Three Plants I Use to Treat My Sickle Cell Symptoms

It has been around 2 years since I made the decision to stop taking drugs and treatments for my sickle cell. This was a difficult decision to make but at the time anything seemed better than what I was going through. Even death felt like a better alternative. I felt like I had no quality of life and couldn’t see any likely improvement for my future.

Striving for a holistic approach

I have always taken my health very seriously and can honestly say that I make sensible decisions. As well as making decisions I think are right for me. This has not been received well on many occasions and I have often faced backlash from my doctors for not agreeing to what is recommended by them. Still, I have always tried to remain assertive in my choices, no matter the opinions of others.

Even though I decided not to take drugs or treatments, I believed that there were other things I could do to achieve the same or similar results. I have always thought about taking a more holistic approach to managing my sickle cell, but whenever I brought this up to my doctors it was shut down very quickly.

Plants for sickle cell

Since deciding to go on my own journey of managing my sickle cell, I began to look into natural herbs and plants. I started with the ones that I had access to and done deeper research into the health benefits they may have. I found that many symptoms of sickle cell could potentially be treated holistically using these herbs and plants and have tried a few of them over the past 2 years.

Here are 3 (of the many) plants that have health benefits with potential to help symptoms of people living with sickle cell.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass is a plant that has plenty of health benefits. Some studies show it could help increase hemoglobin levels and red blood cell levels in your body. I use lemongrass by boiling the leaves to make tea.¹

Noni

Noni, which is scientifically known as Morinda citrifolia, is a fruit bearing plant. All parts of the plant (the seed, leaves and the fruit) have an ancient history of therapeutic uses. Noni has been traditionally used to treat anxiety and joint pain, and to boost the immune system.²

Moringa oleifera

Moringa oleifera is a plant rich in antioxidants that has been used for centuries due to its medicinal properties. It is thought that the plant may increase a person’s red blood cell count by helping the body to absorb more iron, and therefore being helpful in treating sickle cell disease.

Do your research and ask your doctor

I have personally tried all 3 of these plants and can attest to their benefits since my health has only improved since implementing them into my lifestyle. However, I would advise you to do your own research. Look into the side effects of these plants as some can react to certain medicines as well as cause other symptoms such as high bilirubin levels, and negative impacts on individuals with kidney problems. But do keep an open mind and remember that all treatments and drugs come with side effects.

It’s all about making the right decisions for you.