“Doctor, I am doing everything, but I am not losing weight”
“I have constant headache for no reason, don’t know why?”
“I tried everything for my acne, but nothing works.”
These are some common complaints I come across during consultations.
One question I ask them all is “DO YOU HAVE CONSTIPATION?“
What is constipation?
When you have constipation, you pass less than three bowel movements in a week. You also have lumpy hard stools and have to strain to pass stools. Also, you have a constant feeling of incomplete emptying after passing stools.
Our stool constitutes waste, not just from our food, but also from physiological processes that include stercobilin, bacteria, dead cells, etc. If you are not defecating every day, a part of these is reabsorbed, which causes toxin buildup in our body.
According to Ayurveda, all diseases are caused due to an imbalance in digestion (Agni). Ayurveda quotes the same reason for constipation.
Even a single day of not passing bowel movements is not advised for gut health. For good health, good Agni, good skin and good hair, never let a single day pass without defecating.
Remedies for constipation
Ayurveda suggests a few remedies for constipation.
Lifestyle hacks
- Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
- Exercise regularly for good Agni as well as relief from constipation.
- Your stress levels can affect your digestion. So, always try to keep stress under control.
- Prolonged use of over-the-counter laxatives can eventually dry up your intestinal mucosa. So stay away from them.
Food
- Have 5- 6 soaked prunes first thing in the morning. Also, drink the water in which you soaked it.
- Consuming soaked black raisins also helps with constipation.
- Reduce the consumption of drying foods, like raw salads, chicken, etc.
- Add cooked vegetables to your diet religiously.
- Dry ginger is a mild laxative. Drink a glass of warm dry ginger water in the morning.
- Include good fats, such as ghee, in your diet. Warm milk with half a teaspoon of ghee or castor oil and consume.
- For kids, give them a glass of almond milk with a teaspoon of ghee added to it to drink before they go to bed.
Ayurvedic herbs
According to Ayurveda, there are three types of biophysical energies in our body ‚Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Ayurveda suggests remedies for constipation, based on body type.
- If you have heat in your body (Pitta body), consume 2 teaspoons of Avipatti Churna before going to bed.
- If your body is dry (Vata), you can try 1 tablespoon of castor oil before bed.
- If your body is Kapha type with a tendency to put on weight, you can try 1 tablespoon of Triphala with warm water before going to bed. However, do not overconsume Triphala.
The Ayurvedic medicines mentioned are for temporary relief only. You may need to correct your digestion with the food that suits your body type to ensure you say bye to constipation forever.
If your constipation symptoms are chronic and beyond your control, consult an Ayurvedic doctor and fix it as soon as possible.
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