Managing Gut issues in PCOS with Ayurveda

PCOS is a common metabolic issue. Many women believe that it is related with fertility and not metabolism or digestions. The truth is PCOS starts with digestion and metabolic imbalance and then start influencing your hormones and fertility. There is a strong link between your gut and PCOS. Bloating, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS- constipation or diarrhea), food intolerance and leaky gut are some of the common symptoms among women with PCOS. If you have PCOS and are battling with gut issues read further to know from Dr. Vibhuti -how Ayurveda can help you overcome metabolic issues in PCOS. 

Ayurveda is the most popular traditional system of medicine which is practiced by many people around the globe. Due to several challenges in the current medial system, people are looking for alternatives and finding Ayurveda has their answers. Lifestyle problems and metabolic and reproductive issues are very well treated in Ayurvedic medicines. Contemporary research is also suggesting that there is a need of an integrated approach to treat PCOS. Ayurveda says diseases start from your gut and ends in gut. Your gut is your second brain. Specially in PCOS, your gut goes through lot of changes over a period of time. But many women do not consider their simple symptoms related to hunger, craving, digestion, acidity, metabolism, constipation and nutritional deficiency – these all could be alarming. What those women want is to fix their periods or fall pregnant or look pretty, slim and pimple-less.
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Recently, I a patient diagnosed with PCOS had come to my clinic seeking Ayurvedic treatment to regularize her cycle and help her in diabetes issues. She had never taken Ayurveda treatment before. We talked and discussed her medical history. She was in her early 20’s and recently started a very stressful job. At this early age she was taking Glycomet SR 1000 mg once a day. She was on and off taking hormonal tablets to bring her cycles. After consultation I realized that her Agni is imbalance at the very tissue level with Pitta and Vata imbalance. Presence of inflammation in her gut and skin was very clear to me.
“I never cared for these symptoms, she said. I take some tablets for gastric and constipation. When I got skin rashes my doctor gave me some tablets and I take them when I get these rashes and they go off. But my gastric is very bad and I am not able to regularize my periods, please help me”. She gets periods once in 4-6 months with the help of hormonal tablets. She recently learned about the news that some gastric tablets are not good (under question for causing cancer and kidney damage), she was scared as she took lot of them. I assured her that my medicines will not harm her in anyway, however will take time to heal her.
 I tried to explain her that she has to work on her body’s tissues and not just the symptoms. She has to get down to the root cause and understand and listen to her body sufferings. Initially, she was not pleased with the idea of changing her lifestyle. But slowly, after 2-3 consultations, she broke down crying and said that she feels very unhealthy. I asked to start recognizing signals her body is giving and maintain a routine. She underwent Panchakarma – (Vamana and Virechana and Basti karma) and with some internal medicines. I strongly suggest my patient to undergo Panchkarma first and then start medicines. For some of my Ayurveda believers, I do panchakarma once in a year to help them stay healthy.
 
She followed my advices of healthy lifestyle. There were days when she was not able to follow anything but slowly, she learned the art of managing her routine. I always say to my patients that do not alter your routine for your work needs. Never compromise with your routine. Adjust other things but not your healthy routine. After 11 months, I saw a healthier version of her. She was out of her diabetes medicines and was able to manage her gastric. He periods were coming every 45 days. Moreover, she was feeling healthy and confident about herself. She did not get any body rashes in the past 3 months. We are continuing our treatment. 

Gut bacteria and gut inflammation
Recent research says that your bacteria’s/microbes in the gut are related with the symptoms of PCOS. The healthy gut bacteria are altered in women who have PCOS. If you have PCOS, it’s important to remember that your intestine is the first entry point for the nutrients that your body needs to function, and that a healthy gut is a foundation through which your immune system develops. A simple inflammation in your gut can cause many unwanted symptoms such as bloating, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, IBS, autoimmune disorders and different skin conditions, like rashes, acne, psoriasis, and eczema. Due to the reduction in healthy bacteria in gut and diversity of bacteria in the gut a woman with PCOS experience symptoms of excess male hormone such as unwanted facial hair, acne and insulin resistance- diabetes, weight gain etc.
Agni and Ama:
Briefly I want you know about Agni and Ama. Agni is present in your body at all levels which help digest, metabolise, transform and building tissues. It could be enzymes, chemicals, signals etc. Ama can be understood as toxins or unwanted material of the body which should not stay in the body. Ama is generally formed due to the imbalance in Agni. Ama formation is the very first stage of a disease manifestation.  
What can you do to help your gut?                                                                                                                

• Regular Panchakarma – detox your body
• Remove all the foods which causes inflammation in the body or cause irritation to your gut.
• Eat according to your Agni.
• Remover all packet food with preservatives and refined foods. Anything which you are eating straight from a packet please don’t eat.
• Minimise eating outside and start cooking at home.
• Remove foods which you think you are not able to digest them well.
• Add cumin, coriander, lemon, mint, rose, green tea in your routine.
• Eat lot of fibres.
• Milk with turmeric – ‘haldiwala doodh’ at night time may help you too.
• Eat your Idli, dosa, buttermilk, in good quantity- fermented foods help your intestine- you do not probiotics form outside.
• Take the antibiotics only when needed. Do not self-medicate yourself with any medicines.
• More and more veggies and fresh fruits.
• A good sleep, Yoga and Meditation.

Final words: Ayurveda can help you correct your body and mind. Your body should work according to your brain and gut. Agni and Ama these two things should be looked after. Agni should be built and balanced and, Ama should be removed from the body. If you have PCOS and have such symptoms, see your local Ayurvedic doctor who can help you understand what’s wrong and help in your PCOS journey. 
Namaskara,  
Vaidya Vibhuti Rao