Ayurveda Therapies For Gastrointestinal Disorders
Gastrointestinal disorders are the conditions which occur in any part of the digestive tract, including mouth, oesophagus, stomach,small and large intestines and anus. The Gastrointestinal tract, together with Liver, Pancreas and gall bladder makes up the ‘digestive system’. The entire tract is extensively supplied by vast network of blood vessels to supply oxygen and nutrients to the entiretract, and also to absorb the digested and assimilated food nutrients from the digestive tract and supply them to the other organs of the body. Nerves and hormones work together to regulate the functioning of the digestive system and the bacteria present in the bowels (known as ‘gut flora or ‘microbiome’) play important role in digestion, immunity and overall well being of our body.
Ayurveda refers the factor of digestion as ‘Agni’, which is the basic factor behind digestion, absorption and assimilation of the ingested food materials. Ayurveda considers that the ‘Dehagni’ is the cause of life, complexion, strength, oja, teja (energy) and prana (life energy). Hence, agni is said to be the root (mool) of life! But the Agni also stays healthy only if there is balance in all three doshas (Vata,Pitta,Kapha) in the body. Any abnormal changes in this balance affect the quality of the agni (Jathar agni), which then is unable to process the food completely and the undigested or incompletely digested food materials get accumulated in the body in the form of ‘ama’ (the sticky toxins), which starts reflecting itself in the form of different kind of symptoms like tiredness, sluggishness, bad breath and digestive disorders like anorexia, hyperacidity, stomach ache, constipation, flatulence, diarrhea etc. If this condition is not taken care of in initial stages, it can lead to more serious disorders like Peptic Ulcers, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Piles, Anal fissures and even the cancers of digestive tract. The malabsorption of nutrients leads to various deficiency disorders in the body like aneamia, osteoporosis, dental caries, hormonal imbalances, infertility etc. This the reason maintaining a healthy gut is utmost important for the overall health of the body!
Causes of Digestive Tract Disorders:
The increase in gastrointestinal disorders in today’s era is mainly because of modern day lifestyle and unhealthy dietary habits. These unhealthy habits directly affect your gut health and lead to different kind of diseases. Following are some habits which are the root cause of disturbed gut health:
- Faulty dietary habits which are against the swasthavrutta way of Ayurveda,
- Virudh Ahara (consumption of incompatible diet),
- Adhyasana (Extra consumption of food after finish a meal),
- Having Guru (heavy meal), Snigdha (oily food) or ati ruksha (excess dry food),
- Excessive physical work (over-exercising),
- No or less physical work,
- Ratri Jagaran (Stay awake during night)
- Excessive consumption of alcohol, tobacoo, beverages and other irritant and toxic substances
- Psychogenic factors like stress, anxiety also increases pitta and disturbs the Agni
- Tendency to resist natural urges like urine, stool, yawn, sneeze etc.
Preventive Measures:
Working on eliminating the causative factor should be the first step to restore the gut health. In initial stages, when symptoms are mild, following the Pathya (Ayurveda recommended diet and lifestyle pattern) will only help to improve the condition. Measures which can work as preventive strategies for even healthy individuals are:
- Have wholesome and clean meals on time,
- Avoid excessive spicy, salty, oily or dry food,
- Avoid overcooked, stale and contaminated food,
- Have warm, properly and freshly cooked meals,
- Practice Yoga and moderate exercises regularly
- Practice relaxation techniques like meditation, Pranayama etc,
- Follow proper Dinacharya (daily routine) and Ritucharya (Seasonal regimen)
Ayurveda Therapies For Gastrointestinal Disorders:
Ayurveda treatments for any gastrointestinal disorders is aimed to work on finding out the root cause, improving the function of agni and eliminating the‘ama’. We at Panchakarma Ayurveda center decide the line of treatment after taking the thorough history of the patient , finding out his prakriti (dosha dominance) ,vikruti (dosha imbalance) and his agni type. Herbs like Ginger, mint, Licorrice (Yashtimadhu), Aloe vera, Shatavari, Turmeric ,Triphala, Trikatu etc have magical effect on digestive health and can be taken in proper dosage and forms with the help of your Ayurveda doctor. Along with that, detoxifying your body from the accumulated toxins should be the priority. Ayurveda therapies like Vamana, Virechana, Vasthi ,Nasya are found to be very effective in eliminating the strotorodha (obstruction of the tract) by the toxins and rejuvenating the digestive fire.Vamana therapy (medicated emesis) helps in expelling out the vitiated and aggressive Kapha dosha from the body, enhances metabolism and boosts immunity.Virechana (medicated purgation therapy)helps in cleansing the infected digestive tract from the morbid dosha and detoxifying the important channels.Vasthi or Enemais the detoxification process which balances the vitiated dosha and revitalizes the lower intestinal tract and ignites agni. Thus a right holistic combination of Ayurveda pathya and therapies ,as suggested by your Ayurveda doctor, will surely help you to regain the best of your healthy being!