Ayurveda Management of Grahani (Irritable Bowel Syndrome): A Case Report

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of gut brain interaction with unknown etiology, symptoms include loose motion, constipation, or both along with repeated abdominal pain.Worldwide researches show prevalence rate of IBS around 10-20% and the incidence at 1-2% per year globally while in India, it is reported between 4.2 and 7.5%.Vataj Grahani (disorder related to gastro intestinal system) shows particular symptoms like pain, bloating, borborygmi, constipation, or diarrheas.A 37-year-old male patient came to Panchakarma (five body purification methods) outpatient department (OPD) of Ayurvedic Medical College and Research Institute with symptoms like increased frequency of motion, abdominal cramps, mucus discharge while defecation, and incomplete evacuation.The patient was already diagnosed case of IBS D by Gastroenterologist and its was managed with Agnideepana, (carmenative medicines) Yoga Basti krama [8 days enema protocol with buttermilk] with Takra Basti, Shirodhara (procedure where medicated oil is poured in continues stream on fore head) and Shaman drugs (disease pacifying drugs) like Grahanikapat Rasa, Mustakarishta, and Panchamruta Parpati, Manas Mitra vatakam along with dietary and life style modifications.The treatment aims balancing the Agni, (digestive fire) removal of vitiated Doshas, (basic principles of body as per Ayurveda) removal of causative factors and pacification of residual Doshas.The IBS severity scoring system (IBS-SSS) score decreased to 65 from 340, Bristol stool scale, improved to type 4 from type 6-7 (loose/watery), visual analogue scale (VAS) score for spasmodic abdominal pain reduced to 1/10 from 8/10, quality of life (QoL) score improved from 40 at baseline to 88 after 1 month of treatment respectively.So, we can say that personalized Ayurvedic treatment plan depending on causative factors shows clinical improvement in case of IBS.