IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) is characterized by recurrent abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and constipation. It is often diagnosed based on symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. In Ayurveda, IBS can be considered as Agnimandyajanya vikara. The main dosha involved in its etiology is Vata Dosha associated with Pitta and Kapha Dosha.
Factors causing GI disorders as per Ayurveda
a) Physical causes
- Irregular & sedentary lifestyle
- Irregular meal timings
- Intake of contra-indicated food like fruits and milk
- Excess water consumption
- Regular intake of heavy, spicy, oily, refrigerated food
- Excess intake of tea and coffee
- The habit of sleeping immediately after lunch
- Smoking, drinking & excess intake of non-veg
- Holding up natural urges like urine, bowels, etc.
- Stress physically or mentally
- Staying awake at night and disturbed sleep
b) Mental causes:
Stress, grief, fear, sorrow, and anxiety
Steps for Ayurvedic Management of IBS
- Agnidipana: This process involves the correction of the digestive fire and it is treated by reducing ama (undigested toxins) from the GI tract. Ama can be reduced with the help of digestive herbs and other potent Ayurvedic preparations.
For regulating the digestive fire (Deepana-Pachana), you can consume Ashta churna, Dipakyadi churna or Hinguvachadi churna.
- Vatanulomana: This is the process that involves correction and balancing out the vitiated Vata Dosha.
- Shodhana: This is the process of body detoxification or purification.
- Shamana: It is a healing treatment in Ayurveda that aims at rejuvenating and restoring the balance of the body after the process of detoxification takes place.
- Ayurvedic formulations: This involves the usage of Ayurvedic formulations prepared from natural herbs and their extracts
- Nidana Parivarjana: It means avoiding the causative factors, maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a restricted diet, yoga, and meditation.
- Panchkarma:therapy for IBS includes
- Abhyanga (therapeutic body massage with medicated oils)
- Shirodhara (medicated warm oil therapy on forehead)
- Chakra basti (warm oil treatment around the naval and associated marma points) to relax the digestive system.
Ayurvedic diet modifications that can help in IBS
- Reduce the intake of fried foods, spicy processed foods, meats, oil, dairy foods
- Increase dietary fiber intake- Taking more soluble fibers can help prevent diarrhea, sources such as beans, oatmeal, apples, strawberries, and grapes.
- Drink enough water and avoid taking water while you eat. Having water 1 hour before and after your meals will help considerably.
- Take probiotic foods like curd, kimchi yogurt, aged rice, jawar, skimmed milk,.
- Consuming vegetables like gourds, lentils, coriander leaves, grams soup.
- Certain herbs like black pepper, dried ginger, garlic, cumin, cinnamon, clove, turmeric, coriander, bay leaf, aloe vera
- Ginger soothes most of IBS symptoms; one can have it in morning tea or other drinks.
- Buttermilk, sour gruel, and arista should be taken as a post-meal drink.
Important yoga poses to mitigate IBS symptoms
These are some of the poses that can help you give long-term relief.
- Dhanurasana (Bow pose)
- Adhomukha Shavasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose)
- Ardha-matsyendra-asana (Sitting Half-Spinal twist)
- Pavana-muktasana (Wind-relieving pose)
- Bhujangasana (Cobra pose)
Conclusion
IBS has affected more people than one can imagine, because of the most prominent reasons being unhealthy lifestyle and stress. Various Ayurvedic diet tips, herbs, formulations, and therapies can help immensely. Ayurvedic treatment of IBS is natural and does not lead to any side effects. You can contact online Ayurvedic doctors at Total Ayurveda Care and get more healthy tips. As we at TAC believe that everybody is different in its own way. Get in touch with our experts now and learn what suits your body the best.