I have IBS but it causes panic attacks to me. - #526
I have IBS sometimes I am fine sometimes I have constipation and sometimes diarrhoea. It also creates panic attacks for me in my heart as it feels heaviness. I went to Gastrointestinal and cardiologist also but nothing improvement has been shown.
Doctors' responses
IBS, especially when it fluctuates between constipation and diarrhea, can be quite distressing, and the resulting anxiety and heart heaviness suggest an imbalance in Vata and Pitta doshas. In Ayurveda, IBS is often associated with Grahani or disturbances in digestive fire (Agni) and improper movement of Vata in the body, which can create unpredictable digestive patterns and anxiety. To stabilize your digestion and calm the mind, I recommend a balanced approach involving diet, lifestyle, and specific herbs.
In your diet, include easily digestible, warm, and soothing foods like well-cooked rice, vegetables, and warm soups, avoiding heavy, fried, or overly spicy items that can aggravate both Vata and Pitta. Regular intake of buttermilk with a pinch of hing (asafoetida) and jeera (cumin) is traditionally used to strengthen digestion and balance gut flora. Herbs like Amla (Indian gooseberry), Bilva (Bael fruit), and Haritaki can help regulate bowel movements and improve digestive fire. For the anxiety and heart heaviness, gentle practices such as pranayama (breathing exercises), meditation, and yoga postures like Sukhasana and Vajrasana after meals can help stabilize Vata and ease the mind.
Additionally, I suggest following a regular routine to help calm the nervous system, as irregularities can aggravate Vata and worsen IBS symptoms. Drinking warm water infused with ginger throughout the day can also aid digestion. If you could provide more details about your daily diet, stress levels, and other symptoms, I can offer a more personalized plan to address your IBS.
Sounds like you’re dealing with quite a bit, and that unpredictability must be frustrating. With IBS, you’re right in noticing that symptoms can be all over the place. One day it’s constipation, next it’s diarrhoea (the spelling changes, doesn’t it!). And those panic attacks adding on are the cherry on top, or maybe not so sweet.
In Ayurveda, we relate these issues often to an imbalance in the Vata dosha. When Vata’s out of whack, it causes this randomness in digestion and even mental jitters. The heaviness in your heart might be tied to increased Vata and possibly Kapha as well. So we try to tackle it from both ends—literally and emotionally.
Let’s talk food first. Warm, cooked meals can really cool down aggravated Vata. You wanna stick with easy-to-digest meals, like kitchari, which is a rice and lentil porridge, warming spices like ginger and cumin can reboot your digestion. Try it for lunch or dinner, keep it light and see how you’re feeling. Avoid raw veggies and cold foods, they don’t sit well with Vata.
Hydration’s gold. But go for warm or room-temperature water, peppermint tea can suit you too. Skip carbonated drinks or iced stuff, they’ll just spark Vata more.
For panic attacks? Breathwork can be your lifesaver—literally just slow, deep breathing. Anulom Vilom, for instance, can help calm down those heart pangs. Just spend 5 minutes doing alternate nostril breathing. Grounding oils like sesame—gently massaging it onto your feet at night—may ground that erratic Vata too.
You might also want to explore Ashwagandha, a calming herb to settle those nerves. Though make sure to check with your healthcare folks to balance it safely with anything else you’re on. Give these a shot for a bit—because with Ayurveda, it’s not always overnight magic, right? If it gets too much or you feel worse, definitely reach out to someone immediate. Keep checking in with yourself on it!
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