Herbal Remedies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Ayurvedic Treatment – Causes & Symptoms

Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. The peristaltic movements of the walls of the intestine help in the movement of the contents in the tract. In case of irritable bowel syndrome, the walls of the intestine get sensitive even towards the mild stimulus and therefore causes excessive cramps. Irregular sleep and diet pattern, stress, not paying attention towards the diet, not exercising properly, eating more of fast food and bakery products cause imbalance in digestive power. Hence the person becomes more susceptible to IBS.

CAUSES

• Stress and anxiety
• Infectious diarrhea
• Consuming excess of alcohol, caffeinated products and carbonated drinks
• Lactose intolerance
• Gluten intolerance
• Consuming more of fast, junk, processed and bakery food products.

SYMPTOMS

• Thirst
• Distaste
• Pedal edema
• Pain in the bones
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain, cramps and discomfort
• Increased abdominal contractions after eating meals
• Constipation
• Flatulence
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Tiredness
• Low back pain
• Difficult urination
• Mucus or blood stained stools

AYURVEDIC VIEW AND TREATMENT ACCORDING TO CHANDIGARH AYURVED CENTRE

According to Ayurveda, Irritable Bowel Syndrome is compared with the Grahni Dosha. In Ayurveda, Grahni is the part of the maha srotas or the alimentary canal. It is the seat of digestive fire and performs the function of holding the food until it is digested and then releases it. When the digestive fire gets hampered due to the above causes, then the digestion does not take place properly and the rasa dhatu is not formed properly. As a result, there is production of the ama dosha or toxins in the body.

Accumulated ama dosha causes:

• Bloating
• Coating on the tongue
• Increased cholesterol levels
• Pain in the joints and whole body
• Blockage in the channels or the srotas
• Difficulty in the absorption of the nutrients

Besides this, Ayurveda also believes that the imbalance in any of the three doshas vata, pitta and kapha could affect the agni and cause the Grahni Dosha.

Line of treatment according to Ayurveda in case of Grahni Dosha is:

• Promoting the digestive fire and digesting the ama dosha using deepana, pachana, grahi and anulomana dravyas
• Strengthening the intestines or GI tract
• Balancing the vitiated doshas

Panchakarma therapies beneficial in case of Grahni Dosha are:

• Virechan karma
• Vaman karma
• Basti karma
• Sarvanga Abhyanga and shirodhara

Single Ayurvedic herbs beneficial in the condition are:

• Dashmoola
• Triphala
• Trikatu
• Neem
• Kutaja
• Mustak
• Chandan

Ayurvedic formulations recommended for Grahni dosha are:

• Lashun Rasayan
• Hingvadi Vati
• Chitrakadi Vati
• Shivakshara Pachana Churna
• Agnimukha Churna
• Triphala Churna
• Trikatu Churna
• Dadimashtak Churna
• Kutaj Ghan Parpati Vati
• Kutaj Bilwa Syrup
• Shankh Bhasma
• Prawal Panchamrit Rasa
• Aloe Vera Juice

DIET AND LIFESTYLE

• Eat old rice, jwar, coriander leaves, green gram soup, black pepper and dried ginger.
• Skimmed milk, buttermilk and hot water should be included in your diet
• Take in light and easily digestible foods.
• Have high fiber food in your diet.
• Reduce the intake of starch rich food such as processed and re-cooked foods as starch resists the process of digestion in the small intestine.
• Avoid difficult to digest foods such as white bread, cheese, cold, hard and raw foods.
• Consume fresh fruits and vegetables as well as fruit juices.
• Eat smaller meals frequently instead of taking large meals at one time.
• Avoid vata or flatulence causing food stuffs like beans, cabbage and citrus fruits.

HERBAL REMEDIES

• Take one teaspoon of isabgol with half cup of fresh yoghurt one hour after dinner.
• Boil one cup of flax seeds in one cup of water. Drink this tea at night.
• Drink ginger tea or chew raw ginger to reduce inflammation caused by irritable bowel syndrome.
• Drink one or two cups of peppermint tea as it relaxes the intestine, reduces spasms and relieves from the gas.
• Mix one teaspoon each of cinnamon, ginger and cumin powder with honey to make the paste. Take one teaspoon of this atleast three times a day.

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