Category: Porphyria

July 25, 2016

Natural Ayurvedic Home Remedies For Porphyria

Abstract

Porphyria is a disorder that results from a build-up of natural chemical known as porphyrin in human body. Porphyrins are essential for the function of hemoglobin, a protein in the red blood cells that links to porphyrin, binds iron, and carries oxygen to the organs and tissues. High levels of porphyrins can cause significant problems. Porphyria mainly affects the nervous system and skin. Below in this blog, we are going to learn about porphyria & its ayurvedic management.

TYPES OF PORPHYRIA

TYPES OF PORPHYRIA

Acute Porphyria – Primarily causes symptoms associated with nervous system. In some instances, it can cause symptoms in skin as well. These attacks rarely occur before individual reaches puberty and in menopausal females.

Cutaneous Porphyria – Causes skin symptoms due to oversensitivity to sunlight and it don’t affect the nervous system.

CAUSES OF PORPHYRIA

  • Genetic risks
  • Certain drugs (barbiturates or sulfonamide antibiotics or, less often, birth control pills, or some drugs that affect the mind or behavior, known as psychoactive drugs.
  • Chemicals
  • Dieting or fasting
  • Smoking
  • Physical stress, such as infections or other illnesses
  • Liver disease
  • Emotional stress
  • Alcohol
  • Menstrual hormones
  • Sun exposure
  • Excess iron

SYMPTOMS OF PORPHYRIA

  • Abdominal pain, swelling
  • Constipation or diarrhoea
  • Insomnia
  • Palpitations
  • High blood pressure
  • Anxiety or restlessness
  • Seizures
  • Mental changes, such as confusion, hallucinations, disorientation or paranoia
  • Breathing problems
  • Muscle pain, tingling, numbness, weakness or paralysis

COMPLICATIONS

  • Dehydration
  • Breathing difficulties and muscle weakness
  • Low sodium in blood or Hyponatremia
  • High blood pressure
  • Chronic kidney failure
  • Liver damage
  • Permanent skin damage, abnormal appearance, scarring and colouring
  • Paralysis, coma, respiratory failure, hair loss and gall stones

NATURAL AYURVEDIC HOME REMEDIES FOR PORPHYRIA

  • Identify the things that may trigger the porphyria symptoms. Talk to your doctor about the type of porphyria and become familiar with possible symptom triggers and ways to avoid them.
  • Cereal, porridge, rice pudding, milk shakes made with bananas nuts and seeds such as pumpkin seeds are extremely useful to deal with porphyria.
  • Drink coconut water on regular basis.
  • Prefer vegetables like bottle gourd, bitter melon, round gourd, ash gourd, ridge gourd, pumpkin etc.
  • Prepare a fresh juice of carrots, green sour apples, grapefruits and cabbage. Drink 2 glasses of fresh juice daily for 6 months.
  • Daily supplementation with beta-carotene (vitamin A) as part of long-term treatment is necessary.
  • Avoid known triggers such as smoking, alcohol, and coffee, tea, dieting and fasting.
  • Eat regular, low calorie meals and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
  • Avoid acidic foods and fruits. Eat green vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage. Also include beans, pulses and small amounts of dried fruits in the diet.
  • Keep the foods as natural and organic as possible. Avoid processed foods, junk food and spicy-oily food. Aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
  • Take a half-inch piece of root ginger and infuse it in a cup of hot water. Leave it for 5 to 10 minutes and then sip. To make it more palatable add a small teaspoon of honey to sweeten it. This infusion can be taken throughout the day. Flat ginger beer will also ease nausea.
  • Prepare an infusion of Basil leaves in hot water since it acts as a natural tranquilliser. It is said to be a tonic and it also calms down the nervous system, aids digestion and eases stomach cramps and nausea.
  • Fresh pineapple contains a digestive enzyme called, bromelain. This helps to digest proteins and speed along the process of digestion. Eat one or two slices of pineapple every day. Eat it preferably as a breakfast or before going to bed. It should be eaten at least two hours before or after the last or next meal.
  • When out in the sun, wear sunglasses, a brimmed hat and long-sleeved clothes. Apply sunscreen to exposed skin areas.
  • Protect your skin every day. Wear rubber gloves when handling chemicals or very hot water. Avoid perfumed soaps. Regularly apply barrier cream to the hands.
  • Regular physical activity, yoga and meditation help to stimulate bowel movements. It will also relieve stress which is a main cause of porphyria. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise. Try to do some form of exercise every day for at least 20 minutes.

Contact Planet Ayurveda Support Team to provide you the costing/ordering and delivery information at costing.planetayurveda@gmail.com or Call at 0172-521-4040 (India), +91-172-521-4040 (Outside India) or Whatsapp at (+91) 842-749-4030.

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August 26, 2015

Dietary Recommendations for Porphyria

Porphyrias are a group of problems that affect the metabolism in a person. It is therefore a metabolic disorder and is a difficult condition to cure. Porhyrias occur due to an increased concentration of Porphyrins in the blood. The porphyrins are an important component that contribute to the formation of the Haemoglobin. There are various enzymes which help in the conversion of porphyrins into hemoglobin.

Due to the defective functioning of the various enzymes, there are four main types of porphyrias namely, ALDA Porphyrias, Acute intermittent porphyrias, variegate porphyrias and hereditary porphyrias. As per the nervous or cutaneous symptoms involved, porphyrias can be classified as acute or cutaneous.

In both the conditions, the acute symptoms need immediate treatment and hence, they should be monitored closely for better results.The diet in any case of porphyria should be formulated so as to reduce the risk of an acute attack which may include severe abdominal upset or any neurological outburst like paralysis or even heart arrhythmias. Here are a few things to remember for all patients of porphyrias in terms of the type of food and lifestyle they are consuming.

Porphyria

IMPORTANCE OF CARBOHYDRATES IN DIET

Patients of porphyrias should be consuming ample amounts of carbohydrates. This does not mean that this consumption should be in excess of the daily requirement of calories by the body. A balanced diet with easily digestible carbohydrates are ideal for consumption. Prolonged fasting and starvation can precipitate an attack. Therefore, it is very important to maintain a healthy and balanced diet.

Consumption of simple carbohydrates like honey and fruits, helps in reducing the levels of porphyrins in the blood. Complex carbohydrates however, should not be totally neglected. Try incorporating whole wheat breads for your daily dose of complex carbohydrates.

CONTROLLING SYMPTOMS OF NAUSEA AND INDIGESTION

Nausea and indigestion are a common feature in most patients. To control them, it is therefore, very important to eat light and frequent meals. Acidic and nauseating food products should be avoided to as far as possible.

Caffeinated drinks, sodas, soft drinks etc. should also be avoided.

LIMIT ALCOHOL INTAKE

Alcohol has been reported as a common trigger for an acute attack of porphyrias which may manifest itself in many ways. Alcohol intake should be limited to a minimum. If you do not drink, try and not become an alcoholic. For people who do drink, try and refrain yourself from drinking liquors with a high percentage of alcohol like red wine, whisky etc.

MANAGE CONSTIPATION

Common abdominal symptoms in porphyrias is a frequent constipation or diarrhea. For patients who feel constipated, there are many herbal remedies and dietary modifications that can help a lot in maintaining normal bowel movement.

  1. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Begin your day with a glass or two of warm water on an empty stomach. You can also add a little lime or honey in it.

  2. You can also consume soft fibrous fruits and vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, beans etc.

  3. 1 – 2 tea spoon full of Vara churna at night can help in the smooth evacuation of stools at night.

EXERCISE REGULARLY

Regular exercise is a very common condition that has to be maintained in order to maintain physical health as well as regular bowel movement. Sedentary lifestyle, is another factor that can aggravate your disease so you have to be regular with your workouts and take out time for yourself.

Light exercises like walking, light jogging can be done regularly to maintain fitness levels. You can choose an exercise routine that suits you best as per your Age and fitness levels.

CHOLESTEROL AND SALT INTAKE

Cholesterol levels need to be managed and the amount of fat in diet should be restricted to not more than 300 mg per day accordingly. Salt restriction is not a direct indication. It depends up on the involvement of other disorders like hypertension.

IRON AND CALCIUM LEVELS

Iron levels in blood should be especially managed to maintain optimum Hemoglobin levels in blood. People who deal with the acute on chronic attacks of Porphyrias, need to manage for any anemic conditions that may develop in them.

It is especially necessary to monitor Hb levels in women who suffer from heavy menstrual flow and blood loss due to other reasons. Calcium levels should also be maintained especially in female patients of porphyria.

These are some of the basic guidelines that are applicable to most patients of porphyrias in general. The rest of the specific details of the disease vary from person to person for which individual guidelines need to be formulated.

Contact Planet Ayurveda Support Team to provide you the costing/ordering and delivery information at – costing.planetayurveda@gmail.com or Call at 0172-521-4040 (India), +91-172-521-4040 (Outside India) or Whatsapp at (+91) 842-749-4030.
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