Get Rid of Constipation With Ayurveda!

Introduction

Hanging out with your buddies filling your tummy with all those mouths drooling spicy food and waking up the next morning finding it difficult to get back to your daily routine is not very uncommon! You have a bad stomach ache and can't get back from the bed. The day turns out to be unsettling and painful without a complete bowel movement. Probably most of us might have experienced these once in our lifetime. There is an inherent relation between gut health and overall health, due to sedentary lifestyle digestive disorders are increasing.Constipation is one such awful issue.

Constipation

The food we eat is absorbed and transformed into nutrients that the body requires, the waste products of the same are eliminated from the body. This mechanism goes on.

Constipation arises when there are less frequent bowel movements and difficulty in passing them. Your stool turns hard and dry as the colon absorbs a high amount of water from waste. Due to hectic and sedentary lifestyles, 22% of Indians are complaining of constipation which in turn has become a major health concern.

Symptoms

• Straining during bowel
• Bowel movements are absent
• Incomplete bowel movements
• Stool turns dry, hard and like a pellet
• Difficult to pass bowel

Causes

• Stress
• Drinking less water
• Eating food with less fiber
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Less physical activity
• Suppression of urge to pass stool
• Excessive use of medications
• Diseases such as IBS
• Neurological and digestive disorders

Complications

• Anal fissures
• Hemorrhoids
• Urinary incontinence
• Fecal impaction
• Diverticulitis

Treatment

• Diet and lifestyle changes
• Laxatives
• Medications
• Surgery

Vibandha or Constipation in Ayurvedic Perspective

Ayurveda relies mainly on three humors, vata, pitta and kapha that forms the basic substrate of the body. The equilibrium between the three maintains health whereas the imbalance generates illness. Constipation occurs when there is an imbalance in vata. Apana vata which is responsible for the expulsion of stool is affected. An irregular vata can affect the muscles of the colon and deteriorate its movement, inhibiting its normal functioning.

Causes that Cause Apana Vata Imbalances

• Intake of incompatible food
• Intake of dry, light, rough food
• Excessive intake of pungent and astringent food
• Long walk
• Traveling for long
• Depression
• High stress
• Late-night sleeping
• Diseases such as parkinsonism, RA, Intestinal obstruction

Treatment

As vibandha is caused by excessive vata, vata has to be pacified by taking warm, fresh kinds of food substances.

1. High fiber foods

• Fruits: Berries, peach, apricot, raisins, plums, fig, papaya
• Vegetables: Green leafy vegetables
• Whole grains
• Almonds and nuts
• Beans and legumes
• Seeds: Chia seeds, Flag seeds

2. Exercise

For regular bowel movements, exercise is necessary. This stimulates the contraction of intestinal muscles which makes the passage of stool easier.

3. Yoga

Yoga has a great impact on moving the bowel and relieving constipation. They help to relieve stress and keep the mind calm. Some postures that help in the same may include

• Trikonasana (Triangle stretch )
• Bhujangasana (Cobra pose)
• Vajrasana ( Diamond Pose)
• Supta vajrasana (Sleeping pelvis pose)
• Ardha matsyendrasana (Half spine twist pose )
• Dhanurasana ( Bow pose)
• Naukasana (Boa Poses)
• Mandukasana (Frog pose)
• Pavanamuktasana ( Wind release pose)
• Halasana (Plow pose)
• Sarvangasana ( Shoulder stand )
• Mayurasana ( Peacock pose )
• Shalabasana (Locust pose )
• Paschimottanasana ( Head to knee pose)
• Kati chakrasana (Standing spine twist)

4. Adequate water intake

Hydration is the key to relieve constipation. According to Ayurveda it is always better to sip warm water against gulping in Ice cold water.

5. Panchakarma in vibandha

Panchakarma helps in the removal of toxins from the  body from time to time to time

• Snehapana / Internal oleation: Administration of sukumara ghrta internally
• External oleation: External application of oil with Maha Narayana tails or sesame oil
• Swedana / Sudation: All body sudation
• Virechana / Purgation
• Basti / Enema
• Phala varti / Herbal suppositories

Herbs That Relieve Constipation

• Haritaki ( Terminalia chebula )
• Draksha (Vitis vinifera )
• Aragwadha (Cassia fistula )
• Katukarohini (Pichorrhizha kurroa)
• Patola ( Trichosanthes dioica )
• Jayapala (Croton tiglium )
• Trivrit (Operculina turpenthum )

Ayurvedic Formulations

1. Triphala

Triphala, the best known ayurvedic laxative from ancient times, is a combination of Haritaki / Terminalia chebula, Amalaki / Emblica officinalis and Bibitaki / Terminalia bellerica. This polyherbal medicine has extra therapeutic value than any other. The three herbs act on three humors of the body and pacify them. Haritaki helps with elimination, Amalaki helps with digestion and bibhitaki helps with absorption. These together help in rejuvenating and strengthening the digestive system.

2. Avipattikar Churna

This herbal powder has been used from early on as a remedy for digestive disorders including constipation. It is a combination of Triphala, pepper, ginger etc. Avipattikara churna possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and strong carminative effects.

3. Hingwashtak Churna

Hinguashtaka choornam is a well-known formulation having a combination of different ingredients such as shunti (Zingiber officinale),maricha (Piper nigrum), pippali (Piper longum) ajamoda (Apium graveolens)  saindhava lavana or rock salt, hingu ( Ferula asafetida ) and jeera. These have the property of deepana and pachana which helps in the easy digestion of food. It is effective in pacifying vata.

4. Trivrit lehyam

This herbal medicine is best for relieving constipation.Trivrit is the main ingredient of the mixture along with sugar, honey and other spices. This herb is known as theekshana virechan (strong purgative) in ayurveda and possesses laxative and purgative properties.

5. Aragwadharishtam

Aragwadha (Cassia fistula) being the chief ingredient along with others helps in the elimination of toxins and relieves constipation. As per ayurveda, Argavadah is well known for its mridu virechana properties. (Mild purgative).

6. Abhayarishtam

This herbal decoction known as the king of medicine is used for treating many ailments including constipation. Haritaki which is a chief ingredient of the decoction is extremely beneficial in relieving digestive disorders. The potent decoction increases the peristalsis movement, thereby allowing easy movement.

There are numerous other formulations like:

• Patolarishta
• Kaishore guggulu
• Chitrakadi vadi
• Gandharvahastadi kashayam
• Haritaki churna
• Castor oil , to mention a few

Conclusion

Constipation though is alarmingly increasing across the globe, and can be managed if properly taken care of. Ayurveda, the holistic science, has provided a bunch of natural remedies as well as herbal formulations for maintaining gut health. Planet Ayurveda indeed plays a vital role in providing a quality life.These produce a magical combination of herbs that are completely organic and made from purest extracts .Keep your gut health safe with proper diet and exercise. In case of any query kindly visit www.planetayurveda.com