The IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) originates in the bowel according to the energy science of Ayurveda so it’s not surprising that bowel disorders are common in the syndrome Bloating is one of the bowel symptoms that occur with the syndrome
The Matter Science Approach
Bloating or abdominal distention is a common digestive problem which typically occurs after eating and varies in degree like any symptom At times it may be very transient, lasting for short period of time(hour or less) while in others it may last longer(several hours or an entire day)
It is described by the matter science as a functional bowel disorder, that is, a motility disorder of the gut It’s not known why this motility problem occurs although matter science researchers suggest that it’s related to alterations in the gut flora or the microbiome This has been termed dysbiosis and SIBO has been used of recent to define this alteration in gut flora There is an older cousin to SIBO that has been recognized for some time initially in children called “leaky gut syndrome” Once felt by the research establishment as a ridiculous concept is now being taken seriously
As is usually the case the matter science is rich in testing and trying to come up with names of these human biological disease phenomena but not so effective in determining treatment Drugs or pharma have not been very effective in dealing with bloating but because they pay the bills for the current medical establishment reports don’t surface as to their ineffectiveness
The Energy Science Approach to the Bloats
In the energy science world of Ayurveda there is one primary reason for bloating and that’s poor digestive strength or agni As I have written a number of times in this blog agni is essential for health from an Ayurvedic perspective and without it the individual is bound to incur disease of some form It’s not a matter of “if” it’s really only “when” The fundamental reason that the matter(molecular) science model of healing has trouble with dealing with digestive disorders in general is the Western allopathic model(these are all synonyms) has no understanding of the concept of agni
Poor agni can lead to a couple of different scenarios The primary result is the production of undigested, unprocessed food called ama and this leads to the interference of movement of food through the small bowel…..this interference leads to bloating Since the microbiome(gut flora) is an integral part of agni or the digestive fire, the matter science is getting close to understanding what Ayurveda has been articulating as a model of healing for 5,000 years but still not there yet So for now, take some pills
As ama progresses over time(years) more and more congestion in the gut occurs leading to progressive worsening of the bloating This leads to a second and fortunately less common reason…….a change in the direction of the normal downward movement of energy in the rectum and this interferes with normal rectal function and bowel movement function This becomes the “end of the road” for many who initially are treated as IBS due to the symptoms of their bloating But this progression leads to a severe complex of symptoms that are difficult to treat
Bloating: 10 Energy Science Solutions
These are meant to be added to each other over time Don’t try to do all at once or your mind WILL rebel
Eat according to your energy constitutional makeup
Avoid incompatible food combinations
Avoid overeating.….2handfuls for any one meal Place a bowl that sits comfortably in your 2 cupped hands….now that’s how much you should eat at your biggest meal of the day
Biggest meal at noon
Use spices ALL THE TIME in your cooking….fresh ginger turmeric cumin coriander fennel vanilla fresh basil
Use GHEE instead of butter or cooking oil….ghee has the qualities of digestive fire
Exercise regularly but don’t overdo it….pranayama is the best way to stoke agni
Avoid fatty fried foods
Make a deal with yourself to always sit to eat The more focus and attention you bring to eating the better your agni digestion When you calm the mind you improve agni which from a mental standpoint is better focused attention Calm the mind with meditation….at an energy level the mind and body are intimately spliced…you cannot separate them(you can’t say this using the matter science model)
Fasting This does not have to be a water fast….simply using juice or fruit for 24hours….or eat dinner at 6-7p and don’t eat until 8a the next morning and you have a 12h fast
