Indicators of Hemapheresis and Ayurveda can be of help with Rakta-Shodhana in Ayurveda
Abstract
Hemapheresis is the process of selective collection of any blood component, with the use of automated equipment. In this process components of blood ie: RBC, WBC, plasma and platelets are removed from the patient ‘s body to achieve patient health and provide relief in symptoms. These diseases are not completely prevented but the symptoms and conditions are manageable.
Let’s discuss Hemapheresis in detail about Hemapheresis.
Introduction
In the process of hemapheresis there is a removal of whole blood from the body of the donor. It is the process by which one or more components are withdrawn from the blood and returned by transfusion of remaining blood to the donor. Hemapheresis is considered as a supportive treatment for auto-immune and blood disorders. In auto-immune disorders the body produces antibodies which attack its own immune system and create infection in the blood. Ayurveda produces some of the great herbs and therapies which are very effective in cleansing the blood, in which leech therapy is very important.
Rakta shodhana and Rakta mokshana are the procedures which are involved in hemapheresis. The blood is alive, contains living cells and is the fluid of health, transporting disease fighting substances to the tissue and waste to kidneys. The components of blood ie. red blood cells and white blood cells are responsible for nourishment and cleansing the body, blood also carries the oxygen to all body parts. When the body grows, it faces toxins, environmental pathogens and contaminated food by which the blood gets infected which causes the blood disorders.
Process of Hemapheresis
In this process the blood is taken from the donor’s body and then blood is removed from the donor’s body through a needle. Removed blood is mixed with the anticoagulant and separated in separators which works on the centrifugation process. Where the desired component is separated and the blood is returned to the donor’s body results in the filtered plasma.
The components which are separated are
- Leukocytes (leukapheresis)
- Plasma (Plasmapheresis)
- Platelets (Plateletpheresis)
1. Leukapheresis
White blood cells (leukocytes) are removed from the patient’s body if the patient is suffering from a disease like thrombosis.
2. Plasmapheresis
Plasma is the important component of the blood and contains antibodies and antigen- antibody complexes which may contribute to effects of autoimmune disorders. Plasma removal helps in reducing the circulating antibodies and immune complexes. In case a large amount of plasma is removed, the plasma from a healthy donor is given to the patient which is called plasma exchange.
3. Plateletpheresis
This is very rare like: Myeloproliferative disorders, platelet count can be very high. Removal of platelets is helpful in Platelet removal and can help to avoid complications of thrombosis and bleeding.
Indications of Hemapheresis are
- Malaria
- Leukocytosis
- Sickle cell disease
- Liver transplantation
- Familial cholesterolemia
- Lung transplantation
- Wilson disease
- Hemolytic disease of foetus
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Thrombocytosis
- Myasthenia gravis
- Kidney transplantation
- Aplastic anaemia
- Dermatomyositis
- Systemic amyloidosis
- Burn with circulatory shock
- Acute liver failure
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Multiple sclerosis
- ABO- Incompatible hematopoietic solid organ transplantation
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
- Auto-immune hemolytic anaemia
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Coagulation factor inhibitors
- ABO- Incompatible hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Ayurvedic Overview of Hemaphereis
In Ayurveda blood is known as rakta and a very important component of the human body, disorders of blood cause prolonged and chronic disease. Acharya Shusruta who is known as father of surgery considered Rakta as a fourth dosha, mainly three doshas are the base of the body ie. Vata, Pitta and Kapha but Acharya Shusruta has also described Rakta as a fourth dosha. In Ayurvedic perceptive when doshas contaminates the blood it results in blood disorders which in ayurveda is called as Rakta Pradosaja Vikara, and there are many rakta-pradosja vikara and their modern co-relation which are as follows