25 Home Remedies for Scurvy

Scurvy is the medical term for a vitamin C deficiency. It can lead to lots of health problems including anemia, exhaustion, spontaneous bleeding, pain in the limbs, particularly the legs, swelling in different parts of the body, and, in some cases, ulceration of the gums and loss of teeth. Luckily, scurvy is rare can home remedies for the survey can usually cure the ailment quickly.

Although often thought of as an ancient disease most commonly linked with pirates, scurvy still exists today. Modern cases of scurvy are extremely rare but it does still occur in some places throughout the world.

Symptoms of Scurvy

One of the most visible symptoms of scurvy is the damage and loss of teeth. Vitamin C is also crucial to the production of collagen and if collagen is not produced the tissues in your body will start to break down.

Dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and carnitine are all needed for the production of energy and they’re all synthesized from vitamin C.

If you develop scurvy you will start to notice symptoms in around eight to twelve weeks. These early signs can include the following:

• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Irritability
• Lethargy

As the condition progresses you may start to experience other symptoms such as…

• Anemia
• Chronic bone pain
• Swelling
• Small red spots (petechiae) resulting from bleeding under the skin
• Corkscrew hairs
• Gum disease
• Loss of teeth
• Mood changes
• Poor wound healing
• Shortness of breath
• Jaundice
• Fever
• Spontaneous bleeding

Home Remedies for Scurvy

1. Indian Gooseberry (Amla)

Indian gooseberries are a rich source of vitamin C, making them one of the most effective and beneficial home remedies for scurvy. You can drink their juices or take a teaspoon of dried amla powder with milk every day.  

 

2. Lemons

Lemons are a great home remedy for many diseases, including scurvy. In fact, they can both treat existing conditions and prevent you from developing scurvy in the future. They’re rich in Vitamin C and are thought to have therapeutic effects which may help to relieve some of the mood swings and help you sleep to restore your energy.

Simply squeeze a lemon and mix the juice with some water. You can add a teaspoon of honey to sweeten the taste if you want to. Drink this juice two or three times a day until your scurvy is cured.

 

3. Lime

Limes can be used much in the same way as lemons as they have a high content of vitamin C. Mix the juice of one lime with some water and honey and drink twice a day.

 

4. Amchur

Amchur can be found in skinned green mango fruits. It can be extracted by slices the fruits, drying them and crushed into a powder. Taking fifteen grams of amchur each day could give your immediate relief from your symptoms and could also cure your scurvy when taken over time.

5. Potato

Potatoes are a very common vegetable that makes a great home remedy for scurvy. It’s packed full of vitamin C and so can be consumed in order to reduce the risk of developing the deficiency or treating an existing case.

 

6. Jaundice Berry

Jaundice berries are a very beneficial home remedy for scurvy. The leaves are full of powerful anti-scurvy and antiscorbutic compounds. You can boil fifteen grams of the leaves in 500ml of water and drink in batches of 150ml. You could also try drinking the juices from the berries themselves. This should help to cure your scurvy.  

 

7. White Lilac Flowers

White lilac flowers are a very powerful home remedy for scurvy. Boil a handful of flowers in a pot of water for fifteen minutes. Strain the liquid and let it cool to a drinkable temperature and drink two to three glasses over the course of the day. Doing this for three consecutive days should cure your scurvy.

8. Mint Tea

Mint tea isn’t just a great refreshing drink, it could also help to cure your case of scurvy. Drinking three or four glasses a day over the course of two or three days should restore your levels of vitamin C to a healthy level.

9. Mango Powder

Using raw mango powder in your cooking is another great home remedy for scurvy thanks to its high vitamin C content.

 

10. Oranges

Oranges are a rich source of ascorbic acid and are an effective home remedy for scurvy. Drink a glass of orange juice each morning to give your body the essential nutrition it needs to treat and prevent scurvy. Eating oranges as part of your five-a-day will also help.

 

11. Cabbage

As a rich source of vitamin C, cabbage is a great home remedy for scurvy. Try to include more as part of your meals and you’ll not only treat scurvy but ensure you’re on your way to getting your five-a-day too.

12. Broccoli

Just 100 grams of Broccoli contains 89 mg of Vitamin C. This makes it a potent home remedy for scurvy. Steamed broccoli will retain more of its nutritional value than boiled broccoli, so try steaming rather than boiling next time you add the vegetable to your meals. You could also add it to a stir-fry or roast it.

 

13. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are packed full of vitamin C and therefore make a great home remedy for scurvy. Try including some in your salads or sandwiches each day.

 

14. Sweet Potatoes

Much like white potatoes, sweet potatoes are a rich source of vitamin C. They can be added to most meals and cooked in a variety of ways which makes them not only effective but versatile too.

 

15. Bell Peppers

Bell peppers are another rich source of vitamin C in all of their various varieties. Yellow peppers contain the highest amount of this essential vitamin with green peppers having the least.

16. Guava

Guava is another fruit which is packed full of vitamin C which is needed to prevent and treat scurvy. Try eating this fruit often to use it as a home remedy for scurvy.

 

17. Kiwi

Kiwi fruits have a 96% vitamin C content making them one of the richest fruit sources of the vitamin. You can eat them on their own, as part of a dessert or in a fruit salad as a positive home remedy for scurvy.

18. Papaya

Like all good home remedies for scurvy, papaya is another great source of vitamin C. Moderate consumption of papaya fruits and juices is an effective treatment of Scurvy.

 

19. Strawberries

Strawberries are packed full of vitamin C too. Like kiwis, they’re great in desserts, fruit salads or on their own. Plus, their naturally sweet flavor makes them a popular favorite among many people.

20. Green Chilies

Green chilies are one of the richest sources of vitamin C, which makes eating green chilies one of the most effective home remedies for scurvy. Of course, you have to be able to handle the heat if you’re going to be adding them to your meals!

 

21. Raw Brussels Sprouts

A single 100 gram serving of Brussels sprouts provides 75 mg of vitamin C, which is a substantial portion of your recommended daily intake. Sprouts also help to heal your body with their rich ascorbic acid content.

 

22. Wood Apple

Wood apple contains a number of compounds which help to treat scurvy including oxalic, malic-citric acid and concentrated tannic acid. The pulp of ripe wood apples can be consumed orally to help treat scurvy and prevent future occurrences.

 

23. Thyme

Thyme is one of the most effective herbal remedies for scurvy as it contains 160mg of vitamin C per 100 grams. It can be added to most meals to add a little flavor and treat scurvy.  

 

25. Get Out and Get Active

Being outdoors and getting active in the fresh air can really help your body absorb all the vitamins and nutrients it needs to prevent and treat scurvy.

Which of these home remedies for scurvy will you try? Comment below!

References

http://www.planetayurveda.com/library/home-remedies-for-scurvy

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155758.php

https://www.healthline.com/health/scurvy#treatment

https://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/use-natural-home-remedies-to-cure-scurvy