Ulcerative Colitis

Overview

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with mucosal inflammation and ulceration of the colon and rectum. Inflammation often begins in the rectum and can extend proximally to involve larger segments of the colon.

Urgent care is warranted for severe abdominal pain, persistent bleeding, dehydration, high fever, or rapid worsening symptoms.

Causes

Autoimmune factors, food sensitivities, collagen disorders, genetic predisposition, and infections are described as contributors. In Ayurveda, factors that aggravate Pitta—such as eating while distracted or walking, excessive heat or sun exposure, alcohol and smoking, skipping meals, and frequent spicy/sour or stale foods—are considered important provocations.

Symptoms

• Irregular bowel movements
• Bluish or yellowish undigested stool
• Abdominal cramps
• Unexplained fatigue
• Unpleasant body odor
• Weight loss and reduced appetite
• Occasional rectal pain
• Burning sensation in chest and throat

Ayurvedic Perspective (Pittaj Grahaṇī)

In classical Ayurveda, UC maps to Pittaj Grahaṇī, primarily a Pitta-dominant condition with varying Vāta involvement. Excess Pitta can disturb rakta dhātu (blood tissue) and māṁsa dhātu (muscle), leading to āma accumulation coating the intestinal villi and impairing function and local immunity. Aggravated lower colonic Vāta may obstruct Pitta/Kapha channels, contributing to inflammation, mucus, and edema.

Supportive Ayurvedic care focuses on gently eliminating āma, restoring agni (digestive fire), and cultivating a microbiota-friendly milieu. As baseline strength and immunity are restored, attention turns to mucosal comfort and tissue healing. These measures are complementary and should align with your gastroenterologist’s plan.

Diet & Lifestyle Advice

• Soups from split gram (split legumes), buttermilk, and yogurt from skimmed milk; goat’s milk may be better tolerated.
• Increase culinary use of cumin, coriander, and celery seeds.
• Avoid whole peas/beans, broccoli, potato, garlic, jaggery, yam, sweet potato and other hard-to-digest foods; avoid fried/oily/high-salt items, and fermented or highly processed foods.
• Practice mindful meals in a calm setting—no TV/music/work. Chew thoroughly and eat slightly less than appetite.
• Limit tea, coffee, and alcohol.

Some Home Remedies

• Buttermilk (1 glass) with ¼ tsp turmeric, a pinch of roasted cumin powder, and rock salt—twice daily with breakfast and lunch.
• Equal parts powders of dried ginger root, black pepper, and long pepper (½ tsp with water, twice daily).
• Powder blend of cloves, cinnamon, green cardamom, and asafoetida (1 tsp with water, twice daily).
• ¼ tsp nutmeg + ½ tsp Indian gooseberry (āmalakī) + ½ tsp celery seeds at bedtime with water.

Always discuss herbs and diet changes with your treating clinician if you have active IBD, significant bleeding, are pregnant, or take prescription medicines.

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