Given the importance of the gut to the overall health and function of the body, IBDs can cause severe effects. For example, Crohn's disease can trigger severe bleeding, muscle cramps, nausea, and crippling levels of pain without warning.
While there are pharmaceutical drugs prescribed for these illnesses, the treatments are often unable to suppress the attacks. Eventually, more serious treatments will be proposed by Western medical practitioners.
One such extreme option is a surgical operation called colostomy. It redirects healthy parts of the colon through the abdominal wall to prevent food from passing through the already damaged parts of the intestine. (Related: Want to start an Ayurvedic diet? Here are some tips on how to begin.)
Manage symptoms of IBDs naturally with Ayurveda treatment methods
Ayurvedic medicine offers an alternative, pharmaceutical-free approach to treating inflammatory bowel diseases. Ayurveda is the ancient whole-body healing system of India. It is one of the oldest such systems in the world and is still used to this day.
Ayurveda includes numerous medical practices such as healing foods, herbal remedies, meditation, and yoga, which have been developed, verified, and used for over thousands of years. It is also quite compatible with other holistic healing approaches such as traditional Chinese medicine.
It works by restoring and maintaining balance in the body. Ayurveda calls for natural treatments like healthy diets, physical exercise, and breathing exercises. Treatments are tailored to the needs of a patient and can be adjusted as required.
Ayurvedic practitioners analyze the three "doshas" that make up the balance between the mind, body, and spirit. These doshas are called Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. When these doshas are imbalanced, the resulting disharmony can lead to illnesses.
For example, Pitta is the dosha associated with fire. Excess Pitta can lead to autoimmune diseases such as IBDs. Meanwhile, Vata oversees blood flow and waste elimination in the body. Too much Vata can trigger IBD attacks.
Based on the initial analysis, the practitioner will develop a very detailed treatment for the patient. Treatments may include acupuncture, diet, meditation, and yoga.
An Ayurvedic balancing diet for patients with IBD can include basmati rice, cooked vegetables with orange pigments, and mung dal (mung bean). Raw and gassy foods will not be allowed. These diets help restore the doshas to normal balance, and they can be taken up whenever a patient feels an attack of IBD coming.
Simple Ayurvedic solutions for digestive problems
An Ayurvedic diet isn't a diet in the strict sense of the word. It is more of a lifestyle plan that is designed to restore the balance of an individual's doshas. What works for one person may not be appropriate for another.
Still, there are some Ayurvedic dietary practices that will work for anyone. For example, hot water gets your body to work harder in order to lower the temperature of the liquid. Taking a sip of hot water every now and then throughout the day serves to turbocharge your bodily processes.
Castor oil is not edible, but it can help relieve stomach pain, including those associated with IBD. Apply caster oil on the belly, then cover it with a towel and top it with a heating pad to get effective pain relief.
Certain foods have digestive enzymes that can break down carbohydrates, fatty acids, and proteins. These enzymes make it easier for the intestines to absorb important nutrients that help improve the balance.
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