What are the causes and treatment for Scurvy?
Scurvy is one of the oldest deficiency diseases known to mankind that is caused by the deficiency of Vitamin C or ascorbic acid. This disease mostly afflicts children and is often mistaken for paralysis, rheumatism or rickets. For many decades, scurvy was attributed to the unavailability of adequate food and was common among sailors who went on long voyages and consumed a diet restricted to fish, salt, meats and bread that was void of fresh fruits and vegetables.
In the 18th century, a British naval surgeon suggested that citrus fruit juices prevented and treated scurvy. This led to the discovery that scurvy was caused due to the deficiency of vitamin C.
What are the causes of scurvy?
This disease is primarily caused by deficiency of ascorbic acid and inadequate intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Individuals who consume a diet that lacks in organic mineral salts that are necessary for maintaining the health and vitality of the body are susceptible to scurvy, particularly children who are brought up solely on patent foods and condensed milk. As per research, scurvy can also be triggered by stress as it increases the utilization of ascorbic acid. Another factor that is responsible for the development of this disease in adults is osteoporosis.
Symptoms of scurvy:
Scurvy is initially characterized by breathlessness, fatigue and depression. In later stages, an individual’s gums might begin to bleed due to lack of vitamin C that makes the capillaries fragile and prone to rupture. This may result in hemorrhage and fermentation of glandular patches that resemble boils all over the body, particularly the lower limbs.
An individual affected by scurvy experiences pain during excretion, extreme swelling caused by paralysis of one or more limbs and appearance of black and blue spots on the body. The blood from the gums may pass into the skin resulting in large bruises and may also pass into the vital organs. Scurvy may lead to tenderness of the limbs and anemia.
Diet: The diet of an individual suffering from scurvy is of utmost importance when it comes to treating this disease. The patient should consume a well balanced diet comprising of fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, honey, nuts, grains and seeds.
Liberal quantities of vitamin C should be included in the patient’s diet that if found in citrus fruits and vegetables but is destroyed when cooked. 10-20 mg of vitamin C can be supplemented on a daily basis.
Indian Gooseberry: This is also known as amla and is a rich source of vitamin C. It is recommended to take 1 tsp of dry amla mixed with equal amount of sugar thrice a day for best results. Alternatively, you can also take Amla dietary supplements to treat scurvy effectively.
Citrus lime and lemon: Lime and lemon are also highly beneficial for treating scurvy. They are rich dietary sources of vitamin C and are of therapeutic value when it comes to dealing with this disease. It is recommended to take the juice of these fruits diluted in plain water with 1 tsp honey to treat scurvy.
Potato: Another helpful natural remedy for treating scurvy is potato. It is essential for individuals suffering from this disease to include potatoes in their diet on a regular basis. You can eat potatoes in any form for dealing with scurvy.
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