Ayurvedic Treatment For Clostridium Difficile Infection

ABSTRACT

Clostridium difficile is an infection of the large intestine (colon) also regarded as clostridium difficile colitis is caused by a bacterium called clostridium difficile. It causes inflammation of the large intestine, usually affecting the old age group people. Since clostridium difficile infection is caused by the overuse of antibiotics ayurveda better helps in this condition to manage its symptoms and most of the patients will experience recovery within 10 days if they follow certain dietary measures and medication. You are likely to get Clostridium difficile infection if you consume antibiotics for more than a week. It can be transmitted easily from person to person so it is better to avoid contact with the person suffering and by maintaining proper hygiene. We will discuss the ayurvedic view point of Clostridium difficile infection and its prevention according to ayurveda.

INTRODUCTION OF CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE

Clostridium difficile bacteria normally lives in our gut and in environment such as soil, water and animal feces but it starts affecting the intestine once it become out of control and starts releasing toxins causing irritation of the lining of large intestine leading to various symptoms like diarrhea, pain in abdomen and fever etc. Generally the bacterium is in dormant state outside the human body but once it gets to the living environment they start to act and in infectious condition there is overgrowth of the C. difficile bacteria and decrease in the no. of good bacteria thus causing inflammation of the intestine.

AYURVEDIC VIEW ON CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE

According to ayurvedic point of view clostridium difficile infection can be related to Agantuja Vyadhi caused by the increased growth of clostridium difficile bacteria and the vitiation of tridoshas (vata,pitta,kapha) by environmental and internal factors like Ibs, weakened immune system and prior clostridium difficile infection leading to dushti of strotas (channels) like purishvaha, annavaha stotras and medovaha stotras causing symptoms like watery diarrhea, pain and swelling of abdomen by increasing aapya (jala) mahabhuta and decreasing agnaye (fire)/digestive fire mahabhuta. Certain dietary measures and ayurvedic medication can help restore the imbalanced doshas and dhatus of the intestine which we are going to discuss ahead.

SYMPTOMS OF CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE

Some people are asymptomatic and generally do not develop any symptoms often regarded as carriers of bacteria and may spread infection to others.

Patient develops symptoms within 8 to 10 days after the treatment of antibiotics.

Common and early symptoms of Clostridium difficile infection are as follows:-

1. Atisara (Watery diarrhea)
2. Udarshula(Pain in abdomen)
3. Jwara (Fever)
4. Swollen abdomen

If the infection becomes serious it can cause further symptoms like as follows:-

1. Dehydration (cause of persistent watery diarrhea)
2. watery diarrhea (increased frequency)
3. Severe abdominal pain
4. Blood and pus in stool
5. Aruchi (Loss of appetite) and weight loss
6. Increased WBC count
7. Toxic megacolon leading to sepsis

People with sepsis conditions need to get hospitalized as soon as possible for further management.

CAUSES OF CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE

The most common cause of Clostridium difficile infection is the antibiotic usage for a long time which can disrupt the natural flora of intestine and destroy the good bacteria leading to the outward growth of Clostridium difficile bacteria causing tissue damage to the intestine by releasing toxins and causing watery diarrhea.

Infection generally occurs in individuals of 65 years or older other risk factors are:-

1. Colon problems such as Ibs or colorectal cancer
2. A stay in hospital leading to nosocomial infection
3. Weakened immune system
4. A prior surgery of Gi tract
5. Prior C. difficile infection
6. By touching contaminated surface

DIAGNOSIS OF CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE

1. Stool sample:- Your physician may recommend you to undergo a stool test to identify toxins of clostridium difficile bacteria.
2. Blood test:- To detect increased WBC count in the laboratory.
3. X- ray
4. Ct scan

Abdominal X-ray and CT scan are done to detect the following complications:-

1. Thickening of the colon wall
2. Swelling of colon
3. Hole in linings of colon for detecting perforation

A positive test with symptoms in any individual indicate an acute clostridium difficile infection, While some asymptomatic people are carriers of the infection they do not possess any symptom but can transmit it to others.

TREATMENT FOR CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE

In general treatment is required by the patient having symptoms; carriers of the infection do not require to undergo any treatment unless any finding is detected.

If the infection is caused due to the antibiotic usage doctor will generally ask you to discontinue the medication or another antibiotic is prescribed to cease the clostridium difficile infection for severe cases certain antibiotics are proved effective in controlling the infection:-

1. Metronidazole
2. Vancomycin
3. Fidaxomicin

FECAL MICROBIOTA TRANSPLANT

Emergency treatment for recurrent clostridium difficile infection. It is also called stool transplant. It restores healthy gut bacteria by placing another person’s stool in your colon with specialized tubes inserted into the anus. Donor stools are screened for parasite virus and bacteria before being inserted. Though it is needed in rare cases but should be avoided because of the harm of unscreened stool transplants, especially in adults.

At last in modern aspect doctor recommend surgery for the severe form of clostridium difficile infection so better go for natural ways of preventing the infection through natural herbs free of side effects mentioned in classic ayurvedic texts to avoid the surgery.

In ayurveda some medicinal herbs like Kutaja (holarrhena antidysenterica), Bilva(Aegle marmelos), etc are helpful in managing the condition of clostridium difficile infection along with some dietary measures and prevention. Planet ayurveda provides herbal medicinal pack made from the natural herbs like kutaja (holarrhena antidysenterica, bilva, nimbu and minerals like vida lavana, sendhava lavana (Rock salt) and so on for balancing the symptoms of the clostridium infection

HOW PLANET AYURVEDA CAN HELP IN CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE INFECTION

Planet ayurveda provides herbal medicines to combat the symptoms caused by the clostridium difficile infection. These herbal remedies are prepared from the extracts of 100% effective ayurvedic herbs free from chemicals and additional preservatives. They are safe to use and hence do not cause any side effects.

1. Kutajghan Vati

Kutajghan Vati is a herbal medicine obtained from the natural herb called kutaja (holarrhena antidysenterica). It possesses anti diarrheal, anti dysenteric and haemostatic properties and has been used for conditions like dysentery and diarrhea since ancient times. It is thus useful in the clostridium difficile infection for managing its symptoms.

Dosage: 2 tab twice daily with plain water after food.

2. Mahashankh Vati

Mahashankh vati is a polyherbal medicine formed by the combination of herbs and minerals like shankh bhasma (calyx of conch shell), vida lavana, sandhava lavana (Rock salt) and nimbu (citrus lemon) etc which are known for having properties like carminative, analgesic, digestives and appetizer etc. thus helpful in various mitigating symptoms like dyspepsia, indigestion and malabsorption.

Dosage: 1 to 2 tablets twice daily before or after food with water.

3. Praval Panchamrit

It is a polyherbal medicine made from praval (coral calcium), shankh bhasma (conch shell), kaudi bhasma (karpadika) having antacid, carminative and digestive properties gives you relief from abdominal pain, indigestion and anorexia.

Dosage: 1 to 2 tab a day before or after food with milk or ghee.

4. Arjuna Capsule

Arjuna capsule is made from the extract of arjuna (Terminalia bellirica). It has astringent properties and cool potency thus pacifying imbalanced pitta dosha. By reducing blood loss it helps in managing blood in stool condition of C, difficile infection it also removes toxins and aids in diarrhea and burning sensation.

5. Vatsakadi Churna

Vatsakadi Churna is a herbal medicine composed of bilva (Aegle marmelos) and kutaja (Holarrhena antidysenterica) which are known for its properties like anti diarrheal and digestive. They will be useful in the main symptoms of the C.difficile infection by maintaining healthy intestines and overall digestive ailments.

Dosage: 1tsf (3 to 6 gm) with water after a meal.

PREVENTION OF CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE

In dietary measures certain items are avoided

• Milk and milk products are avoided
• Raw veggies, spicy foods
• Food with fat content
• Caffeinated beverages

Taking precautions like

• Maintaining good hygiene
• Avoid direct contact with the patient
• Do not use antibiotics except prescribed by the physician
• Wash your hands often with soap
• Other symptoms are managed by drinking lots of fluids to overcome fluid loss caused due to diarrhea. Probiotics can also be given to maintain good bacteria in the gut.

CONCLUSION

Clostridium difficile infection is easily controlled by above said dietary measures and herbal medication within 10 days and managed symptomatically. The usage of natural ayurvedic herbs not only maintains our healthy lifestyle but also keep us at bay from any harm caused by the side effects of the antibiotics. You can further send us your queries about the same by visiting our planet ayurveda website where we have provided basic natural ways to prevent the disease.