How Ayurveda Deals with Ulcerative Colitis Patients?
Ayurveda deals with all the diseases in a Productive way without causing any side effects on the body. As ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune disease, let’s discuss in detail and clear all the doubts regarding how it is caused? How Ayurveda deals with it? In this article, we are going to talk mainly about Ayurvedic approach of ulcerative colitis.
Ayurvedic Overview
In Ayurveda, All the diseases are caused and revolved around tridosha i.e. Vata, Pitta and kapha. Imbalance in these three Doshas lead their way to cause disease (Vyadhi). We can correlate ulcerative colitis with Raktaatisara. Patients with pittatisara are more prone to develop ratatisrara.
Ancient Verse about Raktatisra
Nidana of Raktatisara (Causes)
The causes of ratkatisra are as follows:-
- Pitta prakriti purusha (Patient’s having pitta prakriti )
- Intake of katu, amala, lavana rasa in abundant quantity
- Excessive intake of Ushana (hot) and teekshna (penetrating) dravya (herbs)
- Krodha (Excess anger)
- Adhyashan (Overeating)
- Virudha ahara sewana (Imbalanced diet consumption)
- Vegadhana (Controlling of natural urges)
- Excessive use of alkalis (kshara)
- As a complication of panchkarma procedures.
- Arsha (Hemorrhoids) and Grehani (malabsorption syndrome)
Samprapati of Raktatisara (Pathogenesis)
Pitta vardhak nidan sewan lead to aggrevation of pitta and rakta Dosha. Then, the vitiated Doshas toxify the pakvashaya (large intestine) and does bhedana of feces due to its ushana (hot), drava (liquid) and sara guna (properties).
Poorvaroopa of Raktatisra (Prodromal Symptoms)
The prodromal symptoms include:-
- Pricking or shooting pain in Hridya (heart), nabhi (mbilicus), guda (anal canal), udara (Stomach)
- Anga shithilta (fatigue)
- Apana vayu avrodha (flatulence)
- Avipaka of food (Indigestion)
Samanya Lakshan of Raktatisra (Symptoms)
The symptoms of raktatisra comprises of:-
- Excessive Drav mal pravriti (diarrhea)
- Rakatamishrit mala (Bloody diarrhea)
- Shoola (Pain)
- Excessive thirst
- Burning sensation in Guda (rectum and colon)
- Gudapaka ( suppurative ulceration of anal canal)
- Kapha mishrit mala (mucus)
Upshaya/ Anupshaya (Differential Diagnosis)
Differential diagnosis of ulcerative colitis is: –
- Diarrhea
- Hemorrhoids
- Proctitis
- IBS
Modern Overview
Ulcerative Colitis Definition
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease which affects the colon and rectum by producing inflammation and ulceration. This might be enervative or may be life threatening.
Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis
Symptoms may vary according to the severity of the disease
- Bloody diarrhea
- Mucus in stool
- Abdominal pain
- Cramping in abdomen
- Rectal pain
- Urgency to defecate but unable to clear properly
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Failure to grow (In Children)
Causes of Ulcerative Colitis
The exact cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown as it is autoimmune disease but there are some risk factors
- Age- It usually begins at age of 30 but may develop at any age.
- Race – Whites are more prone to have UC
- Family history– Patients with family history of UC are at higher risk
Here are some complications of ulcerative colitis
- Severe bleeding
- Perforated colon
- Severe dehydration
- Osteoporosis
- Inflammation of your skin, joints and eyes
- colon cancer
- Toxic megacolon
- Higher risk of blood clots in arteries
After knowing both Ayurvedic and modern aspects of Ulcerative colitis lets discuss about its treatment.
In allopath, ulcerative colitis is treated symptomatically with immunosuppressant’s, corticosteroids and analgesics. These drugs possess numerous adverse effects which destroys the body.
But In Ayurveda, ulcerative colitis is treated with Ayurvedic herbs and herbal formulations. The first and foremost step of treatment is nidanaparivarajana (abstinence of poor dietary habits along with lifestyle modifications). It is also known as ardhachikitsa(Half treatment).
The Treatment is Done in Two Ways
- Sanshodhan chikitsa (Detoxification with Panchkarma procedure)
- Sanshaman chikitsa (treatment with herbal formulations)
Sanshodhan Chikitsa (Detoxification with Panchkarma Procedure)
Following are the panchkrama procedures used for the treatment of raktatisra
- Snehana
- Swedana
- Piccha basti
Sanshaman Chikitsa (Treatment with Herbal Formulations)
In this, Raktastambhak, vedna stapak, deepana and pachanaaushadi’s are used.
Rasa
- Praval panchamit ras
- Rasa parpati
- Chintamani ras
Vati
- Sanjivani vati
- Kutajghan vati
- Kutajaparpati vati
- Mahashankh vati
Churna
- Vatsakadi churna
- Narayan churna
- Jatiphala churna
- Dadimashtak churna
Asava/ Arishta
- Kutajarishta
- Jeerakadhyarishta
- Karpurashava
- Takrarishta
Avleha
- Kutajadhyavleha
- Dadimavleha
Single Herbs
- Kutaja
- Bilva
- karpura
Planet Ayurveda offers a wide range of products across the world for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. There are herbal combo packs which include herbal preparations that are free from side effects and other preservatives.
Ayurveda Experts at Planet Ayurveda offer Ulcerative colitis Care Pack for initial and advanced stages. These packs basically work by following the strict Ayurveda principle (i.e. correction of imbalance of Doshas). This mainly pacifies the pitta Dosha along with kapha and Vata Dosha and maintains the normal functioning of the body.
Below are the Herbal Combo Packs
1. Ulcerative Colitis Care Pack
- Kutajghan vati
- Vatsakadi churna
- Arjuna Capsule
- Pitta balance
2. Ulcerative Colitis Care Pack for Advance Stages
- Arjuna Capsules
- Motion Stop Tablets
- Pitta Balance
- Coolstrin-Capsules
- Coolstrin-B Capsules
- Vasaka Capsules
- Vatsakadi Churna
3. Double Strengthen Ulcerative Colitis Care Pack
- Kutajghan Vati
- Atisaran Mukti
- Pitta Balance
- Coolstrin A Capsules
- Vatsakadi Churna
- Arjuna Capsules
- Motion Stop Tablets
- Coolstrin B Capsules
- Vasaka Capsules
- Aegle Plan Capsules
- Halorhena + Capsules
- Hemostop-B Powder
- Mimosa-Di Capsules
Therefore, after analyzing the whole information provided above, we can conclude that Ayurveda is an ancient medicine which deals with various diseases in an innovative and productive way. The treatment is totally based upon the herbs. These herbs are used for the formulation of medicines and pacify the tridoshas. Along with the management of ulcerative colitis, these herbs and herbal formulations are beneficial in management of various other diseases also. For more details on treatment, do write at herbalremedies123@yahoo.com.
