Who doesn’t love eating food outside? It is a fun quick detour from the usual routine. However, as tasty as that bhelpuri from the roadside stall is, frequently eating junk food can lead to digestive problems, the most common of which is dysentery.
Taking care of our digestive system is very important. Often, any damage to this part of the body can damage the immune system, and lead to long-term problems, which are sometimes incurable. Ayurveda has many simple solutions to this problem.
Read on to get answers to all your questions about dysentery, and a step-by-step guide on how you can recover from this infectious disease.
What is dysentery?
Dysentery is an infectious disease of the gastrointestinal tract, especially the colon. The World Health Organisation defines it as any episode of diarrhoea with loose watery stools and the presence of blood. It spreads among humans through contaminated food and is caused by different bacteria and parasites.
There are two main types of dysentery: Amoebic dysentery, caused by Entamoeba Hystolytica, and Bacillary dysentery, caused by Shigella.
What are the symptoms of Dysentery?
There are several ways to tell if an individual has this disease:
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Fever and chills
- Nausea and vomiting
- Watery Diarrhoea, with blood and mucus (happens in amoebic dysentery)
- Pain while passing stool
- Fatigue
- Occasional constipation
- Abdominal mass in the right lower abdomen.
- Stool without blood or mucus in case of bacillary dysentery.
- Mild stomach ache in case of bacillary dysentery.
What are the causes of Dysentery?
We have covered the signs of dysentery, but why exactly does an individual contract this disease?
There are several factors to it, namely:
- Contaminated food or water
- Contact with infected animals (happens in case of salmonella.)
- Consuming undercooked poultry or unpasteurized milk.
Other contributed factors include:
- Poor sanitation and hygiene: Inadequate sanitation facilities and poor personal hygiene practices increase the risk of the disease.
- Crowded living conditions: Overcrowded living areas such as refugee camps. Slums and institutions lead to the spread of Dysentery.
- Travelling to endemic areas: Frequently going to regions with high rates of dysentery, such as parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America can also increase the risk.
Ayurveda states that eating contaminated food impairs the Pachakagni or the digestive fire in the body and affects the Vata and Kapha Doshas. There are many Ayurvedic medicines for dysentery, which can easily provide relief. Ayurvedic experts also follow a step-by-step treatment plan.
Step 1: Lankhana procedure
In this procedure, the quantity and frequency of food intake is reduced. The individual is also given warm water that has been boiled with dry ginger. Light and easily digestible gruel-like food, with appetite-producing herbs such as cumin, pepper, thippali and dry ginger, is ideal during these times.
Step 2: Deepana and Pachana
During this step, herbs that stimulate the production of the digestive juices, and those which can cause digestion directly are given to the patient.
Step 3: Ropana
Formulations and herbs that aid in wound healing are given to heal the damage caused to the intestinal walls by dysentery.
Step 4: Vasthi
Vasthi, or enema with medicated sesame oil works wonders in pacifying the impairment of Vata and Kapha doshas. It also helps in healing the damage caused to the intestine by chronic dysentery.
Step 5: Brimhana or Nourishing drugs
Pathological changes in the intestine can also cause changes in digestion and absorption. Therefore, formulations and drugs that help nourish these parts of the system post-relief from dysentery are necessary.
Common Ayurvedic formulations used in this treatment include:
- Vaiswanara churnam
- Dadimashtaka Churnam
- Vilwadi Gulika
- Kutajarishtam
Apart from this 5 step Ayurvedic treatment, it is also important to make changes to the diet and lifestyle to keep the digestive tract protected:
- Garlic and Asafoetida can be used while cooking homemade food.
- Hot, oily, fried food, with preservatives should be avoided.
- Avoid overeating
- Don’t eat junk food.
Note: Drinking buttermilk after the butter has been removed is the best drink, as it won’t disrupt the digestive fire or upset Vata, Pitta or the Kapha Doshas.
Lifestyle changes include regularly doing Yoga and meditation; two yoga asanas are proven beneficial against dysentery:
- Pavanamukthasana: Knee to chest position, this helps in relieving gas from the body.
- Vajrasana: The position of sitting back on the heels with the knees bent helps in improving digestion.
Jamna Herbals’ Ayurvedic medicine for Dysentery
The Aam Doshantak capsules by Jamna Herbals have the power of Shunthi, Mocharas, Haritaki, Dhanyak and other herbal extracts. This medicine helps reduce the symptoms of all types of Dysentery significantly. It stimulates the appetite and helps in smoother bowel movements.
Take 1 capsule thrice a day with water or as advised by your physician. In case of chronic dysentery, take for one year.
