Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is described in Ayurvedic classics with the name of “Atisara”. Atisara term is made up of two terms “ati” (excessive) and “sara” (passing of liquid matter through anus). It means excessive flow of watery stool through anus.
Causes
Ahara janya (dietary) factors
· Guru (heavy to digest)
· Atisnigdha (fatty diet)
· Atiruksha (rough or dry diet)
· Atiushna (pungent/hot in nature)
· Atidrava (excessive liquid diets)
· Atisthula (bulky diet)
· Atisheeta (cold diet)
· Atimatra (excess quantity)
· Virudha-ashana (incompatible diets)
· vishama-bhojana (improperly cooked foods)
· Krisha-shushka mamsa (unhygienic fat free meat intake)
· Anurit bhojan (intake of raw oily and germinating seeds),
· Dushita jala (polluted water)
Vihara janya (Life style)
· Madyatipana (excessive intake of alcoholic beverages),
· Atijalakrida (excessive swimming)
· Vega vighata (suppression of natural urges)
· Vishaprayoga (intake of poisonous substances)
· Bhaya (fear) and shoka (grief)
· Ritu viparyaya (sudden change in season)
Management of Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is treated by considering the state of vitiated dosha(humors) either with ama ( toxin) and nirama avasta (without toxin).Therapies which are mainly of Deepana (appetizer), pachana (digestants) and langhana (lighting) should be adopted in the ama avasta of the disease. In the niramavasta (without toxin) the drugs which have stambhana (medicines that helps to stop diarrhoea) properties are to be selected. Herbs like Kutaja (holarrhena antidysenterica), Vilwa (aegle marmelos), Dadima (punica granatum), Pippali(piper longum), Patha (Cissampelos pareira) have proven efficacy in treating different stages of diarrhoea.