(5) food and herbs

Women Realise Anaemia Can Be Treated
Haemoglobin Levels Improve
Through this intervention, more than a thousand women understood that the After six months of nutritious food and herbal treatment there was an weakness’ they experienced could be treated. They were able to examine the improvement of up to two gram percentage in the haemoglobin level of 80 percent pallor of their eyes and skin and confirm anaemia. They ate green leafy vegetables of the 50 women whose haemoglobin levels were measured before and after the thrice week, proteins (dal) a few times a week, and included Amla (Vitamin C) in their diet. After adopting the diet prescribed and changing their lifestyle they said The haemoglobin levels remained stagnant in three women who did not receive they were less tired and could do more work.
medicines regularly from Public Ayurvedic dispensaries or were unable to makethe suggested changes in their diet. It was also not possible to raise the Besides effective integration of health concerns with sanitation and haemoglobin levels of seven women who suffered miscarriage or had a bout of hygiene, nutrition and safe drinking water, the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) seeks to revitalise local health traditions and mainstream AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and “Normally bhaji (leafy vegetable) is given to the cows and goats, but nowwe ourselves eat the green bhaji because we know how good it is for our Homeopathy) into the public health system. An intervention by CHETNA and its NGO partners has demonstrated how this can be The NRHM needs to recognise anaemia as one of the major nutrition implemented at the community level by adding locally grown food and concerns and include herbal treatment in maternal and new born mortality herbs in the daily diet of children, young people and women. Herbs reduction strategies.The interventions for anaemia need to be implemented prescribed in Ayurveda are given as additional supplements.
The women were also asked to stop drinking tea with their food. Though very fewwomen stopped drinking tea, many started having food with their tea in the by empowering communities to access nutritious foods.
morning and in the afternoon for greater energy. Most women began having The AYUSH department needs to invest in multi-centric collaborative regular meals and did not skip them, even if they were busy.
research on natural and locally available foods and herbs and herbalpreparations for reducing anaemia.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, in its efforts for biodiversity conservation, must initiate programmes to document, analyze and promote “I used to eat nothing in the morning and would go to work. Finally when I got conservation of local nutritious foods.
back in the afternoon I would eat whatever was left over from lunch. I wouldbe very tired. Now I have at least a roti (chapatti, India bread) with chai (tea) The National Medicinal Plants Board and the Agriculture Ministry needs to before I go out in the morning and eat lunch in the afternoon before I go into promote cultivation of herbs that promote nutrition and help combatanaemia.
the fields again. Now I have the strength to work.” A woman from Satlasana block, Mehsana district Financial support: Department of AYUSH, Government of India Promoting Ayurvedic Medicines
The support of over a hundred AYUSH doctors was sought for promotingAyurvedic/herbal treatment for anaemia. Ayurvedic medicines prescribed to thewomen included punarnava mandoor, saptamrit loha, shatavari churna, Centre for Health Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness
arogya vardhini. Women received the ayurvedic medicine free of cost from the B-Block, 3rd Floor, Supath-II, Opp.Vadaj Bus Terminus, Ashram Road, Vadaj, Ahmedabad 380013, Gujarat, India. Phone: 91-79-27559976/77, 27569100/01 Fax: 91-79-27559978 Email: chetna456@vsnl.net/chetna456@gmail.com Working in partnership with NGOs in the Malpur and Satlasna blocks of According to the women, anaemia is more prevalent in children, women and Some Foods/Herbs Shortlisted for Promotion Sabarkantha and Mehsana districts respectively of Gujarat State, CHETNA has demonstrated that anaemia, which is responsible for the high rate of maternal Local Cereals Pulses
Vegetables
Fruits Local herbs/foods
Regularity in meals, larger quantities of food and eating the special foods mortality in the country, can be addressed, locally.
available in the area were some of the general recommendations.
They listed the following local foods to be eaten to prevent anaemia: To create awareness on the use of locally available foods and herbs to Local Cereals
Local Vegetables
Local herbs/foods
address anemia through a life cycle approach To demonstrate change in hemoglobin levels in a randomly identified 27 villages of Malpur block of Sabarkantha, Gujarat 19 villages of Satlasna block of Mehsana, Gujarat Reaching Out to Communities
The communication strategy covered women, children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women. Emphasis was given to ensuring nutritious food for the SARTHI, VIKSAT and Young Citizens of India Charitable Trust, Gujarat entire family. Village level meetings and fairs were organised in the two districts and women, children and dais (Traditional Birth Attendants) were informed on how to prevent and treat anaemia. Weekly Yoga classes and fairs were also held National, Gujarat State and District AYUSH departments in schools and participants were taught how to evaluate their haemoglobin status District Horticulture and Education Departments.
through physical symptoms such as the pallor of their skin.
Seven cereals, four leafy vegetables, five herbs were reported as antidotes toanaemia. Of the seven cereals, four were not available, three of the four Reaching Out to Farmers
vegetables and all the five herbs were sparingly used by the communities.
Learning from Communities
An important component of the community based movement to address anaemia has been in training and involving farmers, especially women farmers. More than Hundred women were interviewed for their understanding about anaemia, itscauses, prevalence and treatment. Their knowledge about local foods and herbs 200 farmers were encouraged to cultivate food crops and herbs identified as Developing Health Communication Interventions
for treating anaemia were also documented.
nutritious. They were also oriented and motivated for organic farming. Farmers This information was incorporated in the education and awareness activities were given saplings of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Kumari (aloe vera), Women identified anemia as: Nablai, kamjori, sharir galvu (weakness) designed for the interventions. Basic principles of ayurveda for treatment of Shigru (drum stick; Moringa Oliefera), Tandaljo (Amaranthus), Asaliyo They also identified overwork, stress, irregularity of eating meals as the main anaemia were also referred. Foods/ herbs for treating anaemia that needed (Garden Cress) and Amla(Indian gooseberry ) for cultivation.
Working in partnership with NGOs in the Malpur and Satlasna blocks of According to the women, anaemia is more prevalent in children, women and Some Foods/Herbs Shortlisted for Promotion Sabarkantha and Mehsana districts respectively of Gujarat State, CHETNA has demonstrated that anaemia, which is responsible for the high rate of maternal Local Cereals Pulses
Vegetables
Fruits Local herbs/foods
Regularity in meals, larger quantities of food and eating the special foods mortality in the country, can be addressed, locally.
available in the area were some of the general recommendations.
They listed the following local foods to be eaten to prevent anaemia: To create awareness on the use of locally available foods and herbs to Local Cereals
Local Vegetables
Local herbs/foods
address anemia through a life cycle approach To demonstrate change in hemoglobin levels in a randomly identified 27 villages of Malpur block of Sabarkantha, Gujarat 19 villages of Satlasna block of Mehsana, Gujarat Reaching Out to Communities
The communication strategy covered women, children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women. Emphasis was given to ensuring nutritious food for the SARTHI, VIKSAT and Young Citizens of India Charitable Trust, Gujarat entire family. Village level meetings and fairs were organised in the two districts and women, children and dais (Traditional Birth Attendants) were informed on how to prevent and treat anaemia. Weekly Yoga classes and fairs were also held National, Gujarat State and District AYUSH departments in schools and participants were taught how to evaluate their haemoglobin status District Horticulture and Education Departments.
through physical symptoms such as the pallor of their skin.
Seven cereals, four leafy vegetables, five herbs were reported as antidotes toanaemia. Of the seven cereals, four were not available, three of the four Reaching Out to Farmers
vegetables and all the five herbs were sparingly used by the communities.
Learning from Communities
An important component of the community based movement to address anaemia has been in training and involving farmers, especially women farmers. More than Hundred women were interviewed for their understanding about anaemia, itscauses, prevalence and treatment. Their knowledge about local foods and herbs 200 farmers were encouraged to cultivate food crops and herbs identified as Developing Health Communication Interventions
for treating anaemia were also documented.
nutritious. They were also oriented and motivated for organic farming. Farmers This information was incorporated in the education and awareness activities were given saplings of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Kumari (aloe vera), Women identified anemia as: Nablai, kamjori, sharir galvu (weakness) designed for the interventions. Basic principles of ayurveda for treatment of Shigru (drum stick; Moringa Oliefera), Tandaljo (Amaranthus), Asaliyo They also identified overwork, stress, irregularity of eating meals as the main anaemia were also referred. Foods/ herbs for treating anaemia that needed (Garden Cress) and Amla(Indian gooseberry ) for cultivation.
Working in partnership with NGOs in the Malpur and Satlasna blocks of According to the women, anaemia is more prevalent in children, women and Some Foods/Herbs Shortlisted for Promotion Sabarkantha and Mehsana districts respectively of Gujarat State, CHETNA has demonstrated that anaemia, which is responsible for the high rate of maternal Local Cereals Pulses
Vegetables
Fruits Local herbs/foods
Regularity in meals, larger quantities of food and eating the special foods mortality in the country, can be addressed, locally.
available in the area were some of the general recommendations.
They listed the following local foods to be eaten to prevent anaemia: To create awareness on the use of locally available foods and herbs to Local Cereals
Local Vegetables
Local herbs/foods
address anemia through a life cycle approach To demonstrate change in hemoglobin levels in a randomly identified 27 villages of Malpur block of Sabarkantha, Gujarat 19 villages of Satlasna block of Mehsana, Gujarat Reaching Out to Communities
The communication strategy covered women, children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women. Emphasis was given to ensuring nutritious food for the SARTHI, VIKSAT and Young Citizens of India Charitable Trust, Gujarat entire family. Village level meetings and fairs were organised in the two districts and women, children and dais (Traditional Birth Attendants) were informed on how to prevent and treat anaemia. Weekly Yoga classes and fairs were also held National, Gujarat State and District AYUSH departments in schools and participants were taught how to evaluate their haemoglobin status District Horticulture and Education Departments.
through physical symptoms such as the pallor of their skin.
Seven cereals, four leafy vegetables, five herbs were reported as antidotes toanaemia. Of the seven cereals, four were not available, three of the four Reaching Out to Farmers
vegetables and all the five herbs were sparingly used by the communities.
Learning from Communities
An important component of the community based movement to address anaemia has been in training and involving farmers, especially women farmers. More than Hundred women were interviewed for their understanding about anaemia, itscauses, prevalence and treatment. Their knowledge about local foods and herbs 200 farmers were encouraged to cultivate food crops and herbs identified as Developing Health Communication Interventions
for treating anaemia were also documented.
nutritious. They were also oriented and motivated for organic farming. Farmers This information was incorporated in the education and awareness activities were given saplings of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Kumari (aloe vera), Women identified anemia as: Nablai, kamjori, sharir galvu (weakness) designed for the interventions. Basic principles of ayurveda for treatment of Shigru (drum stick; Moringa Oliefera), Tandaljo (Amaranthus), Asaliyo They also identified overwork, stress, irregularity of eating meals as the main anaemia were also referred. Foods/ herbs for treating anaemia that needed (Garden Cress) and Amla(Indian gooseberry ) for cultivation.
Women Realise Anaemia Can Be Treated
Haemoglobin Levels Improve
Through this intervention, more than a thousand women understood that the After six months of nutritious food and herbal treatment there was an weakness’ they experienced could be treated. They were able to examine the improvement of up to two gram percentage in the haemoglobin level of 80 percent pallor of their eyes and skin and confirm anaemia. They ate green leafy vegetables of the 50 women whose haemoglobin levels were measured before and after the thrice week, proteins (dal) a few times a week, and included Amla (Vitamin C) in their diet. After adopting the diet prescribed and changing their lifestyle they said The haemoglobin levels remained stagnant in three women who did not receive they were less tired and could do more work.
medicines regularly from Public Ayurvedic dispensaries or were unable to makethe suggested changes in their diet. It was also not possible to raise the Besides effective integration of health concerns with sanitation and haemoglobin levels of seven women who suffered miscarriage or had a bout of hygiene, nutrition and safe drinking water, the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) seeks to revitalise local health traditions and mainstream AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and “Normally bhaji (leafy vegetable) is given to the cows and goats, but nowwe ourselves eat the green bhaji because we know how good it is for our Homeopathy) into the public health system. An intervention by CHETNA and its NGO partners has demonstrated how this can be The NRHM needs to recognise anaemia as one of the major nutrition implemented at the community level by adding locally grown food and concerns and include herbal treatment in maternal and new born mortality herbs in the daily diet of children, young people and women. Herbs reduction strategies.The interventions for anaemia need to be implemented prescribed in Ayurveda are given as additional supplements.
The women were also asked to stop drinking tea with their food. Though very fewwomen stopped drinking tea, many started having food with their tea in the by empowering communities to access nutritious foods.
morning and in the afternoon for greater energy. Most women began having The AYUSH department needs to invest in multi-centric collaborative regular meals and did not skip them, even if they were busy.
research on natural and locally available foods and herbs and herbalpreparations for reducing anaemia.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, in its efforts for biodiversity conservation, must initiate programmes to document, analyze and promote “I used to eat nothing in the morning and would go to work. Finally when I got conservation of local nutritious foods.
back in the afternoon I would eat whatever was left over from lunch. I wouldbe very tired. Now I have at least a roti (chapatti, India bread) with chai (tea) The National Medicinal Plants Board and the Agriculture Ministry needs to before I go out in the morning and eat lunch in the afternoon before I go into promote cultivation of herbs that promote nutrition and help combatanaemia.
the fields again. Now I have the strength to work.” A woman from Satlasana block, Mehsana district Financial support: Department of AYUSH, Government of India Promoting Ayurvedic Medicines
The support of over a hundred AYUSH doctors was sought for promotingAyurvedic/herbal treatment for anaemia. Ayurvedic medicines prescribed to thewomen included punarnava mandoor, saptamrit loha, shatavari churna, Centre for Health Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness
arogya vardhini. Women received the ayurvedic medicine free of cost from the B-Block, 3rd Floor, Supath-II, Opp.Vadaj Bus Terminus, Ashram Road, Vadaj, Ahmedabad 380013, Gujarat, India. Phone: 91-79-27559976/77, 27569100/01 Fax: 91-79-27559978 Email: chetna456@vsnl.net/chetna456@gmail.com Women Realise Anaemia Can Be Treated
Haemoglobin Levels Improve
Through this intervention, more than a thousand women understood that the After six months of nutritious food and herbal treatment there was an weakness’ they experienced could be treated. They were able to examine the improvement of up to two gram percentage in the haemoglobin level of 80 percent pallor of their eyes and skin and confirm anaemia. They ate green leafy vegetables of the 50 women whose haemoglobin levels were measured before and after the thrice week, proteins (dal) a few times a week, and included Amla (Vitamin C) in their diet. After adopting the diet prescribed and changing their lifestyle they said The haemoglobin levels remained stagnant in three women who did not receive they were less tired and could do more work.
medicines regularly from Public Ayurvedic dispensaries or were unable to makethe suggested changes in their diet. It was also not possible to raise the Besides effective integration of health concerns with sanitation and haemoglobin levels of seven women who suffered miscarriage or had a bout of hygiene, nutrition and safe drinking water, the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) seeks to revitalise local health traditions and mainstream AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and “Normally bhaji (leafy vegetable) is given to the cows and goats, but nowwe ourselves eat the green bhaji because we know how good it is for our Homeopathy) into the public health system. An intervention by CHETNA and its NGO partners has demonstrated how this can be The NRHM needs to recognise anaemia as one of the major nutrition implemented at the community level by adding locally grown food and concerns and include herbal treatment in maternal and new born mortality herbs in the daily diet of children, young people and women. Herbs reduction strategies.The interventions for anaemia need to be implemented prescribed in Ayurveda are given as additional supplements.
The women were also asked to stop drinking tea with their food. Though very fewwomen stopped drinking tea, many started having food with their tea in the by empowering communities to access nutritious foods.
morning and in the afternoon for greater energy. Most women began having The AYUSH department needs to invest in multi-centric collaborative regular meals and did not skip them, even if they were busy.
research on natural and locally available foods and herbs and herbalpreparations for reducing anaemia.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, in its efforts for biodiversity conservation, must initiate programmes to document, analyze and promote “I used to eat nothing in the morning and would go to work. Finally when I got conservation of local nutritious foods.
back in the afternoon I would eat whatever was left over from lunch. I wouldbe very tired. Now I have at least a roti (chapatti, India bread) with chai (tea) The National Medicinal Plants Board and the Agriculture Ministry needs to before I go out in the morning and eat lunch in the afternoon before I go into promote cultivation of herbs that promote nutrition and help combatanaemia.
the fields again. Now I have the strength to work.” A woman from Satlasana block, Mehsana district Financial support: Department of AYUSH, Government of India Promoting Ayurvedic Medicines
The support of over a hundred AYUSH doctors was sought for promotingAyurvedic/herbal treatment for anaemia. Ayurvedic medicines prescribed to thewomen included punarnava mandoor, saptamrit loha, shatavari churna, Centre for Health Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness
arogya vardhini. Women received the ayurvedic medicine free of cost from the B-Block, 3rd Floor, Supath-II, Opp.Vadaj Bus Terminus, Ashram Road, Vadaj, Ahmedabad 380013, Gujarat, India. Phone: 91-79-27559976/77, 27569100/01 Fax: 91-79-27559978 Email: chetna456@vsnl.net/chetna456@gmail.com

Source: http://www.mdg5watch.org/CHETNA/12-Food%20and%20Herbs.pdf