Home Remedies and Herbs for Scurvy

Scurvy is a condition caused by a severe deficiency in vitamin C. An essential nutrient to health, vitamin C can only be obtained through food sources or supplements, such as fruits and vegetables. The body cannot produce vitamin C on its own. As most people get enough vitamin C in their diets, scurvy is actually a very rare condition.¹

Scurvy is defined as having an extreme vitamin C deficiency for at least 3 straight months. Scurvy is often associated with sailors, who used to be away on long trips and didn’t have enough foods with vitamin C content. As a result, they developed scurvy due to their nutritional deficiency.¹
 
What Causes Scurvy?

The only cause of scurvy is a severe lack of vitamin C over a long period of time. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for maintaining and developing healthy bones, teeth, skin, tissues and blood vessels. In order to absorb iron and produce collagen, the body needs a certain amount of vitamin C to metabolize these functions. Without enough vitamin C, the body cannot maintain these essential health functions, which causes scurvy symptoms.^1,2

People who are most at-risk for developing scurvy are those who have eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Additionally, anyone adhering to strict and restrictive diets may also not be getting enough vitamin C in their diet.^1,2

People with poor dietary habits overall and who rarely eat fruits and vegetables are also very much at-risk for having dangerously low levels of vitamin C. People with severe digestive disorders like Crohn's disease and colitis may not be absorbing enough vitamin C and may be at risk of developing scurvy.^1,2

Scurvy Symptoms

Scurvy symptoms include:

• Loss of appetite
• Inability to gain weight
• Bleeding gums
• Diarrhea
• Irritability
• Brain fog
• Fatigue
• Pain and bruising in the legs

Changes in skin, teeth and hair health may also indicate a vitamin C deficiency.
 
Natural Remedies and Herbs for Scurvy

The best way to remedy scurvy is to add vitamin C back into your diet with these foods:

• Amla - Amla is high in vitamin C and other antioxidants for preventing scurvy symptoms.
• Arborvitae Oil - Containing high levels of vitamin C, arborvitae oil is called the Tree of Life and helps prevent and heal scurvy.
• Black Currant - Black currant fruits are high in vitamin C content and can help reverse deficiencies.
• Broccoli - Broccoli is a food rich in vitamin C that can help boost nutrient levels.

References

1. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scurvy/
2. https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/08/29/scurvy-symptoms.aspx