Blood is one of the very important aspects of the body that takes care of oxygen flow and many other life-supporting tasks. Blood comprises red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Among these, red blood cells are produced and maintained by a hormone called Erythropoietin which is also known as EPO. This hormone is produced by the kidneys. The production and maintenance of the red blood cells by Erythropoietin is done in two crucial ways. Firstly, the bone marrow cells are stimulated for the production of RBC, and further, the cells are protected from any kind of damage. However, the production of EPO generating hormones also has to suffer once the kidneys meet any kind of damage. In this blog, we will study about the Erythropoietin hormone, related issues, and Ayurvedic treatment for Erythropoietin.
Erythropoietin: Formation and function
As mentioned above, Erythropoietin is produced by the kidneys. The cells of the kidneys that help in the making of EPO have some specialization. These cells are said to be sensitive to the low level of oxygen in the blood that travels to the kidneys. They then produce EPO when the oxygen level in the kidneys goes down. The Erythropoietin thus produced, helps the bone marrow in stimulation and production of more red blood cells take place. The production of red blood cells further assists in the elevation of the oxygen-carrying ability of the blood. Erythropoietin is known as the prime regulator of RBC production and given below are the functions performed by the EPO hormones.
- It regulates the development of red blood cells.
- It helps in the initiation of hemoglobin synthesis. Hemoglobin helps in the transportation of oxygen.
The production of the EPO hormones increases in the body when there is a condition of low circulation of oxygen in the blood. This is likely to happen when a person moves towards a higher altitude where the air pressure goes down, and absorption of oxygen becomes less in the blood.
Furthermore, 10% of the EPO hormones are produced by the liver as well. Any issues in the kidneys can hinder the production of EPO hormones. Therefore, Ayurvedic treatment for Erythropoietin is taken into consideration for the betterment of health.
Erythropoietin associated problems
There can be issues in which a person can develop too much or too little Erythropoietin in the blood. So, the damage can be due to the deficiency or abundance of Erythropoietin. The high level of Erythropoietin in the blood can be a result of experiences of the body with low blood oxygen levels for a longer period of time, or in case the tumor is producing the hormones. In such a condition, the count of the red blood cells in the body elevates which is called polycythemia. Joint pain, dizziness, itching, and fatigue are some of the signs caused due to polycythemia.
On the other hand, when a person suffers from kidney diseases like chronic kidney disease, low levels of Erythropoietin is produced that often result in issues like anemia. This reduced production can result in breath shortness, fatigue, dizziness, and an elevated heart rate. Anemia is one prevalent issue during chronic kidney disease. With the worsening of the kidney disease, the condition of anemia also worsens. Therefore, it becomes important to treat anemia as soon as possible otherwise, it can result in the demise of the tolerant. When the kidneys become damaged they cannot produce enough Erythropoietin hormones. So, Erythropoietin treatment in Ayurveda suggests the need to treat the damaged kidneys. Now, let us read about the ways in which Ayurvedic treatment for Erythropoietin can be done.
Treatment of Erythropoietin
The condition of Erythropoietin can be treated in both Allopathic and Ayurvedic ways. When it comes to the treatment of Erythropoietin in Allopathy, there are two ways that are used. First is the ESA therapy. In this therapy, people are injected with EPO injections. This treatment is done only if it is suitable for the health of the person. The injections of ESA can be taken at home and hospital as well. In case a person is taking ESA injections, then it is important for him or her to check the blood level regularly.
Another is the iron therapy. In this therapy, people are provided with iron supplements and injections that can restore the iron deficiency and Erythropoietin hormones can be produced. Now, talking about the Ayurvedic treatment for Erythropoietin, given below are some of the ways that help in the restoration of the condition. Erythropoietin treatment in Ayurveda suggests the use of certain herbal medicines that can restore the loss with its therapeutic ability. These medicines aim for the rectification of doshas that have created the issue due to their aggravation. These measures along with the herbal medicines would help in the speedy recovery and attainment of optimal health.
- You can consume one teaspoon of juice of turmeric mixed well with honey.
- Do not eat fried and spicy food items.
- Do not eat eggs or any non-vegetarian item.
- Consume light meals like soup, fruits, and vegetables.
- Try to take care of your piles and menstruation.
- Make a juice of apple, beetroot, mixed with honey. This can be a useful option for you.