Anemia
Anemia is not really a disease, but a symptom of an underlying problem. It is most common in women—because of blood loss due to menstruation. About 10 percent of North American women are iron-deficient during their childbearing years. The typical woman with anemia is pale and often finds herself weak or dizzy and falling asleep easily. She usually describes herself as feeling tired most of the time. She may be prone to headaches and digestive disturbances and may also experience heart palpitations. If this sounds like you, you should ask your doctor to check your iron level. This involves a simple blood test that takes only a few minutes. If your doctor determines that you are low in iron, it will not take long to correct the problem. But the most obvious choice for treatment—iron supplements—are never my first recommendation. These supplements do not help all the women who take them. Even when they do help, they often cause constipation and stomach distress, as well as rob your body of vitamin E. The fear of anemia leads most doctors to prescribe iron supplements to pregnant women. However, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (a nongovernment panel sponsored by the U.S. Public Health Service, a federal agency), "There is currently little evidence to suggest that routine iron supplementation during pregnancy is beneficial."
Instead you might want to try yellow dock root, a more easily assimilated source of iron. Yellow dock contains only a small amount of this important mineral, yet herbalists consider it one of the most effective herbs for raising your iron level. Although the way that this herb increases iron remains a mystery, the proof is in the results. I cannot count how many women with anemia have told me how amazed their doctors were when yellow dock brought their iron count up to normal in only a few weeks. Many physicians are not aware that an herb can be so effective, especially a humble weed that grows throughout most of the United States.
Sara, who is fifteen years old, is a perfect example of how effective this herb can be. A classic case of anemia, Sara felt worn out and listless and never seemed to have enough energy. But after taking a tincture of yellow dock every day for a month, she found herself feeling energetic enough to try out for the high school track team.
Karen is another example. At one point, when Karen was six months pregnant, her iron count was so low that her doctor was threatening drastic measures, starting with hospitalization. iron supplements weren't helping much, so she turned to yellow dock. Within two weeks, her iron count had resumed to nominal.
In my years of working with herbs, I have met literally dozens of other women who felt so run-down and sluggish that they described themselves as having only "half a life." All of them started taking yellow dock and received such a boost that they are now living very full lives. For some of these women, yellow dock brought up their iron levels permanently and they were able to discontinue using the herb. Others found that they needed to continue taking it to maintain their iron count at a healthy level.
Even if your anemia is so stubborn that it does not respond to yellow dock, a few additional herbs will usually do the trick. Studies conducted around the world have shown that the roots of burdock, sarsaparilla, dandelion, cooked Chinese rehmannia and Chinese wild yam increase the assimilation of iron, as do carrots and most green vegetables. (Although Chinese herbs like rehmannia and wild yam were once restricted to the realm of Chinese medicine, they are now available in most natural food stores.) German researchers were so impressed with how anise, caraway, cumin, mint and linden flowers improved iron absorption that they suggested that anyone with an iron deficiency drink tea made with at least one of these herbs. iron-rich herbs include parsley, watercress and the seaweed dulse.
If these herbs seem like the ingredients for the start of a delicious soup or stew base, you're right! Throw in a few beet roots to add even more iron, and dine on this soup at least twice a week. The Chinese traditionally prescribe soups made from healing herbs like rehmannia, wild yam and burdock. When you wish to incorporate medicinal herb roots into your meals, all you need to do is finely chop or grate them, then treat them like carrots. caraway and cumin can also be used to spice up beans and vegetables. For recipes, see chapters 125 to 135. By the way, if you suffer from anemia, you will want to avoid black tea, which slows down iron absorption.
Women who experience heavy menstruation frequently have a low iron count. If this is true for you, you should not only follow the above suggestions, but also see "Heavy Periods" in chapter 62. Anemia can also signal several other problems, such as a blood disorder, so consult a physician before treating with herbs.
iron Tea
2 teaspoons yellow dock root
½ teaspoon each nettle leaves, dandelion root, beet root, licorice and cooked rehmannia root (if available)
3 cups water
Bring herbs and water to a boil, then turn down heat and simmer for 5 minutes. turn off heat and let steep for 20 minutes. Strain out herbs. Drink 2 cups a day. This formula can also be taken as a tincture or in pill form. To take yellow dock by itself, you will want to use a tincture since the taste is so bitter.
