Irritable Bowel Syndrome

According to Ayurveda, irritable bowel syndrome is due to vata pushing pitta into the colon. To help correct the situation, combine the following herbs:

shatavari 1 part
kama dudha ⅛ part
shanka bhasma ⅛ part
arrowroot 2 parts

Take ½ teaspoon of this mixture a couple of times a day with a little warm water, just after eating.

• You can also take 1 teaspoon of sat isabgol (psyllium husks) with ½ cup of fresh yogurt 1 hour after dinner.
• To create another simple remedy, boil 1 teaspoon of flaxseed in a cupful of water to make a tea, and drink it at bedtime.
• In certain chronic cases of irritable bowel syndrome, Ayurveda recommends introducing ½ to 1 cup of warm sesame oil into the rectum. If you use this enema treatment, try to retain the oil for 5 minutes. Once the colon is well lubricated with sesame oil, irritable bowel syndrome will be controlled. You can do this oil enema (basti) once or twice a week, as needed. (For more about basti, see appendix 3.)