Ayurvedic Treatment for IBS: Methods, Benefits & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Harshil Matta, DO — Written by Kimberly Holland
July 31, 2020

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a series of symptoms that typically affect the digestive tract and intestines. Common symptoms include:

• abdominal pain
• bloating
• constipation
• diarrhea

While doctors generally can diagnose IBS quickly, they can’t always find a treatment. That’s because it’s not entirely clear why IBS occurs.

Western medicine uses a combination of prescription medications and lifestyle changes to address the symptoms of IBS. Other approaches include acupuncture and holistic treatments like Ayurveda.

Read on to learn how Ayurvedic medicine might help treat symptoms of IBS, along with potential side effects and benefits.

What is Ayurvedic medicine?

Ayurvedic medicine is a centuries-old holistic approach to wellness that originated in northern India.

It’s a form of treatment that encompasses the well-being of body, mind, and spirit. It encourages you to consider all three when managing health issues.

In Ayurveda, the body balances different types of energies, or doshas. The three doshas are:

• vata
• pitta
• dapha

Each of these doshas is responsible for a different part of your body. Vata, for example, controls bodily functions like eliminating waste and balancing electrolytes in the body.

If the three doshas are not balanced for any reason, you may experience illness or disease. You need to maintain balance within your doshas to maintain good health.

IBS is thought to occur when one of the doshas is unbalanced or when toxins are present.

Ayurvedic medicine aims to restore balance. It does this through natural treatments so that the symptoms of IBS will be eliminated. It also aims to remove any toxins in the body.

How can Ayurvedic medicine be used to treat IBS? 

Symptoms of IBS typically include:

• cramping
• abdominal pain
• bloating and gas
• constipation
• diarrhea

First treat the Ama (or toxins)

In Ayurveda, the Agni (or digestive fire) is responsible for converting food into energy and nutrition. When you eat something, the food is held in the duodenum until it’s completely digested by Agni.

When digestion is complete, the food passes onto the next stage of digestion. If for some reason the food isn’t fully digested, you may become ill. This may signal that your Agni is weak.

As a result of the incomplete digestion, your body may develop Ama, or toxins. The symptoms of IBS may be the result of a weak Agni and the resulting buildup of these toxins.

That’s why the first step in Ayurvedic medicine is to treat the Ama. Then, you treat the doshas.

Then balance the three doshas

With these treatments, you may see improving symptoms in a matter of days. But in some cases, it may take an extended period of time to treat the imbalance properly.

Since wellness relies on the equilibrium of all three doshas, they must all be balanced before you can feel restored.