Termed `pandu’ in Ayurveda, this is a very common ailment, wherein the haemoglobin and RBC (red blood corpuscles) counts fall from their normal levels of 15 gm of haemoglobin per 100 ml. of blood and approximately five million red cells per cubic millimetre of blood.

Symptoms

• Weakness, dizziness and quick exhaustion.
• A haggard look, lined with premature wrinkles.
• Eyes stripped off its shine, mirroring fatigue.
• Failing memory.
• Shortness of breath and palpitation on exertion.
• Occasional disturbing headache.
• Slow healing of wounds
• Pale looking skin and mucus membranes.

Root Causes

• Loss of blood from the body i.e. haemorrhaging by injury, bleeding piles, bleeding from nose, mouth, lungs, anus, genital tracts or excessive menstruation in case of women.
• Inadequate supply of blood-forming ingredients in food taken.
• Destruction of red blood corpuscles inside the body after they are formed.
• Deficiency in the production of blood because of defective functioning of liver and / or bone marrow.
• Lack of hydrochloric acid in stomach, needed for digestion of iron and proteins.
• Presence of hookworms, pinworms, round worms and tapeworms that feed on the supply of blood as well as on vitamins.

Useful herbs

• Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa)
• Ghritkumari (Aloe vera)

Ayurvedic Supplements

• Lauh Bhasma            
• Lohasava
• Dhatri Lauh