Ayurvedic Treatment for Mucus in Stools

Ayurvedic Treatment for Mucus in Stools corrects impaired digestion in the body. The mucus in the body is natural and a very important part of body functions. Tissues produce mucus to the line and protect the areas including the mouth, nose, sinuses, throat, lungs, and gut. Mostly, the mucus is clear and thin. However, some factors can increase mucus consistency. Mucus can even change in colour in some diseases. The content of the stool is also an indicator of health or disease. Mucus present in stools can be a sign of a serious underlying condition. Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by a group of symptoms that can vary from person to person and may include abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation.

 

Symptoms associated with mucus in stools

• Presence of mucus in the stool
• Associated signs & symptoms depend upon the underlying cause.
• Gastric symptoms that may be present with mucus in stool include:
• Abdominal cramps or pain
• Distension of the abdomen
• Bloating or belching
• The foul or abnormal smell of stools
• Changes in colour & consistency of stools
• Diarrhea
• Fecal incontinence or urgency Gas trouble
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Painful defaecation

                                                                       Ayurvedic remedy for mucus in stool

What causes mucus in stools?

• Dehydration and constipation can cause the loss of mucus. This gives the stool the appearance of increased mucus. When stool has visible mucus, it can be a sign of
• Bacterial infections
• Anal fissures
• A bowel obstruction
• Crohn’s disease
• Bacterial infections are usually caused by bacteria such as Campylobacter, salmonella, shigella, and yersinia which produce food poisoning.
• Anal fissure or a tear in the lining of the lower rectum and an ulcer followed by it. It is caused by persistent diarrhoea, tough stools, and other difficult bowel syndromes. Ulcers can be present due to chemotherapy or radiotherapy also.
• Bowel movements obstruction
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Ulcerative colitis

Can diet changes alleviate mucus in stools?

Diet-related causes – Food allergies such as those associated with nuts, lactose, or gluten, are some of the foods that cause mucus in the stool.

Pathophysiology

Diarhoea is the reversal of the normal net absorptive status of water and electrolyte absorption to secretion. Such a derangement can be seen as either osmolar or secretory pathophysiology.

Mucus present in the stool mostly shows the secretory type of diarrhoea. In the typical active secretory state, enhanced anion secretion (mostly by the crypt cell compartment) is best exemplified by enterotoxin-­induced diarrhoea.

In secretory diarrhoea, the epithelial cell processes are changed mostly into active secretion. The most common cause of acute-onset secretory diarrhoea is a bacterial infection of the gut. Several mechanisms may be at work. After colonization, enteric pathogens may adhere to or invade the epithelium; they may produce enterotoxins (exotoxins that elicit secretion by increasing an intracellular second messenger) or cytotoxins. They cause cytokines to attract inflammatory cells, then leading to the acti­vated secretion by inducing the release of agents such as prostaglandins or platelet-activating factors. Features of secretory diarrhoea include a high rate of evacuation, a lack of response to fasting, and intact nutrient absorption.

Diagnosis

Medical history
Physical examination
Stool examination
Anorectal examination
Proctoscopy
Endoscopy
Colonoscopy
Ultrasound
CT scan

Treatments

• Treatment aims at relieving the cause behind the symptom. Underlying diseases, if present should be addressed and managed well along with symptomatic management.
• Diet changes
• Intake of light & easy to digest food items
• Taking enough liquids,
• Having a needed ratio of fiber-protein-carbohydrate in diet,
• Avoiding irritating foods & foods that cause allergy
• Medications like metronidazole, antibiotics, etc.

Prognosis

Depending upon the underlying disease, it can be good bad, or very poor.

Complications/ Risk factors

Depend highly upon the disease-causing pathology.
Probable complications are:
Anaemia Obstruction
infarction or perforation of the bowel
Metastasis of carcinoma Spread of infection
Dehydration and malnourishment
Electrolyte imbalance

How does Ayurveda approach the treatment of mucus in stools?

Atisaara-Kaphaja

Nidana

Excess water intake
Intake of dry meat & meat of an emaciated animal
Food that is not habitual or suitable to the body
Sesame (dry, ground and oil removed)
Sprouts
Alcohol
Dry food intake
Excess food intake
Haemorrhoids
Faulty routine during ghee intake (as a treatment)
Intestinal parasites
Suppression of natural urges

Purvaaroopa

Pricking pain in the chest, rectum, and abdomen
Weakness of body
Constipation
Distended abdomen
Indigestion

Samprapti

Due to the causative factors, Vaata dosha vitiates and brings the water content in the body into the koshtha and expels through the anus. This excess water in koshtha, reduces the Agni (digestive fire), damages the gastrointestinal tract along with fecal matter, and causes loose stools. It makes the stool watery and the disease diarrhoea gets manifested especially in people who eat an unwholesome diet.

Lakshana

Vaathika

• Watery, more frequent stools with obstruction
• Defaecation with pain & abnormal sounds
• Dry, frothy/clear or hardened stools
• Resembles over-cooked jaggery
• Sticky stools passed with severe tearing pain
• Dryness of mouth
• Rectal prolapse
• Horripilation
• Groaning

Paittika

• Yellow, black, green like grass,
• With blood
• Foul smelling,
• Excess thirst
• Fainting/giddiness
• Excess sweating
• Burning sensation
• Abdominal pain
• Heat and inflammation of the rectum & anus

Kaphaja

Heavy, sticky, with thread-like structures, white in colour, oily & sticky, faeces with particles of undigested food
Irregular & interrupted flow containing only a little faecal matter in one vega with mucous &foul smell,
With flatulence
Pain
Excess sleep
Lazy
Aversion to food
Horripilation
Feeling that not completely voided faeces after defaecation
Sannipatajam
All three doshalakshanas are present
Bhayajam and Shokajam
(Resembles Vaata-Pitta akshanas)
Very hot and liquified stools
Very light & floating

Divisions

6 types

• Vaatika
• Paittika
• Kaphaja
• Thridoshaja or sannipaatika
• Bhayajam (due to fear/anxiety)
• Sokajam (due to grief)

2 types

• Saamam – with indigestion
• Niraamam – without indigestion

2 types

• Saraktm – with bleeding
• Araktam – without bleeding

Prognosis

Kricchrasadhya in healthy individuals without any complications & dhatudushti.

Asaadhya in children, old persons and with complications.

Chikithsa

Ayurveda treatment for atisaara includes fasting as an important method.

Samana

Langhana – fasting

Upekshaa – Leaving the body to expel out the excess doshas by atisaara

Aamapachana

Agnideepana

Sodhana

Vamana – In atisaara with severe abdominal pain & distension

Snehavasti

Kashayavasti-Picchavasti

which ayurvedic medicine is best for mucus in stool?

• Vilwadi gulika
• Kutajarishtam
• Pippallyasavam
• Dadimashtakachoornam
• Kalaskhadi Kashayam
• Kaidaryadi Kashayam
• Takrarishta Churna
• Jeevantyadi Kashayam
• Laghu Sutshekar Ras
• Inji Lehyam ( Ayurvedacharya Kunjuraman Vaidyar Mavelikara Patent)

It is advisable to seek advice from Ayurvedic practitioners before taking any medications. For a free online consultation, please reach out to us here.

What are some home remedies for mucus in stools?

• Taking Oral Rehydration Therapy: Mix one glass of boiled water with one teaspoon of sugar & one pinch of salt. Take it sip by sip for 3-4 hours. This is the simplest method of rehydration that can be done at home.
• Moderate fasting on solid foods till feeling better & hungry.
• Fenugreek seeds boiled in water for drinking
• .Carminatives like cumin seeds help correct indigestion.
• Buttermilk boiled with turmeric, curry leaves, ginger, etc.

Diet

To be avoided

• Heavy meals and difficult-to-digest foods – cause indigestion. junk foods- cause disturbance in digestion and reduces the bioavailability of the medicine.
• carbonated drinks – make the stomach more acidic and disturbs digestion refrigerated and frozen foods – cause weak and sluggish digestion by weakening agni (digestive fire) curd – causes vidaaha and thereby many other diseases.

To be added

• Drink only boiled water
• Light meals and easily digestible foods Green gram, soups, buttermilk boiled with turmeric, ginger, and curry leaves freshly cooked and warm food processed with cumin seeds, ginger, black pepper, ajwain, etc.

Behaviour:

• Better to avoid exposure to excessive sunlight wind rain or dust.
• Avoid lifting heavy weights and other vigorous physical activities.
• Maintain a regular food and sleep schedule.
• Avoid sitting continuously for a long time and avoid squatting.

Yoga

• Complete bed rest is advised for a patient with loose stools.
• But after regaining normal health, following a daily exercise routine will help the person to improve digestion & health.
• Stretching exercises and specific yoga asanas like pavanamuktasana, vajrasana, bhujangasana etc are recommended.
• Regular exercise helps improve the bioavailability of the medicine and food ingested and leads to positive health.
• Yoga can maintain harmony within and with surroundings.
• Pavanamuktasana
• Vajrasana Bhujangasana
• All the exercises and physical exertions must be decided and done under the supervision of a medical expert only.

Brands available

• AVS Kottakal
• Vaidyaratnam
• Oushadhasala
• AVP Coimbatore
• SNA Oushadhasala

Research articles

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6562534/