'Thalas' means sea in Greek while 'emia' means blood. Thalassemia thus means 'blood of the sea.' In Thalassemia, a genetic mutation makes red blood cells irregular. The mutation confers immunity to malaria, which is more prevalent near the coastline (hence the name). Unfortunately, the irregularity also leads to the early death of red blood cells. While normal red blood cells live an average of 120 days, those of a person with thalassemia minor die in 30 days.

Choleric Heat & Black Bile

The churning and recycling of red blood cells that characterizes hemolytic anemias such as thalassemia and sickle cell congests the liver and spleen. The spleen filters the dead red blood cells while the liver breaks the hemoglobin down into bile. The excess production of bile acids produces what Greek medicine calls 'Choleric Heat' - characterized by pre-jaundice conditions: high bilirubin levels in the blood lead to yellow eyes, yellow teeth, a yellow tinge to the palms or olive complexion. Bile is firey and pitta like in nature. It increases metabolism, aids the inflammatory response, thins the blood, breaks up mucus, lowers cholesterol, and irritates the nervous system.

Over time, high metabolism burns up oil and fat reserves (ojas) leading to a characteristic thin, lanky Vata appearance of those with thalassemia. Eventually, the high concentration of uncongugated bilirubin in bile crystallizes and may form gallstones of a jet black color (most gallstones are yellow), giving rise to the name 'Black Bile' in Greek medicine.

Take Care of Your Liver & Spleen

Individuals with thalassemia minor should take special care of their liver and spleen. Liver & spleen stress makes a person firey, irritable, anxious and defensive. Those who suffer these intense emotions will need frequent affirmation from friends to feel good about themselves, or withdraw from relationship when insulted. Their heightened sensitivity to shame may also causes them to dominate close intimate relationships. They may be intolerant of a messy house and sensitive to alcohol and chemical exposure. Liver stress can make you critical, judgmental and argumentative.

Individuals with liver stress are visually sensitive. They may be sensitive to bright light and sun. Liver stress can cause frequent migraines and a low pain threshold. On the other hand, individuals with liver stress love beauty & grace. Beauty, delicate smells & a cooling atmosphere may be soothing, such as sitting in a rose garden with fountains at night under the light of the cool moon.

As symptoms progress, you may notice pain in the right upper quadrant of your abdomen and eczema in your extremities, both signs that your liver may need to be decongested and/or nourished. Decongestion may be accomplished simply through twisting yoga poses, which can also provide immediate emotional relief from liver stress symptoms. Avoid harsh liver cleanses, which can further weaken your liver. Instead, focus on nurturing your liver (90%) and cleansing (10%).

The best way to nurture your liver is rest and stress reduction. Keep a good eating and sleeping routine. Avoid late nights. Get to bed on time. Take naps, especially in the afternoon.

Sweet, oily, cooling & sour foods nurture your liver. Bitter & sour foods cleanse the liver. Notice sour is on both lists. That's why many individuals with thalassemia will crave sour foods like vinegar, lemons & pickles. However, vinegar's harshness must be tempered with something sweet, like maple syrup. Strawberries & blueberries are perfectly packaged for relief from thalassemia. Naturally swet & tart, their deep red/blue hue is a sign of beta-carotene, which stimulates the liver. Applesauce is also wonderfully sweet and tart for thalassemia. Coconut oil is cold and oily. Recipes with mild cleansing action include the bitterness of kale tempered with coconut oil, coconut flakes, raisins & fennel.

Look Out for Hyperactive Fatigue

Heavy physical activity, stress, and exposure to heat can increase the die-off rate of red blood cells, making you anemic. This will reduce your stamina and increase fatigue. At the same time, spleen and liver stress will make you hyperactive. The condition of "hyperactive fatigue" is most noticable at night after 10pm, during the "second wind". Avoid working this time of night, which is a natural time of high liver activity (10pm-2am). When you notice you, or a loved one, is hyperactive, it is a sign that of exhaustion, not extra energy, and a good time to take a rest, and nourish your body.

Disclaimer: Conditions such as 'Thalassemia Minor' that cause tissue changes could be serious and should be checked by a medical doctor.

Answer some questions about how foods make you feel. Then you'll receive a full food report customized for you.
COMPUTE MY DIET FOR THALASSEMIA MINOR
OR, GET A GENERAL DIET FOR BALANCING THALASSEMIA MINOR

Augment your diet with these specially chosen ingredients below which may be useful for 'Thalassemia Minor'. Individual results vary depending the cause of your imbalance and by constitution. Please research the ingredients below to find which are most helpful for you, and check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine. Please check with your medical doctor before making any changes to your health & wellness routine, and for the proper use of these products.

These supplements are contraindicated / may aggravate 'Thalassemia Minor'.

BLOOD AND CIRCULATION TIPS

DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.

Everything you eat has an effect on your body, which Ayurveda categorizes in a simple and easy way, using biocharacteristics (gunas). Biocharacteristics are qualities (like cold and hot) that describe the effect a food or herb has on your body. Cooling foods like cucumber, decrease metabolism. Heating foods like chili pepper, stimulate your body and increase metabolism. For 'Thalassemia Minor', you should select foods with the following biocharacteristics. Individual results will vary, based on your body type and the root cause of your imbalance.

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

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Sedative

SEDATIVE

Sedative herbs create a sense of calm in the mind and body by specifically calming or quieting the nervous system. Excellent for anxiety, stress and chronic pain.

SEE ALL 'SEDATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:

Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:

Alterative

ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Refrigerant

REFRIGERANT

An herb or substance that strongly cools the body. Can be helpful in cases of heat conditions.

SEE ALL 'REFRIGERANT' FOODS / HERBS

Liver & Gallbladder:

Hepatoprotective

HEPATOPROTECTIVE

An herb that is capable of preventing liver damage. Many hepatoprotectives work via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

SEE ALL 'HEPATOPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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Livotonic

LIVOTONIC

An herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. Generally, liver tonics are oily, cool, sweet, mildly sour, or contain beta-carotene.

SEE ALL 'LIVOTONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Weight Loss:

Lowers Thyroid

LOWERS-THYROID

Reduces thyroid function. Useful for people with hyperthyroid.

SEE ALL 'LOWERS-THYROID' FOODS / HERBS

Strength, Muscle Health:

Ojas

OJAS

Ojas is the essence of healthy tissue, immunity, stable energy and happiness. Substances that improve ojas are recommended after long-term illness, debility, emotional and physical trauma, and even sadness.

SEE ALL 'OJAS' FOODS / HERBS

Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

HOW TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN STAGE OF DISEASE #3

THALASSEMIA MINOR IS IN STAGE OF DISEASE #3 - ATTACKING TISSUE

If you have symptoms in this category it means that your imbalances are becoming stronger and weakening your body's resistance. Most people have a weakness in one or more organs. These areas of weakness are the 'weak link in the chain.' They are first to succumb when an imbalance reaches a tipping point. Repairing imbalances in this category often represent your last opportunity to prevent disease. At any moment, these imbalances could overwhelm weakened tissue and develop into a disease. You may feel pain or discomfort in the weakened area. At this stage you will need to support the weakened tissue with specialized foods and herbs for the weakened tissue. (See all disease stages on JB)

GET MY FREE AYURVEDA BODY MAP According to Ayurveda, one or more of the following doshas and biocharacteristics may aggravate 'Thalassemia Minor'. If you have an excess of one of these doshas or biocharacteristics below, Ayurveda recommends reducing foods and lifestyle habits that aggravate them. Click on the biocharacteristic to learn what foods and lifestyle habits should be reduced.

Are you prone to a problem with 'Thalassemia Minor'? Find your imbalances and create a diet for your Blood and Circulation by taking the free blood and circulation quiz:

TAKE THE BLOOD AND CIRCULATION QUIZ

The following symptoms & habits may be related to 'Thalassemia Minor'. See your quiz results for a computerized assessment of your body type. Please click on the symptoms below to learn more about them. On average the biocharacteristics of people reporting Thalassemia Minor were less aggravated than 59% of other symptoms. From the 169 people who reported Thalassemia Minor in this research study of 74,671 individuals, average deviation in biocharacteristic levels were the following:

Risk Factors of Thalassemia Minor

Complications of Those Reporting Thalassemia Minor

5 WAYS TO HEAL YOUR BODY
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