Ayurveda and Diabetes What Are the Benefits?
Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient Indian practice used to treat and prevent various diseases. It can be described as a set of habits that integrate physical and mental aspects to guarantee a longer and better quality of life. In recent times, Ayurveda has become an increasingly well-known practice, even in the daily management of diabetes, as it brings various benefits for treating this pathology. The increasing popularity of Ayurveda has led to the emergence of companies like
Bhagwati Ayurved, which specializes in
Ayurvedic Medicine of Diabetes, providing individuals with more options for integrating Ayurveda into their lives.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda was born in India 3,000 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a holistic treatment to preserve the person's health. Ayurveda acts on the body, mind, and emotions. According to Indian science, these last two aspects are the determining factors in the appearance of diseases. “Ayurveda is a disease prevention tool. In fact, it suggests the necessary formulas to avoid getting sick”.
Madhumeha (diabetes) in Indian history
Diabetes is not a pathology, and it is not something born recently. Diabetes has already been known in India for many centuries. The name by which it has always been referred, up to the present day, is Madhumeha. Madhumeha is a compound word of “ madhu ” (meaning honey or sweet) and meha (meaning excess urine). In the days when laboratory tests, which exist today, did not exist, Ayurvedic doctors diagnosed diabetes from urine. If there was a lot of sugar in the urine, many ants and mosquitoes were attracted to it, and therefore diabetes was diagnosed.
According to tradition, Ganesha, a Hindu god with an enormous human body but the head of an elephant, suffered from Madhumeha. His "messy" eating had caused him to develop diabetes. Diabetes, or Madumeha, is considered by Ayurveda to be a serious pathology that, if left untreated, can have serious consequences for the whole organism.
If glucose isn't absorbed properly, it stays around in the blood when we eat. Its presence can cause cardiovascular complications (heart attack, angina pectoris, stroke), sleep apnea, retinopathy, periodontitis, or even diabetic foot. In particular, in the main Ayurvedic texts, the following symptoms of Madhumeha are distinguished:
- Sweet urine
- Polyphagia (feeling of constant hunger)
- Polydipsia (excessive thirst)
- Obesity
- Burning sensation on the skin
- Epileptic foot
- Cramps
- Insomnia
Ayurveda and some useful treatments to manage diabetes
The Ayurvedic perspective on body balance and nutrition coincides with the recommendations of Western medicine on the correct diet for diabetes. It suggests, in fact, minimizing simple carbohydrates, fats, and other heavy foods, while increasing the consumption of "lighter" foods.
Guidelines
- Limit intake of sweet products, reduce fat intake and avoid drinking alcohol.
- Eat small portions of food throughout the day so that you don't experience blood glucose spikes.
- Increase your intake of bitter foods like a gourd, bitter melon, or green leafy vegetables like chard, spinach, arugula, and others.
- Eat lots of vegetables. Well-cooked green leafy ones are particularly recommended.
- All spices, except salt. Liberally use hot spices in your diet, such as ginger, pepper, mustard seeds, even cayenne pepper, and astringents like turmeric.
- Drink a lot of water. This will help eliminate toxins that can inhibit the valuable functions of the liver and pancreas. Drinking hot ginger tea helps stimulate slow digestion. Drink 2-3 cups of ginger tea daily to lower sugar levels.
- All legumes are fine except soy and tofu, which should be eaten in moderation.
- Eat lighter fruits like apples, pears, pomegranates, blueberries, and apricots. Cut back on heavier fruits like bananas, pineapples, grapes, and figs.
- Whole Grains and Non- GMOs: Choosing barley, corn (non-GMO), millet, buckwheat, rye, quinoa, and amaranth. Reduce or eliminate oats, rice, and wheat.
- Avoid fasting or skipping meals, which stress the body and reduce the flow of valuable nutrients.
- Stay calm for good quality sleep to favor the dream phase.
- Exercise or stay physically active.
- Take warm baths with a few drops of sandalwood or lavender, and perform self-massages with dry ginger and cardamom.
In conclusion,
Medicine of Diabetes in Ayurved offers a holistic approach to health and well-being, focusing on the balance between the body, mind, and emotions. The principles of Ayurveda, including healthy eating, physical exercise, positive thinking, hygiene, and balance, can benefit anyone, even those without specific health concerns. Additionally, Ayurveda has a long history of treating diabetes, or Madhumeha, with its emphasis on diet, exercise, and stress reduction. While Ayurveda may not be a substitute for Western medicine, its principles and treatments can be complementary and offer potential benefits for overall health.
