Best Ayurvedic Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder which can be serious and life-threatening. It is characterized by an abnormally low weight and an intense fear of gaining weight.
People with anorexia limit their number of calories and due to this, they extremely restrict their diet. They, thus, lose weight but their body’s weight-height ratio is not proportionate.
Anorexia nervosa often occurs in teenage years or early adulthood, but it can sometimes begin before teenage or in later life.
In this, the person does excessive exercise or purges the food he has eaten by intentional vomiting or misuse of laxatives.
Anorexia isn’t really about food, it often involves emotional challenges and can be life threatening sometimes. It is an obsessive eating disorder.
A research has shown that females are not the only victims of the disease. It is very common among transgender also.
CAUSES
The exact cause of anorexia is not known as it is a complex condition. People suffering from anorexia actually develops a negative body image. Thus, it is a combination of various psychological, biological and environmental factors:
Psychological: Person with anorexia may be suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. This makes him follow more strict diet and forgo food despite being hungry. They may also show signs of extreme anxiety.
Biological: There are some genes which make the person more prone to anorexia. Although it’s not yet clear which genes are involved, but it can be linked to it.
Environmental: In today’s world, thinness is preferred. A person becomes more influential and smart if he/she is thin. So peer pressure helps fuel the desire of getting slim, especially among young girls.
SYMPTOMS
People with anorexia show symptoms at different levels. Some are the physical signs and symptoms and other are emotional and behavioral signs.
Physical symptoms
Extreme weight loss
Yellowish and blotchy skin
Thinning of hair
Fatigue
Sleeplessness
Dizziness
Bluish discoloration of fingers
Constipation
Absence of menstruation
Abdominal pain
Dry skin
Slow heart rate
Low blood pressure
Swelling of arms and legs
Dehydration
Emotional and behavioral symptoms
Exercising excessively
Extreme dieting or fasting
Some people first do binge eating and then purge, either by self-induced vomiting or using laxatives or enema.
Skipping meals
Making excuses for not eating food
Eating food which is low in fat and calories
Spitting food out after chewing
Repeatedly checking weight because of fear of gaining weight
Frequent seeing of her body figure in the mirror
Complaining about being fat
Always feeling low
Avoid social gatherings
Irritability
Insomnia
Feeling overweight, though she is underweight
Going to the bathroom right after eating
RISK FACTORS
People of any age can develop anorexia. However, it is more common among girls. There are certain factors which put people at a greater risk for developing anorexia.
Following are the risk factors:
Having a sibling or any of the close relative diagnosed with anorexia
Adolescents and young adults
Girls at any age as they are more conscious about their body figure
Excessive dieting can later lead to anorexia
More common in people of certain professions like models, runners, gymnasts, wrestlers and dancers
Some big changes in life like getting an admission into a college, new school or job, relationship breakup
History of psychiatric disorders
History of sexual abuse
PREVENTION
There is no proven way to prevent anorexia nervosa. But a thorough examination by the physician can help in looking out for symptoms of the disease. This helps in diagnosis and thus early treatment of the disease.
AYURVEDIC TREATMENT OF ANOREXIA NERVOSA
In Ayurveda, anorexia nervosa is called ARUCHI. It is caused by aggravation of vata, pitta and kapha disorders and by the increase of rajas and tamas gunas leading to increased fear, anger and stress. This causes indigestion of food as ama forms. It blocks gastrointestinal channels and thus causes aruchi.
There are different methods in Ayurveda which are used for treatment of Anorexia Nervosa. Following are the ways :
Kavala and gandoosh
It is also called oil pulling. In this, the oil is being hold in the mouth for sometime.
It cleanses toxins in the mouth and thereby stimulates appetite.
Deepana and Pachana
It focuses on balancing the digestive system as it is imbalanced in anorexia
Some herbs and a particular diet is used that helps in digestion of ama, thereby increasing the digestive fire.
Abhyanga
In this, massage of whole body is done with warm oils.
Oil is applied from top of the head to bottom of the feet
It helps in reducing stress levels
Shirodhara
It is a technique in which liquid is poured by someone on the patient’s head
The liquid is either herbal oil or a decoction
It is sometimes combined with abhyanga
It helps in lowering down anxiety levels
Virechana
It is a part of panchkarma therapy
It is a controlled drug induced purging process which eliminates toxins from the body, thereby unblocking the body channels. This cause an increase in appetite.
CHANDIGARH AYURVEDA CENTRE’S (CAC) MEDICATIONS
Here are some of the medications of Chandigarh Ayurvedic Centre which are used in Anorexia nervosa :
Brain relaxant churna
This churna helps in rejuvenating brain cells and increases the concentration by relaxing the brain.
It works as an anti-depressant and cures indigestion.
Some of the herbs which are present in the churna are: Amla (Emblica officinalis), Sonth (Zingiber officinale), Pippali (Piper longum), Marich (Piper nigrum), Haldi (Curcuma longa), Bala (Sida cordifolia), Suddha Gandhak, Lauha Bhasma .
Recommended dose – 1 tablespoon twice a day
Trikatu tablet
It helps in eliminating excessive kapha or mucous from the body.
It manages weight, removes ama and detoxify the body.
Recommended dose: 1 tablet twice a day
Active plus tablet
It is a herbo-mineral formulation, good for patient’s physical and mental health. It refreshes the mind and body.
Recommended dose: 1 satchet twice a day
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