When the pancreas creates and releases insulin, your body can make use of sugars that you eat. Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile-onset or insulin-dependent diabetes, occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce any insulin. If Type 1 diabetes is left untreated, serious damage to kidneys, heart, nerves and eyes can result. Insulin injections are essential for people with Type 1 diabetes, but Ayurvedic remedies can work as complementary remedies to allow diabetics to maintain a well-balanced life.
Panchakarma
An Ayurvedic healing plan includes a cleansing program, known as panchakarma, to treat diabetes. An herbal steam sauna, herbal massages and a fasting ritual are typically included. Next, an herbal recipe is concocted to purge the spleen, pancreas and the liver. Finally, a process of colon cleansing helps refresh the digestive system.
Ayurvedic Diabetes Diet
Ayurveda sets some general guidelines about diabetic diets. According to ayurvedic healing prinicples, a kapha-pacifying diet (one that reduces the influence of unctuous, moist, heavy aspects in the body) should help relieve some symptoms of diabetes. This diet eliminates sugar and simple carbohydrates while focusing on complex cabohydrates including brown rice and whole grain bread. Moreover, the kapha-pacifying diet reduces intake of dairy products and increases intake of a variety of fresh vegetables as well as bitter herbs.
Features
Practitioners recommend and use a variety of herbal concoctions for people with Type 1 diabetes. Some common herbs for diabetes include turmeric, holy basil, C indica, Jambul powder, fenugreek and gurmar. According to a report by the Southern California Evidence-Based Practice Center in Santa Monica, California, some evidence points to herbs C indica, holy basil, gurmar and fenugreek as legitimate glucose-lowering agents. However, the same report indicates that less evidence points to the efficacy of many other herbs including Jambul powder.
Lifestyle Modifications
According to Ayurveda, people with diabetes can reap benefits from making some lifestyle changes. For example, diabetics should avoid sleeping during the day. They should also avoid piercing objects, as wounds are more likely to get septic in diabetics than in other people. Moreover, diabetics should take good care of their eyes and feet, as diabetes can damage the eyes and cause lessened circulation to extremities.
Exercise
Diabetics should also get a regular dose of moderate to high intensity workouts such as swimming and jogging. To reduce stress levels, Ayurveda recommends yoga as a complementary form of exercise. Helpful yoga poses include the locust, the bow and the cobra.
