Abdominal colic and flatulence are some of the common gastrointestinal conditions. Abdominal colic occurs in adults and is characterized by intense urinary, intestinal, or abdominal pain.
Abdominal colic happens when something obstructs a hollow body part, such as the intestines, gallbladder, rectum, kidneys, etc. The consequent abdominal pain can last for up to five hours, with residual ache for up to a day. It leads to symptoms like bowel issues, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, bloating, and loss of appetite.
Once a patient experiences colic, he/she is likely to face it more often in the future.
On the other hand, flatulence refers to the intense buildup of gas in the digestive system, leading to stomach discomfort and distress. It usually happens due to improper dietary and lifestyle habits, but it can sometimes hint towards a more serious health condition.
Read ahead to find out how you can manage such gastric disorders using cannabis-based medicine more safely and effectively than conventional medications.
What Causes Abdominal Colic?
There are three kinds of abdominal colic, namely biliary, renal, and intestinal.
- Biliary colic is marked by severe pain either just under the ribs or in the central-upper abdomen. It happens when there is a blockage in one of the digestive fluid ducts, commonly caused after a big fatty meal. The pain can last anywhere between a few minutes and five hours.
- Renal colic patients experience pain in the lower abdomen or the body’s side. It can spread to the groin, can last for up to 20-60 minutes, and cause nausea, vomiting, and very little blood in the urine. It is usually caused by kidney stones blocking the urine passage.
- Intestinal colic causes cramping pains in the abdomen ranging from mild to intense. It happens due to partial or complete intestinal blockage preventing the passage of air, foods, fluids, and stool. This blockage is caused by inflammatory conditions, Crohn’s disease, endometriosis, cancerous tumors, or scar tissues from previous abdominal surgeries.
What Causes Flatulence?
The major causes of flatulence include underlying health conditions such as inflammatory diseases, IBS, food intolerances, Crohn’s disease, ulcers, eating disorders, autoimmune diseases, intestinal infections, constipation, gallbladder issues, side-effects of medications, etc.
Besides that, while eating, drinking, or swallowing saliva, we also swallow tiny amounts of air. This air gets slowly accumulated in the gut. Furthermore, certain foods on being digested produce gasses like carbon dioxide and hydrogen as by-products in the intestines.
Sometimes, indigestion of foods can also cause the accumulation of excess gas, leading to abdominal pain and discomfort. Foods like cereals, pulses, dairy products, yeast, cashews, and carbonated drinks can trigger more gas buildup. It also includes vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, leeks, sprouts, garlic, onion, beans, turnip, etc.
Treating the Conditions
Medical professionals and healthcare experts prescribe certain lifestyle and dietary changes to help patients manage their conditions. For abdominal colic patients, it is recommended that they
- Drink sufficient water and stay hydrated
- Applying mild heat to ease the discomfort
- Gently massage the affected region
While the patients suffering from flatulence should-
- Reduce hard-to-digest carbohydrates and replace them with easier-to-digest substitutes
- Eat smaller meals at regular intervals
- Add foods like ginger and probiotics to the diet
- Drink more water
- Exercise regularly
Besides these changes, there are numerous conventional medications prescribed by doctors for these conditions, such as:
- Over-the-counter drugs
- Antacids
- Traditional painkillers
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Anti-sickness medications
- Drugs to dissolve intestinal stones
All these medications come with adverse side effects on health that worsen the conditions, including:
- Increased stomach issues,
- Headaches and dizziness,
- Digestive tract bleeding,
- Allergies,
- Skin and blood-related adverse effects,
- Diarrhea or constipation,
- Stomach cramps,
- Nausea and/or vomiting,
- Difficulty breathing.
They can cause problems in the proper functioning of the liver, kidney, heart, and blood circulation as well. Moreover, for abdominal colic, there are other complex surgical procedures to remove the blockages that can cause worse symptoms.
An Effective Alternative
To help effectively alleviate abdominal colic and flatulence and avoid such harmful treatment side effects, Ayurvedic doctors prescribe consuming Vijaya and its derived cannabis-based medicines.
This potent herb is revered for its direct and effective action on the body’s ECS, through which it significantly decreases inflammation and alleviates abdominal pain in colic and flatulence patients.
In a study conducted by the University of Western Ontario, London, the researchers analyzed the effects of Vijaya on patients with ulcerative colitis, a common inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It was found that the patients exhibited a clinically meaningful improvement in their overall quality of life after consuming the herb.
The patients consuming traditional drugs showed severe adverse effects such as worsening of UC, as compared to having mild to no adverse effects among patients using Vijaya. It shows the tolerable safety profile of the herb.
Another recent study shows how Vijaya caused significant improvements in the clinical symptoms of IBD patients. They included abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, appetite, general well-being, and the overall quality of life.
In a Washington research, it was found that Vijaya’s cannabinoids activate the ECS receptors and block the gastrointestinal, spinal, and peripheral mechanisms in the body. It immensely decreases the pain in patients suffering from IBS, colic, flatulence, and other gastrointestinal conditions.
This robust pain-blocking mechanism of the herb is the result of its direct influence on the brain’s pain processing regions. By activating the CB1 receptors there, it regulates and reduces the pain sensations and signaling among the patients.
Another research conducted in Italy found that Vijaya prevents abdominal and intestinal damage in patients by effectively reducing inflammation. It binds with the CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the gut and the body’s immune cells to reduce the production of inflammatory cytokine cells.
That helps provide relief to gastrointestinal patients, especially in conditions like IBS, colic, flatulence, and other painful inflammation-associated disorders.
To know more about how Vijaya can help you provide relief from abdominal colic, flatulence, and similar other gastrointestinal conditions, contact Hempstreet and get the right medical consultation from the best Ayurvedic doctors.
References
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/colic-in-adults#intestinal-colic
