ANOREXIA - HOME REMEDIES

ANOREXIA - HOME REMEDIES

Undereating or loss of appetite,  if continued for a long time followed by  sudden weight loss is termed as anorexia?. Some of the most common causes of anorexia are depression, stress, anxiety neurosis, hormonal imbalance, certain drugs (like antibiotics, antipyretics, painkillers, digitalis, diuretics,  etc.), aging, etc. Certain diseases like fever, typhoid, viral hepatitis, cancer, some GIT disturbances, etc. can also result in anorexia. Some of the most common symptoms and signs noted are amenorrhoea, emaciation and weight loss of at least 25% of original body weight.  

Anorexia nervosa is a psychological eating disorder usually seen in young girls, which sometimes causes extreme emaciation and which typically develops during adolescence. Some girls have a history of obesity and after being teased about their fatness they go onto a crash diet, resulting in anorexia. The person tries to avoid taking any carbohydrates and fats, but is usually preoccupied with food and enjoys making a wide variety of food for her family. They are usually very overactive and may try to induce vomiting secretly after meals.  

HOME REMEDIES 
Apple– Having apples daily also helps increase the appetite.

Banana– Mash a banana in a bowl of curd and add a pinch of pepper to it and take it once daily. This helps especially the debilitated people.

Celery  seeds (ajmud)–  For anorexia during pregnancy, half teaspoonful of powdered celery seeds, powdered ginger, powdered long pepper (pipli) and powdered cumin seeds (jeera) mixed in equal quantities should be given along with a tablespoonful of honey.

Coriander seeds (dhania)–  Mixture of coriander seeds (dhania), cardamom (elaichi) and black pepper should be taken daily to increase the appetite.

Cranberry– Cranberry juice should be taken when available in season as an appetizer.

Fig (anjeer)– Dried figs (anjeer) and raisins should be soaked overnight and taken  the next morning along with  the water in which they were soaked.

Garlic–  Garlic cloves should be taken daily, especially along with vegetable soups to stimulate the appetite.

Ginger– Ginger also should be taken daily along with vegetable soups or in pickle form to stimulate the appetite.

Grapes– Grapes and grape juice stimulate the digestive juices and thus increase appetite and aid digestion.

Indian mustard seeds (rai)–  Take half teaspoonful of powdered mustard seeds, fried and powdered asafoetida (hing), powdered ginger, powdered  cumin seeds (jeera) in equal quantities and add a pinch of rock salt. Add this mixture in 200 ml of fresh buttermilk and drink it daily.

Lemon– One teaspoonful of lemon juice mixed with equal quantity of ginger juice and a pinch of rock salt should be taken daily before meals.

Muskmelon (kharbooja)– This fruit is useful for people who are underweight.

Orange– Oranges are very beneficial since they stimulate the digestive juices and thus improve appetite and digestion.

Pomegranate (anar)- Mixture of pomegranate (anar) juice, rock salt and honey is a useful remedy for anorexia.

Tea- Tea is made by boiling some holy basil (tulsi) leaves in 150 ml water till it reduces to half, then add some milk, some sugar and a pinch of powdered cardamom (elaichi). Have this daily in the morning with breakfast for treating low appetite due to sluggish liver.

Have milk and milk products, fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables (like spinach, parsley, turnip, radish and beet tops),  either raw  or  lightly cooked.

Consume plenty of whole grain cereals, nuts, soyabean, eggs, vegetable oil, etc. Avoid oily, greasy food items. Eat frequent small meals instead of two large meals.