Natural Herbs For Anemia In Dialysis

What is anemia?

Anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells, or to be exactly, anemia presents due to lack of hemoglobin in red blood cells. We know healthy kidneys have the function of producing a kind of hormone, called erythropoietin which is responsible for producing enough red blood cells, carrying oxygen throughout your body. However, when your kidneys are impaired, they cannot produce sufficient red blood cells for your body needs. In this case, lacking of red blood cells will cause anemia, which makes you feel fatigue, tired, short of breath and other conditions.

What causes anemia?

The root cause of anemia is generally deficiency of iron in your diet. However, there are other ways in which blood loss can take place from your body. The following are some of them:

1. Internal hemorrhage can occur in your body causing blood loss, and thus cause anemia.

2. Diseases like kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, liver disease, systemic lupus erythematosus or cancer.

3. An infection or inflammation in your body.

4. Diseases that can harm or destroy your blood cells, like sickle cell disease.

5. Too little iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid in your body.

Why do people on dialysis have anemia?

In Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), patients often get anemia. And when CKD advances, patients may need to do dialysis. The kidneys are not able to make enough erythropoietin, which makes red blood cells for your body needs. If they are undergoing dialysis, they may experience some blood loss, which can also lead to anemia. Talk to your doctor about what to do if you experience anemia. Doctors may suggest you take some natural herbs.

What are natural herbs for anemia in dialysis?

Herbs are effective solution for anemia due to nutritional deficiency. Herbs are plants which are mainly sources of bioavailable vitamins and minerals. As opposed to vitamin or mineral supplements, and even animal sources of iron and vitamin B12, your body can absorb nutrients from herbs easily. And supplying the body with a variety of nutrients,which are found in these herbs, which also helps absorption. These foods are not only good source of iron, but also of vitamin C, B vitamins, folate, magnesium, potassium,zinc, copper and other nutrients. These herbs may include, Red raspberry, Yellow dock, Dandelion, Kelp, Nettles, Alfalfa, Bilberry, Hawthorn berry and so on.

To take these herbs you can take these herbs in supplemented form, either as powered capsules or herbal tinctures. While all these herbs are safe for general use, but it is important for you to talk too your doctor before you take any herb. Adequate dosage of herb will be effective for treating you anemia in dialysis.