Effect of Stress, Anxiety on Stomach And Intestines: Remedies

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay)

To keep the body in good health is a duty…otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear – Lord Buddha

Body and Mind are mutually related. They are 2 sides of the same coin. They work in coordination and carry on all the functions essential for our life processes smoothly. If the body is healthy, the mind is healthy and if the mind is healthy, the body is healthy. Thus body and mind are entangled in an inseparable relationship.

On the other side, if the body suffers from a disease process the mind too gets afflicted over a period of time. Similarly, if the mind is diseased, it obviously afflicts the body components at one or the other time during the process of disease formation (pathogenesis). Thus we can conclude that there is essentially a physical component involved in mental problems and vice versa.

Ultimately, in our clinical practise we hardly find a disease which is strictly physical or strictly mental. Both body and mind are involved in the disease process, may be in varied proportions. If the body suffers more than the mind, we call them predominantly physical disorder and if the mind suffers more than the body, we call them as predominantly mental disorders. Thus most of the diseases which we encounter in day to day life are psychosomatic in nature, unless proved otherwise.

‘The mind and the body are like parallel universes. Anything that happens in the mental universe must leave tracks in the physical one’ – Deepak Chopra

Body-mind entity in metabolic disorders

Body-Mind entity in causation of Gastro-intestinal & other Metabolic Disorders – An Ayurveda perspective –

Ayurveda was the first medical science to establish the relationship between body and mind and also between physical and mental disorders.
According to the basics of Ayurveda,

In the physical ailments –
The body first gets affected by diseases and later the mind gets affected or involved. This happens because in physical (somatic) diseases the first thing which occurs is the Doshas (contaminants) of the body – Vata, Pitta or Kapha gets contaminated or vitiated either singly or in combination. Later, on a low immune background, the morbid Doshas or contaminants afflict the body tissues (dhatus), damage them and cause diseases.

Later, the vitiated Doshas contaminate Rajas and Tamas – the Doshas (contaminants) of mind and hence afflict the mind in a later period. To make it simple, in pure physical ailments, the body gets diseased first and later the mind gets diseased. Here, the physical morbidity imparts the disease producing effect on the mind in the later part of pathogenesis. The cause is the physical disease and the effect will be the mind disturbances.

In the mental diseases –
In the mind related disorders, the process is reverse in comparison to physical ailments which we have discussed in the earlier passage. In these diseases, Rajas and Tamas get contaminated first leading to manifestation of mental illness. The contamination or vitiation of mind factors Rajas and Tamas may take place as an effect of stress, anxiety, fear, tensions and lot more mood swings and causes which can easily afflict the mind.

Later these mind contaminants disturb the physical contaminants (Doshas) leading to physical diseases. To make it simple, in pure mental ailments, the mind or manas gets diseased first and later the body gets diseased. Here, the mental morbidity imparts the disease producing effect on the body in the later part of pathogenesis. The cause is the mental disease and the effect will be the physical disturbances.

In the earlier or later stages of a disease or end stages of any psychosomatic illness the picture of pathogenesis or clinical picture may look totally different or reversed. Like, a mental illness may totally look like a physical disorder

Ex. a person having depression might come for getting treated for obesity, a person having anxiety or anxiety neurosis may visit the clinic for a chronic diarrhoea etc. Similarly, a physical illness may manifest and looks like a mental disorder.

Ex. Huntington’s chorea (neurological disorder) can initially present as psychoses, Alzheimer’s disease can initially present as dementia (though often, dementia is manifested at the end), many types of fever manifest as delirium or some mental illness, Brain tumors may manifest as depression etc.

Thus in any disease – there is inevitable involvement of both body and mind. This probably was the first ever explanation of psycho-somatic factors in the manifestation of a disease.

When I prayed for success, I forgot to ask for sound sleep and good digestion’– Mason Cooley

Rogaaha sarve api mande agnau sutaraam udaraani cha (Ref – Vagbhata Nidana 12 / Madhava Nidanam 35/1)

Meaning: All diseases are having their origin from the disturbed AGNI (digestion/metabolism) especially the abdominal problems (gut related problems or digestive diseases / gastro-intestinal diseases)
Agni Mandhya or errors of digestion (metabolism) leads to Ajeerna (sluggish digestion / weak digestion / indigestion)

This Ajeerna is said to be “Sarva-Roga-Mula” i.e. Root of all the systemic diseases (psycho-somatic diseases)
There are many causes for Ajeerna. Among these causes of Ajeerna, Ayurveda has included the components of Shoka (Grief), Bhaya (Fear), Krodha (Anger) etc indicating a psychological component in the causation of a systemic or metabolic disease.

Some types of Atisara (diarrhoea) is said to be caused by Bhaya (Fear) and Shoka (Grief, Stress). The modern day concept of Nervous Diarrhoea or a stressful gut is evident to all of us.

Nothing has changed over a period of evolution. Of course, the stress levels and their impact on many diseases have ascended the graph, thanks to the modern day life style and erratic diet.

Involvement of mind factor

Involvement of “MIND FACTOR” in unresolved gastro-intestinal and metabolic disorders

The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul’ – Alfred Austin

I have personally encountered many patients coming to my clinic with Gut related (Gastro-intestinal) and digestion related problems (with complications many times) viz loose stools, pain abdomen, constipation, nausea, flatulence etc. which have never been attended successfully even with comprehensive medical care through different systems of medicine or shown response to any type of medication, treatment, changes of diet or counselling.

I have seen people getting desperate and breaking down en-route finding a proper channel or answer for their long-standing stubborn gastro-intestinal illnesses.

Some people suffer from severe digestive and metabolic problems. Why?
Many people not find any sort of healing remedies in spite of sincerely trying the maximum available options and after visiting the best of doctors and speciality health care systems. Why?

Some people need so many opinions regarding the health of their stomach and gut and keep visiting doctor after doctor and hospital after hospital. Why?

Many people seek to so many specialities and yet give up hopes! Why?
Many people have bundles of test and investigation related documents and reports in their cupboards, heaps of prescriptions, printouts of lot of information from the net, and bills as a proof of spending so much money on their stomach health. In spite of all these, they are helpless and hopeless. Why?

Have you ever thought why someone has to spend years and most of their life time in seeking remedy for their ailing stomach when its health lays in one’s own hand?

Answer…?
Because the problem is only seen with a partial perspective
Because the medical system most often miss the involvement of “MIND FACTOR” in the so called and so-diagnosed somatic or physical diseases

The best cure for the body is a quiet mind’– Napoleon Bonaparte

I think this discussion leaves us with a lot of questions to answer!
Do mental disturbances lead to complicated and unresolved GI disturbances / digestive (metabolic) disorders?
If so, how and what diseases are manifested?
Do we have good remedy and relief for these disorders?
How do mental disturbances affect the Gastro-Intestinal system?

Intestines and stomach have nerve tissues and fibres more than those present in the entire spinal cord. Therefore the Gastro-Intestinal system is called a mini-brain.
When the mind is disturbed in conditions like stress, depression, anxiety etc, the brain releases lots of chemicals and hormones into our Gastro-Intestinal tract or Mini-Brain. These chemicals and hormones may either increase or decrease the functions of the Gastro-Intestinal system.

Ayurveda reads these disturbances as the mutual pathological affliction of Prana, Samana and Vyana Vayu’s. This means to tell that Prana, Samana and Vyana Vayu not only get disturbed and agitated but also mutually disturb each other’s functioning. This, in due course of time may have a very disturbing impact on the other Dosha’s (Pitta and Kapha) and (their subtypes). The disturbed Dosha’s and their subtypes in turn will tend to attack the weak and susceptible tissues and initiate the disease process therein.

Disturbances of Big Brain (Nervous system) and the mind faculty will hamper the smooth functioning of Mini-Brain (GI System) as it does with other systems of the body. The reverse is also possible. Many GI and metabolic diseases lead to mental disturbances and diseases.

Gastro Intestinal (GI) and Metabolic Diseases manifested due to Mental Disturbances?
Many GI and Metabolic diseases are manifested due to mental disturbances. I would like to enumerate the most common ones encountered in clinical practice

Functional GI Disorders:
In these disorders there will be no problem in the organ but there will be functional disturbances
Example: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Nervous Stomach

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Symptoms:
Diarrhoea with cramping / Constipation or / both
Recurrent and regular discomfort in the abdomen (belly, tummy)
Pain abdomen (Belly, tummy)
Bloating (feeling of fullness in the tummy)
Noises and gases

Causes for irritable bowel syndrome:
Anxiety and Depression are often direct causes for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Attending a sick, disturbed mind and bringing it back on track is more essential in IBS rather than attending and trying to heal the intestine. Here, in IBS the intestines are troubled constantly by a diseased mind.
Smoking due to tensions might trigger episodes of IBS
Some women have episodes of IBS during menstrual periods (otherwise they will be normal)
Read related: IBS: Ayurvedic Treatment, Home Remedies, Lifestyle Tips

Nervous Stomach

We all would have been nervous at one or the other point in our lives. It is quiet common to get on our nerves and our nerves getting over us. In the modern day lifestyle we never know when we would encounter nervousness. Let us think what if similar thing takes place with our stomach which is otherwise involved in digesting the food and providing the essence for the smooth functioning of our body! If the stomach gets nervous, we call it Nervous stomach.

It is not different from the nervousness we encounter in day-to-day life. It is part and parcel of those nervous situations or we can also tell that Nervous Stomach is an effect or reflection of the nervousness of mind.
In this condition the stomach will be confused, misbehaving and will be very troublesome. The signs and symptoms will be a mixed bag and unpredictable many times.
Diagnostic tests fail to identify a particular cause or causes for stomach related illness

Symptoms:
Fullness of stomach
Bloating
Belching
Flatulence (feeling of gases or urge to release them)
Acid reflux (sour things coming up from stomach to mouth, burning the stomach, chest and mouth)
Nausea (sensation to vomit) and heartburn
Stomach pain with or without bloating
Early repletion or satiety after meals (feeling as if the stomach is full after taking only a small quantity of food)

Indigestion, non-ulcer dyspepsia

Indigestion or Non-ulcer Dyspepsia (Functional, Nervous or Non-organic disorder of stomach) –

This is also a disturbing and annoying condition affecting the functions of the stomach though the organ as a whole may be healthy. It can be included under Nervous stomach.

Symptoms:
Pain abdomen (tummy) with nausea (vomiting sensation) and or bloating after meals
Symptoms predominantly present at the morning times (characteristic)
Pain or Nausea may occur on walking
Patient may give a history of pellet-like stools and incomplete evacuation of stools (colonic dys-motility)
Fullness of stomach
Belching
Flatulence
Heart-burn
Early repletion

Important features:
Pain / discomfort are not episodic. They tend to occur daily for long periods of time.
Pain may persist throughout the day unaffected by food, antacids or bowel moments. Food on the other hand may provoke pain.
Diffuse pain – When asked about the pain, we can see the patient making sweeping movements of hand over abdomen. Pain is referred to more than one site and looks more vague than specified and defined
Vomiting – Provides no relief. Patient cannot eat for hours afterwards (unlike ulcers)
Young women (generally less than 40 years of age) predominantly suffer from Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia.
Women suffer more than Men (2:1 Ratio)

Generalized Motility Disorder

Generalized Motility Disorders are those which present themselves with combined symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia
Psychogenic Vomiting

As the name itself suggests, the vomiting occurs due to mental disturbance and not due to organic defect of the stomach or infections.
It is common in Anxiety Neurosis and Depression

Symptoms:
Vomiting and related complaints are very common on waking up at morning. The complaints are not usually present in the later part of the day.
Complaints are also common immediately after breakfast.
Little or no weight loss

These symptoms may be a reaction to wakening and a fear of having to face the worries of everyday life. In youngsters and kids it may occur due to the thought of going to the school and managing the schedules from thereon, the so called school-phobia.
We need to rule out pregnancy and alcohol abuse before diagnosing it as Psychogenic Vomiting because we can find resemblance among these conditions.

‘The mind is like an iceberg, it floats with one seventh of its bulk above water’ – Sigmund Freud

Somatoform Disorders

In Somatoform diseases, people resort to repeated medical consultations for physical symptoms which have no adequate physical basis i.e. patients go to doctors and keep changing doctors to take different opinions and in seek of some remedy for long standing physical complaints but the doctors fail to detect any problem related to body

In most of the cases, a psychiatric assessment will show that the physical symptoms bear a close relationship with stressful events or emotional conflicts
Example:
Somatisation Disorder – Vomiting, Pain, Nausea etc
Hypochondriacal Disorder – It is a condition of morbid pre-occupation with possibility of having a serious physical illness i.e. the patient has made up the mind that he / or she is suffering from a life threatening illness. They also feel the symptoms of the imagined disease in stronger proportions. These symptoms commonly occur in anxiety and depression.
Somatoform autonomic dysfunction (related to gut) viz Psychogenic Vomiting and IBS

‘Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s important for good health’ – Dalai Lama

Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa (characterised with weight loss):
Anorexia Nervosa can afflict anybody but it is commonly seen in adolescence, mainly in adolescent girls.
It is also commonly seen in:
The upper class of the society, among hardworking individuals, perfectionists and ambitious people
In those adolescents (adults too) who want to get slim and skinny and are putting desperate attempts in achieving this goal
Those adolescents who have developed a fear of sexual maturation
Those who are amidst the turmoil’s of family crisis

Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by:
Weight loss of at least 25% of the total body mass in a brief span of time
Avoidance of high caloric foods
Distortion of body image so that the patient regards herself as fat even when grossly underweight
Amenorrhoea (absence of monthly periods) for at least 3 months & Loss of sexual interest in boys (Due to physical over-activity, inducing vomiting or taking laxatives secretly to put down weight)

Bulimia Nervosa

Symptoms:
Recurrent bouts of binge eating (Eating large quantities of food in a short period of time, repeated eating)
Lack of self control over eating during binges
Self induced vomiting, purgation or dieting after binges
Weight managed within normal limits
(Episodes of binge at least twice a week – eating lot of cakes, chocolates, dairy products etc)

Obesity

It is the commonest form of Eating Disorder but is rarely seen as a presenting problem in psychiatric practice
(Weight Gain or loss and loss of energy, anorexia are found in Depression).
Read related: Effective Obesity Treatment, Remedies And Ayurveda Tips

Emotional stress or psychological component can worsen or cause relapse of or trigger or present as a risk factor in:
Ulcerative Colitis – It is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ulcers in the intestines
Gastric Erosion – inflammation followed by damage to the mucous membrane of the stomach
Gastritis – inflammation, irritation and or erosion of the inner lining of the stomach
Peptic Ulcers – a lesion in the lining (mucosa) of the intestines / digestive tract, typically in the stomach or duodenum (first part of the small intestine), caused by digestive action of pepsin and stomach acids
Gastro-Esophagial Reflex Disease (GERD) – it is a chronic digestive disease. it is a condition in which the acidified liquid contents of the stomach regurgitates back into the oesophagus (food pipe) due to the weakness of Lower Oesophageal Sphincter (LES)

‘Eating is so intimate. It is so sensual. When you invite someone to sit at your table and you want to cook for them, you’re inviting a person into your life’ – Maya Angelou

Mind and stomach – Ayurvedic perspective

Ayurveda too has mentioned the involvement of mind in the manifestation of somatic disorders. The stalwarts of Ayurveda knew clearly about the invariable and inevitable psychiatric involvement in many systemic disorders…that too long back in time.

We can find the references regarding the inter-relationship between disturbances of mind and GI / metabolic disorders diseases explained or mentioned in the context of Ajeerna (indigestion), Agnimandhya (weak digestion or errors of metabolism), Atisara (diarrhoea / loose stools), Arochaka (tastelessness / anorexia), Grahini (IBS or Sprue syndrome), Udara Roga (Abdominal disorders, Ascitis), etc

After knowing how the mental disturbances can disturb our stomach and intestines including metabolism, various types of diseases which get manifested due to such disturbances…you will surely be curious to know about the remedies for the same…and also regarding what Ayurveda has in the offering to relieve these conditions….!!!!
Isn’t it?

‘Eating constitutes the greatest obstacle to self-control; it gives rise to indolence’ – Mahavira

Ayurvedic remedies

Now we shall see how to deal with these gastrointestinal (metabolic / digestive) disorders or gut related disorders manifested as a result of mind disturbances…

Ayurvedic approach towards the metabolic disorders and digestive disorders caused due to mental disturbances –
Since these physical conditions (discussed above) are manifested due to mental disturbances, trying treatment options with symptomatic approach will be of no use.

Our primary target in such conditions will be the “MIND” factor.
We need to attend the ailing brain and free it from its afflictions. Once the mind gets healthy, the proper co-ordination between the body and mind will be re-established. As a result the functions of the body (which have been upset and disturbed by the diseased mind) will come back to normalcy once again. The disease or disorder in question will also be attended and eradicated at the same time.

Ayurveda was always clear in demarcating the physical conditions from the disorders which have been predominantly manifested as an effect of mind disturbances. Ayurveda also has the expertise in dealing with such ailments effectively since time immemorial. We shall try to know some of the approaches the most ancient medical system on Earth has in terms of dealing such disorders.

‘It is the mind that makes the body’ – Sojourner Truth

Purva Karma – Pre-Operative Procedures –
Atura-Vyadhi Pareeksha (Thorough examination of the patient and case recording) –
The clinical success in any physical, mental or psycho-somatic disorder depends on the depth of case taking and examination of the patients. Ayurveda uses an extensive methodology of examining the patient and nature of the disease.

The Roga Pareeksha or the examination of the disease is done by Nidana Panchaka method. The below said are examined in depth in order to learn every minute detail of the disease pathology –
Nidana – causative factors of the disease
Purvarupa – premonitory symptoms or early symptoms of the disease
Rupa / Lakshana – Signs and symptoms of a disease
Upashaya-Anupashaya – Relieving and exacerbating factors (triggers)
Samprapti – pathogenesis or the entire story of the disease formation

The detailed information of all these 5 factors will help in knowing the nature, strength and pattern of the disease. This also will help in determining the Sadhya-Sadhyata (prognosis) of the disease in question. The examination of the disease and disease process will also include the investigations including biological and radiographic tests.

The Atura Pareeksha or the examination of the patient is done by using one or more of the below mentioned methodologies:
Trividha Pareeksha (3 fold examination)
Panchavidha Pareeksha (5 fold examination)
Shadvidha Pareeksha (6 fold examination)
Ashtasthana Pareeksha (8 fold examination)
Dashavidha Pareeksha (10 fold examination)

(I am not going into the depth of these examinations and the way in which they are conducted with a fear of elaboration and deviation of subject. These topics will be dealt in the forth coming blogs)

This part of the examination will give all the details about the patient in question. This will help us to know the physical and mental state of the patient, his or her strength and tolerance capacity. This will also help us to figure out the strength, nature, quality and quantity of medicines or treatment which should be planned for the patient in a comprehensive way.

The examination of the patient will include inspection, palpation (feeling), percussion and interrogation of the patient.
With this elaborate exercise the physician would have got the details of the disease and diseased to the most minute and delicate aspect.

This helps the Ayurveda physician to classify the disease into the category which it fits into and also would give a clear idea of the prognosis of the disease and also the treatment and medicine protocol which could be planned for the subject in question.

Counselling and screening

Counselling and screening (Satvavajaya, Samalochana and Ashvasana) –

No disease, especially psychiatric disorders could be combated from the physician’s side without conducting a proper counselling, screening and providing words of comfort and assurance to the patient in question.

Many patients will start feeling comfort if the response from the doctor is a compatible one. The counselling sets up a good relation and an opinion of trust from the patient towards the doctor and hospital staff. This plug-in is very essential for the success of the treatment.
Screening definitely helps in categorizing the patient and to decide the protocol of treatment.

‘The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed’ – Steven Biko

Ayurvedic Treatment Approach

Bahir-Parimarjana Chikitsa (External treatment) –
Abhyanga – Massage with medicated oils
Swedana – Steaming, Sudation, sweat inducing or Fomentation (when required)
Dhara – Pouring the medicated liquids on the head (Shiro dhara) or body (Sarvanga Dhara). The liquids may be medicated oil, ghee, mixture of ghee and oil, buttermilk, milk or Dhanyamla (fermented liquid)
Udwartana – Massage with medicated powders
Moordni Taila – Application of oil to the head in the form of Shiro-Dhara (pouring in stream of oils over the head for a scheduled period), Shiro-Pichu (Tying the cotton swab dipped in medicated oils after placing them over the head and covering them with medicated leaves), Shiro-Vasti (Oil pooling over the head for a certain scheduled period of time) and Shiro-Abhyanga (Head massage with medicated oil)
Shiro Lepa: Application of medicated pastes of leaves etc on the head followed by bandaging
Karna-Poorana: Ear drops using medicated oil
Nabhi Lepa / Poorana: Anointment of medicinal pastes over the navel region
Many of the above said also alleviates insomnia (sleeplessness and sleep disorders) which is one of the chief causes for many psycho-somatic disorders

Agni Chikitsa (metabolic correction)

This aims at basic correction of Agni (metabolic, enzymatic and hormonal functions) which according to Ayurveda is the most important cause for the manifestation of many psycho-somatic disorders:
Deepana: Appetizers
Pachana: Digestants (to eradicate ama or metabolites in the cells)
Nabhi Lepa / Poorana: Anointment of medicinal pastes over the navel region
Deepana and Pachana may be in the form of medicines or diet
Panchakarma / Shodhana (cleansing and detoxification of body and mind)
Vamana: Therapeutic vomiting
Virechana: Therapeutic Purgation
Vasti: Medicated Enemas
Shirovirechana / Nasya: Nasal medication
Raktamokshana – therapeutic bloodletting
Rasayana and Vajikarana –
Rejuvenation, anti-ageing, immune-modulators and Aphrodisiac treatments and medications
Balya, Brimhana, Medhya and Hridhya Chikitsa –
Strength promoting, Bulk promoting, Brain tonics and Cardiac tonics

Manasika Rasayana

Mind rejuvenators in the form of diet, medicine, behavioural patterns, activities, exercises etc
Dinacharya, Ritucharya, Ratricharya, Sadvritta, Sadaachara, Achara Rasayana –
Advices regarding diurnal (daily), seasonal and night activities to be done (does and don’ts) and adaptations therein, Being in the circle of goodness, Adaptability to the community, Good behaviour, Activities which act as rejuvenators etc have a positive effect in healing psychosomatic illnesses

Vyayama

Physical and mental exercises
Corrections in the errors related to Trayopasthambas (3 supporting pillars) –
Ayurveda helps in helping the people to correct the imbalances in Trayopasthambas (3 supporting pillars) i.e. Aahara (Diet), Nidra (Sleep) and Brahmacharya (Celibacy) and hence re-establish the body-mind equilibrium

Yoga and meditation

Yoga, Pranayama, Asanas, meditation etc are effective tools to eradicate many psycho-somatic disorders. They basically bring the mind and senses to balance and a balanced mind can take care of the body in a better way

Balancing Shat-Chakras
Shat-Chakras are the energy centres and protective auras operating our body, mind, spirituality, emotions and immunity. Various exercises and techniques of balancing the disturbed chakras will re-establish the psycho-somatic health

Ahara, Vihara, Achara, Vichara, Samalochana evam Samikarana –
Counselling, correcting and providing a compatible protocol related to Diet, Activities, Behavioural patterns, thought processing and Adaptations

Shamana-oushadas

Disease specific and symptom specific medication for systemic corrections and to eradicate many primary and secondary diseases (disease modifying medicines or herbs) as and when needed

Swarna Prashana in kids and adolescents (adults too) –
A specialized type of immunity programme carried out on Pushya Nakshatra day of Indian (Hindu calendar) on a monthly basis. Read related: Swarna Bindu Prashana – clearing all your doubts.

Everyone should have their mind blown once a day – Neil deGrasse Tyson

Others –

Daivavyapashraya Chikitsa

(non-medicinal approach) was an important part of Ayurveda chikitsa (treatment protocol) in ancient days. In this, divine methods of approach towards a disease are followed according to religious practices and beliefs.

This was and is predominantly carried out in idiopathic cases of psycho-somatic diseases where a cause for the disease cannot be tracked down or when the diseases are not responding to any form of treatment. Now a day’s a qualified Ayurveda doctor may not advice his clients to undergo these treatments viewing the problem with a scientific angle but they have become a part and parcel of belief in Indian custom and tradition.

These include Pooja-bhajana (worship and offerings to the deity of belief), Daana (offerings to the poor), Havana-Homa (fire sacrifices), Mani-Mangala dharana (wearing of enchanted gems etc), Upavasa-Vrata (Fasting and other religious procedures) and many more. These rituals may differ geographically and religiously.

There may be a scientific debate about their utility in healing the psycho-somatic diseases but if something is really benefitting the patient and helps him or her in recovering from their long-standing illness, they surely have a liberty to take a try as long as they are abiding within the circle of law, not hurting the sentiments of others and do not fall into the arena of social evil.

After all, all diseases are not relieved by medicines or medical systems…if so we would all have lived happily without the need of a doctor or medicine and the medical system and researches would have been saturated and have taken a static stand….

Prevention tips

Prevention tips for the stomach ailments (metabolic) governed by disturbed mind…

Know your diet, Follow discipline on and off table w.r.t quality, quantity and timing of food
Take and prefer home made fresh food, Eat in limits known and compatible to you
Don’t try losing or gaining weight by self practise and prescriptions, Take opinion from specialists
Relax and eat, chew food, don’t skip meals
Take lot of fibres, Avoid fried food, fats, flour and junks
Limit salt and sugar intake
Use plenty of fruits and vegetables – raw if possible
No alcohol, smoking, canned drinks, aerated drinks
Limit coffee and tea
Don’t withhold the natural urges or reflexes for hunger, thirst, defecation, urination, sleep etc
Avoid stress, keep mind relaxed, have hold on negative emotions
Think positive
Love and keep yourself happy
Control anger, fear, possessiveness, jealousy and hatred
Take breaks from routine works, go on a trip or holiday often, watch fun movies,
Exercise and get involved in the loved hobbies
Don’t be addicted to computer
Respect your and others space
Do not carry office to home and home to office
Divide and rule – keep your thought processing away from emotions and handle them individually
Believe that “The best is yet to come”

Just before finish –
‘Let your mind alone, and see what happens’ – Virgil Thomson

Now after reading all these you know what to do if somebody in your good circles is suffering from a long-standing psycho-somatic illness, a mental disorder, a digestive disorder or any disease in fact, not responding to any sort of medication….!!!!

Yes…kindly refer them to a qualified Ayurveda doctor whom you know….It is better late than never…..!!! You never know that there is a strong morbid and disturbed mind at the backdrop of a stubborn gastrointestinal disorder.

Hope this article has helped you to understand a lot of things related to psycho-somatic digestive and metabolic problems and a wide array of solutions offered by Ayurveda towards comprehensive healing of these conditions!
Kindly forward this to your friends and family…..Someone may be benefited with this….
Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu)