Dysentery
The difference between dysentery and diarrhoea is presence on tenesmus in the former. While the frequency of motions increases in both the disorders, in dysentery the patient needs to apply force to evacuate his bowels. This is called tenesmus. Dysentery is compared with the disease pravahika described in Ayurveda.
View of Ayurveda
The name Pravahika (as dysentery is referred to in Ayurveda) comes from the word 'pravahan' which means tenesmus. According to Ayurveda, pravahika is caused by vitiated kapha and vata doshas. Kapha aggravated in stomach is pulled down by the aggravated vata into the intestines. This makes the stools sticky and so the body needs to push hard to evacuate the bowels and eliminate the sticky stools.
Symptoms
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Frequent motions with tenesmus
- Blood & mucus in stool
Advisable Panchakarma for Dysentery
- Shirodhara
- Pichha basti