Scurvy occurs when the person suffers from vitamin C deficiency. It is a very common disease that affects people of all ages. The root cause for this disease is lack of vitamin C or ascorbic acid, present in fresh fruits and vegetables mainly citrus fruits. Ascorbic acid is very useful in the formation of collagen and any other deficiency related to tissue synthesis. Importance of Vitamin C is highlighted when affected by such disease because it helps in forming gums, skin, blood vessels, ligaments and tendons. If left untreated it can be fatal.
Common symptoms to be aware of when affected by scurvy are bleeding gums with loosened teeth, soreness and stiffness of the joints, general weakness, anemia, gum disease (gingivitis), skin hemorrhages, slow healing process and many more. It is a nutritional problem and can also result in 'corkscrew hair' along with other gum related problems. Other problems include nausea, tiredness, a troubled feeling, easy bruising, dry skin and hair and bleeding into muscles and joints causing pain.
Smoking and different diseases can also cause a drastic reduction in vitamin C which can be as huge as 50 per cent. People suffering from arthritic pain, ulcers are at the risk of reducing good sources of vitamin C. Staying away from acidic sources (rich vitamin C content) such as oranges and lemons reduces vitamin C. Smoking a pack of cigarettes also cuts down on vitamin C by 50 percent. Using aspirin on daily basis helps in the process of increasing your chances of scurvy or sub-scurvy. Smokers are recommended to have at least 100 milligrams of vitamin C daily.
Home Remedies for Scurvy
Include vitamin C rich diet in the form of fruits and vegetables or vitamin C supplements. This helps in stemming bleeding and also minimizes the pain. Take moderate dose of these fruits and vegetables like oranges, lemons, grapefruits, kiwi fruits, broccoli, green peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, sprouts and sweet potatoes in your diet. You can also add nutritious milk, liver, kidney and fish which contains good amount of vitamin C, even after cooking and preserving.
Being on grape diet is very helpful in treating scurvy. Grape diet can consist of raw grapes as well as grape juice.
Indian gooseberry contains ample vitamin C which can be used to treat scurvy by including it in your diet.
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.