Home remedies for beri beri include brown rice, rice bran, legumes, milk, whole grain brown bread, healthy diet, avoiding fish and water after meals etc. Beri Beri is a Vitamin B1 deficiency disease condition which in acute form affects almost all physiological functions. Function of nervous system, heart, vasculature and liver are severely affected. Extreme cases may lead to paralysis, degeneration of nerves and coma. Home remedies are very simple and completely eradicate the initial symptoms. However, for utmost cases, thiamine capsules and medical advice are to be sought for.

Beri Beri is a syndrome characterised by a group of symptoms exhibited by people who are deficient in Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine. Therefore it usually hits malnourished individuals’ especially in underdeveloped countries. Two kinds of beri beri are known. The wet beri beri leads to cardiovascular dysfunction while dry beri beri results into necrosis and wearing of nervous system. If left untreated, it may cause cardiac failure, necrosis of nerves or Wernicke’s Korsakoff syndrome.

Feeding mothers, lacking the vitamin may pass on the deficiency to their young ones via breast feeding. Dialysis and usage of heavy dose of diuretics may also increase the probability of the deficiency. As told in the Nursing Nonprescription Drug Handbook (edition 2002), apart from nutrient deficient food there are several major causes of beri beri in developed countries. Hypothyroidism, poor absorption of nutrients from diet, chronic alcoholism, and prolonged difficulties during pregnancy may also end up in this thiamine deficiency disease.

Most of the physiological processes get affected by this deficiency disease and can be detected at early stages. If proper treatment and adequate diet are taken timely, complexities which appear due to involvement of sensitive nervous and circulatory systems can be recovered. Following symptoms are characteristic of beri beri-

• State of mental confusion due to polyneuritis which is inflammation of several neurons
• Swelling of stomach or edema generating various intestinal and stomach pertained disorders
• Increased heart rate
• Difficulty in breathing
• Loss of weight
• Patient gets fatigued early, apathy and experiences difficulty in walking
• Diarrhoea and Constipation
• Wasting of muscles, cramps and pain in body parts
• Impaired growth in young ones
• Vomiting, nausea, anorexia and abdominal pain
• Convulsions
• Overall growth is impaired
• Loss in sensing vibration, paralysis, nerve degeneration and coma are observed in chronic and severe stages

One shouldn’t delay when the symptoms start appearing and consult the doctor to diagnose the underlying root cause of the disease. Blood and urine tests can detect low levels of Vitamin B1 and can then be categorised as dry or wet beri beri. There are numerous reliable and 100% efficient home remedies for the same. These are discussed underneath:

• Brown Rice: Brown or husked rice is considered to be the best source of thiamine, and therefore it should be made part of our regular diet. Try avoiding polished or dehusked rice as it lacks vitamin B1.
• Rice bran: This is the best of all known home remedies for beri beri. It has been practiced since long. Rice is boiled in excess of water and the water containing rice extract is drained and collected in a vessel. This water can be drank and has appropriate quantities of Vitamin B1.
• Legumes: Most of the legumes, seeds and nuts contain thiamine in there outer covering. These can be brought into use frequently if not regularly.
• Milk: Milk is a rich source of vitamins and other mineral nutrients and must be consumed on regular basis.
• Whole Grain Brown Bread: As mentioned by eMedicine, grains that contains outer layer of grains are very rich in thiamine. Feeding the individual with thiamine rich brown bread can also contribute to the vitamin content in the body.
• Healthy Diet: A balanced and proper diet consists of raw fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. This gives you not only Vitamin B1, but also all other essential minerals, vitamins and nutrients.
• Alagau: Alagau is a herb found only in Phillippines has been effective in treating this thiamine deficiency disease.
• Avoid drinking after meals: Vitamin B1 being water soluble compound tends to get drained out of body if excess liquid is drunk after meals.
• Avoid Fish: Shellfish, clams, mussels, shrimps, and raw tissue of animals contains an enzyme thiaminase which causes breakdown of thiamine, and hence there consumption must be avoided in order to retain the existing vitamin B1 in the body.

Except the extreme cases, a proper diet comprising of more thiamine then needed must be supplied as the body is in the recovering state. Excess thiamine is never harmful to the body. While the other complications involving cardiac and nervous system must be sought out by the help of medical practitioners and diagnosis must be performed as soon as possible. Intake of Vitamin B1 rich pills prove highly advantageous and are observed to lend relief to the patient within a short span of time. A healthy diet rich in rice can always keep you away from beri beri.

This article was contributed by Seema Adnani

Back to Home Remedies

References: Nursing Nonprescription Drug Handbook and eMedicine.

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