of Beri Beri
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- What is beri beri?
- Symptoms of beri beri
- Causes of beri beri
- Prevention of beri beri
- Risk factors for beri beri
- Complications of beri beri
- When to see a doctor about beri beri
- Diagnosis of beri beri
- Conventional treatment of beri beri
- Alternative/complementary treatment of beri beri
- Living with beri beri
- Caring for someone with beri beri
Alternative / complementary treatment of beri beri
The alternative/complementary treatment of beri beri is the same as the conventional treatment.
People who have a serious deficiency in vitamin B1 (thiamin) must see their doctor to have vitamin B1 (thiamin) injected intravenously (as this is the best way to provide higher doses of this vitamin, quickly and effectively, bypassing the stomach and intestines) to prevent any worsening of symptoms and possible complications.
Herbs
There are no herbs which are useful for treating beri beri.
Vitamins
There is one main vitamin which is useful for treating beri beri:
- Vitamin B1 (thiamin) - a deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamin) is the sole cause of beri beri and people who are at risk of having a deficiency in this vitamin should be taking supplements (as recommended by their doctor) or to have vitamin B1 (thiamin) injected intravenously. People at risk of deficiency must have a blood test and not self prescribe this vitamin
- B vitamins - the other B vitamins may be recommended as they help each other function better. A doctor will recommend the best treatment option, which may include either a supplement (or an intravenous injection) with the other B vitamins too
Minerals
There are no minerals which are useful for treating beri beri.
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Other nutrients
There are no other nutrients which are useful for treating beri beri.
Dietary modifications
There are some useful dietary modifications to help avoid beri beri or reduce worsening of symptoms:
- Eat foods high vitamin B1 (thiamin) - the diet should be modified to include foods rich in vitamin B1 (thiamin), as an adjunct to any medication (supplements and/or intravenous injection) so that symptoms may be reduced and complications can be prevented. Foods that are rich in vitamin B1 are: Legumes (chickpeas, beans, soya), liver, nuts (almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecan nuts, walnuts), seeds (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower), pork, wheatgerm, wholegrains
- Healthy diet - since beri beri is predominantly a nutritional disorder, which occurs when there is a deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamin) it is highly recommended to eat a variety of foods, which are rich in vitamins, minerals and the amino acids, to help reduce the risk of any other nutritional deficiencies
Lifestyle modifications
There are no lifestyle modifications which are useful for treating beri beri.
Alternative treatments
There are no other alternative treatments which are useful for treating beri beri.
Always ensure that you notify your medical practitioner of any supplements that you want to take - it may interfere with other medication or conditions you have. Confirm with your doctor it is safe to take BEFORE you try it.
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