Introduction
Oja is the Ayurvedic term for the blood sugar. It is greasy and has the nature of sweetness. The blood sugar, whenever is counteracted with the physical properties of astringent taste, loses its greasiness. Because the drying effect of the astringent taste is counteractive to the grease. The greaseless blood sugar can not be assimilated for the nourishment of the bodily tissues and separated from the bodily fluid. In this condition, it dissolves easily in the bodily fluid and elevates the sweet urine. This is the fundamental cause of diabetes. The greaseless blood sugar is similar to the nature of honey, which has the counteracting effect of grease. Therefore, Madhumeha, honey like sweet urine is the Ayurvedic name for diabetes.
There are three morbid conditions, which can counteract the grease of the blood sugar. The first condition is concerned with the nerve-natured body type. The second is related to the morbid condition of the stimulated mucous membrane, fatty tissues, and biliary duct system. And, the third condition is the result of chronic urinary diseases.
The nerve-natured body type (Vata Prakriti) is the result of overactivity of the nervous system. Any person having nerve-natured body type becomes skinny with clear veins and thin skin, restless, talkative, fearful, intellectually brilliant, and unproportionate in the structure of the face. The main cause to have the nerve-natured body type is, by birth, the weak function of the pancreas (Agnyasaya). If the pancreas does not function properly, foods eaten can not be digested properly. Undigested foods cause gas problems, which aggravates the function of the nervous system. The aggravated function of the nervous system, which, in general, causes dryness, has a counteraction with the bodily grease. In this condition, the person who has nerve natured body type is liable to have the problem of diabetes. This is especially true for someone who has a hereditary background of chronic urinary diseases. The case of diabetes of the person who has the nerve-natured body type is called “Dhatuksayaja Madhumeha”. It is common at a young age and it is considered not to be cured, however can be controlled with proper treatment and diet.
Someone, who is fat and has strong digestive power, gets the pancreas overactive. The overactive pancreas stimulates the liver to have an overflow of bile. The abnormal flow of bile in the intestine promotes the power to digest greasy foods and causes more fat. The person who is gaining weight or getting fatter becomes more voracious, because, he has strong digestive power. In this condition, the function of arteries also becomes more active and stimulates the mucous membrane. The stimulated mucous membrane secretes more viscous slime or mucous, which can be the cause of blockage in the duct systems. The duct systems are blocked, and the nervous system can not function properly. In this condition, the aggravated function of the nervous system, which causes dryness can counteract the grease of the blood sugar. In another sense, a person who is fat and has strong digestive power can have the problem of diabetes. This type of diabetes is called “Abrita Madhumeha”. It is common to someone who has the nature or body of blood or mucous.
The blood-natured body type (Pitta Prakriti) can be identified with a robust body, aggressive attitude, ego, attractive or dominating personality, careless behavior, and selfish mentality.
The mucous-natured body type (Kapha Prakriti) can be recognized with a fatty body, lazy or slow action, charming personality, compassion, and careful behavior.
The case of diabetes of a person who has the blood or mucous-natured body type or a combination of them is curable with proper treatment and diet.
The urinary diseases e.g. glycosuria, albuminuria, chyluria, hematuria, polyuria, phosphaturia, etc. not being treated properly can be chronic. In this condition, the constant wastage of vital substances results in the aggravated function of the nervous system and counteracts the grease of the blood sugar, which finally leads to the problem of diabetes. This kind of diabetes is called “Dhatuksayaja Madhumeha”, which is not curable, however, can be maintained with proper treatment and diet.
Diabetes whatever may be the cause of it, can not manifest its real symptoms without aggravating causes. Sugar and sugar cane products; milk and curd; meat especially of cow, goat, buffalo, and sheep; new rice (right after harvesting); sweet foods (anything sweet in taste); overeating; greed for eating; sleeping during the day; sedentary life; not to have exercise and bath, etc. are the aggravating causes of diabetes. Excessive or daily use of these foods and behaviors are found to be the main factors to have the counteracting situation of the blood sugar. It is especially true for someone who has no idea of a combination of diet and indulges in the food that he likes. In general, the regular diet must be combined with ingredients, which are sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent in taste.
Ayurveda indicated that the kidneys while filtering the dirty bodily fluid of urine should protect the bodily grease including the blood sugar. This is very important. But, the grease of the blood sugar, whenever is counteracted in the situation of the aggravated nervous system, becomes no greasier. In this morbid condition, the kidneys can not protect the blood sugar and cause urine with sugar. Regarding this condition, the patient of diabetes complains of much urination, which is sweet astringent in taste, and much thirst, because the body has to keep the balance of water and loses weight very quickly, because, the bodily fluid, which is mixed with the blood sugar, is draining through urinary frequency and there is less nourishment for bodily tissues.
The general treatment of diabetes is divided into two categories: one for the skinny person who has Dhatuksayaja Madhumeha and another for the fatty person who has Abrita Madhumeha.
The first treatment contains drugs, that restore the balance of the nervous system (Vata), increase weight, promote digestion, and reduce abnormal blood sugar. The second treatment contains drugs, that restore the balance of the artery system (Kapha), reduce abnormal blood sugar, decrease weight, and promote digestion.
The theory of general treatment of diabetes is clear, but it is not simple; it is contradictory in some conditions. Because, the drug, which reduces abnormal blood sugar, aggravates the function of the nervous system; the drug, which restores the balance of the nervous system increases the blood sugar; the drug, which increases weight also increases the blood sugar; the drug, which decreases the weight aggravates the function of the nervous system. In this condition, the treatment of diabetes is always complicated and contradictory. With regard to these problems, Ayurveda has presented the middle path to follow the proper treatment of balance of the bodily system. Ayurveda has no idea of insulin.
Causes of Diabetes
The fundamental cause of diabetes is the morbid condition, which counteracts the grease of the blood sugar. The greaseless blood sugar can be assimilated for the nourishment of the bodily tissues and increases in amount in the blood, and bodily fluid. The main function of the kidneys is to filter the dirty bodily fluid or urine and to protect the greasy substance of the blood, which includes even the greasy blood sugar. The blood sugar when loses it its grease mixes with bodily fluid, increases the amount of abnormal urine, and escapes from the kidneys because it is not greasy.
The morbid condition of a diabetic case, which counteracts the grease of the blood sugar, can be classified into three stages. The first stage is directly concerned with the weak function of the pancreas. The second stage is identified with the blockage of the pancreatic duct system. And, the third stage is concerned with the wastage of the bodily vital substances caused by chronic urinary diseases.
The person, who has a nerve-natured body type by birth, gets a weak, pancreas. The main cause of it is the overactivity of the nervous system, which causes dryness and less fat formation. The pancreas as a fatty organ when counteracted by the overactivity of the nervous system can not develop properly. In this condition, any food or behavior, that causes more problems of aggravated function of the nervous system, can be the cause of diabetes (Dhatuksayaja Madhumeha). Excessive or daily indulgence in mental agony; traumatic problems; lack of nourishing foods; heavy labor; heavy work in the sun; withholding the urges of stool, urine, or gas; awakening at night; problem of insomnia, etc. aggravates the function of the nervous system. The patient who is suffering from diabetes gets worse problems if the diet contains sugar or sugarcane products; rice; meat; milk products; potatoes; sweet fruits etc.
The person, who has a blood-natured body type or mucous-natured body type or combined with them, by birth, gets fat because his pancreas is well developed and becomes active to consume more foods. In this condition, any food or behavior, that causes more fat, can be the cause of diabetes (Abrita Madhumeha), if the pancreatic duct system is blocked with over-fat formation. Excessive or daily indulgence is sweet, sour, and salty foods; greasy foods; new rice (right after harvesting); newly made alcoholic beverages; overeating; greed for food that he likes; oversleeping; sedentary life; not to have exercise and thinking job, etc. can increase more weight.
The person who has problems with chronic urinary diseases wastes vital substances e.g. blood sugar, albumin, minerals, etc. because the kidneys can not protect them and drain these vital substances through the urinary frequency. In this condition, the nerves being aggravated finally causes diabetes (Dhatuksayaja Madhumeha) with the same character as the weak pancreas, which is common for the nerve-natured body type.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Matting condition of hair, sweetness of the mouth, numbness, and hot sensation in the hand and legs, dry mouth, thirst, laziness, dirtiness on the skin, white coating on the tongue, waxy ears, and bad smell of the body, drowsiness, abnormal urination and sweetness of urine can be the primitive symptoms of diabetes. These symptoms come and go not even being known as the significance of diabetes.
The patient with diabetes has primitive symptoms, during the interval of a few days or weeks, complains of much urination, which is sweet astringent in taste and clear just like water, and much thirsty (no satisfaction with constant drinking of water), because, the body has to keep the balance of water and loses weight very quickly because the bodily fluid which is mixed with the greaseless blood sugar is draining through urinary frequency. In this condition, the patient feels very weak and complains of muscular cramps, dizziness, hot sensation, and lack of energy even to walk and stand.
The symptoms of diabetes at the beginning are very drastic, and then the patient adjusts them gradually because there is less bodily fluid with the greaseless blood sugar. In this condition, if he is careful in diet, he can slowly maintain his problems to survive, otherwise, coma, heart problems, and insomnia can develop which are considered complicated symptoms of diabetic cases. Also, the strong desire for food, which in general is one of the worst symptoms of diabetic patients, can cause many indigestion problems along with deadly symptoms of coma, etc.
The diabetic patient with a nerve-natured body type, if it is not treated properly and with proper diet, can have a failure of kidneys, tremors, pulmonary tuberculosis, and heart problems.
A diabetic patient with a blood-natured or mucous-natured body type, if it is not treated properly and with proper diet, can have many problems including boils and pimples, hyperacidity, coma, urinary infection, and the common cold.
Prevention from Diabetes
The person who has nerve natured body type, if in his family history has the problem of chronic urinary diseases, has to be careful. He should try to gain weight, maintain his digestive power, follow the regular time for meals, avoid awakening at night, be away from mental distractions, do regular exercise, and keep the body neat and clean. Too much thinking; involvement in love affairs; indulgence in sex; withholding the natural urges of stool, urine, and gas; fasting; greed for food; wastage of time (not to do some creative work); sleeping naked; restless mind; improper use of laxative drugs, enema and emetic drugs; blood donation; heavy labor; unsuitable job; not to be successful in attempt etc. are the aggravating conditions for the nerve natured person, which has to control with rational understanding to keep the balance of the nervous function.
The person who is fat and has a robust body must try to lose weight with a proper diet. He should not indulge in meat; sweet, sour, and salty foods; greasy foods; heavy meals; overeating; newly made alcoholic beverages; new rice (right after harvesting); sleeping during the day; sedentary life; sugar and sugarcane products; milk, butter, and yogurt, etc. Regular exercise, especially walking; swimming; thinking work, especially intellectual work; blood donation especially in the fall (spring); try to sleep less; moderate food combined with butter; pungent and astringent spices; honey with cold water to drink in the empty stomach (in the morning right after bed); fasting (once a week); regular sex (only for married person); to pay attention to the problems of poor people; not to be selfish etc are very important to counteract the abnormal fat formation. One who is careful with these foods and behaviors has less chance of having diabetes.
The person who is suffering from any urinary disease should not neglect proper treatment in time. Ayurveda clears that those urinary diseases, which especially excrete some vital substances of the body e.g. albumin, phosphate, chyle, blood sugar (without diabetic problem), protein, calcium, etc. should be treated as soon as possible with regular drugs and proper diet, which depends upon the condition of them.
Regular tests of urine must be carried out from time to time.
Treatment of Diabetes
The general treatment of diabetes is divided into two categories. The first treatment contains drugs, that restore the balance of the nervous system, increase weight, promote digestion, and reduce abnormal blood sugar. This treatment has to be applied to the skinny person who is suffering from diabetes (Dhatuksayaja Madhumeha).
The drug, which restores the balance of the nerve, in general, contains sweet, sour, and salty things, which are contradictory in the treatment of diabetes because these ingredients increase blood sugar. Regarding these facts, while treating to restore the balance of the nervous system, some drugs which have a dilatory effect to increase heat and oily components to maintain bodily heat, have to be prescribed in the treatment of diabetes. Narayana tail, the oil preparation made from asparagus with some other herbs, is one of the best oil preparations. It is prescribed for internal use and cooking foods. It is well investigated that the bodily heat being preserved, the function of the nervous system can not be aggravated. During the treatment of diabetes, the oily drug should be prescribed only in the condition when the diabetic person develops the adjusting power to face the problems of high blood sugar. In the beginning, when all the drastic symptoms of diabetes are getting worse, oily drugs should not be prescribed.
The drug, which increases weight, also, is sweet, sour, and salty. In the case of diabetes to increase weight something, which is sweet, sour, and salty, should not be prescribed because they are contradictory to the drugs, which reduce blood sugar. In this condition, while treating to gain weight, some drugs, which are bitter in taste, but increase weight, have to be prescribed. Ashwagandha (Convolvulus Arbensis) is one of the drugs to gain weight in the treatment of diabetes. Some meat from wild animals and birds also has medicinal value to gain weight in the treatment of diabetes. It is very important to pay attention that any drug or diet, that increases weight, should not be prescribed at the beginning stage of diabetes. It is advised to prescribe only in the condition when the diabetic patient develops the adjusting power to face the problems of high blood sugar.
The digestive drug, which contains purified sulfur, black pepper, dry ginger, long pepper, etc. is very important in the treatment of diabetes. This kind of drug, in general, stimulates the functions of the pancreas and promotes the power to digest blood sugar. It is prescribed to be taken during the meal. Trikatu Rasayana is one of the best digestive drugs, which has to be prescribed from the beginning stage of diabetes.
The drug, which reduces blood sugar, contains Vanga Bhasma (Tin oxide), Yashada Bhasma (Zinc oxide) Naga Bhasma, and some other herbs, which counteraction the function of the mucous membrane and the effect of hyperglycemia. This Tribangayoga is one of the best remedies to reduce blood sugar. It is prescribed from the beginning stage of diabetes along with digestive drugs. Diabetes whatever may be the cause of it or character of it, is the medicine to reduce the blood sugar and the digestive drug has to be prescribed side by side until the urine is free from sugar. In this condition, the patient of diabetes feels better; there is no more frequency and thirst; the condition of emaciation gradually disappears, and gains weight. It is very important to pay attention to the blood sugar being reduced and the urine free from sugar, the case of diabetes should not be considered as cured. In this condition, if someone is careless in diet, the problems can appear again. Therefore, the diabetic case especially of the nerve-natured person is considered not to be cured.
Regarding this problem, it is well investigated that diabetes can be cured only in the condition, one who walks two to three hours a day and takes Shilajatu (a bitumen-like rock secretion) for years with the proper diet along with symptomatic treatments against the contradictory effect of diabetes (Abrita Madhumeha).
The second treatment which is applied to the person, who is fat and has a mucous-natured or blood-natured body type, contains drugs, that restore the balance of the artery system (Kapha), reduce abnormal blood sugar, promote digestive power, and decrease weight.
The drug, which restores the balance of the artery system, counteracts the effect of hyperglycemia and the stimulation of the mucous membrane. Chaturdasangayoga, a compound of Cinnamomum tamala and some other herbs is one of the best remedies to restore the balance of the artery system. It is prescribed together with the medicine to reduce blood sugar (Tribangayoga) and the digestive drug (Trikatu Rasayana). The use of Tribangayoga and Trikatu Rasayana is mentioned in the first category of treatment of diabetes.
The medicine, which decreases the weight, is very important to open the blockage of the pancreatic duct system. Kalalauharaja (Iron oxide) or Shilajatu (bitumen-like rock secretion) with Premna Integrifolia is one of the best remedies to lose weight.
NOTE:
It is well investigated that the Ayurvedic treatment is more effective for someone who is not under insulin and has self-control for diet.
Recommended Diet for Diabetic Patients
The diabetic patient should know that there is no cure with any medicine without a proper diet. The food arranged properly has medicinal value to control the problems of diabetes. Regarding this fact, Ayurveda presents some basic ideas of foods.
Barley, millet, corn, wheat, etc. which are less sweet and have less grease are the main grains for bread and some other food preparations; Mung bean, lentil, orange lentil, horse gram, kidney bean, etc. (not sprouted) are good for bean soup and some other food preparations; eggs and bird meat, especially wild bird meat, which is easy to digest are good for soup and some other food preparations; green vegetables, especially bitter in taste e.g. asparagus, bitter cucumber, fenugreek, lettuce, celery, mustard, spinach, watercress, etc. are beneficial; linseed oil and mustard oil are good oil; cinnamon bark, bay leaf, cardamom, cumin seeds, ginger, black pepper, etc. good for spice; ghee, butter, milk, cheese, and yogurt can be prescribed moderately only in the condition when the diabetic patient adjusts the problems of high sugar. (At the beginning stage, the milk products are strictly prohibited); fruits e.g. prescribed moderately only in the condition of adjusting the problems (At the beginning stage, fruits are strictly prohibited); water infused with the powder of turmeric or beetle nut and cutch has medicinal value to drink, especially at the beginning stage; fatless meat and fish can be prescribed only in the condition when the patient adjusts the problems of diabetes and still is losing weight (at the beginning stage, meat e.g. mutton, beef, fish, and buffalo, etc. are strictly prohibited.).
There must be three meals a day, but very small in amount arranged with grains, beans, meats, milk products, vegetables, fruits, oil, and spices, which have to be changed from time to time. Eating the same food daily or in excessive amounts is not good.
Prohibited Food and Behaviors
Prohibited Food
- Sugar and sugarcane products;
- Rice, especially new rice right after harvesting;
- Potato, yam, and some other vegetable tubers;
- Greasy yogurt;
- Newly-made alcoholic beverages;
- Overeating;
- Greed for food;
- Irregular time for food.
Prohibited Behavior
- Sleeping during the day;
- Not to have exercise and body clean;
- Sedentary life;
- Melancholy.
Author
Dr. Mana Bajra Bajracharya
PIYUSHAVARSHI AUSHADHALAYA
Ayurvedic Clinic
Mahabouddha, Kathmandu, Nepal
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