A Diet Guide for IBS (Grahani Roga)

Pathya and Apathya – As Per Classical Literature of Ayurveda

Pathya (Upshya) – Do’s for IBS as per classical literature

Ausadha for Grahani

Dasamuladya Ghrita, Tryusanadya Ghrita, Pancamuladya Ghrita and Churna, Citrakadya gutika, Pippaladya Curna, Marichyadi Churna, Takrarista, Tiktaka Ghrita, Nagaradya Churna, Bhunimbadi Churna, Kiratadya Churna, Madhukasava, Duralabhasava, Mulasava, Pindasava, Madhparista, Pippalyadi Churna, Kara Ghrita, Bhallatakadya Ksara, Duralabhadya Ksara, Bhunimbadiksara, Haridradya Ksara, Ksara Gutika, Talisapatradi Churna, Pancamuladi Ghrita.

Aahara and Vihara for Grahani (IBS)

Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana: 15/ 115- 117

• Soup of Panchakola or the soup of Mulaka prepared by adding Marica and ghee or oil
• Spiced meat soup of wild animals added with ghee and sour pomegranate & butter, meat
• Soup of carnivorous animals mixed with appetizers is recommended as a diet. Buttermilk, sour gruel, wine & Arista should be taken as a post-meal drink.

Bhaishjya Ratnavalli. 8/ 3- 4

• The use of buttermilk (Takra) with salt is very effective in checking psilosis. The buttermilk is very useful in adjusting the three orders of the body including Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. It is light and thus helpful in promoting digestion. It is Madhura in Vipaka and thus it does not vitiate the Pitta Dosha. It is sour, astringent, and hot by nature and thus it controls the Kapha contents as well. The fresh buttermilk is smooth, and it does not produce a burning sensation as well. 

निद्रा छर्दन लंघन चिरभवा ये शालय: षष्टिका

मण्डो लाजकृतो मसूरतुवरीमुदूगप्रसूता रसा:। 

निःशेषोद्धृतसारमेव दधि यत्सक्षीरजात॑ गवां

छाग्या वा नवनीतमेव दधिज॑ तद्वत पयस्सम्भवम्‌।। 

छागान्याज्यपयोदधीनि तिलजं तैल॑ सुरा माक्षिकम 

शालूक॑ बकुलं च दाडिमयुगं नव्यानि भव्यानि च ।

रम्भाया: कुसुम फल च तरुणं बिल्व॑ च श्रृंगाटकम 

चंगेरी विजया कपित्थकुटजाजाजी कसेरूणि च।। 

तक्रम काञ्चत सौनिषण्णदलकं जाती फल जाम्बव॑

धन्याकानि च तिन्दुकानि च महानिम्बो अरुणापेलवम्‌। 

क्रव्याल्लावशशैणतित्तिरिरसा: क्षुद्रा झशा:  सर्वशः 

खुड्डीशो मधुरालिका च खलिश: सर्व: कषायो रस:।। 

नाभे द्वय अंगुलकादधोर्धशशिवद्वंशास्थिमूले तथा। 

दाह: प्रज्वलितायसा च कथित॑ पथ्यं ग्रहण्यातुरे।।

Pathya Apathya Vinirnya, Grehani Roga, by “Brahmanand Tripathi”,  60- 63, Bhaishjya Ratnavali 8/ 622- 625

• Sleeping
• Vomiting
• Langhana (fasting)

Taking old Sali rice, old Sasthi rice (rice harvested in 60 days), a liquid obtained from the cooked rice, pulse soup of Masura Dala, Adhya (pigeon peas) and Mudga Dala, curd of cow’s milk containing no butter, butter obtained from goat’s milk or curd, Ghritam of goat’s milk, cow’s milk, curd, sesame oil, liquor, honey, Kamalakanda, both types of pomegranate, fruit, and flowers of banana, the pulp of fresh Bilva fruits, Sringataka, Changeri, Vijaya, Kapittha, the bark of Kutaja, cumin seeds, buttermilk, leaves of Jatiphala, Jambu, coriander, Tinduka, Mahanimba, the meat of carnivorous birds, meat soup of rabbit, Tittira (partridge) and all types of small fish, Khuddisa (one type of fish which flies for a short period), Madhuralika (type of fish), Khalis (type of fish), all types of sour liquids. One can also heat the patient around the areas two fingers up and two fingers down of the belly and also at the roots of the backbone. It also helps the patient Grahani.

Apathya (Anupshya) for IBS (Grahani) – Don’ts for IBS as per classical literature

रक्त स्त्रुतिमजागरम अम्बुपानं स्नान॑ स्त्रियं वेगविनिग्रह॑ च ।

नस्याज्जनस्वेदनधूमपान॑ श्रम॑ विरुद्धाशनमातपं च।।

गोधूमनिष्पावकलायमाष यवार्द्रकच्छत्रकराज माषाण।

उपोदिका वास्तुककाकमाची कूष्माण्डतुम्बीमधुशिमुकन्दान्‌।।

ताम्बूलमिक्षुंबदर॑ रसाल मेव्वारुक॑ पूगफलं रसोनम्‌ ।

धान्यअम्लसौवीर तुष्उदकानीदुग्धंगुड़ मस्तु च नारिकेलम्‌।।

पुनर्नवाबाहतवैणवानि सर्वाणि शाकानि च पत्रवन्ति।

दुष्टाग्बु गोवारि कुरंग नार्भि क्षारं समस्तानि सराणि चापि।।

द्राक्षामथाम्ल॑ लवणं सर च गुर्वन्नपान॑ सकलं च पूपम्‌।

वैद्यश्चचिकित्सन्‌  ग्रहणीविकार॑ विवर्जयेतसन्ततमप्रमत्त:।।

Pathya Apathya Vinirnya, Grehani Roga, by “Brahmanand Tripathi”,  64- 68, Bhaishjya Ratnavali 8/ 617- 621

Bloodletting, roaming during the night, drinking excessive water, bathing, intercourse, stopping the flow of excretions, nasal therapy, application of collyrium, Swedana therapy, smoking, heavy work, incompatible food, sunbathing or enjoying fire heat, taking food items prepared from wheat, white beans, peas, Urada (pulse soup), barley, ginger, Catraka (mushroom), Rajamasa, Upodika, Vastuka, Kakamäci, ash gourd or Kasiphala, Tumbi, ripe drum stick, potato,  and other tubers, betel leaves, sugarcane, berry, mango, snake cucumber (Karkati), betel nut, garlic, Kanji, Sauvira (barley and wheat’s Kanji), Tusodaka (Kanji of Yava along with its peels), jaggery, coconut fruit or water, Punarnava, the fruit of Kantakari, bamboo. shoots, all types of leafy cuisine, contaminated water, cow’s urine, Kasturi, Yavaksara, Draksa, and sour eatables, salt, taking heavily to digest meals, all types of pudding, and Puri. 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Dietary Guidance

Follow the four main points given below, that help to treat the Lakshana (Symptoms) of IBS.

• Eat roughage (fibers) as per the type of IBS you are suffering from.
• Gluten-free diet
• Follow a low FODMAP diet
• Elimination diet

Follow a low FODMAP diet

FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. FODMAP is the carbohydrates that are difficult to digest as they pull more water to the bowel and increase bloating, gas, pain, diarrhea, etc. intake of a low FODMAP diet may decrease your symptoms associated with IBS.

Food that is low in FODMAP are:

• Eggs
• Meat
• Rice
• Quinoa
• Fruits like blueberry, grapes, strawberries, oranges, etc.
• Vegetables like eggplant, green beans, pumpkin, carrot, zucchini, etc.

Avoid:

• Fruits like Mango, plum, apple, watermelon, and peach.
• Vegetables, like broccoli, onion, asparagus, and artichokes.
• High fructose corn syrup.
• Legumes like lentils, kidney beans, chickpea
• Lactose should also be avoided if you are lactose intolerant.

Elimination diet

There are a few foods that trigger the symptom of IBS, like milk, ice cream, coffee, alcohol, soda with artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, etc. An elimination diet means avoiding certain food for some time, to see whether symptoms improved or not. If You are an IBS patient and addicted to the above-mentioned triggering food items of IBS, eliminate them for 4 weeks from your diet and check whether your symptoms have improved or not.