Ayurveda Ulcerative Colitis Diet Tips, Home Remedies

Diet plan and lifestyle changes are crucial in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, because of its higher chance of recurrence.  It is one such disease, where Ayurveda offers comprehensive treatment including Panchakarma, herbal medicines, home remedies and diet. 

Ayurveda ulcerative colitis diet plan –  Must Have Foods – 

Apart from following home remedies for ulcerative colitis, a strict diet rich in astringent principles helps to keep this disease under good control.

Diet to follow

Old rice – If rice is an integral part of diet, then prefer rice which is at least one year old.

Water used to wash rice –  is even helpful in controlling diarrhea. It helps to check the bleeding.

Scum of parched grains  – Parched grains is prepared by dry roasting.

Lentil  – soup or rasam or any such liquid preparation made using lentils.

Pigeon pea (liquid) – soup or rasam or any such liquid preparation made using arhar / toor dal / / pigeon pea / red gram.

Small sized fishes

Goat milk, clarified butter (ghee) prepared with goat milk – we have already learnt that goat milk is lighter than cow milk for digestion and hence, goat milk and its products are preferred in ulcerative colitis.

Buttermilk –Butter milk is lighter in nature, be it prepared from cow milk or goat milk.

Fresh flower of banana, unripened banana fruit  – Rich in astringent principles, acts as natural styptic and avoids diarrhoea and bleeding per rectum.

Honey – Honey is rich in astringent principle. It has wound healing properties and has soothing and healing effect over the intestinal wall. Honey also adds nutritional value to the diet, which is quite necessary in ulcerative colitis, as the patient will be suffering from dehydration and lack of proper absorption. Honey Benefits. 

Jambuphala – Jamun fruit is astringent and styptic.

Wild ginger and ginger – Improves digestion, corrects enzyme balance at the level of stomach and intestines.

Lotus stalk – In some parts of India, lotus stalk is used as a vegetable. Useful to stop excessive bleeding and diarrhoea.

Wood apple – Also known as elephant apple.

Bael fruit – Natural anti inflammatory, and styptic.

Pomegranate –  We have learnt previously, the benefits of pomegranate.  Both the sweet and sour varieties of Pomegranate are very useful to check diarrhoea and bleeding per rectum.

Palm fruit  – Light to digest, high in nutrition.

Wood sorrel – leaves are used to prepare soup. Sour in nature. Also used in decoration of dishes.

Nutmeg – Soothes and heals the wounds of intestines.

Cumin seeds – Improves digestion, at the same time, it is not very spicy.

Coriander – Coriander is a natural coolant. Balances Pitta.

Neem – Decoction of neem is useful to heal intestinal wounds. Neem is also a powerful antibacterial and anti inflammatory.  But caution should be exercised in diabetics, while giving neem.

All such other diet, which is not very heavy in stomach and which aid in digestion is beneficial in ulcerative colitis.

Diet to avoid

Food that are hard to digest, that cause increase in bowel motility, that cause increase in Pitta and fiber rich diet are best avoided in Ulcerative colitis. As per the principles of Ayurveda, the following are the food to avoid in Ulcerative colitis.

 Ayurvedic procedures like body massage, sweating therapy, herbal smoking, nasal instillation of drops (Nasya), etc are best avoided.

Watch your food – During Ulcerative colitis, the patient needs to make a list of food that trigger the disease and has to avoid such foods.

Wheat, barley,  – rich in fiber, initiates bowel movement.

Black gram – Takes a long time for digestion.

Bathua / Bathuva  – Also known as lamb’s quarter = Chenopodium Album

Black night shade – fruit and leaves are used as food in some parts of India.

Peas – Causes Vata imbalance in intestines and bloating

Drum stick, Mango,  –  Both may improve intestinal motility

Jaggery, Ash gourd, jujube – Heavy to digest

sugar cane – causes increased intestinal motility and may trigger symptoms

Grapes, coconut water, Spinach and green leafy vegetables – May cause increased bowel motility

Betel leaf, garlic – may cause increase in Pitta.

Ayurvedic medicines containing Kshara as an ingredient – causes Pitta imbalance.

Avoid – 
alcohol, coffee, tea, milk, dried fruits, pepper, meat, nuts, spicy food, peas, legumes,curds.

Herbal home remedies

Ulcerative colitis is a disease affecting the large intestine and rectum. It is characterized by blood in stools and diarrhea with pus, abdominal pain, weight loss and fever. Various factors such as good diet control, stress, immunity and inflammation of intestines need attention. Because of its recurrent nature, patient needs to make frequent visit to doctor. Hence a couple of Ayurvedic herbal home remedies for ulcerative colitis prove more than handy.

Remedy 1

• Sandalwood powder – 5 grams
• Sugar – 3 grams
• Honey – 3 grams
• Water  used to wash the rice – 30 ml.

Mix the sandalwood powder with sugar and honey and make a paste.

Have this paste with rice washed water, twice a day. It relieves bleeding and diarrhoea.

Remedy 2

• Take 5 grams of each of connessi bark and pomegranate bark.
• Add it to 2 cups of water, boil and evaporate water in mild fire till you are left with approximately one cup of the drink.
• Filter.
• Take this herbal drink with a little honey.
• Each time, a fresh herbal drink needs to be prepared.
• Once prepared, it should be finished within 4  – 6 hours.

Both the above colitis remedies are from ancient Ayurveda wisdom and are especially helpful when there is blood in stools and diarrhea.