Tag: Ulcerative colitis natural remedies

March 16, 2019

Benefits of Terminalia Arjuna in Treating Ulcerative Colitis

Overview

Ulcerative Colitis is the inflammation and ulceration in the colon and rectum. This problems begins in the rectum and spreads to the entire colon. We can say it is the combination of ulceration and inflammation which leads to discomfort and results to frequent emptying of the colon. Ulcerative Colitis is caused because of the unusual and abnormal response of our immune system. People of any age group can be diagnosed with it.

ulcerative colitis treatment in ayurveda

What are the causes which lead to inflammation of the colon that results to Ulcerative Colitis?

  • Autoimmune factors
  • Food allergies
  • Collagen disorders
  • Genetic factors
  • Infection

When one is suffering from Ulcerative Colitis what are the sign and symptoms seen?

  • Irregular bowel movements
  • Undigested food particles in stool
  • Diarrhea
  • Diarrhea with blood
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Unexplained fatigue
  • Unpleasant body odor
  • Weight loss
  • Distended abdomen
  • Poor appetite
  • On and off rectal pain
  • Burning sensation-chest and throat
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Low-grade fever
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Skin lesions
  • Sounds from the abdomen

The symptoms and causes of ulcerative colitis lead to complications which really needs attention and to be managed.

  • Severe bleeding
  • A hole in the colon (perforated colon)
  • Severe dehydration
  • Liver disease (rare)
  • Bone loss (osteoporosis)
  • Inflammation of your skin, joints, and eyes
  • An increased risk of colon cancer
  • A rapidly swelling colon (toxic megacolon)
  • Increased risk of blood clots in veins

According to Ayurveda

  • According to Ayurveda ulcerative colitis is Pittaj Grahani. Ayurveda says it is a complication due to vitiated Pitta Dosha, with the involvement of Vata. With consumption of foods that are Pitta-aggravating and the lifestyle followed damages rakta dhatu (blood tissue) and mamsa dhatu (muscle tissue), which results to the formation of ama that gets deposited in the intestines.
  • Due to it, the Vata Dosha is also aggravated and it blocks the Pitta and Kapha channels, resulting in inflammation, mucus accumulation, and edema. Ulcerative Colitis when treated by Ayurveda, involves removing the ama and restoring the healthy digestion.
  • Our nature is full of herbs and there are many herbs which help in managing and controlling the causes and symptoms of ulcerative colitis. But today we will discuss Arjun ( Terminal arjuna) the herb which has the potency to balance all the three doshas- Vata, Kapha, and Pitta. Arjun is loaded with properties which makes it useful and beneficial in Ulcerative colitis.

The Ayurvedic medicinal property of Arjuna which tells its qualities are-

  • Rasa (Taste) – Kashaya (Astringent)
  • Guna (Qualities) – Rooksha (Dryness), Laghu (Lightness)
  • Vipaka – Katu- Undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion
  • Veerya – Sheeta – cold potency

The properties and the qualities of Arjun which makes it helpful in Ulcerative Colitis are-

  • Anti-inflammatory— The use of Arjuna help in reducing the inflammation in the colon which is the cause of ulcerative colitis.
  • Antioxidant– Helps in repairing the damages made to the body by the ulcers and inflammation.
  • Wound healing- Arjuna helps in healing the ulcers which are formed in the colon
  • Antacid- helps in controlling acidity and gastritis.
  • Antiulcerogenic– As per the property it gives a soothing effect to the ulcerative patients and helps in healing the ulcers as well.
  • Mucolytic– This property of Arjuna helps in controlling and treating the formation and excretion of mucus through stool.
  • Astringent– This property of Arjuna helps in controlling and managing the blood loss in the ulcerative Antitoxin– Arjun helps in removing the accumulation of toxins in the form of Ama.
  • Antihemorrhagic– Helps to control the excessive bleeding in the ulcerative patients.

Health Benefits of Arjuna

  • As Arjun is cooling, strengthening, soothing, and nutritive by nature which makes it helpful and useful in pacifying the aggravated Pitta Dosha. It also helps in gastritis and severe burning. The use of Arjuna increases the metabolism, production of enzymes which are required and are helpful in digestion, restores and refreshes the functioning of the liver.
  • Arjuna tree has calcium, copper, magnesium, and zinc which are inbuilt in it which gives it the properties of healing wounds Hence it stop the bleeding, heal the ulcers in the digestive tract, control diarrhea, improve hemoglobin levels in the blood, remove toxins from the body, reduce inflammation, and make the body strong.

Along with ulcerative colitis it is also useful in many other health issues and they are-

  • Coronary artery disease.
  • Heart failure.
  • Hypercholesterolemia.
  • Hemorrhages.
  • Edema due to heart disease.
  • Asthma.
  • Leucorrhea.
  • Obesity.

Heartburn

  • Due to the formation of Ama the digestive fire is affected which disturbs the digestive system causing heartburn. Intake of Arjuna will remove the Ama and ease the heartburn problem.

Gastritis

  • Due to poor digestion the food is undigested which leads to the formation of gas Arjuna helps in it.

Peptic ulcers

  • The use of Arjuna in it will control the bleeding, heal ulcers and remove the toxins.

Wounds & Skin Ulcers

  • Terminalia arjuna is used for treating wounds and skin ulcers. The use of the herb kills microbes, especially several strains of bacteria, and promotes wound healing.

Dysentery

  • Terminalia arjuna is very helpful in treating dysentery when given in combination. This herb reduces bleeding in stools, the frequency of defecation, and eradicates the infection.

Atherosclerosis

  • Terminalia arjuna herb has anti-atherogenic and hypolipidemic properties which makes it useful in reducing low-grade inflammation of the blood vessels and the antihyperlipidemic action of the herb lowers down the serum concentration of total cholesterol. It also reduces the atherogenic index.

Hemorrhages & Bleeding Disorders

  • Presence of astringents substances in Arjuna Bark has anti-hemorrhagic property, which helps to reduce the bleeding. Arjuna herb is commonly used in Ayurveda for treating bleeding disorders with a combination of other herbs.
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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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