Planet Ayurveda’s experts for improving the blood levels of the various anaemic patients. These include Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia), Gorakhmundi (Sphaeranthus indicus),  Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Draksha (Vitis vinifera), Sariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) herbs. These all herbs are having blood detoxifying actions and help in boosting the immunity of the patient. In the patients of Sideroblastic anaemia, this syrup  as a whole helps in dealing with weakness, exertional dyspnea, bringing the skin and other parts to normal textures.

Dosage - 2 teaspoons full twice daily, after meals.

5. Suvarna Basant Malti Ras

This is the classical gold formulation having the balancing effects on tridosha, especially on vata dosha. It has a unique action of diffusing in body tissue and providing them supreme nutrition and helps the various body fluids to attain their supreme level due to its dhatu poshak (nourishing the body tissues) nature. The ingredients of this poly herbomineral formulation include suvarna bhasma (clax of detoxified gold), mukta bhasma (clax of pearl), Piper nigrum, detoxified copper clax, purified iron clax etc. These all ingredients will help in increasing the rasa dhatu which will gradually increase the rakta dhatu and meda dhatu which was depleted as a result of ongoing pandu roga (sideroblastic anemia).   

Dosage- 1 tablet twice daily, to be chewed after meals.

Conclusion

Allopathic medicine mostly rely on symptomatic treatment as the erythropoietic injections do not usually respond in the patients with Sideroblastic anaemia. Rarely, if the anaemia is severe, they will go for blood transfusion, use of moderate to high dosage of Vitamin B6. If these all don’t respond and the condition becomes severer they are limited with bone marrow transplant which is itself a life threatening procedure and having hazardous fatal post surgical complications. But Ayurveda being the oldest Science of life and medicines, had treated several these types of diseases since ages with an holistic approach of herbal medications, lifestyle and dietary changes. These Ayurvedic herbal medicines thus help in management of Sideroblastic anaemia in a safer and effective way.