Ulcerative Colitis is an Inflammatory Bowel Disease that is chronic in nature and causes ulcers and inflammation in the digestive tract. This condition usually affects the inner lining of the large intestine along with the rectum. It quite often drains out and weakens the body and in some severe cases, it may also cause life-threatening complications, which makes it extremely important to treat the condition.
Though there are lesser chances to completely cure the disease but treatment can certainly help in reducing the symptoms and provide relief from the condition.
As we proceed in this article, we shall discuss the different methods of its treatment and chiefly focus on Ayurvedic Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis by suggesting various herbal remedies, precautions, and lifestyle changes.
Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis
Common signs and symptoms of this IBD include:
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Fatigues
- The urgency for bowel movements
- Rectal pain
- Rectal bleeding
- Diarrhea that is accompanied by blood or pus
- Inability to defecate
- Abdominal pain
Types of Ulcerative Colitis
The type of Ulcerative Colitis is determined by its location. These include:
- ULCERATIVE PROCTITIS: Inflammation is restricted to the rectum region, causing rectal bleeding as the only symptom.
- PROCTOSIGMOIDITIS: Inflammation extends up to the sigmoid colon (the lower end of the colon), along with the rectum.
Common symptoms include :
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Inability to defecate despite the urgency to do so.
- LEFT SIDED COLITIS: Includes inflammation of the rectum, to the sigmoid, and the descending colon.
Symptoms include:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain on the left side
- Urgent for bowel movement.
- PANCOLITIS: this type affects the entire colon. It’s the most severe type and be diagnosed through the following symptoms:
- Abdominal cramps and pain.
- Weightloss
- Fatigue
- Bloody diarrhea.
Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis
Ayurveda aims to establish good health by maintaining a balance between the body, mind, and spirit. It is an ancient healing system and has a holistic approach to medicine.
Its complementary and alternative medicine segments include herbal and plant remedies, spices, oils, massages, therapies, yoga, meditation, and acupuncture which help in managing symptoms of Ulcerative colitis.
Lets us take a look at the Ayurvedic approach to treat Ulcerative Colitis.
Diet
It is always advisable to seek the advice of your doctor before making any changes to your diet. An Ayurvedic diet promotes the consumption of natural foods to establish balance in the body and various doshas.
An imbalance of the Pitta dosha generally causes the impairment of colon functioning. A few foods that can help in reestablishing the proper functioning of the colon and thereby providing relief from ulcerative colitis include:
- Milk
- Ghee
- Soy milk
- Butter
- Apples
- Pears
- Pineapples
- Melons
- Mangoes
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Zucchini
Most spices must be avoided except for,
- Cinnamon
- Turmeric
- Fennel
- Back pepper
- Coriander
Massage
Ayurveda believes in curing and providing relief from various conditions by regular therapeutic massages, as it enables the clearing of channels by moving and forcing out the toxins from the body that cause various diseases and disorders.
Practitioners blend essential oils with herbs and use them to massage after heating to provide detoxification and relaxation.
Meditation
Stress is known to aggravate symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis. Practicing meditation and mindfulness can significantly help people suffering from IBD especially Ulcerative Colitis to manage stress and stress-related symptoms.
Yoga
Studies prove that yoga asanas have a positive impact on people suffering from IBD and Ulcerative Colitis. Yoga asanas that are grounding, contemplative, and calm help in balancing the Vata dosha. These poses focus on the colon, intestines, lumbar spine, and pelvis by reestablishing the energy into the base of the torse.
Asanas that work on the Pitta dosha must be cooling poses as this dosha is related to the endocrine and enzymatic systems and also the heat. These poses help in strengthening the abdomen and include standing forward bend poses and heart-opening poses.
Herbal Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis
Natural remedies and herbs that help to treat and Prevent Ulcerative Colitis include:
- ALOE VERA helps in providing relief from the inflammation caused due to Ulcerative Colitis as the herb possesses anti-inflammatory properties.
- MUSTA helps in soothing abdominal cramps caused by gas and flatulence. The herb helps in aiding digestion processes, improves water retention in the body, and reduces the frequency of diarrhea.
- GUDUCHI is commonly known as Giloy and is used in treating various symptoms related to Ulcerative Colitis such as indigestion, hyperacidity, flatulence, and diarrhea.
- PATHA helps in controlling diarrhea due to its anti-diarrheal property. It helps in improving the digestive fire and keeps control on the growth of bacteria in the large intestines. It aids better fluid absorption and also prevents the excessive loss of fluid from the body.
Ulcerative Colitis if not treated can lead to further complications and even life-threatening conditions in some cases. The condition must be given immediate attention and if symptoms intensify medical assistance must necessarily be taken.
You may contact IAFA for the same, where Ayurvedic healthcare providers have expertise in managing and treating symptoms related to Ulcerative Colitis and various other allergies and conditions by the means of Ayurvedic and Herbal practices that are absolutely safe.