Treatment for Diabetes : With Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy

 

What causes Diabetes?

Whenever we consume any food (Protein, Fat or Carbohydrates), the food we eat gets broken down into simplest sugar form which is glucose. This glucose is a major source of energy for living cells and our body. 

Now let's understand what Insulin does. Insulin is a hormone produced by the Pancreas.It's job is to convert glucose into energy. Insulin basically, acts like a key  to open each cell of the body and allows glucose to enter it.Therefore, it is a key deciding factor as far as your body glucose and energy levels are concerned.

Now, when our Pancreas do not produce sufficient Insulin or our body develops resistance to insulin, the glucose is not fully converted to energy and remains in the blood. This increased blood glucose levels in the blood is what we call Diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes which is genetic in nature and occurs mostly in adolescents and children.Diabetes is primarily of three types:

  1. Type 2 Diabetes which is the most common form of Diabetes, involves a lack of sensitivity to insulin and the subsequent inability of the body to regulate blood glucose levels.
  2. Gestational diabetes (GDM) occurs during pregnancy and is associated with complications to both mother and child. It usually disappears after pregnancy but may increase the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes for the affected mother and child later in life. 

Is there a cure for diabetes?

In Alternative or Natural treatment for Diabetes, treatment is provided with the use of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy practices. Some of these therapies can also be performed at home.

You can follow the below simple home remedies for diabetes.

  1. Pour one cup of water into a copper vessel at night and drink it in the morning.
  2. Drinking warm turmeric water, first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, also helps.
  3. Ginger tea is also a natural way to control sugar, and it can also help keep your sugar at a stable level while reducing the excess Kapha in your system.
  4. To reduce the Kapha that is brought on by diabetes, follow a pacifying diet that excludes processed foods, excess sugar, simple carbohydrates, and full-fat dairy products. Try eating more of fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs that are bitter.

However, for a more holistic and long-term treatment for Diabetes, you should consider undergoing a focused treatment for a possible reversal of the disease. This is only possible with an inpatient treatment at a Wellness Retreat, also known as Ayurveda Retreat, Health Retreat or Yoga Retreat. 

Let’s understand if there is a Permanent Cure for Diabetes at a Wellness Retreat:

  1. The treatment for Type 1 Diabetes is primarily provided in addition to the insulin therapy with the objectives of improving the glycemic control, your overall quality of life and to prevent long term complications.
  2. As far as the treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is concerned, you may become completely disease free if we begin at an early stage or you may experience significant improvement in the disease outcome resulting in less dependency on harmful medicines. 

Why should you consider Natural treatment for Diabetes at a Wellness Retreat?

Because it provides you with a clearly defined path designed with the help of an expert, to eradicate the root cause of the disease. Therefore, this approach is considered to be better than being dependent on conventional medicines for your lifetime. 

An effective treatment also requires rigor and discipline on the part of patient both during inpatient stay and follow up treatments (medicines, dietary, lifestyle changes and yoga) to provide maximum results. Now this is  only possible at an Ayurveda Retreat for Diabetes.

At a Health Retreat, your treatment will be customized as per your body doshas and will revolve around alternative treatment methodologies which primarily include Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy and Meditation. 

Now, let's try to understand how it works!

Treatment & Booking Process:

  1. Pre-booking consultation with a Wellness Physician: As a first step prior to booking, we will arrange your consultation with a Wellness Physician to understand the history and details of your illness, lifestyle, dietary regime etc. You may be asked to share your medical test reports at this stage.
  2. Treatment Plan advice: Post review by the Wellness Physician, your tentative treatment plan will be advised. You can then go ahead and book your treatment via us for a suitable date. You are now all set to visit the Wellness Treatment Centre for Diabetes.
  3. Arrival consultation with a Wellness Physician: Post arrival, you will once again have a consultation with a Wellness Physician to understand your illnesses, food habits, lifestyle etc. in depth and advise your personalized therapies.
  4. Sattvic and Vegetarian food: The Wellness Physician will also recommend the right balance of easy-on-stomach food to be provided to you at the Wellness Centre, that complements your treatment. A personalized attention by Ayurvedic doctors at the centre will help you learn to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and control Diabetes.
  5. Yoga and fitness: Complemented with Yoga and physical fitness classes, the program also includes workshops on Ayurvedic cooking and a personalised diet chart after individual evaluation that might ensure healthy and nutritive diet even back home.

Now let's try to understand a few Ayurveda and Yoga treatments for Diabetes along with supplement therapies, you will undergo during your stay at a Wellness Retreat.

Ayurveda Therapies:

Ayurveda has a long history of treating Diabetes; hence intervening Ayurvedic treatment in earlier stages may give promising results in the management of diabetes.

Ayurveda emphasizes that the first and foremost pillar for prevention as well as the treatment of any disease is to identify and treat its root causes and treat the same. This is called the principle of Nidana Parivarjanam in Ayurveda. 

It will help you maintain a healthy glucose level in the body in a very easy and harmless manner. Ayurvedic medication, purification treatments (Panchkarma) and remedial massages such as Thakaradhara, Pizhichil, Abhyangam are some of the common treatments.

Panchkarma procedures are intended to enhance insulin sensitivity of type - 4 glucose receptors thus reducing insulin resistance, and also to enhance insulin secretion and regeneration of beta cells.

Primary Ayurveda therapies at a Wellness Retreat would include:

  1. Udwartana is a powder massage often used for slimming and treatment of obesity that can be done daily.
  2. Dhanyamladhara is often used in Ayurveda to combat obesity, inflammation, muscular pain, neuropathy, hemiplegia, and rheumatic complaints. It is derived from the word cereals (dhanya) and vinegar (amla). Dhanyamla involves preparation navara rice, horse gram, millet, citrus fruits, and dried ginger. During the treatment, the body is covered with this preparation and then by a heated cloth. The duration of the treatment is 45 to 50 minutes depending upon the condition of the patient.
  3. Snehapana is a process of full body internal and external lubrication via drinking ghee and animal fat oil as well as massaging the oil on without any other oral intake.
  4. Abhyanga is a warm oil massage. The oil is often premedicated with herbs for specific conditions.
  5. Bashpasweda is a steam chamber in which the patient sits while steam emanates from a boiling herbal decoction.
  6. Vamana (induced vomiting) is targeted to expel increased kapha dosha from the body.
  7. Virechana is the second procedure in the sequence of Panchakarma (Ayurveda Detoxification Program) that involves using plant medicines that have a laxative effect, mainly aimed at reducing pitta dosha and toxic accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and gallbladder.
  8. Yogavasti is a type of medication given by enema, aiding in diminishing extra vata dosha present in the body. Vata is the force behind the elimination and retention of feces, urine, bile, and other excreta.
  9. Shirodhara is a form of Ayurveda therapy that involves gently pouring liquids over the forehead and can be one of the steps involved in Panchakarma.

The use of Ayurveda treatment for type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, a chronic, yet treatable disease, has shown marked improvement on patient outcomes in numerous case reports.

Yoga for Diabetes:

Lean diabetic patients may be advised to perform specific yoga positions that are believed to benefit them with the physical stress. Certain postures are believed to stimulate the pancreas and improve its function.

The following yogic practices are beneficial in diabetes mellitus; when performed under the guidance of qualified Yoga therapist. Duration of each exercise is decided by the Yoga therapist.

1. Katiichakrasana,Tdasana, Pavanamuktasana, Gomukhasana,Shalabh!sana, Vakrasana,Shasankasana, Dhanurasana, Mayur!sana, Pashchimottanasana,ushtrasana etc

2. Bhastrika, Bhramari,Suryabhedana pranaama.

3. Kunjala, shankhakha prakshalana, Vastra dhauti

Sattvic and Vegetarian food:

In an Ayurveda Retreat, you will be provided with Sattvic vegetarian meals to help you get maximum benefits from this program. The food is provided basis Ayurveda principles that helps you manage weight from within. 

Meditation and Chanting:

Group Meditation / Group Chanting - There is no better way to manage imbalances leading to a disease, than meditation. Group Meditation / Chanting practiced at these Yoga Retreats help you explore your spiritual angle and develop holistic ways to re-align your doshas which may have caused any illnesses in the first place.

Now that you are convinced about taking up treatment for your Diabetes at a Wellness Retreat, what are you waiting for?

Select one of the treatment options at a Treatment Centre and hit Book Now. One of our Wellness Experts will get in touch with you to advise you of next steps.

Or, simply call us at +919873040457 or email us at info@goganges.com for any assistance.

 

References:

https://www.nhp.gov.in

http://www.ccras.nic.in

 

Diabetes Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the major risk factors for Diabetes?

1. Family history

2. Obesity (BMI > 27kg/ m2)

3. Age > 45 years

4. Hypertension (B.P. > 140/ 90 mm of Hg)

5. HDL < 35mg/ dl and/ or triglycerides levels > 250mg/ dl

6. Habitual physical inactivity

What are the most common symptoms of Diabetes?

  1. Polyuria - increased urination
  2. Polyphagia - excessive appetite
  3. Polydyspia - excessive thirst
  4. Unusual weight loss or weight gain
  5. Fatigue
  6. Nausea, perhaps vomiting
  7. Blurred vision
  8. In women, frequent vaginal infections
  9. In men and women, yeast infections
  10. Dry mouth
  11. Slow-healing of sores or cuts in the skin / mucosa
  12. Itching of the skin, especially in the region of groin or genitals

The presentation of symptoms in elderly patients with diabetes may be significantly different from the classic triad of polyuria, polydypsia, polyphagia and weight loss. They may present along with fatigue, anorexia, failure to thrive, loss of motivation, difficulty in concentration and urinary incontinence.

What are the early symptoms of Diabetes?

  1. Sweet taste in the mouth.
  2. Whitish urine with sweetish colour.
  3. Abnormal appearance of the urine.
  4. Attraction of insects / ants to the urine / person.
  5. Dryness in mouth, palate (roof of the mouth) and throat.
  6. Thirst / Drowsiness.
  7. Excessive sweating / foul smell from the body.
  8. Lethargy
  9. Excessive deposit of waste products in palate, tongue and teeth.
  10. Matting of the hair.
  11. Numbness and burning sensation in hand / feet etc.

Additionally, to avoid the medical implications of the disease on your body, regular check ups are advised, as follows:

a. Regular monitoring of blood glucose level and medical checkup.

b. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test at least twice in a year

c. Eye examination annually.

d. Foot examination twice a year / daily by the patient.

e. Renal function screening yearly.

f.  Blood pressure quarterly.

g. Lipid profile annually.

h. Cardiac check up once annually.

How to manage Diabetes at home?

Following are the suggestions to manage Diabetes at home:

1. Do physical activity at least for 30 - 60 minutes daily.

2. Increase the use of barley, wheat, mudga and roasted chana (bengal gram) in diet.

3. Limit the use of potato, rice, milk, milk products and oily foods.

4. Take utmost care of personal hygiene especially of feet and hand.

5. Avoid any injury and immediately consult in case of injuries/ skin infections.

6. Avoid tobacco and liquor consumption in any form.

7. Restrict or stop intake of sweets.

References:

https://www.nhp.gov.in

http://www.ccras.nic.in