Treating anemia through holistic
nutrition
Natural treatments of anemia with herbs, vitamins and
supplements
Do you suffer from fatigue, chronic headaches, feelings of weakness and trouble healing from cuts and bruises?
If you do, you may have a disorder known as anemia. Anemia is a blood disorder in which the body is low in
hemoglobin, one of the components of the blood. There are many causes of anemia, from sickness and infection to
loss of blood and gaps in your nutrition. Holistic nutrition is one approach to treating those with anemia, which
works very well in conjunction with traditional Western medicine.
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Certain herbs are very popular and useful in treating anemia naturally through
holistic nutrition |
Holistic nutrition
Through holistic nutrition, the body is treated as a whole. Certain foods and herbs that are high in iron and
B vitamins are prescribed to the patient in an effort to boost the body’s levels
of what it is missing, causing the symptoms. Instead of simply treating the symptoms (medicating the headaches, for
example) holistic nutrition aims to restore the body to optimal functioning through the administering of certain
foods and herbs that will give the body what it is lacking.
After diagnosing a patient with anemia, the holistic nutritionist will recommend a diet that is high in things
like iron, folic acid (a B vitamin) and vitamin B12. Such foods include: eggs, spinach, dried fruits, red meats,
eggs, dairy and poultry. Whole grains, dark green vegetables, liver and some fruits are very high sources of folic acid as well.
Treating with herbs
Certain herbs are very useful in treating anemia with holistic nutrition as well. Barley grass, for example, is
rich in vitamins and
minerals and is a popular recommendation for treating those who have anemia. Other popular herbs used to treat
anemia include alfalfa, dandelion and ironweed. Alfalfa is a very powerful herb that has been used to help restore
the body after recovering from serious illnesses. Ironweed is used to treat a variety of bleeding disorders,
including anemia, to help regulate the menstrual cycle, and to reduce pain following childbirth. Yarrow is another
herb used similarly to treat bleeding (blood) disorders. It has been found to be very effective in speeding the
healing of wounds, something that is very challenging for the body when anemia is present.
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Certain dietary or vitamin supplements are sometime prescribed in the treatment of
anemia, especially those with vitamin C. |
Dietary supplements
In addition to the proper diet and intake of the appropriate herbs to help heal the body and promote healthy
blood composition, holistic nutritionists may also prescribe certain dietary supplements as part of the treatment
of anemia. One such supplement is ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate or ferrous sulfate. Each of these is a form
of iron supplement. To best help the body absorb the iron, it may be recommended that a dose of vitamin C is also taken. It is recommended that patients do not consume dairy, antacids or
caffeine at the same time as the iron, as this can adversely affect the absorption of the iron.
Anemia is just one of the many conditions that can be treated through holistic nutrition. Visit applebytotalhealth.com for more information and to find out more about how holistic
nutrition can help restore your body, mind and soul to optimal health.
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