AYURVEDIC TREATMENT IN DEFICIENCY OF VITAMIN D

OVERVIEW

• Vitamin D is produced by the body in response to skin being exposed in sun light and also occurs naturally in few foods.
• In Ayurveda defines dhatu which are seven kinds(saptadhatu)- ras, rakta, mamsa, meda, asthi, majja and shukra.In Ayurveda
• These dhatus supports the structure of body and these dhatus connected with the tissues
• From above seven dhatus DHATU ASTHI gives solid structure to the body 
• Earth and air (prithvi and vau) produce healthy asthidhatu   

NORMAL LEVEL OF VITAMIN D

• Vitamin D levels between 20 and 40mg\ ml 
• Recommend dietary allowance (RDA) – 400IU or 10ug cholecalciferol
• In India – due to good sunlight 200IU or 5ug cholecalciferol
• Vitamin D Is also referred to as “the sunshine vitamin” because sun is the one of the   best source of vitamin D
• It is also known as antirahitic vitamin 
• People get vitamin D through food and by exposure to sunlight
• Arthritis and muscle pain linked to deficiency of vitamin D even post surgery recovery and healing is also depends on how less vitamin D in body
• In children – Deficiency of vitamin D or an utilize vitamin D may lead to a condition called  Rickets (weakening and softening of the bones) brought on by extreme calcium loss.
• in rickets plasma level of calciferol decreases and alkaline phosphate activity increases
• In Adults – osteomalacia- softening of bones especially in weight bearing bones of the legs

Get Vitamin D in three ways–

• Through skin, from diet and from supplements
• In children – recommended daily amount of Vitamin D is 400 IU (International units) {Age 12 months – 600 IU}  {People ages – 1 to 70 years 800 IU}

FUNCTIONS OF VITAMIN D

• It form and maintain strong bones
• It maintains normal cellular growth and function
• It maintain healthy immune function and preventing from excessive inflammation 
• It inhibits parathyroid hormone secretion from the parathyroid gland 
• Vitamin D maintain the level and absorption of calcium in body
• Vitamin D has a role in nerve, muscles and immune system 
• Vitamin D helps in sleeps because it takes part in the regulation of our circadian rhythms
• Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that helps regulate calcium and phosphorus
• It plays a role in maintaining proper bone structure 
• It promotes bone growth 

Vitamin has two categories

1. Fat soluble
2. non fat soluble

• Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin
• Non fat soluble vitamins are important such as bone health, vision, immune function and coagulation non soluble vitamins are consumed through body tissues but they are stored in the body 

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS

• Tiredness or fatigue
• Muscle and joint pain
• Weakness 
• Feeling of lethargy
• Low immunity
• Blood sugar issues/diabetes
• Weight gain (obesity)
• Mood change
• Muscle cramps
• Bone loss
• Insomnia
• Muscle pain, muscle ache
• Loss of appetite
• Hair loss 
• Pale skin and dark circles
• Recurring infection
• Tiredness
• Fall sick frequently
• Sore muscles
• Excessive sweating
• Bone density loss

RISK FACTORS

• Rickets (in children)
• Osteopororis (in adults) 
• Type 1 diabetes
• High blood pressure Coronary heart disease
• Periodontitis
• Depression
• Asthma
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Breast cancer
• Multiple sclerosis
• Mostly people with dark skin and adults older than 65 
• The deficiency of Vitamin D also cause muscular dystrophies
• It related to bone health in the body which can even cause Parkinson”s disease

PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NEED EXTRA VITAMIN D

• Older adults
• Breastfeed infants
• People with dark skin
• Obese people
• People with Gastric bypass surgery 
• Who have liver diseases, cystic fibrosis and crohn”s disease

WHY VITAMIN D IS NECESSARY

• Maintenance of bone health
• Maintenance of cardiac function
• Maintenance of healthy body weight
• Prevention of cancer 
• Treatment of psoriasis
• Prevention of respiratory infections

ILLNESS DUE TO VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY

• Different types of cancer, among other ailments
• Fatigue 
• Tiredness,
• Hair loss, 
• Bone issues 
• Back pain
• Muscle cramps
• Vitamin D deficiency is the weakening of bone health, bone loss, causing falls and fracture
• Flu

TREATMENT

• Sun bath or sun rays plays a important role in the formation of vitamin D 
• Ultraviolet rays light from the sun is must needed to produce vitamin D in body

Sources of vitamin D food

• Guduchi
• Til (sesame seeds) – sesame seeds has highest vitamin D2 quotient of 67.74
• Drumstick
• Egg yolk – eggs are loaded with vitamin D
• Milk 
• Fatty fish – high on vitamins protein  and healthy fats
• Yogurt 
• Butter
• Oatmeal
• Spinach 
• Orange juice – one cup of fortified  orange juice can add up to 137 IU of Vitamin D 
• Mushrooms- selenium in mushrooms boosts immunity
• Beef liver–Beef liver contains protein, minerals,
• Cereals
• Eat fortified food
• Cod liver oil- Improved bone health, increased immunity
• Surya namaskar–  Suryamnamaskar consisting 12 steps with specific lines of mantra and to be done as the sun rises from this body get ample amount of vitamin D 
• Abhyanga (oil massage) –Massage with olive oil or any medicated oil sitting out in the sun.
• Agni- Indigestion which affects  the doshas balance (vata, pita, kapha) which produce many deficiencies so its important to improve digestive system so that absorption of nutrients improves
• Internal lubrication (navdwara) ( nine openings of the body) – This lubricates the body by applying two drops of ghee helps or improved the absorption of nutrient