Altitude Sickness

Altitude Sickness

by Kathyrn Libby -
Number of replies: 1

 

Altitude Sickness

     Altitude sickness is not a new physiological problem. As a person ascends into higher altitudes, oxygen becomes less and less available as the air becomes thinner. The body’s ability to use the available oxygen decreases. The body tries to adapt by producing more hemoglobin, raising blood pressure, elevating heart rate, and increasing heavy breathing in order to up the oxygen levels in your blood.

     There is a flower grown at a high altitude amongst the rocky terrain that is used for multiple remedies S. involucrata Matsum. & Koidz. The use of S. involucrata has been used in different types of eastern medicine, Uyghur medicine, Mongolian medicine, Kazakhstan medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (Chik et al., 2015). There have been more than 70 different compounds that have been isolated from this plant. Its medicinal effect has been studied to include anti-neoplastic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-oxidative, anti-fatigue, anti-aging, anti-hypoxic, neuroprotective and immunomodulating effects (Chik et al., 2015). All these effects support the body to function at its optimum and decrease the risk of developing altitude sickness.i

 

 

References

Chik, W., Zhu, L., Yi, T., Zhu, G., Gou, X., Tang, Y., ... Chen, H. (2015). Saussurea involucrata: A review of the botany, phytochemistry, and ethnopharmacology of a rare traditional herbal medicine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 172, 44-60.

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In reply to Kathyrn Libby

Re: Altitude Sickness

by Pushpa Sengupta -

Jill I also found a wonder drug named Shilajit which can be used in high altitude sickness.

Shilajit is a Sanskrit word meaning “Conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness” and ‘Winner of rock’. This drug contains fluvic acid and 84 different types of minerals. It is a pale-brown gummy exudate that oozes out from the rocks of Himalayas.  It stimulates the immune system and allows human beings to handle high altitude stress. It contains 84 types of minerals and fluvic acid which is the main ingredient. Fulvic acid helps with the transportation of nutrients and removes the toxins from the body.

Shilajit also can overcome physical as well as mental stress caused due to which it is used in the treatment of tiredness, lethargy, cold etc. which are common problems at high altitudes. Many studies have reported that the consumption of Shilajit with milk constitutes one of the strongest natural supplements with the possibility to eradicate all types of weakness.

Fulvic acid aids in the absorption of iron into the body, making it bioavailable to bone marrow stem cells for blood. Apart from its blood-purifying property, Shilajit also improves the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. It helps in improving blood circulation and its diffusion into tissues and maintains the necessary oxygen levels in the body during hypoxia.

Some studies have stated that Shilajit is a good detoxifier, aiding in the elimination of toxins from the body, and its regular use stops the making of toxins in the body. Hence, Shilajit is also used in the treatment of carbon dioxide poisoning in hilly areas.

 Being a diuretic agent, Shilajit removes the excess fluid from the lungs as well as the body which makes it very effective in the treatment of HAPE-like conditions and edema. Some studies have also stated that Shilajit can be useful in the treatment of dyspnea.

Shilajit has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and is thus useful for different painful conditions of the body. It is found to be very valuable in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout as it sustains the joints and diminishes the inflammation and pain.

Recommended dose for maintenance of best health is 300-500 mg/day. Shilajit powder taken with milk twice a day will confirm optimal blood levels and therapeutic efficacy.    

                                                                 Reference                  

 Meena, H., Pandey, H. K., Arya, M. C., & Ahmed, Z. (2010). Shilajit: A panacea for high-altitude problems. International journal of Ayurveda research, 1(1), 37.

                       

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