Ayurvedic Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis
About Ulcerative Colitis
As the name says the colon becomes inflamed and there is formation of ulcers on the inner lining of the colon. It mainly affects the large intestine (the colon) rather than the small intestines. The ulceration is caused by uncontrolled inflammation going on underneath endothelial layer of the colon. These ulcers become painful and bleed profusely after every effort to pass stool. The colon becomes swollen and painful which leads to feeling of fullness and perpetual feeling of going to pass on the stools. This process of defecation becomes a nightmare for the sufferer as stools can be explosive, full of blood, mucous, pus or everything together sometimes.
The disease has a huge impact on psychology of the person as well. It is very depressing to see one's own blood going in the toilet. This leads to depression and negative thoughts about life. The patient becomes so restless that disturb normal work routine, feeling of hopelessness and despair starts to cloud his mind all the time.
Causes of Ulcerative Colitis
According to modern medicine, there are no certain causes of ulcerative colitis. The disease is caused by many unknown factors. There are sometimes genetic reasons associated to this disease. Stress, diet, lifestyle, lack of sleep, too much consumption of irritating foods, alcohol and so many more causes ulcerative colitis. There are many patients who visit us and say we never consumed alcohol and never took non-veg diet but still the incidence is more in people who were having high protein consumption and love for fast food, frozen, packaged food, soft drinks and alcohol.
Is Ulcerative Colitis Genetically Transferred?
There are about 30 genes which have been mapped and linked to this disease but the research is still going on to ascertain the reasons. The hereditary factors are all kept into consideration but there are many patients who visit us and there are no near or even distant relatives who complained of this disease.
Ayurvedic Medicines for Ulcerative Colitis by Planet Ayurveda
According to Ayurvedic point of view it comes under "Purishavaha srotas". Ulcerative colitis cause "Raktatisara" in patients along with imbalance of (Vata, Pitta & Kapha) doshas in body. Planet Ayurveda brings to you the most potent Ayurvedic medicines like Ulcerative Colitis Care Pack. Only the best quality herbs are chosen for the preparation of these Ayurvedic medicines and are made on the principles of Ayurveda. The medicines offered by Planet Ayurveda are natural, pure and vegetarian. Also, there are no chemicals, additives and preservatives which makes it free from side effects.
Dosage
- Arjuna Capsules - 2 capsules twice daily with plain water after meal.
- Vatsakadi churna - 1 teaspoonful twice daily with plain water after meal or you can boil the powder - 1 teaspoonful in 400 ml water, keep it boiling until it remains 50 ml. Strain it and drink the water. Leave the residue. Do it twice daily. Make fresh every time.
- Pitta balance - 1 capsule twice daily with plain water after meal.
- Kutajghan vati - 2 tablets twice daily with plain water after meal.
Products Description
1. Arjuna Capsules
Arjuna (Terminalia Arjuna) bark standardized extract is used to make this formulation. The tree bark is famous in Ayurveda for its wound healing properties. This protects the endothelial layer of the arteries from injuries caused by stress, free radicals and other harmful substances. Similarly it works in the inner lining of intestines. It helps to heal the ulcers, stop the bleeding, control the diarrhea and prevent inflammation. Arjun capsules also improve the hemoglobin and overall strength of the person.
2. Vatsakadi Churna
This churna is one of the most effective formulation for ulcerative colitis in Ayurveda. Vatsakadi churna is a mixture of various ulcer healing herbs like Kutaz (Holarrhena antidysenterica), Saunf – (Foeniculum vulgare), Bilva (Aegle marmelos), Dhania (Coriander sativum), Anar (Punica granatum), Choti Elaichi (Elettaria cardamomum) and Jaiphal (Myristica fragrans). These herbs work in a synergistic manner to restore the imbalance of various body metabolic reactions. It helps to heal the ulcers and get to rid of the disease.
3. Pitta Balance
Calcium compounds have a great role to play in controlling this disease. Pitta balance is a combination of various classical Ayurvedic calcium compounds which help to control the bleeding and have a cooling effect on the body. This formulation also helps to replenish the calcium with natural calcium compounds like pearls and corals calcium. In Ayurveda, Mukta pishti is made by taking purified powder of pearls and pestle it with rose water under moonlight for 30 nights. This becomes so effective that the bleeding stops within first few dosages and there are no side effects. The aggravated "fire element" or Pitta becomes balanced. The inflammatory processes stop and disease goes into remission or towards care.
4. Kutazghan Vati
Kutaz (Holarrhena antidysenterica) is a wonderful herb. The name is also antidysenterica. It is nature's wonder which has power to stop all sort of diarrhea. The diarrhea can be due to inflammatory bowel diseases, colitis or infective diarrhea. It helps to burn "ama or endotoxins", stops inflammation, stops fermentation going on inside the intestines and heals the ulcers. The product called "Kutazghan Vati" are tablets made from the bark of this tree and are used for healing ulcers in this disease.
To buy Ulcerative Colitis Care Pack, please visit store.planetayurveda.com/products/ulcerative-colitis-care-pack
Diet and Lifestyle
There seem to be a significant association between ulcerative colitis patient's diet, lifestyle and this disease. If not known the direct cause behind this disease, the flare ups are certainly caused due to these factors. There are certain foods which can cause ulcerations in the intestinal lining or even mouth ulcers. A thorough look into food patterns of the patient is required to ascertain which foods to be avoided.
Ayurvedic view of Ulcerative Colitis
From Ayurvedic view point, Ama producing foods, Pitta Aggravating foods are not really good for this disease.
"AMA" is produced in the intestines if the food is not digestive properly and fermentation of food starts in the intestines. This can be understood as intermediate chemicals of body's incomplete metabolic reactions. Low digestive fire ( low agni) is one of the reason of formation of such metabolites or the endotoxins or "AMA".
Consumption of heavy, greasy, cheesy foods leads to disruption of digestive fire. This leads to indigestion. The undigested food starts to rotten and ferment. This starts up inflammatory processes.
Avoid Milk in Ulcerative Colitis
In ulcerative colitis patients, the milk and dairy products should also be avoided. There are many people who consume food over the previously undigested food. People consume ice creams or cold drinks along with food or just after the food. This leads to low digestive fire and formation of Ama in the body.
Avoid Pitta Aggravating Foods
Pitta aggravating foods are the ones which produce heat in the body after eating them. All spices, sour fruits like lemons, oranges, pineapple, (all citrus fruits), yogurt, curd, cheese, tea, coffee, non-vegetarian diet & alcohol are known as Pitta aggravating foods. These should be always consumed in moderation by Pitta body type people and ulcerative colitis patients should avoid them.
Stress leads to Ulcerative Colitis
Stress seems to play an important role in all sorts of diseases including ulcerative colitis. As we discussed, it's just the inflammation of internal layer of the colon. All inflammatory reactions are flared up by stress. If we don't attribute the stress as a causative agent to this disease but we have to include this as a major reason for flare ups and obstruction in healing. So it is very important to keep the stress at minimal level to attain state of remission and care ulcerative colitis permanently.
Herbs and Foods which are good for Ulcerative Colitis
There are certain cooling herbs and food items which should be consumed if someone is suffering from this dreadful disorder.
Coconut water is very good. All bitter tasting vegetables are good. These are gourds, long gourd, round gourds, bitter gourd, pumpkins. Pumpkins are excellent for colitis patients. Licorice in small quantity is very good. Just chew some twigs every day. Drink 20 ml pumpkin juice twice daily.
Plain grass mainly Doorva Grass (Latin - Cynodon dactylon) is very good to stop bleeding and heal the ulcers. Just take the green grass. It's growing everywhere. Take out the juice. 20 ml twice daily is good.
Marigold flower petals: Marigold is everywhere. The beautiful yellow petals can be washed, crushed and made into juice. Consume 20 ml twice daily.
Allopathic Drugs used by Patients for the Disease
There are many medicines which are used by various patients to fight this disease but they have so many dreadful side effects. The drugs are anti-inflammatory (Sulphasalazine, Mesalazine - Mesacol and others), immunity suppressant (Imuran - methotrezate, Azathioprine and others) and corticosteroids (like Wysolone, Prednisone).
Can Allopathic Medicines be Consumed along with Ayurvedic?
Yes, the Allopathic medicines can be consumed along with Ayurvedic combo pack mentioned above. Slowly as the situation improves, the dosage of allopathic drugs can be reduced. There are no side effects of the above mentioned combination. These are plant based supplements containing pomegranate fruit rind, fennel, cardamom, coriander, bael fruit and things like this. So these do not have any side effects and are not contraindicated in any disease (except constipation).
