Anemia (Iron-Deficiency)

Why it works: It contains iron plus vitamin C (which boosts non-heme iron absorption). Moringa leaves provide iron along with vitamin C that can enhance absorption of plant (non-heme) iron. Gene...

Instructions: There’s no universal medical “dose” of moringa for IDA, but clinical protocols and feasibility studies suggest workable ranges:. • Leaf powder (food use): 1–3 teaspoons daily (≈2.4...

Warnings: Pregnancy: Leaves are widely used in foods, but avoid moringa root, bark, and flowers—they may stimu...

Studies: Single-blind RCT (biscuits, pregnant women): Moringa-leaf bi...

Why it works: It replaces the missing substrate for haemoglobin. Iron is required to make haemoglobin; deficiency limits red-cell production and oxygen delivery. Repleting iron (oral or IV) corr...

Instructions: 1) Choose a formulation & dose (adults). • First-line oral options are ferrous salts (e.g., ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate). A typical elemental iron target i...

Warnings: Common, usually mild (oral): nausea, constipation/diarrhoea, dark stools. Consider lower doses or al...

Studies: Oral iron restores Hb and iron stores and reduces anaemia ri...

Why it works: Enhances non-heme iron absorption. Vitamin C reduces ferric (Fe³⁺) to ferrous (Fe²⁺) iron and forms soluble chelates in the duodenum, improving uptake from plant foods and most ora...

Instructions: First line is iron—not Vitamin C. Use an evidence-based oral iron regimen (e.g., ferrous sulfate 40–65 mg elemental iron per dose), often once daily or on alternate days to maximiz...

Warnings: Kidney stones (especially in men): High-dose Vitamin C supplements (~1,000 mg/day) are associated wi...

Studies: Large RCT (JAMA Network Open, 2020): 440 adults with IDA ran...

Why it works: What B12 does treat: B12 is essential for DNA synthesis in red-cell precursors; deficiency causes megaloblastic (macrocytic) anemia. Replacing B12 (oral high-dose or injections) co...

Instructions: If testing shows B12 deficiency:. Typical first-line (NHS):. • Hydroxocobalamin injections every other day for ~2 weeks, then every 2–3 months lifelong if the cause isn’t dietary (...

Warnings: Don’t use B12 to treat IDA. Doing so can delay appropriate iron therapy and investigation of bleedin...

Studies: B12 corrects B12-deficiency anemia (not IDA): • NIH ODS fact...

Why it works: It contains (a little) non-heme iron. Raw beetroot has roughly ~0.8–1.0 mg iron per 100 g—useful, but modest. Non-heme iron (from plants) is less readily absorbed than heme iron fr...

Instructions: There’s no clinical guideline that prescribes beetroot to treat IDA. If you enjoy beets and want to use them alongside the treatment your clinician recommends:. Portion & forms tha...

Warnings: Kidney stones (oxalate): Beets and beet greens are high-oxalate foods. People with a history of calc...

Studies: On beetroot specifically and haemoglobin/iron statusThe lite...

Why it works: May enhance iron absorption (adjunct to oral iron): A narrative review collating in-vitro, animal, and limited human data concludes ginger (rich in polyphenols like gingerols/shoga...

Instructions: There’s no standardized dosing for treating IDA with ginger. Where instructions do exist comes from HMB trials (indirectly relevant to IDA from menstrual loss) and from small adjun...

Warnings: Bleeding risk / anticoagulants & antiplatelets: Ginger has potential antiplatelet effects; case repo...

Studies: Heavy menstrual bleeding RCT (indirect for IDA): • Kashefi e...

Why it works: Improves iron handling & uptake. A controlled lab/animal study on IDA found DBT increased cellular iron uptake and ferritin formation and suggested co-administration with iron can...

Instructions: Classical composition & prep. • Ingredients (5:1 ratio): Huangqi (Astragali Radix) 30 g + Danggui (Angelicae sinensis Radix) 6 g per day—a classical starting point recorded since 1...

Warnings: Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Avoid DBT (and Dang Gui) in pregnancy/breastfeeding unless specifically d...

Studies: Evidence directly on IDASystematic review & meta-analysi...

Why it works: TCM rationale: Gui Pi Tang “augments Qi, nourishes Blood, strengthens the Spleen, and nourishes the Heart,” patterns that often co-present with fatigue, palpitations, poor appetite...

Instructions: 1) Formula & dosage (traditional):. • A typical decoction uses the classical ingredient set; a veterinary journal’s human-oriented “formula spotlight” (helpful for exact herb amoun...

Warnings: Because Gui Pi Tang is a multi-herb formula, consider the sum of component risks—especially dong qua...

Studies: Evidence directly testing Gui Pi Tang in iron-deficiency ane...

Why it works: They contain non-heme iron. Depending on form, ~2–3 mg iron per 28–30 g (~¼ cup) serving is typical (≈10–17% of the adult Daily Value). Data compiled from USDA FoodData Central sho...

Instructions: Serving & frequency. • Aim for ¼–½ cup (30–60 g) daily as part of meals/snacks if you tolerate the calories. This yields ≈3–6 mg iron/day from seeds. (Nutrient reference for raw hu...

Warnings: Not a substitute for iron therapy. If you have confirmed IDA, guidelines recommend oral iron (or IV...

Studies: There is limited, mostly small or lower-quality evidence loo...