Ayurvedic Treatments For Epistaxis Or Nosebleed

Epistaxis Or Nosebleed

Epistaxis also called Nosebleed, is a condition in which the loss of blood from the tissue that lines the inside of your nose. That means bleeding occurs from the nasal cavity of the nostrils. Studies show that around 60% of people have experienced nosebleeds in their lifetime. It can occur easily because the location of the nose is in the middle of the face and a large number of blood vessels close to the surface in the lining of your nose. This makes it an easy target for injury and nosebleeds. So it is important to take care of your nose. People usually suffer from this condition in the summers as well as in winters due to the sensitivity to extreme weather conditions.

According to Ayurveda, an imbalance of the Pitta dosha is the main reason for the bleeding of the nose. Ayurveda explains it as Nasagata Rakta Pitta. Nasagata Rakta Pitta is a type of Urdhwaga Rakta Pitta in which the blood is contaminated by vitiated Rakta and travels in the upward direction. It gets eliminated through nasal passages. So the Ayurvedic management consists of pacifying the pitta dosha by making some effective Ayurvedic treatments, some simple changes in Ahar and vihar, and some herbs.

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Types Of Epistaxis

There are two main types of Epistaxis:

• Anterior nosebleed

  An anterior nosebleed occurs when the blood vessels in the front of the nose break and bleed. This is the most common type of nosebleed and it can be treated at home.

• A posterior nosebleed

  It occurs in the back or the deepest part of the nose. In this case, blood flows down the back of the throat. It is commonly seen in adults and requires immediate medical attention.

Symptoms Of Nose Bleeding Or Epistaxis

The main symptoms of nose bleeding are:

• Blood coming from the nose can be light to heavy. .
• Heavy bleeding.
• Palpitations (an irregular heartbeat).
• Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath.
• Swallowing large amounts of blood causes vomiting.
• Turning pale.

Causes Of Nose Bleeding Or Epistaxis

General Causes of Nose Bleeding are:

• Picking the inside of the nose with fingernails. .
• Blowing your nose with force.
• Insert a sharp or a big object into your nose.
• Injury to the nose and or the face due to a knock or a blow.
• Upper Respiratory Tract Infections like the cold or the flu. .
• Sinusitis. .
• Extreme hot, cold, or dry climatic conditions.
• High altitudes decrease the amount of oxygen availability, making the air thinner and drier, leading to a nosebleed.
• Excessive use of medications, illegal drugs, or alcohol.
• High blood pressure. .
• Nasal surgery.
• Exposure to chemicals that may irritate your mucous membrane.
• Blood-thinning drugs (medications that are taken orally to prevent a blood clot). .

Ayurvedic Treatment For Epistaxis

There are numerous formulations and treatments mentioned in the various Ayurvedic texts for treating Nasagata Raktapitta. Some of them are explained below:

• Nidana Parivarjana

  In any disease, avoiding the causative factor is the prime key to healing ailments. Ayurvedic doctors follow this rule even in NasagataRaktapitta also. These include food and lifestyle practices that cause the vitiation of pitta and Rakta.

• Stambana

  Stambana means to stop or block. The therapy that prevents mobility and flow of mobile body elements and fluid is known as Stambana.

• Langhana

  The purpose of this treatment is to make the body light by relieving heaviness. .

• Tarpana

  In this treatment nutritious drinks and diet including vegetables and meat soup should be administered. It is given in different forms like Tarpana in the form of medicated drinks, medicated gruels, and in the form of a diet including leafy vegetables, grain, meat soup, etc. It is done after Langhana.

• Peya

  Peya means digestive liquid foods or diet such as gruels. It enhances digestion and metabolism. It should be administered after Langhana.

Diet Recommendations (Aahar)

The diet prescribed by Ayurveda to cure Epistaxis is the following:

• Avoid spicy and hot food items.
• Drinking sufficient water daily will lead to a healthy nose.
• Increase the consumption of dark green leafy vegetables.
• Daily consumption of juice or preparations of amla helps in preventing nose bleeding.
• Whole wheat or the ‘Brown bread’ or ‘Brown rice’ has sufficient Zinc nutrients in it. Zinc helps in maintaining the body’s blood vessels.
• Consume fruits like pomegranate, grapes, and white pumpkin.
• Old rice, cow’s milk, and butter are highly useful.
• Mutton soups and moong dal are also beneficial to cure the condition.

Lifestyle Changes (Vihar)

Essential lifestyle modifications are:

• Avoid intake of alcohol.
• Avoid smoking.
• Avoid mental pressure and stress. .
• Don’t expose yourself to the dry atmosphere. .
• Avoid work that requires much hard work.
• Tulsi juice mixed with honey will also help and provide extra strength to the body.
• Full-time and sound sleep at night is highly recommended. .
• Juice of fresh coriander leaves can be used as nasal drops.
• Tulsi juice mixed with honey will also help and provide extra strength to the body.
• Coldwater is one of the best ways to stop nasal bleeding.
• Instillation of lemon juice should be dropped into nostrils and provides excellent relief.
• A cotton bud dipped in rosewater and kept inside the nostrils stops the bleeding.

Ayurveda suggests some Ayurvedic treatments like Nidana Parivarjana, Stambana, Langhana, Tarpana, and Peya to treat Epistaxis. Along with these, Ayurveda prescribes to follow the above-mentioned diet and lifestyle changes to get good results.

Natural Remedies For Epistaxis

Some of the natural remedies that are beneficial for nose bleeding are:

• Hold your head in an elevated position whenever it bleeds.
• Drink cold water or use a cold compress. .
• Pinch your nose with your thumb and index finger. Hold for 2-3 minutes, breathing normally through the mouth.
• Put a few drops of lukewarm ghee in each nostril or dip a cotton swab into a jar of ghee and place it into nostrils.
• The patient should be advised to sit straight with the head turned upwards. This is done to reverse the blood flow.
• Grapes, coconut water, and milk are useful in bleeding the nose.
• Vinegar helps in sealing the walls of the blood vessel therefore cotton balls dipped in vinegar are beneficial.
• Make a paste of 2 gm of young leaves of the banana tree and mix with 20 gm of sugar crystals and one-fourth liter of water. Take this mixture once a day regularly to control chronic bleeding from the nose.

Herbal Remedies For Epistaxis

The herbal remedies that are useful for the treatment of Epistasis are:

• Vasa

  It helps to maintain an excess of Pitta and Kapha levels in the lungs. It promotes the natural removal of our blood toxins and other impurities to support clear breathing. The cooling properties help to keep the blood in the vessels and prevent occasional bleeding.

• Amla

  Amla, which is also known as Indian Gooseberry is an effective herbal remedy for epistaxis or nose bleeding. It is very rich in Vitamin C, Calcium, and Iron. Daily consumption of juice or preparations of amla helps in preventing nose bleeding.

• Neem

  Neem helps to promote blood circulation by supporting healthy dilatation of blood vessels. Regular intake has also been useful in controlling high blood sugar and regulating blood pressure.

• Onion

  Onion plays an important role as a blood-clotting agent and can stop your nose from bleeding. The presence of vitamin C and bioflavonoids in onion strengthens the capillaries, making them less susceptible to bleeding.

• Lemon

  Lemon is packed with vitamin C which detoxifies your blood and boosts your immune system.

• Grapes

  Grape contains flavonoids, which can have antioxidant effects, lower the levels of low-density lipoproteins (bad cholesterol), relax blood vessels, and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

• Pomegranate

  Pomegranate helps to pump the level of oxygen in our blood. The presence of antioxidants in pomegranate fights free radicals reduces cholesterol and prevents blood clots.

• Durva

  Durva is an Ayurvedic herb used for the treatment of Epistaxis. It is a type of grass known as Bermuda grass. To control nosebleed, the fresh juice of Durva is used as a nasal drop.

• Anjeer

  Anjeer or fig has rich sources of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, and iron. Consuming Anjeer fruit juice regularly with honey is useful in managing bleeding disorders.

The herbal remedies that give good relief from Epistaxis are Vasa, amla, neem, onion, lemon, grapes, pomegranate, Durva, and Anjeer.

Conclusion

All the information related to Epistaxis is based on various Ayurvedic resources. Always prefer the advice of an Ayurvedic doctor before using herbs and herbal medicines for the treatment.

References

• Charaka Samhita .
• Ashtanga Hridayam.