CARE FOR DIABETES, MADHUMEHA OR PRAMEHA

I wrote about this disease, its prevention and cure some days back also and I got reponse from some readers that the details are not that much and they need more details to actually benefit from it. So I took it up this topic in much more details this time.
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Diabetes Mellitus or Prameha or Madhumeha or Asrava has become the most dangerous killer disease across the globe. Though thousands of people are dying with Diabetes around the world every year, yet there is no discovery of the cure of this disease. The more unfortunate part is that there is very less awareness among people on the capabilities of Ayurveda, to not only prevent these disease (even for them who have history in family) but it can also be cured to a certain extent in more than one ways like frequency of taking insulin injections is reduced drastically or improving functioning of pancreas that generates insulin or reducing the requirement of insulin by body etc.

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We all know that Diabetes Mellitus is the medical condition in which there is an accumulation of glucose in the blood and urine of the person. So, it is a metabolic disorder, which is caused due to malfunctioning of pancreas – which is responsible for production of an important hormone called insulin.

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According to Ayurveda, Diabetes is divided in 4 major types (and total 21 types)

• Kapha type (again divided into 10 types)
• Pitta type (again divided into 6 types)
• Vata type (divided into 4 types)
• Juvenile diabetes for children

 It is categorized by Ayurveda as “Maharoga” (major disease) because it affects most part of the body and every cell of the human physiology. The ancient Indian physicians described not only the sweetness of urine as one of the major symptoms but also the relationship of the disease with disturbance of the 5 sheaths of the body – Annamaya kosha (Food sheath), Pranamaya kosha (Energy sheath), Manomaya kosha (Mind Sheath), Vijnanamaya kosha (Intellectual Sheath) and Anandamaya kosha (Bliss Sheath).

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Though Prameha (Diabetes) is a tridoshaja vyadhi, the relative predominance of any one dosha and dooshya enables its classification in to Vathaja, Pithaja and Kaphaja pramehas. These have further been classified in to twenty sub categories (as highlighted above) in all the three classics of Ayurveda. Kaphaja and Pittaja prameha have been sub classified in to ten types and six types respectively. These sixteen types have the physical characteristics of urine that is colour, density and volume depending up on the different gunas of Kapha and Pitta. Vataja prameha has been sub classified in to four types depending up on dhatu being excreted through urine.

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The prodromal symptoms of this disease are:

• Profuse sweating
• Foul smell of the body
• Looseness the body
• Feeling of lethargy
• Heavy heart feeling
• Feel like something coated on eyes
• Excessive growth of nails and hair
• Affinity toward cold
• Dryness of throat and palate
• Sweet taste in mouth
• Burning sensation in palms and foot soles
• Sweetness in urine

After catching Diabetes, the main symptoms are:

• Increased thirst, increased urination, increased appetite are the initial signs
• Blurred vision, skin irritation or infection, weakness or loss of strength, and decreased healing capability
• Sugar in urine

If diabetes is not identified at the right time advanced symptoms like fluid and electrolyte imbalance, acidosis, coma are also seen.

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Role of Ojus in Prameha: Ojus is the essence of life, an extract of the seven dhathus (Elements) represented as bala (strength) of the body. The ojus in a healthy person determines the physical, psychic, sensory motor functions of the body. This is a biochemical component of the body which is reddish-white in color and residing in heart & other vital organs of the body. If ojus is disturbed, degeneration will be fast and will result in decreased life span. In prameha, ojus is expunged from the body through all navadwaras (Nine Exits of human body) especially through urine & sweat.

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Ojus gets imbalanced in prameha in two ways:

• Through obstruction in blood vessels (srothorodha)
• Degeneration of the body components is dhatu kshaya which can cause both cardiac & nervous system disorders - all this is ojakshaya meaning an imbalance in Ojus

Let us now talk about the various treatments suggested by Ayurveda that have the potential to reduce and sometimes remove Prameha or Diabetes.

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Bitter Gourd: This can be utilized quite effectively in treatment of Diabetes as it contains a hypoglycemic or insulin-like principle, designated as plant-insulin, which has been found precious in lowering the blood and urine sugar levels. The best method is to take the juice of about four or five Karelas (bitter gourd) each morning on an empty stomach. Alternatively (or additionally), the seeds can be added to food in a powdered state. Diabetics can also use bitter gourd in the state of a decoction by boiling the pieces in water or in the form of dry powder.

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Indian Gooseberry: Since it is high in vitamin C content, it is helpful in reducing blood sugar levels. Researches have shown that the anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C taken with other supplements has a great effect on diabetics, helping them lowering high sugar blood levels. It also helps reducing the risk of atherosclerosis too, that often occurs in diabetics. In this way the onset of heart stroke is easily delayed, and you may be well protected.

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Blackberry: Jamun or black berry is quite useful in Diabetes treatment. Since pancreas malfunctioning is one of the characteristics of Diabetes and Jamun positively impact pancreas, it is an effective treatment of Diabetes. Its seeds contain a glucoside 'jamboline' which is supposed to have the power to check the pathological conversion of starch into sugar in cases of increased production of glucose. In addition of blackberry fruit, the tree bark is also useful for diabetic patients. The method of taking Jamun is to dry and powder its fruit seeds. One teaspoon of this powder should be mixed in one cup of milk or water or half a cup of curd, and taken two times daily. The internal bark of Jamun tree can also be dried and burnt after which it will be converted to white color ash. This ash must be pestled in mortar, strained and bottled. And then the diabetic patient should be given ten grams of this ash on an empty stomach with water in the morning, and twenty grams in the afternoon, and in the evening an hour after taking meals.

We discussed about role of Bitter Gourd, Gooseberry and Blackberry in treating Diabetes, in the last post, there is another remedy for diabetes that is worth mentioning here, which is the mixture of all three. Let me start this post with a popular home remedy for diabetes that is quite effective too.

Mix an equal amount of amla (gooseberry) powder, jamun (blackberry) powder, and karela (bitter gourd) powder and give a teaspoon of this mixture once or twice a day to the diabetic patient. It would be highly efficient in checking the progress of the disease.

Other herbal remedies that are helpful in treating Diabetes are:

Cumin Seeds: Take Wild jeera (cumin seeds) black colored 60 gm and mix in 1 litre of water everyday. Boil and reduce it to 1/4th litre and take half part. Divide it into two equal parts and drink one part in the morning and one in the evening 2 times daily.
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Bengal Gram: Water extract or soup of kala chana (Bengal Gram) enhances the use of glucose and the insulin requirement goes down in the body considerably. Diabetes patients who are on a set diet which does not severely limit the intake of carbohydrates, but includes liberal amounts of Bengal gram extract, have shown significant improvement in their fasting blood sugar levels, glucose tolerance, urinary excretion of sugar, and general condition. Pulses from the same family like black gram are also quite useful in Diabetes treatment. In fact, two tablespoons of germinated black gram, taken with half a cup of fresh bitter gourd juice and a teaspoon of honey, is quite effective if taken everyday once for at least 100 days. Only thing that needs to be taken care of, in this case is that the intake of carbohydrates should be controlled.
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Mango Leaves: The tender leaves of the mango tree are measured useful in diabetes. An infusion is prepared by soaking 15 gm of fresh leaves in 250 ml of water overnight, and squeezing them fine in the water in the morning. This filtrate should be taken every morning to manage early diabetes. As an option, the leaves should be dried in the shade, powdered and preserved for use when necessary. Half a teaspoon of this powder should be taken two times in a day everyday.

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As Ayurveda healing principles are based on three main methods of treatment that are Ahaar (Food), Vihar (Exercise) and Aushadh (Medicine), there are other prescribed treatments of this disease in Ayurveda. We will discuss these treatments now:
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In Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus {Vathaja prameha} Patients are advised to have Bhrimhana medication & diet which increases dhathus in the body.

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In Type 2 Diabetes, obese diabetic patient with optimal body strength having intense increase of doshas, Purification of the body is advocated whcich is dependent on dosha predominance (Kaphaja are advised to have emetics, Pittaja are advised to have purgation.)

• Snehanam (prescription of oils internally & externally)
• Sodhana (Purification therapy under category three) – The treatment activities that are part of Sodhna are a) Vamanam (Induced Vomiting), b) Virechanam (Induced lose motions) and c) Vasthi (This process is the application of medicine through the anal route. This is indicated only in specific condition
• Shamanam (Suppression of symptoms)
• Pathya – Apathyas (Prescribed Diet)
• Vyayamam (exercises)

In strong prameha patients, but with increased doshas, sodhana chikitsa (treatment) is prescribed. The Purification Therapies are most important treatment in this condition. Snehana karma should be done before giving sodhana chikilsa. Generally swedana is contra indicated in prameha as swethathi pravruthy (profuced sweating) and is one of the main symptom of prameha. Moreover swedana induces kleda which is a causative factor for this disease. Different snehanas (oliations) are advised in different stages of prameha

The most common problem in diabetic patient is a general body weakness & a fast deterioration of the major organs affecting all physiological systems including the mind.

Mild forms of snehana, shodhana & Shamana treatments accompanied with drugs formulated for this protocol has been very effective in controlling Kaphapitta type of prameha. The rugs or herbs that can be taken as treatment for diabetes are

• Arogyavardhini
• Vasanta Kusumakar Ras
• Chandraprabhavati
• Triphala with Amalaki juice
• Gudmar
• Shilajit

Last but not the least, the role of yogasana in controlling diabetes is enormous and one of the asana that is seen to be giving best results, paschimottana–asana. If this asana is practiced daily without fail, it generates related energy that reduces the insulin requirement in the body and hence helpful in reducing the need of insulin injections. Other helpful asanas are halasana, pranayam and meditation.