Are you often troubled by gas, flatulence, bloating, and abdominal cramps? Despite following a healthy diet, are you still experiencing digestion issues? The chances are you’re suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS is a condition or disorder that affects the large intestine and causes these gastrointestinal symptoms and disorders. This is a chronic condition and probably the reason why you experience these symptoms more than often.
But worry no more, for you’ve landed just at the right page, for here in this article we’ll address all your IBS concerns and queries that besides including the causes and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, will also list ayurvedic treatment measures to get rid of irritable bowel syndrome.
What are the Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
A number of probable factors or reasons may contribute to the Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Let’s run through a few of them:
- Contractions in the Intestinal Walls: The contractions of the intestinal walls allow the food that we eat to move through the digestive tract. Sometimes these contractions last a little longer than they are supposed to which leads to the onset of gas, flatulence, bloating, and abdominal cramps.
- Infection: IBS may also be an aftereffect of a severe infection like diarrhoea, or may be caused due to an overgrowth of bacteria in the intestines.
- Stress and Anxiety: According to research conducted by The American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 40% of IBS patients showed increased levels of stress and anxiety, which lead to the development of the IBS.
- Foods: Certain foods or beverages can also trigger IBS symptoms in an individual. People who are sensitive to wheat, dairy products, carbonated drinks, beans, etc. may show extreme symptoms of IBS if they consume these foods.
- Family History: A person who has a family history of IBS is more likely to contract the condition. Genes and environment play an important role in determining an individual’s health.
- Irregular or Poor Eating Habits: Skipping meals when hungry, consumption of excessive junk, fried, or cold food, lack of nutrition in the diet, and overeating may also lead to the onset of IBS in the long run.
What are the Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Signs and symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome most commonly include: –
- Abdominal pain and cramps, especially during bowel movements.
- Gas
- Bloating
- Flatulence
- Diarrhoea or Constipation
- Changed frequency of bowel movement
- Vomiting
- Unexplainable weight loss
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Rectal bleeding
- Anaemia with iron deficiency
- Lower backache
How to Treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome can cause extreme discomfort and embarrassment. It is very important to seek treatment and proper care to cure this condition for your health as well as confidence.
We recommend effective Herbal and Ayurvedic medications which include natural herbs, oils, home remedies along with diet, and lifestyle alterations to treat irritable bowel syndrome successfully. Let us go through each one of them to benefit the maximum and cure IBS permanently.
Therapies to Treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Vatanulomana: Therapy to balance the Vata dosha.
- Agnidipana: This therapy helps in the regulation of the digestive fire using various Ayurvedic herbs and ingredients to reduce undigested toxins from the digestive tract.
- Manonukulata: A therapy that helps in relaxing and calming signs of anxiety and stress which is responsible for flaring up IBS and its symptoms.
- Shodhan: This is a detoxification or purification therapy.
- Shaman: A therapy that aims to rejuvenate and revitalize the body after the detoxification process.
- Nidana Parivarajana: A therapy that promotes a healthy lifestyle with a restrictive diet, yoga, and meditation.
- Panchakarma: An Ayurvedic detox for purification of the body from the toxins by means of lubrication with Ayurvedic oils. It cleanses and provides nourishment to the colon.
Ayurvedic Do’s and Don’ts for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Do’s
- Increase your fibre intake.
- Eat foods that are fresh and natural such as fruits and green vegetables.
- Strawberries, grapes, apples, beans, and oatmeal contain soluble fibres that help in managing diarrhoea.
- Drink plenty of water to allow a smooth flow of food in the tract.
- Eat probiotic foods such as yogurt.
- Increase the intake of aged rice, buttermilk, skimmed milk, and Jowar.
- Natural spices and herbs like cinnamon, clove, bay leaf, coriander, dried ginger, garlic, cumin, black pepper, and
- Fenugreek can help in treating IBS because of their antibiotic and healing properties.
- Bilwa and Bel juice can also help in managing IBS and its symptoms.
- Sound and quality sleep play an important role in maintaining healthy digestion and body.
Don’ts
- Avoid consuming foods that are oily, spicy, fried, or processed.
- Stale foods must be avoided.
- Do not over or under eat.
- Do not drink water while eating.
- Avoid sweetened and packaged beverages.
- Avoid leftover rice and food as it may cause bloating and gas.
Ayurvedic Medications for Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Triphala can help in treating bloating, abdominal cramps, and constipation caused due to IBS as it is a natural detoxifier.
- Chamomile tea can help in soothing spasms and gut problems.
- Berry leaf teas are full of tannins and help in reducing inflammation and diarrhoea. These are usually made from blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
- The application of Peppermint oil on the stomach helps in soothing gut muscles and contractions.
- Aloe vera juice helps relieve inflammation, diarrhoea, and constipation due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
- Ginger significantly helps in soothing IBS and its symptoms and can be consumed in the mornings in the form of ginger tea or in food while cooking.
Yoga Asanas for Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Pavana Muktasana (The Wind-Relieving Pose)
- Dhanurasana (The Bow Pose)
- Adho Mukha Shavanasana (The Downward Facing Dog Pose)
- Marjariasana (The Cat Pose)
- Ardha Matsyendra Asana (The Sitting Half Spinal Twist)
- Bujangasana (The Cobra Pose)
Conclusion
To sum up, following a balanced and nutritive diet, maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes meditation and yoga, and taking a few necessary precautions can certainly help in overcoming and managing IBS and its symptoms. It is still always advisable to see a doctor if you begin to experience a set of few of the mentioned symptoms together to be able to treat and get medical attention at the right and the initial stage of IBS. For this purpose, you can contact Life Aveda, where we can help you efficiently manage the symptoms and effects of IBS by prescribing Ayurvedic formulations, diet, and lifestyle modifications to enjoy the best results. Book your appointments now!
