Ayurvedic Treatment For Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

Abstract

Stem cells are the cells which give rise to all the blood elements i.e. red blood cells (the cells carrying oxygen to the tissues), platelets (the cells involved in forming the blood clots), and the white blood cells (cells which fight the infections). When due to genetic inheritance or mutation in the gene involved with the stem cells in the bone marrow, it can affect these three major cells and can cause life threatening diseases. One such disease is PNH (Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria) blood disease. In this article we are going to discuss this rare disease, its clinical manifestations, causes, diagnosis and best Ayurvedic management.

Introduction

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is a very rare bleeding disorder and is life-threatening. This disease is usually characterised by hemolytic anemia (destruction of RBCs), tendency towards the development of blood clots (thrombosis), and the altered bone marrow functions i.e. the bone marrow is not making the adequate amount of the three blood components. Aplastic anemia is a relatively similar condition with this disease. It is believed that this disease is linked with the gene mutation of the gene related with the bone marrow stem cell. This disease is further categorized into three subtypes i.e.

• Classical PNH- The PNH which includes the patients who have the evidence of the disorder but having the absence of any other relative bone marrow failure disorder.
• Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria is associated with other primary bone marrow disorders such as Myelodysplastic syndrome or aplastic anemia.
• Subclinical PNH- The PNH disorder which the patients are suggestive of small disease related clones but are having no laboratory or clinical evidence of thrombosis or hemolysis.

Sign And Symptoms

There is a wide spectrum of symptoms associated with PNH blood disease, yet it is usual that this disease remains undiagnosed. In nutshell the commonest features of the disease include the bleeding or bruising easily, significant degree of fatigue and weakness, shortness of breath, persistent bleeding even in minor injury in case of lacking of clot factors, recurring flu-like symptoms or other infections, severe headache, bleeding under the skin characterised by appearance of multiple red dots on the skin, unusual blood clots, recurrent fevers due to infections. The associated features may also include the back pain and abdominal pain.

The presence of hemoglobinuria (bright red blood in the urine) is considered as the classical feature of this disease which occurs in half or less of the affected patients from PNH blood disorders. This hemoglobinuria is typically most noticeable in the morning and gradually decreases with the progression of the day. The triggering factors of hemoglobinuria include alcohol intake, stress, infections and certain allopathic medications.

Further, the blood clots are exclusively found in the veins, and these thrombosis are the leading reason for the death in the Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria, The hepatic vein (a vein which drains the liver) and the sagittal vein (vein in the head) are the commonest sites for these thrombosis. However, the clots can occur in any veins, particularly in the abdomen.

Causes

As already discussed that PNH disease occurs when there is mutation in the gene occur in the bone marrow cells i.e. PIG-A gene. When there is alteration in the gene sequence of PIG-A gene, the stem cells get affected and this affected stem cell passes PIG-A mutation to all the cells derived (thrombocytes, RBCs and WBCs) from the abnormal stem cell. These cells that contain the mutated PIG-A gene are deficient in the GPI-anchored proteins class. Few of these GPI proteins are involved in fighting the infections, some are involved in protecting the RBCs from destruction, and the others are involved in the blood clotting mechanism. The majority of features of PNH disease such as hemolytic anaemia, infections and thrombosis are resulted from the deficiency of these proteins.

Diagnosis

Flow cytometry is believed to be the gold standard of diagnosis for the disease. But the Physician may order a variety of blood investigations for the confirmation.

Ayurvedic Aspect

As PNH disease involves the pathology involved in the stem cells in the bone marrow thus in Ayurveda, this disease can be best correlated as Majja dhatu dushti janya raktapitta (bleeding disorders arise from the defects in the bone marrow). The feature of Ahdog raktapitta (lower body related bleeding disorders) i.e. bleeding from the penis matches with the hemoglobinuria classical feature of PNH). Apart from the involvement of vitiated pitta dosha and blood tissue there is associated vitiation of vata in this condition which explains the fatigue, pain in abdomen and back associated with the PNH blood disease. This destruction of blood and loss through the urine and other passages can lead to the condition of pandu (anemia), which is the reason for weakness and recurrent infections related with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria blood disease.

Treatment

Allopathic medicine has no medication for the treatment of this disease, they just work to reduce the risk of death of affected patients. The drug eculizumab is the mainstay of the treatment of PNH disease, this drug is the humanized monoclonal antibody which binds to the protein of the blood which are responsible for the destruction of RBCs, also this drug reduces the risk for thrombosis, but despite this drug the affected patient will require the frequent platelet or red cells transfusions. And if all these treatment modalities don’t work up for the patients, Allopathic physicians usually advise the patient for bone marrow transplantation, which itself has severe life-threatening operational and post operational complications.

Whereas Ayurveda using herbal medication is the perfect alternative to treatment of this PNS blood disease. The immune modulating herbs formulations, blood purifiers and the herbs rich in digestion stimulating properties, blood enhancing herbs and antioxidant herbs are used for the treatment of this disease.

Planet Ayurveda is the globally emerging herbal manufacturing hub that formulates the herbomineral/ herbal formulation which are obtained from 100% natural sources with strict adherence to ayurvedic texts and principles. These herbal medications are being made under the strict vigilance and guidance of the expert ayurvedic physician using the ancient time tested formulas.

Herbal remedies as suggested by Planet Ayurveda’s experts for the treatment of PNH blood disease are

1. Giloy Capsule
2. Spirulina Capsule
3. Immune Booster Capsule
4. Manjishtha Capsule
5. Punarnava Mandoor
6. Hemo Plan Syrup
7. Plato Plan Syrup

Product Description

1. Giloy Capsule

These capsule are the standardised extract of Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), Giloy is the best natural herb having immune modulating properties, it can help in controlling the destruction of red blood cells and improving the impaired functions of bone marrow stem cells help in the treatment of PNH blood disease. Giloy also has the soothing effect and pitta calming properties, thus it helps in calming the burning sensations and pain associated with the hemoglobinuria in PNH disease.

Dosage- One capsule twice daily after a meal, with plain water.

2. Spirulina Capsule

Spirulina extract is the basic sole ingredient of this single herbal capsule formulation. Due to the hemolytic anemia and thrombosis the body of the patient of PNH disease becomes weak due to the devoid of the proper nourishment of the body tissues. Spirulina is the rich source of required adequate amounts of nourishment to the body tissues. Thus help in improving the weakness and fatigue related issues associated with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria.

Dosage- One capsule twice daily after meal, with plain water.

3. Immune Booster Capsule

This polyherbal capsule formulation is made from the Grape seed (Vitis vinifera), Bhumi amla (Phyllanthus niruri), Go-Piyush (Bovine colostrums), and Amalaki (Emblica officinalis). These ingredients make the immune system so strong that the red blood cells can’t be able to destroy the deficiency of the GPI proteins associated with PNH disease. Further this formulation makes the defense system of the body strong in order to fight against the recurrent fevers and infections due to the destruction of WBCs in the patients of PNH disease.  

Dosage- One capsule twice daily after a meal, with plain water.

4. Manjishtha Capsule

Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia) standardised extract is the ingredient used for making these capsules. The Manjishtha has been known for blood purifying abilities since ages. Manjishtha has the rakt prasadak guna (blood enhancing properties) and rakta shodhak guna (blood purifying ability) which makes it the perfect herb for the treatment of PNH blood disease. This herb is used for improving digestion and thus improving the liver functions by decreasing load from the liver.

Dosage- One capsule twice daily after meal, with plain water.

5. Punarnava Mandoor

The ingredients of ths classical tablet formulation includes Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Shunti (Zingiber officinale), Maricha (Piper nigrum), Chavya (Piper chaba), Chitrak Mool (Plumbago zeylanica), Haridra (Curcuma longa) and Vidanga (Embelia ribes) etc like herbs along with the detoxified form of Mandoor Bhasma (Ferric oxide calx). These all ingredients work in a synergistic manner having blood purifying abilities. These tablets are used in various anaemic conditions for boosting up the values of RBCs and platelets, and thus help in the treatment of PNH disease. Further, the punarnava having the best herbal diuretic activity is very much helpful in allowing the free passage of urine and relieving the condition of hemoglobinuria associated with this disease.

Dosage- 2 tablets after meals with lukewarm water after meals.

6. Hemo Plan Syrup

Hemo Plan is the polyherbal syrup which is very much beneficial in preventing the anaemic condition associated with the PNH disease. The ingredients of this syrup are Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Gorakhmundi (Sphaeranthus indicus), Draksha (Vitis vinifera), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Sariva (Hemidesmus indicus) and Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus). These ingredients help in promoting the stimulation of formation of the blood cells, and cleansing out the toxins from the blood & system.

Dosage- 2 teaspoon twice daily after meals.

7. Plato Plan Syrup

The ingredients of this polyherbal syrup includes Erand Karkati (Carica papaya), Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Jeevanti (Leptadenia reticulata), Shigru (Moringa pterygosperma), Draksha (Vitis vinifera), Wheat grass (Triticum aestivum) and Amalaki (Emblica officinalis). These help in improving the platelet count naturally for maintaining the easy bruising and bleeding related issues related with the PNH disease, and help in making the balance of thrombocytes in the body.

Dosage- 2 teaspoon twice daily after meals.

Contact my assistant to provide you the costing / ordering and delivery information at – costing.planetayurveda@gmail.com or call at +91-172-5214030 Or Check Website – www.PlanetAyurveda.com

Conclusion

At the end of this article we came to know that Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria, is a rare but very much dangerous disorder, and the allopathic medicine has no adequate treatment modality for this disease. Ayurveda is the best way for the treatment of PNH blood disease through an holistic approach of herbal medications, dietary and lifestyle modifications.