Tag: Ayurvedic treatment for ulcerative colitis

May 3, 2018

How to Treat and Prevent Ulcerative Colitis Flares Naturally

OVERVIEW

It is inflammatory disease which includes colon, rectum along with a small part of small intestine. Ulcerative colitis comes under the category of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Crohn’s disease comes under the second category of inflammatory bowel diseases. It can sometimes results in serious problems, as it is a chronic disease.

Due to changing eating habits as well as changing lifestyle, abdominal problems like- gastritis, bloating, constipation are becoming most common. These issues looks quite simple to handle but if not diagnosed or treated early may results into a disease called as “Ulcerative Colitis”. From the past few years, there is a rise in number of patients suffering from ulcerative colitis. Unfortunately, according to modern medicine, it is considered as incurable disease.

It is also known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) which is regarded as a chronic ailment of colon. According to modern medicine, it is believed that food allergy, intake of certain medicines for a long duration, intake of antibiotics for a longer time, incompatible food, eating late nights can result in developing this disease.

Ulcerative colitis treatment in ayurveda

According to Ayurveda

  • As Ayurveda believes in curing the disease from the root, this problem has a proper solution. According to Ayurveda, it initiates with mild diarrhea then leads to stools with Ama [toxic substances] then results in constipation.
  • In Ayurveda, it is also known as pittaj grahani.

Classification of Ulcerative Colitis

It is the most serious & common disorder and is classified into 3 types on the basis of severity

  1. Mild
  2. Moderate
  3. Severe

MILD– The characteristic features of mild ulcerative colitis are-

  1. Four or less than four stools per day
  2. Stools may with or without blood
  3. No systemic disturbances
  4. No change in the ESR value [erythrocyte sedimentation rate]

MODERATE- The characteristic features of moderate ulcerative colitis are-

  1. More than 4 stools daily
  2. Few systemic disturbances

SEVERE– The characteristic features of severe ulcerative colitis are-

  1. Not less than 6 stools daily
  2. Stools with blood
  3. More systemic disturbances like fever, anemia, tachycardia
  4. Greater changes in the ESR value[ erythrocyte sedimentation rate]

Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis

Commonly the patients have ulcers in their inner lining of the colon who suffers from the ulcerative colitis shows symptoms like:

  • Abdominal Pain
  • Stool in blood
  • Diarrhea
  • Pain in rectal area
  • Increase in bowel sounds
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Weight loss
  • Fever
  • Malnutrition [poor health]

Symptoms vary with the location of ulceration:

  • When inflammation occurs in rectal along with sigmoid region then sufferers have symptoms of urgency, painful feeling during defecation, bleeding in the rectal area.
  • When inflammation occurs in rectum with left part of colon then sufferers have symptoms of pain in left part of abdomen, abdominal cramps, weight loss, watery stools mixed with blood.
  • When inflammation covers whole colon then the individual have symptoms of fatigue, fever, night sweats, abdominal pain and abdominal cramps.

Diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis

As ulcerative colitis involves only colon and rectum, it is easy to diagnose. Some of the diagnostic tools are as follows-

  1. Flexible sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy– colonoscopy is the preferred choice as it can be uses to see the whole colon.
  2. Biopsies which are collected during the procedure of colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy
  3. x-ray of abdominal area
  4. Stool analysis
  5. Barium enema
  6. MRI or CT scan
  7. Urine and blood test to check for inflammation, anemia and malnutrition.

Natural Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis with Diet

As a healthy diet which is rich in all vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins and fats prevents in remission of ulcerative colitis, so diet is a crucial factor in the patients having ulcerative colitis. The diet should include various foods:

Low-fat dairy products

  • The dairy products can be consumed in moderate amounts until unless it does not cause any trouble in the digestive tract.
  • A low quantity of milk does not harm stomach.
  • If milk leads to trouble in digestive tract like gas, bloating, or a stomach upset, then start drinking soy milk or lactose free milk.

Fruits and vegetables

  • A diet including variety of different fresh fruits is very much beneficial for patients who are having ulcerative colitis.
  • So fresh fruits which provides greater amount of vitamins, nutrients, water but less fibre are doing wonderful job to prevent pain in abdomen, abdominal cramps and disturbed bowel movements.

Fresh fruits that are easily digested in the patients suffering from ulcerative colitis such as bananas, avocados,cooked apples, seedless grapes, peaches

  • Healthy fats like vegetable oils
  • Fish, Lean meat and poultry
  • Vegetables but without seeds

Soft Bland Foods

  • These kinds of foods are very beneficial in some of the digestive tract problems such as ulcerative colitis. Soft bland foods which can be used in ulcerative colitis are oatmeal, puffed rice, hominy grits, wheat cream, boiled eggs, gelatin, mashed potatoes, cooked vegetables such as asparagus, mushrooms, carrots and spinach and brown rice.

Natural Herbs for Ulcerative Colitis

Aloe Vera:

  • Aloe Vera helps in the treatment of ulcerative colitis due to its anti-inflammatory properties. According to some studies, it is believed that patients having aloe Vera for 4 weeks shows better results rather than people who are not having.

How to Use

Mix aloe Vera gel into a glass of water and then drink it on the daily basis before going to bed.

Andrographis paniculata

  • This herb helps in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. This herb is most commonly used to treat this disease.

Boswellia

  • This herb helps in the treatment of ulcerative colitis due to its anti-inflammatory properties. This herb helps in protecting our body from cells of ulcerative colitis.

Curcumin

  • This herb’s abilities to reduce cytokines and interleukins associated with inflammatory bowel disease, helps in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. According to some studies, it is believed that if patient continue to have curcumin or turmeric on daily basis, will show betterment of symptoms of ulcerative colitis.
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March 17, 2018

Permanent Cure of Ulcerative Colitis with Diet and Home Remedies

Medical science has advanced a lot in all spheres of diseases, but in case of ulcerative colitis, modern medicine has made little progress. The present management of ulcerative colitis by modern medicine remains unsatisfactory. The modern physicians are far more able to control the disease than to cure it. Antibiotics are the chief medicines available for the control of diarrhoea. The introduction of cortico-steroids was thought to revolutionise the management of this disease, but the side effects of these drugs are as serious as the disease itself, while their control of the primary condition remains poor but this disease has been widely described in the classical Ayurvedic literature.

Ulcerative colitis diet & Home Remedies

Though ayurvedic medicines as well as home remedies are capable of regularising the digestive fire to normalcy, various yogic exercises by virtue of their specificity work as catalytic agents for stabilising the digestive fire at a higher level. According to Ayurveda, the disease can only be considered to be cured when the agni (digestive fire) is balanced without the use of any external medicine and it is quite possible.

Ulcerative Colitis is a syndrome in which the agni, digestive fire is supposed to be fault. When digestive fire becomes depressed, ama dosha (undigested waste material) accumulates and is passed in the stools with bleeding in stools is an additional feature. So, the aim of ulcerative colitis treatment in Ayurveda is to enhance the potency of digestive fire, thereby reducing the formation of ama dosha.

What are the causes of Ulcerative Colitis?

  • Eating fast food
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Irregularity in diet
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Eating late nights
  • Excessive heat or exposure to the sun
  • Skipping meals
  • The psychological aspect of colitis is also significant. It must be noted that stress and strain are the major contributory factors in causing and aggravating the disease. So, in Ayurveda, psychosomatic nature of the disease is also kept in mind while undertaking its treatment.

What are the symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis?

  • Irregular bowel movements
  • Bluish or yellow undigested stool
  • Unexplained fatigue
  • Blood in stools
  • Diarrhoea
  • Weight loss
  • Rectal pain

Home Remedies for Ulcerative Colitis
Top 7 Home Remedies for Ulcerative Colitis

Pomegranate Juice

  • There are only a very few fruits as nutrition loaded as pomegranate. The pomegranate is used for its health benefits for thousands of years. It improves digestion power of stomach. Pomegranate juice balances the digestive fire, provides virility, and relieves vomiting, inflammation and checks bleeding in stools. Take 1 glass of juice pomegranate juice regularly in the morning. It also improves physical energy which is generally lost in the patients of ulcerative colitis and cures anaemia as well. It also induces quick healing of wounds. It has calming effect on the stomach.

Fenugreek Seeds-water

  • Because of high mucilage content, fenugreek seeds are helpful in treating diarrhoea associated with ulcerative colitis. Soak a few fenugreek seeds for a few hours and consume the water. Fenugreek tea can also be prepared and consume it warm.

Bananas

  • Bananas are the good source of potassium, a mineral that is helpful in balancing electrolytes. Bananas also contain a great amount of pectin that helps in treating diarrhoea. Eat 2 bananas daily or add chopped banana slices to a cup of yogurt. Eat them regularly as they also help in giving nutrient boost.

Coconut Water

  • Coconut water is a wonderful remedy in treating ulcerative colitis as it reduces the aggravated Pitta in the body. It also helps in reducing the burning sensation as well. Consuming this on regular basis for every 2-3 hours to replenish the body with lost nutrients.

Barley Water:

  • Starchy liquid like barley water is very effective in treating ulcerative colitis. Barley water can be prepared at home by boiling a cup of barley seeds in a ½ litre water. Cool down this solution and drink it. Consume this water frequently to keep the body hydrated. Prepare fresh barley water and don’t consume packaged barley water as they contain artificial sugar and preservatives.

Carrot Soup:

  • Carrot soup has properties that are helpful in treating ulcerative colitis. it has lot of nutrients that help in keeping the system hydrated and also provides a lot of nutrients. Cook a cup of carrots in a ½ litre water. Add little salt and pepper. Drink this soup regularly even after recovering from ulcerative colitis because by regularly consuming carrot soup gives a bunch of nutrients because all the nutrients get depleted in ulcerative colitis and body becomes weak. Carrots are the good sources of anti-oxidants as well as nutrients.

In addition, various yogic exercises such as: Bhujangasana, Mayurasana, Sarvangasana, Pranayama are also recommended.

Diet:

  • Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated, particularly during the bouts of diarrhoea.
  • Eat several small meals each day rather than the large ones.
  • Eat a low fibre diet like cauliflower, broccoli, whole grains, corn, nuts, seeds, and popcorn may worse the problem.
  • Reduce the consumption of greasy and oily foods.
  • Avoid milk products because many people suffering from ulcerative colitis are lactose intolerant.
  • Include spices such as cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fennel seeds etc. in your diet.
  • Consume the vegetable like radish, round gourd, ash gourd, pumpkin, bitter gourd, bottle gourd and ridge gourd.
  • Consume the fruits like pear, apple, banana, Indian Goose Berry   and pomegranate (without seeds).
  • Include spinach, mustard leaves, fenugreek leaves in your diet but in moderation
  • Take Cow ghee, daily 1 tsp. in your meal.
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