Celiac Disease

When you cannot eat and assimilate a staple food like- wheat, it is complicated. The matter is not just that you cannot eat wheat. The main problem is your health falls, because of this condition. Decay of body in adults is on the higher side. On contrary to this in kids, development stops. This is a wheat allergy, gluten intolerance, and celiac. Let’s discuss the possible Ayurveda treatment of celiac and all aspects of celiac you need to know.

Maximum of the nutrition from the food absorbs in the body, through the intestines. For this purpose, there are many villi, small outgrowths of cells in the intestine. These villi, give the intestines a feel like velvet paper or cloth. Due to these villi, the area for absorption of nutrients multiplies several times. Therefore it helps in better nourishment to the body. In celiac disease, this lining distorts.

Is there something else than – Gluten free diet for this condition? This cannot be explained well without understanding Gluten intolerance and its nature.

What is Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a condition where villous lining of the small intestine distorts and disappears.

The absence of villi leads to a lack of nutrition. Because the body is not able to absorb the nutrients from the food.

This damage is due to a reaction towards gluten. Gluten is a protein. This protein comes from wheat, barley, rye, and oats.

Because celiac is a response of the body towards gluten. This condition is also known as Gluten intolerance. Secondly, the body is allergic to wheat, we call it as Wheat allergy also.

Why does Celiac Occur

This disease is thought to be a result of two conditions – Autoimmune condition or Genetics.  

But still, the exact cause of celiac disease is not known.

The lining of the intestines is velvety to increase the surface area of the intestines these are called villi, this increased surface area helps to absorb nutrients. When people with celiac disease eat foods or use products that contain gluten. Their immune system reacts towards the intake of gluten. And it leads to damage to these villi.

Body stores memory in form of proteins. These proteins are- Immunoglobulins. And one immunoglobulin among these is- Transglutaminase. The body can develop antibodies for this. We know these medically as tTG IgA.

When one takes gluten-containing foods- these antibodies start defending the body.

But….due to lack of the proper discrimination between “friend and foe” these antibodies start killing normal villi.

This damage affects the ability to absorb nutrients properly. A person becomes malnourished, no matter how much food he or she eats.

Symptoms of Celiac Disease

When it comes to Symptoms of celiac, these vary from person to person. Symptoms may occur in the digestive system or in other parts of the body.

Celiac in young kids

Celiac Disease is more common in young female kids.

Digestive symptoms of celiac disease are more common in infants and young children and may include

• Pain in abdomen
• Bloating of abdomen
• Chronic diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stool
• Weight loss
• Irritability is common symptom in children.
• Poor concentration.
• Rough, brown hair.
• Sunken eyes

Malabsorption of nutrients during the years when nutrition is critical to a child’s normal growth and development can result.

Celiac in Adults

Adults are less likely to have digestive symptoms and may instead have one or more of the following:

• Unexplained iron-deficiency anemia
• Fatigue
• Bone or joint pain
• Arthritis
• Bone loss or osteoporosis
• Depression or anxiety
• Tingling numbness in the hands and feet
• Seizures
• Missed menstrual periods (in females)
• Infertility or recurrent miscarriage (in females)
• Ulcers in mouth
• An itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis

There are three points which impacts on onset of celiac disease.

• The length of time a person was breastfed
• The age a person started eating gluten-containing foods
• Amount of gluten-containing foods one eats

These symptoms subside with a gluten free diet but as soon as you return to a normal diet, these start complicating. But this resolves well with Ayurveda treatment of Celiac.

Complications:

People with celiac disease may have no symptoms but can still develop complications of the disease over time. Long-term complications include malnutrition.

Malnutrition leads to anemia, osteoporosis, and miscarriage, among other problems—liver diseases, and cancers of the intestine.

People with celiac disease tend to have other diseases in which the immune system attacks the body’s healthy cells and tissues. These are-

• Type 1 diabetes
• Autoimmune thyroid disease
• Autoimmune liver disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Addison’s disease, a condition in which the glands that produce critical hormones are damaged
• Sjögren’s syndrome, a condition in which the glands that produce tears and saliva are destroyed
• Dermatitis Herpetiformis:

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is an intensely itchy, blistering skin rash that affects 15 to 25 percent of people with celiac disease. The rash usually occurs on the elbows, knees, and buttocks. Most people with DH have no digestive symptoms.

Ayurveda About Celiac Disease

As per Ayurveda, all the cells of the body have the capacity of working as well as of thinking! This process of thinking makes the cells special in their working as cells can decide the good and bad, but due to certain reasons, this capacity of the cells will be hampered by our diet and lifestyle.

These cases of celiac disease are increasing day by day all around the world. The reason is very simple, we have changed our diet and lifestyle both to a very bad condition, which is dragging us to all these problems.

If we check with Ayurveda, there are two points which can easily help us to achieve the treatment of Celiac diseases – these are-

Nature of the Gluten:

There is a concept of Visha in Ayurveda. And amazingly there are many proteins in that list. Gluten is also a protein. It causes dryness in the body. Therefore this might be one thing that is causing problems like gluten intolerance.

Ayurveda always recommends taking the wheat and other grains only after storing these for a year!

This is clinically very true after taking the newly cropped grains. Pain in the stomach, diarrhea commonly appear.

When we look at the scientific perspective of the same, one thing is clear that once we store something. There will be certain changes in the grains. Because today we are well aware that nothing is inert in the world. So this should be remembered for always to use the old grains.

Psychology of Cells

As said above all cells have their own psychological values and we should take care of this aspect for always. Ayurveda has some medicines to tackle this condition.

There are certain combinations in Ayurveda that are told to be useful for both Digestive systems and Psychological problems. Our Vaidyas (Physicians) have achieved some great results in the treatment of Celiac disease, which is really commendable, you can check the testimonials for the same here on our page of medicines for celiac disease.

When we look at the literature properly. Research proves that there is a strong link between Celiac and conditions like ADHD and Schizophrenia. This gives strength to the idea of the involvement of psychology with the condition of celiac disease.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Celiac Disease:

As per Ayurveda Celiac Disease is the result of the wrong decisions by the immune cells. Immune cells behave abnormally to gluten which is otherwise a common object found in routine food items.

All human beings do not have this hypersensitivity; means gluten is not problematic.

Something is wrong within the body. So the treatment should be towards correcting this wrong thing within the body. The line of celiac disease treatment at Sukhayu is based on the following points.

Correcting the immune system:

The immune system is all about intelligence.

Celiac Disease is a problem involving the hypersensitivity of immune cells to gluten. So unless or until the immune system is not working normally. A patient cannot get rid of the problem of gluten intolerance.

Ayurveda never vouches to increase immunity. I have seen many patients buying this or that Ayurveda product in a hope that these products will improve the immunity and will help their kids!!

Calming down the gut brain

“Gut feeling” is not just an idiom. This is all science. The gut carries more neurons than the brain and spinal cord together. These neurons add to the intelligence of the gut.

This gut-brain, famous as the second brain not only helps the body to make the right decisions but is also responsible for the better working of the immune system. Therefore the main concept of the Ayurvedic treatment for celiac is to restore the normalcy of the gut-brain too. During this phase, you need to stay on Gluten Free Diet.

Correcting the digestive disturbance

Along with these, digestive disturbances like diarrhea should also be addressed. This is the third stage of celiac disease treatment.

This concept of the digestive system is famous as AGNI in Ayurveda. Agni helps in making decisions. Therefore every decisive power of the human body is under the control of the AGNI. And we need to nourish this Agni in a better way. While treating gluten becomes important.

Improving the absorption of nutrients from the food. 

The nutrition status of the body is severely affected because of improper absorption of micronutrients. These micronutrients are essential for a healthy life.

Wheat carries a lot of nutrition. But there are a lot of other things too. Other than wheat, which carries nutrition. Villi of the intestine which are responsible for the absorption of the nutrients should be capable of good activity. This is taken care of while treating cases of celiac.

This is the time when we slowly stop your gluten-free diet and bring you to normal life.

It is not about eating wheat alone

The main question from every patient of celiac is-

Can I eat wheat after the treatment?

The answer is yes as per my previous experience with my patients. But as a clinician, it was never the main concern for me. The main concern for a celiac patient from my side is- to restore the health of an individual.

Most of the patients with gluten intolerance are weak, malnourished, and not active. In this condition, the main thing is health not allowance of wheat or gluten.

So if you are suffering from celiac or gluten intolerance the main thing for you should be your health. Not just taking wheat in the food and this is the main aim of the celiac disease treatment at Sukhayu Ayurved.

Lifestyle Recommendations for Celiac Disease:

• It is all right to drink wine, brandy, whiskey and other non-wheat or barley alcohol (in moderation!)
• Avoid milk and other dairy products that contain lactose.
• Untreated patients with celiac disease often are lactose intolerant. With successful treatment, dairy products can be reintroduced slowly into the diet later.
• It is alright to consume fish, fresh meats, rice, corn, soybean, potato, poultry, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products (for patients who are not lactose intolerant)

Yoga Recommendations:

The most beneficial Yoga Asanas for Auto-Immune diseases are

• Paschimottanasana,
• Hastapadasana,
• Baddha konasana,
• Virabadrasana.
• Shitali Pranayama,
• Nadi Sodhana Pranayama,
• Pratiloma Pranayama,
• Ujjayi Pranayama and
• Viloma Pranayama is very beneficial.

The word for parents

Because this condition impacts children more, therefore it is important to give a message to parents. In my clinic I have met many parents, who disharten to the fact that their kid cannot eat like others. This is the common pain of mothers.

And to all these mothers, I always ask – What do you need- “A healthy child” or “A wheat eating child?”

All of them opt for the second option, no doubt. So you should also think similarly.

Now coming to the next thing, which is also a common fact among parents.

In haste of giving the wheat to eat to their kids- parents starts following any “youtube-idea” or “whatsapp-thought”- never ever do this to your kid. Please opt for professional medical advice and do what your trained doctor suggests. Don’t fall prey to quacks.