Introduction
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the small intestine characterized by abdominal pain and discomfort and changes in bowel movements, such as altered hard and soft stools. It is divided into three types: IBS-C (with constipation), IBS-D (with diarrhoea), and mixed IBS. Although the pathophysiology is still not completely understood, it may involve genetic factors, altered gut microbiota, visceral hypersensitivity, and psychosocial factors. IBS causes major emotional distress and fatigue, although most structural abnormalities remain undetected.
In Ayurveda, IBS is considered Grahani Dosha, which refers to the altered ability of the small intestine to store and absorb nutrients. Ayurvedic treatment for irritable bowel syndrome mainly aims towards restoring digestive health through a personalized diet and lifestyle, internal medicines, and stress management techniques. The Ayurvedic cure for IBS involves the treatment of symptoms along with the causative factors by balancing doshas within the body and providing good digestion and absorption. Some home remedies for IBS in Ayurveda include herbs, spices, and dietary patterns that soothe the digestive system, easing symptoms. In this blog, let’s explore Ayurvedic remedies for IBS, including herbal therapies, dietary guidelines, and life changes for long-term relief and improved overall health.
Ayurvedic Remedies for IBS
Ayurvedic treatments for irritable bowel syndrome are designed to cure digestive issues and prevent recurrence, restoring balance or equilibrium among the doshas. The following treatment modalities are incorporated:
Internal medicines: Carminative, digestive, and intestinal restorative herbs that enhance digestion and absorption.
Therapies: Aimed at calming the mind and regulating bowel movement. They are –
- Abhyanga (Oil Therapy) is a procedure where warm medicated oil is applied over the body. The oil penetrates the deep tissues, relaxing the spasms and nourishing and strengthening the digestive organs.
- Swedana (Sudation) is a specialized treatment where medicated steam or warm herbal decoctions are administered to induce sweat. Swedana alleviates abdominal pain, bloating, and spasms, relaxing the intestinal muscles and relieving Vata-induced stiffness. Warm steam further penetrates the tissues, enhancing metabolism and relieving constipation and smooth bowel movement, supporting greater digestive function.
- Picha Vasti (Special Enema) uses herbal decoctions made of Pichila Dravya (slimy herbs) mixed with ghee or oil held in the rectum for an extended period, specifically intended to soothe inflamed mucosa while nourishing the deeply depleted tissues. This process enables the medications to be absorbed directly into the lower gastrointestinal tract, thus significantly reducing inflammation, re-establishing the damaged intestinal lining, and normalizing the erratic bowel movements due to irritable bowel syndrome.
- Anuvasana Vasti (Oil Enema), medicated oils reaching the colon offer lubrication on the intestinal walls, resolve dryness and spasms caused by vitiated Vata, and improve colon and rectum flexibility. The retained medicinal oils will reduce intestinal inflammation and normalize bowel movements in patients with IBS.
- Virechana (Purgation) gets rid of excess Pitta dosha, clearing out any excess toxins from the small intestine and liver, and this is particularly helpful in exceeding cases of diarrhoea with acidity and inflammation in IBS patients. This controlled cleansing restores digestive function and eliminates Ama, which hinders normal peristalsis and secretory activities within the gastrointestinal tract.
- Takra Dhara (Buttermilk Stream) involves pouring medicated buttermilk over the forehead (continuously); this procedure calms down the central nervous system and reduces gut-brain axis dysfunction that often aggravates IBS symptoms. The psychosomatic aspect of IBS is widely considered to be a critical factor in symptom persistence; thus, soothing the mind through this procedure leads to digestion improvement.
Home Remedies in Ayurveda
Various herbs and home remedies help in managing several symptoms of IBS:
- Regular intake of buttermilk restores the balance of bacteria in the gut. Season the buttermilk with cumin, asafoetida, and curry leaves, along with rock salt, and consume it after meals.
- Cumin seeds are digestive. Drinking water infused with cumin or a decoction prepared out of cumin is beneficial in alleviating bloating, pain, etc, symptoms.
- Pomegranate restores the small intestine’s capacity. Pomegranate rind decoction or pomegranate juice in a regular diet is beneficial.
- Drinking warm water helps in aiding digestion. Infusing the water with cumin or coriander provides added benefits.
- Ginger and fennel stimulate the secretion of enzymes and improve digestion. Incorporating them in the diet is beneficial.
- Coriander-infused water or decoction prepared out of coriander can reduce the urgency and frequency of bowel movements. Consume 1 glass twice or thrice a day.
Dietary Guidelines
Strict dietary guidelines can help manage IBS symptoms:
- Include: Old rice, jawar, gourd, coriander leaves, lentils, green grams soup, dried ginger, black pepper, wood apple, pomegranate, nutmeg, skimmed, hot milk, and hot water.
- Exclude: Maize, barley, pigeon pea, pea, cowpea, black gram, gram, soya bean, potato, sweet potato, onion, coconut, groundnut, chilli, oily food, chicken, mango, pineapple, apple, watermelon, cashew, pumpkin gourd, papaya, and jack fruit.
- Consume asy-to-digest foods
- Unwholesome diet and habits should be avoided
Lifestyle Adjustments
Lifestyle changes are not appropriate for an I-burdening diet.
- Mind-body therapy includes complete rest, adequate sleep, and avoidance of tension and urge suppression.
- Regular practice of Yoga and Pranayama will manage stress and improve overall well-being.
By personalized Ayurveda treatment that addresses the root causes of IBS, one could often find long-lasting relief and, therefore, an improved quality of life.
Apollo AyurVAID provides customised IBS treatment, blending classical Ayurveda care with dietary recommendations, lifestyle adjustments, and other functional solutions. Assessments include stool profiling, food sensitivity screening, gut microbiome analysis, metabolic profiling, and psychosocial stress impact evaluations. Anti-inflammatory dietary recommendations may be complemented by activities for restoring the microbiome, managing stress levels, and lifestyle modifications. Major outcomes include controlled bowel movement, reduced dependency on steroids, lessened abdominal pain and discomfort, less urgency to defecate, better stool consistency, long-term remission, better digestion and metabolism, reduced risk for complications, better life standard, and enhanced mental well-being.
Conclusion
The comprehensive and individualized nature of Ayurveda in treating IBS emphasizes uprooting the problem instead of simply masking symptoms. The treatment strategy involves personalized dietary recommendations based on the constitution of an individual concerning the particular dosha or doshas influencing the different aspects of the ailments: cumin and asafoetida being digestive promoters, medicines for the treatment of the digestive fire like Takradhara and Picha Vasti, and stress management via meditation and yoga. Such measures would rectify dosha imbalances, improve digestive capacity, and ameliorate natural rhythm.
References
- Gautam, M, Mishra, P K (2024). AYURVEDIC & CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVE OF IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME – CONCEPTUAL STUDY. January 2024. https://doi.org/10.46607/iamj1812012024
- Patil, G, Chaudhari, S Y (2024). Ayurveda management of irritable bowel syndrome. Journal of Ayurveda Case Reports. https://doi.org/10.4103/jacr.
jacr_278_23 - Patil, S. S. (2022). Grahani Roga management by Ayurveda principles and lifestyle modification. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 16(03), 1053–1057. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.
2022.16.3.1428 - Markunda, M et al. (2023). A comparative clinical study on the effect of Takra Basti and Erandamooladi Niruha Basti in the management of Grahani (IBS) International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine. https://doi.org/10.47552/ijam.v14i1.3253
- Verma, S et al. (2024). Effective Management of Irritable Bowel Disease (Grahani) through Ayurveda: A Case Report. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH. https://doi.org/10.7860/jcdr/20
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