basophil count

Question

I recently had a routine blood test, and everything came back mostly normal except for one thing—my basophil count was slightly high. I had no idea what that even meant, so I asked the doctor, and they said basophils are a type of white blood cell involved in inflammation and allergies. They didn’t seem too concerned, but I still don’t understand why my basophil count is high.

I haven’t been sick recently, but I do have seasonal allergies. Could that be affecting my basophil count? Also, I sometimes get random skin rashes that come and go, and my digestion has been a little sluggish lately. Could these things be connected to basophils in some way?

I started looking into Ayurveda because I want to understand what’s causing this instead of just waiting and doing another test later. Does Ayurveda have an explanation for why basophil count can be high? Are there natural remedies to bring it back to normal levels?

Also, I read that high basophil count can sometimes be linked to chronic inflammation. If that’s true, does Ayurveda have anti-inflammatory herbs that can help? I’ve seen things like Turmeric and Ashwagandha being recommended for immunity, but do they actually help with high basophils?

Should I be avoiding any foods that might trigger high basophil count? I eat a lot of dairy and wheat—could that be making things worse? I don’t want to ignore this if it could be an early sign of something bigger.

Would love to hear if Ayurveda has a natural way to balance basophil count and reduce inflammation in the body.

Dr. Harsha Joy · Answer

In Ayurveda, a high basophil count can be seen as a sign of an underlying imbalance, often related to excess inflammation or allergic reactions, which could be linked to the presence of toxins (ama) in the body or an imbalance in the doshas, particularly Pitta. Seasonal allergies and skin rashes may indeed be contributing to the inflammation, which can cause the body to produce more white blood cells like basophils. Ayurvedic remedies such as Turmeric, Ashwagandha, and Triphala can help reduce inflammation and support the immune system naturally, while also improving digestion, which might be sluggish due to an imbalance in Agni (digestive fire). Additionally, foods that are heavy or inflammatory, like dairy and wheat, might exacerbate these issues, so it’s beneficial to reduce these and opt for a lighter, easily digestible diet with foods that balance Pitta, such as cooling herbs and fresh vegetables. Avoiding processed foods and focusing on anti-inflammatory foods like ginger, garlic, and green leafy vegetables can also support the reduction of high basophil counts and inflammation. Ayurvedic treatments, including detoxification (Panchakarma), can help balance the immune system and bring overall harmony to the body.

basophil count - #17306

Doctors’ responses

If you need a detailed answer, ask the Ayurvedic doctor your question

About our doctors

Related questions