Ulcerative Colitis and Ayurveda

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in your digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis affects the innermost lining of your large intestine, also called the colon, and rectum. In most people, symptoms usually develop over time, rather than suddenly. Ulcerative colitis can be draining and can sometimes lead to life-threatening complications.

Symptoms:

• Diarrhea, often with blood or pus
• Rectal bleeding — passing small amount of blood with stool
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Rectal pain
• Urgency to defecate
• Inability to defecate despite urgency
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Fever
• In children, failure to grow

When to see a doctor:

• Abdominal pain
• Blood in your stool
• Ongoing diarrhea that doesn’t respond to nonprescription medications
• Diarrhea that awakens you from sleep
• An unexplained fever lasting more than a day or two.

Causes:

• The exact cause of ulcerative colitis remains unknown. Previously, diet and stress were suspected.
• One possible cause is an immune system malfunction.
• Heredity also seems to play a role in that ulcerative colitis.
• Infection
• Hypersensitivity to various allergens and ischemia.
• Vasculitis, or several drugs.

Complications:

• Severe bleeding
• Severe dehydration
• A rapidly swelling colon, also called a toxic mega colon
• A hole in the colon, also called a perforated colon
• Increased risk of blood clots in veins and arteries
• Inflammation of the skin, joints and eyes
• An increased risk of colon cancer
• Bone loss, also called osteoporosis

Diagnosis:

• Endoscopic procedures with tissue biopsy are the only way to definitely diagnose the ulcerative colitis.
• Blood tests.
• Stool studies.
• Colonoscopy
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• CT scan and MRI

Treatment:
As per Ayurveda, Ulcerative colitis can be considered as Pittaja Grahani/ Rakta atisara / Pittaja pravahika.

Best internal medicines-

Kashaya:
Ambashthädi gana Kashaya
Dräkshādi Kashaya
Dusparshakädi Kashaya
Gulücyādi kashaya
Kaidaryädi Kashaya
Mahätiktakam Kashaya
Musta kshira Kashaya
Mustadi gana Kashaya
Mustakaranjädi Kashaya
Tiktakam Kashaya
Trāyantyadi Kashaya
Ushirädi Kashaya

Arishta / Asava :
Lödhräsavam
Jirakärishta
Kharjjürāsava
Kutajärishtam
Madhükasava
Mustärishta
Vasarishta
(better to avoid arishtas & asavas especially in bleeding phase)

Avalehya:
Dadimavaleha
Vasavaleha
Kushmandavaleha
Bilwadi Lehya
Kalyanaka Avaleha

Churna:
Dadimashtaka Churna
Gangadhara Churna
Talisadi Churna
Pushyânuga cúrna

Gulika/ Vati/ Guggulu/ Parpati :
Kutaja Ghana Vati
Vilwādi gulika
Chitrakadi Gulika
Chärngeryadi gulika
Pushyänugam gulika
Suvarnnamuktādi gulika
Bola parppati
Rasa parppati
Swarnna parppati
Panchamruta parpati

Gritha:
Chärngeryädi Gritha
Grahanyäntakam Gritha
Mahätiktakam Gritha
Pathyäpäda Gritha
Tiktakam Gritha
Satavari Gritha

Lehya:
Kutaja lehya
Madhusnuhi rasäyana
Parüshakadi lehya
Satāvari gulam

Panchakarma Treatment:

1. Vamana – therapeutic emesis in case of bleeding from lower passages in selected cases.
2. Virechana – therapeutic purgation should be given after the disease has been cured
3. Pittahara vasti – enemas to combat vitiated pitta with decoctions and oils / ghee.
4. Piccha Basti – special forms of enema meant for bleeding disorders, especially inflammatory bowel disease and colitis associated with bleeding.
5. Nabhi Lepa / Nabhi Vasti – Nabhi i.e. navel is considered to be the chief site of pitta.
6. Shirodhara / Shiro Basti – Medicated liquids (milk) and oil is poured over the head in streams or pooled over the head.
7. Takra Dhara -It is an Ayurvedic therapy using medicated buttermilk to help the brain and mind relax, and reduce stress.

Foods to avoid

Diet can affect ulcerative colitis flare-ups.

These include

• Lactose products: Lactose is a sugar within dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt. While lactose is not problematic for all people with ulcerative colitis, these products can trigger symptoms in some individuals.
• Red meat and processed meats: The doctors recommends people with ulcerative colitis limit their intake of these foods to avoid worsening symptoms.
• Alcohol: Alcoholic drinks, such as wine, beer and liquor, may trigger ulcerative colitis symptoms in some people.
• Carbonated drinks: Some sodas and beers contain carbonation that can irritate the digestive tract and cause gas.
• Nonabsorbable sugars: Consuming artificial sweeteners, such as sorbitol and mannitol, could trigger symptoms. The sugars in some fruits, such as prunes, pears, and peaches may also be difficult for the body to absorb and could worsen symptoms.
• Insoluble fiber foods: These include raw green vegetables such as broccoli whole nuts whole grains, and fruits with the skin. They may increase the number of bowel movements, the amount of gas, and abdominal cramping.
• Sugary foods: Cakes, pastries, candy, and juices could trigger an ulcerative colitis flare-up.
• High fat foods: A person with ulcerative colitis should avoid high fat foods, such as butter, fatty meats, and coconut, and fatty, fried, or greasy foods.
• Spicy foods: These include hot sauces, chilies, and hot peppers. Spicy foods may trigger or worsen a flare-up.
• Gluten: This is a protein present in wheat, rye, and barley. It can sometimes trigger symptoms in those with ulcerative colitis. A gluten-free diet significantly benefitted 66% of participants with IBD by reducing symptoms and flare-ups.

Treatment of ulcerative colitis in Ayurdhama Ayurveda:

• After proper consultation individual customized treatments will be planned by our expert doctors.
• Depending upon the condition different types of Ayurveda Panchakarma treatments and internal medicines are advised.

PACKAGE INCLUDES

• Initial Consultation with Ayurveda Doctor and daily follow up consultation
• Accommodation
• All Ayurvedic Meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Supper) & herbal drinks
• Advice on Diet & Lifestyle Management
• Ayurveda Therapies – Customized for each client.
• Yoga (once a day – Yoga Asanas, Breathing, Meditation and Relaxation)

RESERVATION DETAILS:

• We are committed to keep up the quality of our treatment programs and we take only a limited number of patients each month.
• So we advise you to reserve your treatment programs a minimum one month in advance.
• The 50% charges of the treatment programs should be paid in advance to reserve the treatment programs.
• The advance deposit will be deducted from the total treatment programs and the balance must be paid on the first day of the treatment program.