Many people suffer from either constipation or diarrhoea with feelings of tummy bloating, discomfort after food or excess wind. It has become so common now we often just accept it without seeking help. If it becomes severe enough, we may see the doctor/ GP to find answer. Often nothing is found after blood tests or scans, and we are labelled with IBS syndrome. We may be given some diet advice and/or medications to take as well.
Ayurvedic view on IBS
Ayurveda has described this condition as Grahani, which means disturbed function of the bowels and intestine. The effects are seen throughout the entire digestive tract.
Impaired digestive fire or Agni is the root cause of the illness and leads to build up of toxins or Ama , which will accumulate in various parts of the bowel and GI tract depending on the dosha imbalance present.
Ayurveda has identified common factors causing this condition including the following :
- Irregular eating habits
- The suppression of natural urges [ urinating, passing stools, belching]
- Irregular eating habits
- Eating incorrect foods for your dosha or in the wrong combinations
- Excessive eating
- Excess stress
- Anxiety
Ayurveda teachings describe different types of IBS or Grahani depending on which dosha is out of balance. There may be more than one dosha involved in which case it is called a dual dosha imbalance.
For instance, Pitta type imbalance would be caused by an excess intake of pungent, sour, salty foods. This would manifest as heartburns, belching, diarrhoea, feeling hot and irritable.
Vata type imbalance would be caused by excess intake of pungent, bitter and astringent foods, dry rough foods, fasting or irregular meals routine. The symptoms would be mainly lower bowel related with constipation and /or diarrhoea, back pain, bloating, excess wind and feeling anxious nervous with low energy levels.
Kapha type imbalance would be caused by overeating, heavy and cold foods or fatty foods, and sleeping after meals. The symptoms in this case would be indigestion with loss of appetite, thick slimy heavy stools, sluggish heavy feeling in the body and loss of anergy.
Treatment
Treatment will focus on ridding the body of any accumulated toxins or Ama and improving digestive fire, with a mild detoxification regime using herbal remedies and medication as well as light, easy to digest diet. Tailored advice about diet, lifestyle changes and treatments to correct imbalance will follow.
Vata type
Encourage use of heating spices ginger, cloves, pepper, turmeric .
Advise food with sweet sour and salty tastes
Regular meal routine and mindful eating
Herbal medications include Shatavari, Ashwagandha and Triphala to balance Vata in the body.
Oil self-massage of lower abdomen using vata pacifying oils such as Maharanya oils.
Pitta type imbalance
Cooling herbs and spices like coriander, cumin and fennel.
Shatavari, Amlaki, Turmeric and Triphala herbal preparations are excellent to alleviate Pitta from the body.
Cooling drinks coriander wate, aloe vera , coconut water.
Favour sweet sour and salty tastes.
Whole body massage with Pitta reducing oil eg Pinda or Kumari oils
Kapha type imbalance
Use heating spices – ginger, honey,pepper, turmeric, cloves
Herbal medications include Pippali, Trikatu, Triphala.
Tastes to balance Kapha Dosha are spicy, bitter and astringent
Dry body scrubs using herbal pastes
General line of treatment:
- Follow dietary guidelines to suit the Dosha.
- Avoid excess tea, coffee, caffeinated drinks
- Avoid excessive spicy food, heavy and oily foods.
- Regular intake of warm water
- Avoid excess intake of milk and dairy products
- Avoid excess stress
- Follow Yoga/meditation exercises for your Dosha type
- It is strongly recommended that you consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner before starting any detoxification process to eliminate Ama or taking Ayurvedic herbs for IBS symptoms. The treatment protocol may change based on a person’s body constitution and disease.
