Hello I totally understand your anxiety and emotional turmoil. It is really a scary thing to go through such a situation that you lose weight without trying, feel weak and see that you look much older than your age especially when it is a result of surgery and a long-term medication. But don’t worry, we are here to help you out 😊
YOUR CONCERN
You are undergoing: Age: 52 years Laparoscopic gall bladder removal (Aug 23) Heart blockage (as per angiography) – on cardiac medicines for 1.5 years BP since 35 years – on long-term medication Unintentional weight loss ~11 kg over 1 year Weakness, fatigue, loss of vitality
Looks much older than actual age Low hemoglobin (~10 g/dl) Poor appetite and digestion Limited physical activity due to health issues
Your reports are nearly all normal, but your body is obviously not in good shape.
AYURVEDIC UNDERSTANDING (ROOT CAUSE)
According to Ayurveda, this is a typical Dhatu Kshaya (tissue depletion) situation with very severe Vata aggravation and the aggravation was caused by a combination of factors:
👉After Gall Bladder Removal
The gall bladder is the organ that helps in fat digestion (Pitta & Meda metabolism) When it is removed, digestion becomes weak (Mandagni) Causes: Impaired absorption Weight loss Dryness Weakness Premature aging appearance
👉 Long-term Medication Load BP medicines (35 years) + cardiac medicines
These slowly: Suppress digestive fire Deplete Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa & Meda dhatu Reduce Ojas (vital energy)
👉 Anemia (Hb ~10) Just low hemoglobin can lead to: Severe weakness Weight loss Pale, aged look Hair, skin, and muscle depletion
👉Appetite Loss This is the most important thing. If Agni is weak, even the best food will not nourish the body.
It is not normal aging, not cancer if all the reports are normal, it is just functional exhaustion of the system.
CAN YOU LOOK & FEEL YOUR AGE AGAIN?
Yes. But the approach has to be rebuilding, nourishing, and gentle, not an aggressive detox or fasting.
AYURVEDIC TREATMENT PLAN
FIRST GOAL: IMPROVE DIGESTION & ABSORPTION
Without this, nothing will work.
Arogyavardhini Vati – 1-0-1 after food very low dose (supports liver & digestion post-GB surgery) Hingwashtak Churna –¼ tsp with first bite of food Jeerakarishta – 15ml-0-15ml small dose after meals
FOR ANEMIA & WEAKNESS Punarnava Mandura 1-0-1 after food – best for anemia with weakness
These help to rebuild Rakta dhatu and strength.
RASAYANA (ANTI-AGING & REJUVENATION)
Once digestion is good: Ashwagandha Rasayana 1 tsp morning empty stomach – for strength, muscle & nerves
This help to bring back - Glow Facial fullness Muscle tone Energy
DETOX – BUT ONLY GENTLE No strong Panchakarma now
What you need is Deepana–Pachana + Mild Anulomana, not harsh detox Gentle detox is: Regulating bowels Improving liver metabolism Removing Ama slowly Later (after strength improves): Rasayana-based Panchakarma, not cleansing Panchakarma.
DIET (MOST CRITICAL PART)
MUST INCLUDE
Warm, freshly cooked meals Rice, wheat, moong dal Homemade ghee (½–1 tsp/day) Milk (if tolerated) with turmeric Dates, figs soaked overnight Vegetable soups, khichdi
AVOID
Raw salads Dry snacks Intermittent fasting Cold foods & drinks Excess tea/coffee
👉now, light food is your enemy—you need nourishing food.
LIFESTYLE & DAILY ROUTINE
Sleep before 10 pm Gentle morning sunlight Short walks only (no overexertion) Daily Abhyanga (oil massage) with sesame or Bala taila (This alone can reverse aging signs)
INVESTIGATIONS I STRONGLY ADVISE (To rule out hidden causes of weight loss)
CBC with peripheral smear Ferritin Vitamin B12, D3 ESR / CRP Thyroid profile Stool occult blood
WHAT RESULTS YOU CAN EXPECT - Appetite improves in 2–3 weeks - Weight stabilizes in 4–6 weeks - Energy and strength return gradually - Face regains glow & fullness - You start looking closer to your real age
IMPORTANT REASSURANCE
Your condition is not an indication of something grave if all tests are normal. It is a sign of system-wide depletion which Ayurveda is especially good at fixing.
Warm regards, healing & strength to you, Dr Snehal Vidhate
Maam one thing to inform you is that I am having constipation issues too…all medicines tried and tasted …nothing works on me except swadish virechan churna.Even after having it I have stools thrice a week . Do you have something to stop my ACID REFLUX ISSUES (even if I have small meals) and constipation issues
Take makardwaja 1tab bd, agastya rasyanam 1tsp,tab ashwagandha 1tab bd enough u ll get results
Dr RC BAMS MS
Thank you for contacting Ask Ayurveda…
I can understand how distressing it is to feel that your body looks old so much faster than your actual years, especially when you have been careful with treatment…
What you’re experiencing is not merely a cosmetic concern.It indicates that the body strength, nourishment, and recovery mechanisms are under pressure .
There are a few very important factors that need to be looked at together… You have undergone gall bladder removal, you have a known heart blockage and are on regular medicines, and you have been taking blood pressure tablets for 35 years. Along with this, there has been unexplained weight loss, low hb and persistent weakness.
In Ayurveda, when such changes happen without any dietary restriction, it usually indicates depletion of body tissues rather than a new acute disease. It builds up gradually…
After gall bladder removal, digestion will be impaired . Appetite may be less. Motions may be irregular,the deeper process of digestion and absorption becomes inefficient. Food is eaten in adequate quantity. Here the food consumed is not properly converted into strength. Slowly, the body starts running on reserve.
This leads first to weakness. Then weight loss. Then loss of muscle tone, dryness of skin, and a prematurely aged appearance.
When Ojas in our body declines, a person looks older, feels weak, and tires easily. Even if reports are “acceptable”.
The weight loss of about 11 kg without any change in food intake is particularly important. This is not normal ageing. It suggests loss of muscle and tissue mass rather than fat loss. In Ayurveda, this is a clear sign of mamsa dhatu kshaya . This alone can make the face appear sunken, the body look frail, and the overall appearance much older than the actual age.simple as that .
Regarding your hemoglobin of around 10, while it may be labelled as “mild anemia” in reports, in your situation it is significant. With a history of heart disease, low hemoglobin means reduced oxygen delivery to tissues. This results in fatigue, weakness, breathlessness on exertion, and dull skin.
Your symptoms do not automatically point toward something dangerous ,especially since your reports are otherwise normal. But they do indicate that your body is functioning in a depleted state and is not rebuilding itself properly. This stage is very real. Unfortunately, it is often missed because investigations do not always show abnormalities.
you can start on Punarnavadi mandura 1 BD Ashwagandha Leh 1/2 tsp with warm milk at night Arjuna tab 1 BD Avipattikara churna 1/2 tsp before meals Erand bhristh Haritaki 1 teaspoon with warm milk at night
The good news is that your condition is reversible to a large extent. The aim of treatment should not be “anti-ageing” in a cosmetic sense. That approach does not work here. The focus should be on deep rebuilding and rejuvenation (Rasayana) — improving digestion and absorption, gently nourishing blood and muscle tissues, restoring strength, and rebuilding Ojas. All this while continuing your cardiac and blood pressure medicines safely.
I would strongly advise that this be approached in a gradual.
Please remember this. What you are feeling is your body asking for deeper nourishment and care. It is not giving up. With the right, guidance and some patience, improvement is very much possible.
Warm regards, Dr Prasad
