Atisara (Diarrhea)

Atisara: Ayurvedic Diarrhea

Atisara occurs when aggravated doshas disrupt purisha (stool) in the gut, leading to repeated passage of loose, watery stools more than three times daily. Etiology includes ama (toxins) from weak agni, contaminated food, overeating, or emotional stress like grief, vitiating pakvashaya (colon) and grahani.

Vataja type features scanty frothy stools with griping pain, flatulence, and dryness; Pittaja presents yellow/green bloody foul stools with burning, thirst, and fever; Kaphaja yields slimy white mucus-heavy motions with heaviness and nausea. Aamaja involves undigested food particles, while Raktaja adds rectal inflammation; Sannipataja mixes symptoms with drowsiness and varied colors.

Prodromal signs encompass anorexia, abdominal discomfort, and tenesmus; complications like dehydration, prolapse, or fainting arise in chronic cases, especially infants or elderly. Pathogenesis traces to amashaya where doshas ferment food, correlating to infectious gastroenteritis or IBS.

Chikitsa prioritizes langhana (fasting), deepana (ginger/trikatu), grahi drugs like Dadimadi Ghrita, and buttermilk; severe cases use Mustadi Kwatha. Pathya avoids heavy/cold foods; prognosis favors uncomplicated doshika types.