Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic disease involving an immune reaction of the body to its intestinal tract resulting in chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. The two primary types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis.

What is Crohn disease?

Crohn’s disease causes inflammation of the digestive system. It is a chronic transmural inflammatory bowel disease. The disease can affect any part of the digestive tract. It often affects the lower part of the small intestine called the ileum and large intestine or both. Symptoms include diarrhea abdominal pain, abscess, and internal and external fistulas.

What is Ulcerative colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes ulceration and inflammation of the large intestine leading to bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cramps along with fever.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on which part of the intestine is affected. In Crohn’s disease, there will be chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain whereas Ulcerative colitis usually has an intermittent episode of abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea.

In both diseases if diarrhea persists then there will be a chance of undernourishment, weight loss, and anemia, sometimes it can increase the risk of cancer where the disease is affected in the intestine.

Ayurveda Treatment

In Ayurvedic treatment for IBD, we can compare Inflammatory Bowel Disease to Grahani roga, Rakta, and Pithathisara.

The term Grahani indicates the anatomy- physiological organ or the part of the digestive tract responsible for the digestion of food ingested. It is said to be the seat of agni. Any disturbance in agni in fact involves the integrity of Grahani and vice versa.

The relation between Grahani and Agni is similar to the relation between structure and function. When an individual indulges in food without following rules and regulations of daily regimen and dietary habits leads to the production of ama visha[food toxins]. This Aama visha moves towards the digestive tract to form a thick coating. This ama and increased heat in the abdomen causes vitiation of Kapha, resulting in the loss of snigdhatha (Oiliness and mucous secretion) of the intestines. Mucous thus eliminated will be present in the stool. Gradually loss of properties of Kapha leads to an aggravation of Pitta. These initiate inflammatory changes and ulcerations. These changes result in bloody diarrhea. Long-term advancement of the situation causes structural changes in intestinal walls leading to failure of the absorption mechanism. Failure of absorption and impaired intestinal movement cause weakness, diarrhea, tiredness, weight loss, anemia, etc.

The Agni is the main causative factor for the grahani roga. So here we need to bring agni to normalcy. In chronic conditions the patient will be very weak hence we need to give prime importance to regaining his normal health.

Internally we need to go with:

Agni Deepana (Stimulation of appetite)
Digestive Pachana oushadha (Formulations that can directly digest ama)
Grahi (Digestive and retain food formulations are useful in diarrhea and lack of appetite).
Vrana ropana (Healing of ulcers, Drugs, and formulations with wound healing properties).
Stambhana (Formulations that stop movement or elimination. When there is bloody diarrhea with a normal appetite.)

Therapies like-

Mrudu virechana (Induced Purgation) aiming at Vatanulomana (helping Vata to move on normal route) which is shoola prashamana (pain relieving)
Vasti (Medicated enema) – If the lower gastrointestinal tract is the affected part, Vasti is the most useful procedure. Vasti with suitable medication will cure the ulceration of the bowel and enhance healing and subside inflammation and irritability of colon. Anuvasana vasthi (medicated oil enema) and Picha vasthi (special vasthi preparation containing mocha rasa i.e., gum of Bombax malabaricum) are the common varieties of vasthi used in Ulcerative colitis.

In the initial stages of the disease, if only symptoms of Grahani are present and no ulcerations developed then if the ama accumulated in amashaya the physician will do vamana karma(Induced Emesis); If ama is in pakwashaya, virechana karma. And residual morbid matters in the intestine are removed through sneha sweda poorva asthapana vasthi (abhyanga and swedana followed by medicated decoction enema) followed by anuvasana vasthi (medicated oil enema).

Treatment-specific information:

Along with the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment, lifestyle modifications like Good Sleep, Physical activities, Activities to maintain a healthy peaceful mind, and Healthy food habits such as wholesome food at right time, in the right quantity, and right place when feeling hungry is often recommended.

Our Approach

AyurVAID has pioneered evidence-based, award-winning Precision Ayurveda-based protocols for Ayurvedic treatment for IBD. Following the fundamental principles of Ayurveda, our physicians perform an in-depth assessment of the key symptoms and health factors of each patient to diagnose the root causes around your diet, individual constitution, lifestyle, work pattern, and genetic predisposition.

Based on the assessment, we arrive at the optimal Ayurvedic treatment for IBD protocol for Samprapti Vikhatan or breaking the etiopathogenesis, considering the extent of disease progression, risk factors, your constitution (Prakriti), and the disease prognosis. This approach bridges the gap between the patient’s individualistic factors and the standard treatment protocols thereby making the therapy effective and safe.

Our whole person-centric approach will help you regain your happiest and healthiest state of life. Our rehabilitation specialists will also give you advice on ergonomics, nutrition, and lifestyle changes to help you better manage Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Patient centricity is at the core of the AyurVAID approach, and we have been widely recognized for our breakthrough approach. Some of them include:

The first NABH-accredited hospital in India, Quality Council of India.
Winner of prestigious National award for Best Ayurveda Centre of the year 2017 from Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
Industry best customer satisfaction score of 92%, rated by our patients.

Key Outcomes

When the condition is particularly chronic or severe, Ayurveda treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease can greatly reduce its debilitating effects and help prevent it from getting any worse.

If its severity is severe/mild/moderate, Ayurveda Grahani gada treatments help to reverse the process, leading to a state of remission. In many cases, Ayurveda can offer a cure. After undertaking our Inflammatory Bowel Disease treatment you can expect –

Lesser to no dependence on cortico steroids, immunomodulating drugs, biologic agents, aminosalicylic acid, antibiotics, and probiotics.
You can avoid surgery.
Better and stress-free life.
Improved quality of life

In many cases, we have also been able to either delay or avoid Surgical interventions in Inflammatory Bowel Disease through personalized medical management programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What distinguishes Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable bowel syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammatory bowel disease is inflammation or destruction of the intestinal wall, which can lead to thinning of the intestines.

Am I at risk of developing Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Although the exact causes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease are unknown, it affects all age groups, and usually begins before age 30. Factors that may increase your risk includes- First-degree relatives with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Age: More prone in the middle-aged. Having a family history Smoking Irregular food habits like spicy foods. Sometimes Oral contraceptives and cigarette smoking.

Will I be able to stop cortico steroids, immunomodulating drugs, biologic agents, and aminosalicylic acid using Ayurveda?

Ayurveda can not only help reduce your dependency on medicine, but also give a long-lasting cure in most cases. Ayurveda can assure overall Quality of Life improvement in almost all IBD cases.

What are some of the first signs that someone is developing IBD?

In Crohn’s disease, there will be chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain whereas Ulcerative colitis usually has an intermittent episode of abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea.

Patient Stories

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