What is Aplastic Anemia?

Aplastic Anemia is a disorder in which the cells of the bone marrow that develop into mature blood cells are damaged, leading to low numbers of red blood cells (that’s responsible for transportation of oxygen round the body), white blood cells (for fighting infection), and/or platelets (for blood clotting).

Within the bone marrow, all blood cells originate from a single type of unspecialized cell called a stem cell. When a stem cell divides, it first becomes an immature red blood cell, white blood cell, or platelet-producing cell. The immature cell then divides, matures further, and ultimately becomes a mature red blood cell, white blood cell, or platelet.
Typically, as old blood cells die off naturally, they are replaced by new blood cells formed in the bone marrow. In aplastic anemia, the bone marrow does not produce new cells, or the bone marrow makes fewer red blood cells, white blood cells, and/or platelets, leaving the body susceptible to anemia, infection and bleeding.

Who can get it?

Anyone can get aplastic anemia, but it’s more likely to happen to people in their late teens and early 20s, and the elderly. Males and females have about an equal chance of getting it.

Causes of Aplastic Anemia

The most common cause of aplastic anemia is from the immune system attacking the stem cells in the bone marrow, which is a kind of an autoimmune disease.
Your immune system attacks only foreign substances, but when your immune system attacks your own body, you are said to have an autoimmune disease.

Some other factors that can temporarily or permanently injure bone marrow and affect blood cell production include:

• Radiation and chemotherapy treatments; While these cancer-fighting therapies kill cancer cells; they can also damage healthy cells, including stem cells in bone marrow.
Aplastic anemia can be a temporary side effect of these treatments.

• Exposure to toxic chemicals; exposure to toxic chemicals, such as some used in pesticides and insecticides, may cause
aplastic anemia. Exposure to benzene – an ingredient in gasoline which also has been linked to aplastic anemia. This type of anemia may get better on its own if you avoid repeated exposure to these chemicals.

• Use of certain drugs; some medications, such as those used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and some antibiotics (like chloramphenicol), painkiller, steroids, anti malarial, antipyretic can cause aplastic anemia.

• A viral infection; viral infections that affect bone marrow may play a role in the development of aplastic anemia in some
people. Viruses that have been linked to the development of aplastic anemia including hepatitis, Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19, and HIV.

• Aplastic Anemia that occurs in pregnancy may be related to an autoimmune problem. Immune system may attack the bone marrow during pregnancy.

• Certain inherited conditions can damage the stem cells and lead to aplastic anemia. Examples include Fanconi anemia, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, dyskeratosis congenita, and Diamond-Blackfan anemia.
People who develop hereditary aplastic anemia usually have other genetic or developmental abnormalities that cause the aplastic anemia.

Also, it is worth noting that in some cases doctors aren’t able to identify the cause of aplastic anemia. This is called idiopathic aplastic anemia (unknown factors).

What Are the Symptoms?

Each type of blood cell has a different role:

• Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body.

• White blood cells fight infections.

• Platelets; help your body form clots to stop bleeding.

Your symptoms depend on what type of blood cells you’re low on, but you may be low on all three. These are common symptoms for each:

• Symptoms of low red blood cell count:

• Tiredness
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Pale skin
• Headaches
• Chest pain
• Irregular heartbeat

• Symptoms of low white blood cell count:

• Infections
• Fever

• Symptoms of low platelet count:

• Easy bruising and bleeding
• Nosebleeds

Homeopathic Treatment for Aplastic Anemia

Aplastic anemia can be very severe and even fatal. Homeopathic medicines attempt to stimulate the bone marrow to improve cell production. These medicines help in maintaining the normal range of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. In turn, this may help to stop the person from taking blood transfusions, as this is not required any more after the commencement of the homeopathic treatment for this condition.
More importantly, homeopathic medicines improve general vitality and well-being of a patient to help him fight infections and diseases.

Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach.

This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering.

The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat aplastic anemia but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility.

As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several homeopathic medicines are available to treat aplastic anemia, and these medicines can be selected on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the complaints.

The following homeopathic medicines are helpful in the treatment of aplastic anemia;
Natrum muriaticum, Kali muriaticum, Vitex negundo, Ferrum phosphoricum, Ceanothus to mention a few.

A person should take homeopathic treatment for aplastic anemia under the supervision of an homeopath. Avoid self-medication.

For individualized remedy selection and treatment of aplastic anemia, consult the Homeopath Oluwafunmise on 08028366901 or 08183554665.