By  Dr.P.M.Sharma  

The irritable bowel syndrome and ayurvedic disease GRAHANI both seem similar when we observe the symptoms keenly. Charak defines this in his everlasting book of ayurvedic medicine the Charak SAMHITA (Charak Chikitsa/15) that

“GRAHANIM-ASHRITO AGNI DOSHO GRAHANI DOSHAH” it means that in the AGNI (the word Agni in respect of digestive system, refers for various type of metabolisms) that is located in Grahani (intestines), gets to unevenness to assimilate the ingested food and hence the Grahani gets (DOSHAH) the disorder.

Due to mediocrities of Agni activities, then the digestion of ingested food must be there as per the rule of nature, that can not be happen, and hence the result, AM takes place. Due to the location of this AM in the parts of digestive system, the symptoms appear in the accordance, like if AM is persisting in stomach then the nausea or vomiting will be there, if Am is in the rectum, then constipation shall take place, if AM is in intestine then colic, flatulence and the diarrhea occur.

Agni: that is very vital phenomenal activity which is responsible to maintain the health. Agni supposed to be inherent not only in digestive system, this must be accessible in physiologically in every system, even in the cell too.

According to medical science the Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder characterized most commonly by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. IBS causes a great deal of discomfort and distress, but it does not permanently harm the intestines and does not lead to a serious disease, such as cancer. Most people can control their symptoms with diet, stress management, and prescribed medications. For some people, however, IBS can be disabling. They may be unable to work, attend social events, or even travel short distances.

Cause and pathology:

Sushrut (also known as the father of surgery) writes in the chapter 40 of his text the Sushrut samhita Utter tantra:-

ATISARE NIVRATE-API-MAND-AGNI-RAHITASHANAH

BHUYAH SUNDUSHITO VANHI-GRAHANIM-ABHI-DUSHAYET-1

EKAIKSHAH SARVASHCHA DOSHAIRATYARTH MURCHHATAIH

SA DUSHTA BAHUSHO BHUKTAMAMEV VIMUNCHATI-2

PAKWAM VA SARUJAM PUTI MUHUR-BADDAM MUHUR-DRAVAM

GRAHANI ROGMAHUSTAM AYURVIDO JANAH-3

Translation: after the diarrhea or to have unhealthy foods causing to disturb the equilibrium of Agni before the diarrhea, when the Agni becomes poor, then due to the anomalous functioning of Agni, create the disturbance in the physiological equilibrium within one, two or all three Doshas and hence patients passes feces, some time in liquid or some time solid form, some time very little, some time normal and sometime very sticky with very foully smell. Patient feels pains off and on.

Modern medical sciences have yet to discover any specific cause for IBS. One theory is that people who suffer from IBS have a colon, or large intestine, that is particularly sensitive and reactive to certain foods and stress. The immune system, which fights infection, may also be involved. Researchers have also found very mild celiac disease in some people with symptoms similar to IBS. People with celiac disease cannot digest gluten, a substance found in wheat, rye, and barley. People with celiac disease cannot eat these foods without becoming very sick because their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. A blood test can determine whether celiac disease may be present.

Types and symptoms:

There are four types are of Grahani, Vata type, Pitta type, Kapha type and Tridosha type (involvement of all three Dosha at once or sannipatik type)

1. Vata type:

To have too much of bitter, very hot and finely tapering pepper of special pungency in taste, metallic tasty food stuff, regular intake of heavy meal, to have non vegetarian regularly, to have the food without the digestion of previous in takings, and other some causes are in the rear of Vatic Grahani.

Symptoms: pain as if pins are stabbing in the stomach, scanty and foam-covered stool with efforts, poor vision, flatulence (A state of excessive gas in the alimentary canal) specially just after having food, weight loss, and patient feels healthy just after the meal but later on when he feel some trouble in abdomen.

Note- in any type of Grahani the chronic-ness is the another cause of the involvement of vata.

2. Pitta type:

Acidic, alkaline and irritating tastes of food stuffs like green mangos, sodas, excess use of alcoholic products, smocking or tobacco chewing, vinegar and other food stuffs that come in this category like fine flour, noodles and pizza and other fast foods are behind this.

Symptoms: eructation with acidic and bitter taste with burning sensation, extra thirst, and pale faced, passes greenish yellow runny stool, and some blood can be present in the feces if infection is there. The palpitation in heart can be felt easily just after the food. The main symptom is known as hyper acidity.

3. Kapha type:

Those who have very heavy sweats specially made of condensed milk or heavily fatty diet, like fried food, and do not go for work out they can suffer with the Kapha type Grahani.

Symptoms:  Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, heaviness in abdomen, frequent onset of breathlessness, tears, nasal discharge, and heaviness around the heart.  Patient passes very sticky stool even with pressure sometime.

4. Tridosha type

This class of Grahani has mixed symptoms of all three Doshas. Which Dosha would be involved in higher proportion that will show his presence in the symptoms.

Management

Herbal treatment

CHURNAs (powders)

SHUNTHI KALK, GANGADHAR CHURN, MARICHYADI CHURN, DADIMASHTAK CHURN, LAVANGADI CHURN, JATIPHALADI CHURN, NARAYAN CHURN, CHITRAKADI CHURN, HINGWADI CHURN, YAWANIKHANDAV, LAVANBHASKAR CHURN.

BATI (Tablets)

KUTAJ GHAN BATI, KANKAYAN BATI, SHANKH BATI, SHOOLVARIJINI BATI, AGNITUNDI BATI, SINGHANAD GUGGULU.

RAS and BHASM AUSHADHI (HERBO-MINERAL PRPARARTIONS)

GRAHANI KAPAT RAS, HEMGARBH POTTALIM, FIRST AND SECOND TYPE, MRIGANKPOTTALI RAS, LOKNATH RAS, LAUH RASAYAN, PRAVAL PANCHAMRIT, SUTSHEKHAR RAS, CHANDRAKALA RAS, SHANKH BHASM, KAPARDIKA BHASM

KWATH (tea or decoctions)

DHANYAPANCHAK KWATH, GUDUCHYADI KWATH

ASAO AND ARISHTA (liquid preparation or syrup based)

DASHMOOLARISHTA, ROHITAKARISHTA, PIPPALYASAO, JEERAKARISHTA

Diet and food

We have seen in the types and symptoms section of the article that how food stuffs affect our health. For many people, careful eating reduces IBS symptoms. If dairy products cause your symptoms to flare up, you can try eating less of those foods. You might be able to tolerate yogurt better than other dairy products because it contains bacteria that supply the enzyme needed to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk products. Dairy products are an important source of calcium and other nutrients. If you need to avoid dairy products, be sure to get adequate nutrients in the foods you substitute, or take supplements. You can try the curd milk or TAKRA. The recipe is available follows.

In many cases, dietary fiber may lessen IBS symptoms, particularly constipation. However, it may not help with lowering pain or decreasing diarrhea. Whole grain breads and cereals, fruits, and vegetables are good sources of fiber. High-fiber diets keep the colon mildly distended, which may help prevent spasms. Some forms of fiber keep water in the stool, thereby preventing hard stools that are difficult to pass. Doctors usually recommend a diet with enough fiber to produce soft, painless bowel movements. High-fiber diets may cause gas and bloating, although some people report that these symptoms go away within a few weeks. (For information about diets for people with celiac disease, increasing fiber intake by 2 to 3 grams per day will help reduce the risk of increased gas and bloating.

Drinking six to eight glasses of plain water a day is important, especially if you have diarrhea. Drinking carbonated beverages, such as sodas, may result in gas and cause discomfort. Chewing gum and eating too quickly can lead to swallowing air, which also leads to gas.

Large meals can cause cramping and diarrhea, so eating smaller meals more often, or eating smaller portions, may help IBS symptoms. Eating meals that are low in fat and high in carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, whole-grain breads and cereals (unless you have celiac disease), fruits, and vegetables may help.

Eat only when you are really hungry and maintain a gape of eight hours or more according to your tolerance between two suppers.

TAKRA:

1-     In Night take whole milk and boil it up to twenty minutes

2-     let it cool up to your body temperature

3-     add 2 or 3 gram yogurt and mix that properly

4-     keep this solution at clean and hot place (so that the temperature of the solution can be maintained (almost 32⁰ C)

5-     in morning you will find curd (DADHI in ayurveda)

6-     Now churn this and get the fat out (this fat is known as NAVNEET or MAKKHAN).

7-     The remaining part is TAKRA

àTake the takra with roasted cumin seeds and a pinch of black salt and little quantity of NAVNEET. à Take this with sugar in Pitta type

à Take this with roasted cumin seeds and a pinch of black paper.

NOTE: - try this just after the vegetarian food, but you must consult to your doctor or dietician.

Yoga

Mr Andrew from Sweden, Mrs Clara from Belgium, Miss Juvenilia from Lisbon and Mrs Sukhwant kaur from Canada asked about the ayurvedic explanation about IBS. We are here with that.

This is an informative article, all ayurvedic preparations are in brief, and the patients are being advised not to take all medicines at once. This is information about the range and variety of medicines that available in the text.

Editor

J.A.Y. (Journal of Ayurveda and Yoga

Mail- info@ayurvedic-healings.com