Anorexia – Ayurvedic Explanation

Anorexia is a lack of appetite, aversion to food. If a diet is too restrictive, body weight is reduced and the digestive fire (agni) is so suppressed that the ability to accept or retain any food in the stomach is lost. Anorexia can be very hard on the body. It may be accompanied by vomiting at every meal, resulting in dehydration.

If you or your loved ones suspect anorexia, in no case should you self-medicate, you should contact a knowledgeable specialist.

Although nausea, vomiting and decreased appetite are usually associated with Kapha, severe anorexia with serious weight loss is more often a Vata disorder. In this case, nervousness, fear, insomnia, chest and abdominal pain, and palpitations are noted. The patient complains of difficulty swallowing, a feeling of choking or a lump in the throat.

Emotional blockage

By rejecting food, which is a symbol of our nurturing mother Earth, the anorexics are rejecting their mother. By rejecting the mother, they reject the feminine principle that is present in each of us. A person suffering from anorexia must reassess their life and embrace their femininity instead of running away from it.

Mental blockage

If you suffer from anorexia, you must first change your attitude towards your mother. Realize that she always wanted the best for you and that she, like any other person, can have her own fears and shortcomings. Perhaps she upset or disappointed you in some way, but do not forget that it is your attitude towards this or that event that makes you suffer, and not the event itself. You have the power to change this attitude. By accepting your mother and her love, in whatever forms it may appear, you regain your zest for life and appetite.

Treatment of anorexia

Spices that regulate digestion and stop vomiting are needed: cardamom, fennel and fresh ginger.

In Ayurveda, the compounds cardamom and asafoetida are used (it should, however, be remembered that the taste of asafoetida may be unacceptable for nausea).

Diet

The best diet is fresh, not heavy, soft food, for example, khichari, which is prepared from rice and mung beans taken in equal parts.

Coffee, tea, synthetic drugs and stimulants should be avoided.

Otherwise, the treatment is the same as for low weight. Among tonics, chyawanprash and ashwagandha are recommended. Additionally, soothing and grounding herbs that strengthen the nerves are prescribed: valerian, nutmeg, ashwagandha, sandalwood.

Peace and a friendly environment are needed. An excellent remedy for calming the nervous system is a composition of four parts ashwagandha and two parts brahmi, taken with one part cardamom and fennel. Infuse 1-2 tsp of the mixture in a cup of water, add a little honey and sip every 2-3 hours.

Massage of the head and feet with sesame oil helps a lot (the stomach is not massaged).

Lubricating the head with sandalwood oil helps restore peace and mental balance.

The main goals of treatment are to gradually bring bodyweight back to normal, restore fluid and electrolyte balance in the body, and provide psychological assistance.

Of no small importance is psychotherapy, with the help of which it is possible to identify and eliminate the causes underlying the occurrence of anorexia. In ancient times, priests were engaged in treatment, so the psychotherapist and the doctor were one person.

If the symptoms are severe, then normalization of body weight should be done gradually. A person can gain from 500 g to 1.5 kg per week. An individual diet is prepared for the patient, containing a sufficient amount of nutrients that the body needs. When creating an individual diet, the doctor takes into account the degree of exhaustion, the value of the body mass index, and the presence of symptoms of a lack of any substances.

Drug treatment of anorexia includes the use of medications that eliminate the consequences of anorexia: for example, in the absence of menstruation, appropriate medications are prescribed; when bone density decreases, the use of calcium and vitamin D supplements is needed, etc. Therapy may include medications designed to correct iron and zinc deficiency.

TODAY’S TIP: In our society, there is a widespread idea that without a slim, beautiful figure it is impossible to succeed in school or professional activities. Anorexia is also associated with recent fashion trends. Society should work to bring public opinion towards more realistic preferences.