Diabetic Healing with Ayurveda

Diabetes is a silent killer affecting around 346 million people across the world. The
projections of the World Health Organization indicate that diabetes related
deaths are doubling as we speak. This phenomenon was said to have started in
2005. These mindboggling numbers pose to be a huge threat for global health.
Diabetes is also the fifth leading cause of death in the United States with over 17
million affected every year. So what is the long term solution to overcome this
ordeal according to Ayurveda?
Even though the various causes are complex, to an extent the menace can be
curbed with a monitored diet, maintaining a decent weight with regular physical
activity and avoiding major vices like tobacco and alcohol. Individuals who are on
the heavier side with less physical activity, especially those above the age of forty
are easily susceptible to the disease. Those with a family diabetic history or health

conditions like glucose intolerance, high blood pressure and cholesterol, can also
succumb to diabetes. Unhealthy food habits and irregular meal timings can
accelerate the same as well. Further, certain ethnic groups like Asian, Hispanic
and African-American face greater diabetes risks.
Some of the common symptoms of diabetes include fatigue, excessive hunger and
thirst, recurrent urination, blurred vision, lack of concentration, numbness and
loss of sensation in hands and feet, sudden weight loss, frequent infections and
slow healing of bruises. Getting tested is the first step of treatment. Any of the
usual symptoms must propel a person to get an immediate diagnostic test. The
prevention of this disease is well within our grasp and so any delay is not
advisable. With proper medication, dietary checks and exercise routine, diabetes
can be kept under control. For a more holistic and long term cure, the alternative
therapy of Ayurveda has proved its strength over centuries. Its very premise is
intrinsically holistic and preventive in intent. In fact there has been a lot of
interest in bringing this effective treatment into the mainstream fold.

Diabetes primarily occurs when the pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin
or when the body is not compatible with the grade of insulin secreted. Modern
medicine suggests daily insulin injections to beat this chronic metabolic disorder.
Again certain bodies may portray some kind of insulin rejection. The truth is that
for overcoming diabetes entirely one must rejuvenate the body completely. Only
then should one up the insulin level according to the need. Diabetes and
hypertension are due to metabolic imbalances and allopathic medication provides
only a temporary respite.
The classical Ayurveda name for diabetes mellitus is prameha. During the vedic
times it was commonly known as asrava. It is also called madhumeha. Madhu
means honey whereas meha means flow or more specifically urine. The name is
attributed to the fact that during prameha, the ojus or life essence is expunged
through sweat or urine. Diabetes is taken very seriously under this ancient health
system as is called a maharoga or major disease. It is considered to be a diseases
caused by the aggravation of Vata dosha. Vata dosha underlies the body state

based on wind and dryness. Deterioration in the body, which is the destruction of
the dhatus or body tissues, depicts an impairment of the Vata state. This is why
diabetes harms all vital organs.
A compromised digestive system can also bring forth a severe attack of diabetes.
Impaired digestion results in the amassing of certain impurities know as ama. This
can accumulate in the delicate pancreatic cells and damage the internal insulin
production over time. In Ayurveda, diabetes is of 4 types as per its effects on body
constitutions. These include Vata (10 types of diabetes), Pitta (6 types), (Vata 4
types) and juvenile diabetes for children which are often congenital (sahaj
pramehi). The disease affects five sheaths of the body food sheath (annamaya
kosha), energy sheath (pranamaya kosha), mind sheath (manomaya kosha),
intellectual sheath (vijnana maya kosha) and bliss sheath (anandamaya kosha).
Just like IDDM and NIDDM classification, there is also krisha pramehi (lean
diabetes) and sthula pramehi (obese diabetes). Over eating and food induced
diabetes is known as apathaya nimmitaj.

The Ayurveda based treatment of diabetes is directed at rejuvenating the body

not just for sugar level balance but also to foster a positive change in the patients
life. The Chrakha Samhita has elaborate chapters on the origins and cures. The
various herbal formulations work on the deep seated root causes of the disease.
The medication bolsters the persons immunity, enriches the digestion process
and also helps a person to lead an overall healthy life. Along with dietary and life
style alterations, the Ayurveda medication rejuvenates the bodys cells and
tissues, allowing a proper production of insulin.
Since the days of yore secret ingredients have been used by sages to effectively
treat diabetes and lower the blood sugar level. Todays supplements are replete
with these cures. The best part is that there are no side effects of these natural
organic formulations. Based on Type I, Type II and gestational diabetes (along
with micro classifications of Ayurveda), the wide range of formulations have been
customized. These are aimed at restoring the balance of the doshas and the
normal function of the dhatu tissues.

Some of the commonly used herbs and plants include fenugreek, turmeric, onion,
ginger, wood apple, bitter gourd, neem (Azadirachha indica), sagar gota
(Ceasalpinia crista), nayantatra (Vinca rosa), gurmar leaves (Gymnema sylvestrae)
etc. The nutritional therapy includes diet charts based on viryas for each dosha.
The rasa and gunas are also taken into consideration. Ayurveda food is of
medicinal nature and is known as ausadam. These foods tackle the deviant
doshas.
Ayurveda treats diabetes with a multi-pronged approach. Along with medicinal
and nutritional therapy, specific exercises from the 5000 year sister science of
Ayurveda, i.e. Yoga is also advised. Panchakarma (the five purification processes)
is also very useful in restricting diabetes. In simplistic terms Ayurvedas healing
methodology uses four types of techniques reduction, detoxification, balancing
and nourishing. Thus, it is a miracle therapy for diabetes.

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Thanks to the writer of this article

Jai Hind