Every time Renu skipped dinner or avoided cheese, she thought she’d finally feel better. Sometimes, she added a pinch of hing to her buttermilk. But the bloating? It came back. So did that uneasy feeling after meals. And the back-and-forth between constipation and loose stools.
For the longest time, she figured it was “just how her body worked.”
But no—it had a name. Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
This year’s World IBS Day theme—“What Would You Like to Know About IBS?”—is a chance to pause and look deeper at symptoms we often shrug off.
What is IBS? It’s Not Just ‘Gas’
“I didn’t even know it had a name,” Renu says. “I just thought it was something I had to live with.”
IBS is not a minor digestive issue. It is a chronic disease of the digestive tract, where the intestines do not function as they should, despite appearing normal in tests. The symptoms can be unpredictable and chronic.
“IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterised by a group of symptoms – abdominal cramps, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea or both. Other symptoms include incomplete evacuation of the bowels and mucus-mixed stools. As the disease progresses, patients may experience rectal bleeding and weight loss due to malabsorption,” explains Dr. Anagha J, Ayurveda physician at Apollo AyurVAID.
This physical discomfort often begins to affect emotional well-being too, disturbing sleep and triggering anxiety.
What is IBS Called in Ayurveda?
In Ayurveda, IBS symptoms are similar to those mentioned in Grahani—a condition linked to the derangement of Agni (digestive fire). Digestion becomes inefficient when Agni becomes Manda (weak) or Vishama (variable or irregular). Food remains partly processed, forming Ama (toxins), which disturbs the functioning of the intestines and affects nutrient absorption. This may result in constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, and other related symptoms.
What Causes IBS?
How Do You Know It’s IBS and Not Something Else?
One of the biggest challenges with IBS is that it mimics many other conditions. It’s often confused with:
- Food intolerances
- Gastritis
- Colitis
- Acidity
- Mental stress
But the chronic pattern of symptoms—alternating motions, bloating after eating, and the sense of incomplete bowel clearance—should not be ignored.
Many patients don’t seek help until the condition starts to affect energy levels, sleep, or emotional well-being. As Dr. Anagha notes:
“These symptoms of IBS will lead to other systemic impairments like headache episodes, sleep disturbances, emotional imbalances like anxiety, depression.”
Ayurvedic Treatment for IBS
People with IBS typically take antidiarrhoeal, anticonstipation, and antispasmodic medications when symptoms occur, though it is not a sustainable solution as it does not treat the root cause. The good news is that with Ayurveda, it is manageable, especially when treated early.
At Apollo AyurVAID, Ayurvedic treatment for IBS is not about offering quick relief for symptoms; it focuses on improving gut health and identifying what’s disturbing digestion in the first place—whether it’s food choices, erratic timings, stress, or poor sleep. Treatment aims to restore balance by correcting these triggers and improving bowel function gradually. Here’s what an Apollo AyurVAID approach includes:
- Assessing the individual’s Prakriti and Vikriti (constitution and imbalance)
- Correcting food choices, timings, and combinations based on digestive strength
- Balancing Agni through mild herbal formulations and diet therapy
- Removing Ama from the gut through Panchakarma cleansing when required
- Stabilising bowel movements without long-term dependence on medicines
“In Apollo AyurVAID, we do a total assessment of factors that precipitate this disease. Correction of diet regime according to your Prakriti, stress management by using therapies, and minimal medication,” says Dr. Ajithkumar.
What Helped Renu?
For Renu, the biggest shift wasn’t the medicine—it was the structure. “I finally knew what I could eat, when, and why,” she says.
Her plan included warm, easy-to-digest meals, no dairy, early dinners, and mild herbal support. Within three weeks, her bowel movements stabilised. The bloating disappeared. She wasn’t afraid of food anymore.
“It wasn’t a magic fix,” she says. “But I felt like I had control over my body again.”
This World IBS Day: What Will You Pay Attention To?
IBS is not a diagnosis to fear—it’s a signal to tune into your body.
For Renu, the turning point was not medication, but understanding. And for many others, it begins with asking the right questions.
- Are your symptoms a pattern, not a coincidence?
- Is your digestion affecting your energy, sleep, or mental space?
- Could your Agni need support, not suppression?
This World IBS Day, allow space for awareness. Ask what your gut is trying to tell you. And know that answers are possible when you stop brushing symptoms aside and look at the root cause.
References
B.R. Tubaki, Saish C. Gawas, Himani Negi, Effect of Ayurveda Management on Liver Cirrhosis with Ascites – A Retrospective Cohort Study, Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, Volume 13, Issue 2, 2022, 100508.
Shankar P, Vijay B, Bhargavi, Rahman M, Anand K, Nampoothiri V, Prashanth. A Case Report on Management of Liver Cirrhosis Using Ayurveda and Integrative Approach of Treatment. Case Reports Hepatol. 2024 Nov 27;2024:1176751.
Tubaki BR, Gawas SC, Negi H. Effect of Ayurveda Management on Liver Cirrhosis with Ascites – A Retrospective Cohort Study. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2022 Apr-Jun;13(2):100508.
Kasar NV, Deole YS, Tiwari S. Systematic review of the concept of Yakrutotpatti (embryology of liver). Ayu. 2014 Jan;35(1):5-8.
Rastogi S, Rastogi R. Ayurvedic intervention in metastatic liver disease. J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Jul;18(7):719-22.
