The first detailed description of Diabetes is described in ancient ayurvedic treaties Charak Samhita dating back 200B.C. Diabetes mellitus is one of the most widespread diseases of modern civilization and is growing worldwide. Statistics show that from 1980 to today, the number of cases of diabetes in adults worldwide has doubled while diabetes in children has increased alarmingly in recent years. What is diabetes? Diabetes is a disease that is due to increased levels of glucose than normal. In a normal person glucose level in the body is regulated by certain hormones in particular insulin, hormone released from the pancreas. The role of insulin is to allow glucose from blood to enter into the cells of each organ or tissue. In the case of diabetes mellitus insulin secretion is not sufficient or insulin secretion is normal but it cannot be used and glucose does not penetrate the cells, remaining in the blood at high levels. In this case the cells are deprived of the main source of food, and excess blood glucose has serious indirect effects on the organs and tissues of the body. Diabetes is a serious disease, if untreated leads to severe complications and even death. Among the diseases that may occur as a complication of diabetes include-Diabetic retinopathy (cause of blindness), renal failure, diabetic neuropathy, hypertension, impotence, difficult healing wounds, leading to tissue necrosis and stroke.

What causes diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is linked to certain autoimmune causes and type 2 diabetes, which is the most common, is very much related to lifestyle and poor nutrition, hereditary factors and the psycho-emotional factors: negative emotions experienced for a long period of time, stress, anxiety, bad eating habits, excessive sleep (especially during the day) and lack of exercise.

Diabetes Vs Madhumeha

In ayurveda diabetes is also called Madhu Meha. Madhu means honey and correlate well with the dominant symptom of the disease i.e. the sweet taste of urine due to elimination of glucose which is in excess in the urine. In ayurvedic terminology diabetes group belong to Prameha diseases and its main causes are lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits like excess heavy foods, sweet, oily and cold. These types of foods increase Kapha (water and earth elements in the body) and Medha (fat tissue) and decrease digestive fire Agni, blood glucose metabolization and finally complications appears.

Ayurvedic management of diabetes

In ayurveda diabetes is classified as Maharoga i.e. major disease because, if untreated, affects not only a part of the physical body but also each cell of the body. Ayurvedic treatment of diabetes is a holistic treatment that addresses health at physical body, mind, emotional and spiritual levels and is strictly individualized. Thus, in addition to ayurvedic detoxification techniques and treatment with medicinal herbs and diet therapy, it is important to correct unhealthy lifestyle and to have a deep psycho-emotional healing and spiritual healing.

Ayurvedic Diet Therapy

In Ayurveda the treatment of diabetes start by changing the type of food consumed, depending on the constitutional type of the patient (Prakriti) and the aggravated dosha Vata, Pitta or Kapha (Vikriti) that cause disease. For type 2 diabetes, most commonly seen in obese individuals, with aggravated Kapha in the body. It is recommended a Kapha pacifying diet with light food, dry, spicy, bitter and astringent taste.

Ayurvedic herbs for diabetes

Treatment of diabetes mellitus recommends herbs having bitter, astringent and pungent taste to stimulate the digestive fire Agni and decrease the accumulation of excess Kapha. In the same time these medicinal herbs are used for hypoglycemic potential and regulatory effects on the pancreas and fat metabolism:

Neem (Azadirachta indica):

Can be used in both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus with very good effects of lowering insulin levels in the body.

Amalaki (Emblica officinalis)

Fresh juice is very useful in diabetes mellitus in combination with Haridra (turmeric) to lower elevated blood glucose levels and improve digestive fire .

Momordica (Momordica charantia)

studies have shown an increased hypoglycemic potential of the fruit and seeds of the fruit.

Triphala

combination of three Indian plants, well known in Ayurvedic treatments with huge detoxifying potential.

Other Indian plants used are

Bhumiamalaki, Gudmar, Guduchi, Tulsi, Shilajit a resin extracted from the Himalayas.

The ayurvedic treatment is always prescribed by a physician after prior ayurveda consultation.

Romanian herbs for diabetes

Romanian medicinal plants used in diabetes include: artichokes (Cynara scolymus), wormwood (Artemisia absinthum), dandelion (Traxacum officinale), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), cranberry (Vaccinium mirtillus) leaves and fruit , currant (Ribes nigrum) leaves, mulberry (Morrus alba) leaves, sheaths beans (Phaseolus lunatus). The modality of administration of the medicinal plants is a mixture of several crops in the form of cold soak, or taken sublingually as a fine powder and then swallowed with water, capsules or tablets in dosage prescribed by the physician.

Lifestyle:

Trend towards sedentary life is high, sustained exercise is very important in the treatment of disease. Thus walking briskly, cycling, swimming, intense physical work are effective in controlling diabetes.

Panchkarma for Diabetes

After a preliminary consultation ayurveda doctor will decide which procedures from Ayurvedic deep cleansing of the body are most suitable for the patient. One can use the dry body massage with herbal powders, ayurvedic procedure Vamana (vomiting therapy) or Virechana (purgation therapy). If there is a major component of psychosomatic illness, Shirodhara (oil dripping on the patient s forehead) is very appropriate.

Emotional Healing

Awareness and control of negative emotions at the origin of the disease are very important in the treatment of disease, in this psychological counseling is very helpful.

Spiritual Therapy

Sincere prayer, deep meditation, yoga postures, deep relaxation techniques, music therapy, walking in nature are effective methods for peace of mind that allow contact with the deep soul that is of great help in spiritual healing of diabetic patient.

 

Family medicine physician,

phytotherapy competence, ayurveda, apitherapy,

Steaua Divina Health Center