Gemini
2.5 Flash
Conversat
Thank you for reaching out and sharing your concerns. It’s understandable to feel confused and frustrated when you’re dealing with persistent symptoms and receiving different diagnoses from modern medicine and traditional healing practices. Let’s break down the information you’ve provided to help you better understand the differences between IBS and Dharan, and how they relate to your symptoms.
Understanding IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) IBS is a common functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder. “Functional” means that there’s a problem with how the gut works, but there’s no visible damage or disease in the digestive tract. It’s often described as a disorder of brain-gut interaction.
Key characteristics of IBS:
Symptoms: The main symptoms are abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and changes in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or both). The abdominal pain is often related to having a bowel movement, and the urge to pass stool (tenesmus) is a very common symptom, as you’ve described.
Diagnosis: IBS is typically diagnosed based on a set of symptoms (known as the Rome IV criteria) and after ruling out other conditions. A key part of this process is that there are no signs of inflammation or structural abnormalities in the gut.
Your Reports: Your Fecal Calprotectin test result of 33 µg/g is significant. A negative result, as you noted, strongly suggests that you don’t have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. This is a crucial piece of evidence that points towards a functional disorder like IBS, as opposed to a condition with physical inflammation. Your normal CBC also supports this, showing no signs of anemia or infection.
Contributing Factors: Low mood, emotional stress, and weakness are common and well-recognized components of IBS. The brain and gut are closely connected (the “gut-brain axis”), and stress and anxiety can significantly worsen IBS symptoms.
Understanding Dharan (ਨਾਭੀ ਹਿਲਣੀ) Dharan, or navel displacement, is a concept from traditional Indian and Ayurvedic medicine. It’s believed that the navel (nabhi) is the central point of the body, and its displacement can disrupt the flow of energy and the function of various organs, leading to digestive issues and other health problems.
Key characteristics of Dharan:
Symptoms: Symptoms are often said to include abdominal pain, especially around the navel, indigestion, bloating, and changes in bowel movements. Some traditional practitioners may also link it to general weakness and a feeling of imbalance.
Diagnosis: Diagnosis is not based on lab tests or imaging. Instead, it is done through physical examination by a traditional healer, who may feel the area around the navel to check for a pulse or a specific sensation. The healer you saw likely performed this type of check.
Treatment: Treatment for Dharan typically involves manual manipulation or massage of the abdomen to realign the navel. Traditional remedies, exercises, and dietary advice may also be given.
Comparing Your Symptoms to Both Diagnoses Let’s look at how your specific symptoms fit into each framework:
Frequent urge to pass stool (tenesmus): This is a classic symptom of IBS, particularly a subtype known as IBS-D (IBS with diarrhea) or mixed IBS. It’s a key part of the Rome IV criteria for diagnosing IBS. While a healer might attribute this to Dharan, tenesmus is a specific medical term for a feeling of incomplete evacuation that is strongly associated with functional bowel disorders.
Lower abdominal pain and pressure on both sides: This type of diffuse, non-localized abdominal pain is very common in IBS. The pain in IBS is often described as crampy or dull and can be felt in various locations throughout the abdomen.
Low mood, emotional stress, and weakness: As mentioned, these are directly linked to the brain-gut axis dysfunction in IBS. Modern medicine recognizes that managing stress is a critical part of treating IBS.
The Key Difference:
The most important distinction is the underlying cause and the method of diagnosis.
IBS: The cause is a dysfunction in the communication between the brain and the gut. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and ruling out organic diseases using lab tests and sometimes other investigations. Your negative Fecal Calprotectin test is a powerful piece of evidence supporting a functional disorder.
Dharan: The cause is believed to be a physical displacement of the navel. Diagnosis is based on the subjective assessment of a traditional healer. There is no scientific or medical evidence to support the concept of navel displacement as a cause of digestive issues.
My Guidance for You Given your symptoms and the results of your modern medical tests, it is highly probable that you are suffering from IBS. Your symptoms, including tenesmus, abdominal pain, and the presence of stress, fit the diagnostic criteria for IBS perfectly. The negative Fecal Calprotectin test is a very strong indicator that there is no inflammatory disease present.
Here’s a path forward to help you manage your symptoms:
Trust the Evidence: Your modern medical reports provide objective data. The absence of inflammation is a crucial finding that points you towards a functional disorder.
Seek Professional Help for IBS: Consult a gastroenterologist who can formally diagnose IBS and help you develop a management plan. This may include:
Dietary changes: A low-FODMAP diet is often recommended for IBS to identify trigger foods.
Stress management: Techniques like meditation, yoga, mindfulness, or counseling can be very effective in managing the gut-brain connection.
Medications: Depending on your specific symptoms, your doctor might prescribe medications to help with pain, motility, or mood.
Integrate Traditional and Modern Approaches Cautiously: While the traditional concept of Dharan is not supported by modern science, this does not mean that all traditional practices are unhelpful. Some people find relief from the manual massage or relaxation techniques used by healers. If you find that these practices provide temporary comfort and do not cause you harm, you can consider them as complementary to a science-based management plan. However, do not rely on them as a cure or a replacement for medical diagnosis and treatment.
In conclusion, the confusion you are experiencing is common when bridging the gap between two different healthcare systems. Based on the objective evidence from your medical reports and the nature of your symptoms, IBS is the most likely diagnosis. I strongly recommend you continue to work with a gastroenterologist to get a formal diagnosis and an effective management plan. This will give you a clear path to finding relief and improving your quality of life.
Based on the symptoms you’ve described, it’s understandable to feel perplexed, especially since both IBS and Dharan can have overlapping symptoms affecting the digestive system. In Ayurvedic terms, IBS might manifest as an imbalance of the Vata dosha, which governs movement in the body including the peristalsis in the intestines. The frequent urgency to pass stools, lower abdominal pain, and emotional stress can indeed be linked to Vata disturbances.
Dharan, or navel displacement, is considered in Ayurveda to disturb the balance of the naval region, affecting the functioning of the digestive fire or Agni, and causing a variety of digestive challenges. Dharan might lead to symptoms like those you’re experiencing, including abdominal discomfort and stress.
For differential perspective: in IBS, Ayurvedic treatment often focuses on pacifying Vata, enhancing Agni, and balancing the mind-body link through lifestyle and dietary changes. For example, the consumption of warm, oily, and grounding foods can help stabilize Vata. Cooked grains like rice and oats, alongside ghee, can soothe the digestive system.
To support both scenarios from an Ayurvedic viewpoint, you might consider these steps:
- Begin your day with a glass of warm water to stimulate digestion. This helps both in enhancing Agni and deterring Vata accumulation.
- Try consuming buttermilk, spiced with a pinch of roasted cumin and black salt, after meals. It aids in digestion and can help address disturbances in the navel region.
- Practise gentle yoga postures such as Pavanamuktasana or the wind-relieving pose, which are especially beneficial for lower abdominal relief and navel alignment.
- Triphala churna, a traditional Ayurvedic formulation, taken at night with warm water, can help regulate bowel movements and calm the digestive system.
- Avoid excessive cold, dry, and raw foods, which could exacerbate Vata aggravation.
However, since your condition persists, it’s important to continue maintaining communication with healthcare professionals to monitor your symptoms and ensure comprehensive care. If you notice pronounced distress or if conditions deteriorate further, seek immediate care from a qualified gastroenterologist or a certified Ayurvedic practitioner for more tailored assessment and treatment.
When differentiating between IBS and Dharan (navel displacement), it’s crucial to understand the distinctive characteristics of each. IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, often associated with stress and inconsistent bowel habits – your symptoms of tenesmus, abdominal pain, and low mood fit this pattern. Dharan, traditionally interpreted as a physical displacement affecting the digestive tract, often manifests with a particular set of physical signs. However, it’s generally diagnosed based on empirical observation rather than standardized tests.
Given your modern medical reports indicate no major inflammation, IBS remains a possible explanation. IBS revolves around doshic imbalances, particularly vata, which could lead to irregular bowel movements and abdominal discomfort. Addressing this can be a matter of regulating your lifestyle and diet to stabilize vata.
To pacify vata and alleviate symptoms, consume warm, cooked meals and prioritise grounding foods like ripe bananas, cooked vegetables, and grains. Avoid raw or cold foods and stimulants like caffeine. Regular, gentle activity like daily walks may also help manage stress and mood swings, both significant IBS components.
For navel displacement considerations, traditionally practitioners might attempt manual adjustments, but contemporary safety concerns necessitate caution. Engage only with qualified practitioners experienced in such methods. Consider deep breathing exercises or mild yoga to gently encourage internal balance naturally – nadi shuddhi (alternate nostril breathing) can restore calm and equilibrium to your system without risk.
If IBS-like symptoms persist and become disruptive, consulting a gastroenterologist alongside Ayurvedic practices might be wise. Symptoms could flare into more serious issues if not managed holistically. In any severe or rapidly changing scenario, prompt medical advice is vital.
