Gastroenteritis is the infection and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. It is also known as Stomach flu.

• SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF GASTROENTERITIS
• CAUSES OF GASTROENTERITIS
• PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF GASTROENTERITIS
• DIAGNOSIS OF GASTROENTERITIS
• TREATMENTS FOR GASTROENTERITIS
• PROGNOSIS OF GASTROENTERITIS
• COMPLICATIONS OF GASTROENTERITIS
• GASTROENTERITIS  AND AYURVEDA
• NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF GASTROENTERITIS
• PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF GASTROENTERITIS
• SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF GASTROENTERITIS
• LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF GASTROENTERITIS
• AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF GASTROENTERITIS
• CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR GASTROENTERITIS
• AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR GASTROENTERITIS
• COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR GASTROENTERITIS
• HOME REMEDIES FOR GASTROENTERITIS
• DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR GASTROENTERITIS
• YOGA FOR GASTROENTERITIS
• RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF GASTROENTERITIS

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF GASTROENTERITIS

• Diarrhoea
• Belching
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Indigestion
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Loss of appetite
• Headache

CAUSES OF GASTROENTERITIS

• Viruses
• Bacteria
• Parasites
• Celiac disease
• Lactose intolerants
• Certain medications

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF GASTROENTERITIS

The infections are transmitted through contaminated food and water. The changes in the small bowel are typically noninflammatory, while the ones in the large bowel are inflammatory. Finally, the symptoms are manifested.

DIAGNOSIS OF GASTROENTERITIS

• Stool culturing
• Colonoscopy is the ‘gold standard’ method of detecting intra-luminal colonic lesions. 

·       CT scan

·       MRI

·       Laboratory tests

TREATMENTS OF GASTROENTERITIS

·       Anti-inflammatory drugs

·       Analgesics

·       Immune suppressors

·       Treatment for diarrhoea

·       Nutrition therapy 

PROGNOSIS OF GASTROENTERITIS

• Prognosis is based on the causative factor and condition of the patient

COMPLICATIONS OF GASTROENTERITIS

• Dehydration
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Infective arthritis
• Nervous system damage due to microbial invasion

GASTROENTERITIS AND AYURVEDA

• In Ayurveda,treatment of gastroenteritis is based on atisara chikilsa.
• Gastroenteritis can be correlated with the disease ‘vishuchika’ in Ayurveda.
• it  is considered as a communicable disease ( janapadha udwamsana vyadhi)

NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF GASTROENTERITIS

• Excess consumption of acrid, dry,  ununctuous food
• Vata and pitta dosha vitiation
• Suppression of natural urges 
• Defect in digestion – Agni mandyam

PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF GASTROENTERITIS

• SULA – abdominal pain

SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF GASTROENTERITIS

Due to the causative factors, doshas become vitiated with a predominance of vata and pitta dosha, resides in the intestines and finally gastroenteritis is manifested.

LAKSHANA – AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF GASTROENTERITIS

• Anaha – abdominal discomfort
• Adhmana
• Atisara – diarrhoea
• Sula – abdominal colic
• Shirasula – headache
• Udgara – belching
• Trishna – thirst
• Chardi – vomiting
• Ksheena – weakness

AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF GASTROENTERITIS

• Symptoms are manageable with proper ayurvedic management

CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR GASTROENTERITIS

AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR GASTROENTERITIS

• Vilwadi gulika
• Mustakarishta
• Mustadi pramadhya
• Kutajarishtam
• Dadimashtaka churna – mixed with buttermilk
• Kapithashtaka churna
• Varanadi kashayam
• Triphala guggulu
• Gandhaka rasayana

COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES TREATMENT FOR GASTROENTERITIS

Ayurvedic medicines for internal administration for gastroenteritis

• Vilwadi gulika
• Mustakarishta
• Mustadi pramadhya
• Gandharva hasthadi kashaya
• Chiraviwadi kashaya
• Triphala guggulu
• Gandhaka rasayana
• Kutajarishtam
• Dadimashtaka churna
• Kapithashtaka churna
• Varanadi kashaya
• Gangadhara churna

HOME REMEDIES FOR GASTROENTERITIS

• Intake of water frequently to avoid dehydration due to diarrhoea
• Intake of water boiled with coriander and cumin seeds

DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR GASTROENTERITIS

• Avoid food items which produce dosha imbalance like cold and dry food, hard to digest. Because dosha imbalance aggravates the symptoms.
• Consume easily digestible food items, gruels, goat’s milk
• Avoid taking food and water from the disease prevalent areas

YOGA FOR GASTROENTERITIS

• Nadi Shuddi Pranayam    – calms the mind and effective in abdominal discomfort

The patient needs to be seated in a meditative posture with the head and spine erect, with the body relaxed. The patient has to close his one nostril (e.g. left nostril if using the right hand and vice versa) with the thumb and exhale completely through the other nostril. Again, he will have to breathe in deeply through the other nostril while the opposite nostril is still closed with the thumb.                             

• The practices of shatkriya or yogic cleansing techniques purify the body and prevent digestive problems. 

RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF GASTROENTERITIS

1.     Acute infective gastroenteritis treated with coriander, ginger and their compound formulations

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321572662_ACUTE_INFECTIVE_GASTROENTERITIS_TREATED_WITH_CORIANDER_GINGER_AND_THEIR_COMPOUND_FORMULATIONS