Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the colon that results in diarrhea or passing of stools with mucus and is usually preceded by gripping abdominal pain. Sometimes blood is also present in the stools. In Ayurveda, it is known as pravahika, which means ‘tenesmus’ (feeling the need to empty the bowels).

Home Remedies:

1. Bael is the best remedy mentioned in Ayurveda for dysentery. Take 1-2 teaspoons of the pulp of the fruit with water twice a day.
2. Take a glassful of buttermilk with a pinch each of rock salt, black pepper, and roasted cumin seed powder twice daily with breakfast and lunch.
3. Fasting for 1-2 days allows the digestion of ama.
4. Take 1 teaspoon of powdered preparation of dried ginger root, cumin seeds, nutmeg, and black pepper in equal quantities. Add 2 teaspoons of psyllium husk and a pinch of rock salt. Have this once in the morning with buttermilk, and again later in the day with lukewarm water.
5. Take ½ teaspoon powder of Terminalia chebula (Haritaki) with lukewarm water at bedtime.
6. Take 1 teaspoon powdered mixture of dried ginger root, black pepper, and long pepper with lukewarm water twice a day.
7. Boil 50 grams of pomegranate rind in 200 millilitres of milk until only 70 millilitres of milk remains. Divide it into 3 equal parts and have 3 times a day.

Diet and Lifestyle:

1. Increase intake of tomato, Indian gooseberry (amla; amalaki), garlic, asafetida, and ginger.
2. Avoid spicy, greasy, fried, stale, canned, and refrigerated food.
3. Take simple and easily digestible foods like boiled rice and porridge.
4. Avoid overeating, eating before the previous meal is digested, late night dinners, and in-between meal snacking.
5. Foods like yam, potato, sweet potato, and colocasia (taro) should be restricted.