Ayurveda Perspective: the Underlying causes of IBD

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for two diseases that involve the digestive tract: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Crohn’s disease is characterized by the inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract includes the mouth, esophagus, small intestine, large intestine, anus, and rectum. It usually affects the end of the small intestine.

Ulcerative colitis is characterized by the inflammation and formation of ulcers or sores in the gastrointestinal tract. It usually affects the colon or large intestine.

Visit our "Library Center" section below to find all the information on the possible causes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) that might be managed by Ayurvedic Medicine.

Click to learn everything about Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and find all the natural solutions to treat it naturally, including various diet programs, alternative medicine, vitamins, supplements, herbal medicine, and home remedies.

Why Ayurveda helps treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

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How Ayurveda works for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

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Ayurveda for IBD: Treatment Protocol

Ayurvedic treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)is specifically tailored to each individual’s case and looks at the dominant dosha in their constitution.

However, Ayurvedic treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) generally involves the following aspects:

A- Purvakarma treatments:

Purvakarma is Sanskrit for “foremost action.” It comprises herbal and oil treatments that loosen the accumulated toxins in the gut. Ayurvedic medicine believes the toxins cause inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBD).

Accordingly, purvakarma practices direct these toxins to specific waste elimination centers in the body. They help prepare people for Panchakarma (detoxification therapies).

Purvakarma consist of three treatments:

1- Pachana (digestion therapy): a practice where herbal treatments are administered to the patient. These herbal formulations help the body digest and eliminate toxins in the gut that cause inflammatory bowel disease.

2- Snehana (oleation therapy): a practice where oils, ghee (purified butter), or oils mixed with herbs are consumed internally or applied externally to loosen accumulated toxins in the gut. It also helps lead the toxins to elimination centers in the body, where they can later be expelled via panchakarma therapies.

3-Swedana (sudation therapy): a practice that involves a thermal treatment to help release accumulated toxins in the blood through the skin. It typically occurs after oleation therapy as the oils help the body absorb the steam. It can target the whole body (bashpa swedana) or a specific part of the body (nadi swedana).

During swedana, the patient sits in a wooden box or room filled with herbal steam to help the patient eliminate the toxins in his or her body by sweating. Ayurvedic practitioners recommend having a warm shower after swedana therapy.

B- Panchakarma treatments:

Panchakarma, which is Sanskrit for “five treatments,” is a five-step detox program in Ayurveda. These treatments help detoxify the body and restore balance to the vata, pitta, and kapha doshas.

The five treatments are:

1. Vamana (medicated emesis)

2. Virechana (medicated purgation)

3. Vasti (medicated enema)

4. Nasya (nasal medication)

5. Raktamokshan (bloodletting)

An Ayurvedic practitioner would manage inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using the following Panchakarma treatments:

1- Virechana (medicated purgation): a practice where patients are given herbal treatments to induce diarrhea. Virechana helps clear out toxins in the gut and restores balance to the imbalanced pitta dosha. It soothes the colon and relieves stomach pain.

2- Vasti/Basti (medicated enema): vasti is a practice where patients are given oils or liquids that help cleanse their colon. Basti is a practice where patients are given oils infused with herbs to eliminate toxins in their colon. Both vasti and basti reduce inflammation in the colon, one symptom of IBD.

3- Raktamokshan (bloodletting): a practice that involves withdrawing blood from the body via puncture wounds or incisions. This practice helps remove toxins from the blood and restores balance to the pitta dosha, reducing inflammation in the colon.

C- Rasayana (Rejuvenation treatments):

In Ayurveda, rasayana, which is Sanskrit for “path of essence,” consists of practices that help rejuvenate and nourish the mind and body.

Rasayana practices include consuming herbal treatments or decoctions and maintaining a healthy and balanced diet. They also incorporate exercise, yoga, and a regular self-care routine (dinacharya) to maintain balance in all aspects of life.

The rasayana practices that treat IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) are explained in more detail below:

1- Dietary Modifications:

The Ayurvedic diet aims to balance all three life energies or doshas in the mind and body. Patients should maintain a diet that restores balance to the pitta dosha (energy of metabolism and digestion) to treat or prevent Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

An Ayurvedic diet also prescribes eating specific foods as part of Purvakarma (preparatory treatments) before Panchakarma (detoxification therapies) to help loosen the accumulated toxins in the gut and the blood that cause IBD.

Patients should maintain the Ayurvedic diet even after they complete Purvakarma and Panchakarma therapies.

2- Herbal Treatments:

Ayurveda prescribes herbs or herbal treatments to treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The treatments are specifically tailored to the person’s symptoms. Practitioners prescribe different herbs depending on the person’s symptoms.

Some of these herbs include:

- Triphala: an Ayurvedic herbal formulation consisting of three seedless fruits: amalaki, bibhitaki, and haritaki. They help reduce inflammation in the gut.

- Indian frankincense (Boswellia serrata): also known as shallaki, is an anti-inflammatory herbal extract. It reduces inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.

- Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna): an herb that has anti-inflammatory properties. It helps reduce abdominal swelling and balances the pitta dosha.

- Haldi (Turmeric): an herb that contains the anti-inflammatory chemical curcumin and relieves IBD symptoms.

- Yashtimadhu (Licorice): an anti-inflammatory herb that works to protect the colon and heal ulcers.

- Dhanyak (Coriander): a cooling herb that improves digestion and balances the pitta dosha.

- Tvak (Cinnamon): an herb that helps restore balance to the pitta dosha. It stimulates digestion and decreases diarrhea.

- Genda (Marigold leaves): when crushed, marigold leaves improve digestion and restore balance the pitta dosha. Marigold leaves also relieve IBD symptoms because they have anti-inflammatory properties.

3- Dinacharya (Routine):

Dinacharya or establishing a routine is one aspect of Rasayana that helps treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and restores balance to both the body and the mind.

It includes:

1- Adjusting dietary habits: Patients should eat foods at regular times. They should also eat healthy foods that help restore balance to the imbalanced pitta dosha.

2- Regulating sleeping habits: Patients need to adjust their sleeping habits and begin sleeping at regular times every night. Sleeping well reduces inflammation and helps the body repair itself.

3- Exercising regularly: Patients should engage in physical activity every day at regular times to stabilize the pitta dosha. Regular exercise decreases stress and reduces inflammation in the gut.

4- Practicing yoga: Patients should practice at least 10 minutes of yoga, including pranayama (breathing techniques), every day to release stress, one factor that causes inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

5- Practicing breathing techniques: Patients should practice breathing techniques or pranayama every day. Pranayama relaxes the intestines and reduces stomach pain in IBD patients.

Ayurvedic Medicine for IBD: recommendations

- Eat meals regularly: Eat at regular times to pacify the pitta dosha and regulate digestion.

- Exercise regularly: Engage in physical activity for 30 minutes every day to restore balance to all the doshas. Exercise improves digestion and eases bowel movements.

- Sleep well: Maintain a regular sleep schedule and get at least 7 hours of sleep. Sleeping well helps relieve stress and prevents inflammation in the body.

- Practice yoga: Practice at least 10 minutes of yoga, including pranayama (breathing techniques), every day to relieve stress, which helps reduce inflammation in the body.

- Practice activities that increase mindfulness: Practice meditation for at least 20 minutes every day. Meditation helps relieve stress, which lowers inflammation in the body.

Foods to eat:

According to Ayurveda, all foods possess certain gunas (qualities). The gunas in the foods are transferred into energies that influence the balance of the doshas in the body.

People with IBD should eat foods with cooling, bitter, and light gunas (qualities) to avoid aggravating the pitta dosha (energy of digestion and metabolism) and increasing inflammation in the gut.

These foods include:

• Fruits: pomegranate, apple, banana, papaya, cranberries, grapes, and strawberries

• Vegetables: carrots, potatoes (boiled), pumpkins, bitter gourd

• Dairy products: ghee and yogurt

• Legumes: green gram (mung daal)

• Grains: basmati rice and barley

• Roasted or grilled fish (occasionally)

• Honey

• Coconut water

• Aloe vera gel

Herbs to use:

According to Ayurveda, patients with IBD should consume herbs that cleanse the gut and eliminate toxins in the body. It recommends herbs that have anti-inflammatory properties, stimulate digestion (agni), soothe irritation in the GI tract, and restore balance to the pitta dosha.

The following herbs are beneficial for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD):

- Triphala: an Ayurvedic herbal formulation consisting of three seedless fruits: amalaki, bibhitaki, and haritaki. They help reduce inflammation in the gut.

- Indian frankincense (Boswellia serrata): also known as shallaki, is an anti-inflammatory herbal extract. It reduces inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.

- Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna): an herb that has anti-inflammatory properties. It helps reduce abdominal swelling and balances the pitta dosha.

Haldi (Turmeric): an herb that contains the anti-inflammatory chemical curcumin and relieves IBD symptoms.

Yashtimadhu (Licorice): an anti-inflammatory herb that works to protect the colon and heal ulcers.

Dhanyak (Coriander): a cooling herb that improves digestion and balances the pitta dosha.

Tvak (Cinnamon): an herb that helps restore balance to the pitta dosha. It stimulates digestion and decreases diarrhea.

Genda (Marigold leaves): when crushed, marigold leaves improve digestion and restore balance the pitta dosha. Marigold leaves also relieve IBD symptoms because they have anti-inflammatory properties.

Ayurvedic Medicine for IBD: Things to Avoid

- Avoid skipping meals: skipping meals makes it harder to establish a routine. It disrupts the balance of the pitta dosha, which causes toxins to accumulate in the body and worsens digestion.

- Avoid drinking coffee and tea: these drinks aggravate all three doshas and disrupt their balance. They also contain caffeine and are acidic, so they make IBD symptoms and flare-ups worse.

- Avoid or limit alcohol consumption: alcohol consumption disrupts the balance of the pitta dosha. It increases the number of toxins and the level of inflammation in the gut, which aggravates IBD symptoms.

- Avoid soft drinks: these drinks contain a lot of sugar and aggravate the pitta dosha, which can cause toxins to accumulate in the gut, triggering IBD symptoms.

- Stop smoking: smoking aggravates the pitta dosha and triggers the accumulation of toxins in the gut. It causes inflammation, which leads to the development of inflammatory bowel disease.

Foods to avoid:

According to Ayurveda, all foods possess certain gunas (qualities). The gunas in the foods are transferred into energies that influence the balance of the doshas in the body.

People with IBD should avoid foods with hot and spicy gunas (qualities) that aggravate the pitta dosha (energy of digestion and metabolism) to reduce inflammation and prevent the accumulation of toxins in the gut.

These foods include:

• Vegetables: tomatoes

• Fruits: citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons, pineapples

• Grains: refined flour

• Legumes:  chickpeas and kidney beans

• Meat: avoid meat products

• Dairy products: all dairy products except ghee, curds, and yogurt

• Spicy foods

• Sugary foods

• Salty foods

• Acidic foods

• Processed foods

Ayurveda for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): precautions

Ayurveda uses natural and herbal remedies to treat diseases. However, if you want to use Ayurvedic medicines, herbs, supplements to treat a particular condition, you should consider the following precautions:

- Consult your Ayurvedic practitioner before taking Ayurvedic products on your own. Let them know if you have diabetes or are taking medication that may affect your treatment plan. They should adjust it to avoid any harmful interactions with the medication you are taking.

- Some Ayurvedic products and practices are banned in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve or review Ayurvedic products. Some herbal compounds or preparations may contain lead, mercury, or arsenic in toxic amounts.

They can cause serious illnesses in children and may be life-threatening for pregnant or lactating women and their babies. Other compounds from untrustworthy manufacturers may contain steroids, which may cause further health issues.

- Some Panchakarma treatments aren’t suitable for all patients who have inflammatory bowel disease. Eligibility for panchakarma is determined by an Ayurvedic practitioner.

People who are classified as having “weak” or lean and thin bodies aren’t eligible for some panchakarma treatments. People who are anemic and pregnant women also aren’t allowed to undergo panchakarma treatments.

WARNING:

- Make sure to disclose to your primary care physician that you are seeing an Ayurvedic practitioner and are taking Ayurvedic formulations. This ensures you stay safe and avoid medication interactions that might cause serious side effects.

- If you are taking medication for diabetes, don’t stop taking them if you begin Ayurvedic treatment unless your doctor approves it.

- Some Ayurvedic practitioners may not be qualified to treat you. Make sure that your Ayurvedic practitioner is well-trained, certified, and has the relevant experience to meet your needs.

- Be careful when buying Ayurvedic herbs or formulas. Don’t buy Ayurvedic products unless they have a GMP (Good Manufacturing Product) stamp on them if you are buying them from India. Be extra careful when purchasing herbs online because online stores may be selling counterfeit products.

Ayurveda for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): side effects

Since Ayurvedic treatments are derived from natural herbs and plants, most treatments do not cause adverse events. However, if you take some Ayurvedic preparations or herbs, you may experience the following side effects.

- Some Ayurvedic products contain toxic amounts of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, or mercury, and they might cause heavy metal poisoning.

- Some Ayurvedic herbal formulations might cause headaches, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, rashes, or allergic reactions.