Constipation
Don't be embarrassed; there cannot be a single human being who hasn't suffered from constipation at least once in their lifetime. The pain, uneasiness and yes, even anxiety of not having relieved yourself – life could be hell if you have constipation. Yet, relief from constipation is so easy, quick and without any side effects if you take the natural way out – the way of Ayurveda, the ancient system of medicine in India.
Explanation
Constipation or Vibandh as it is known in Ayurveda, is the inability of bowel movement. Simply put, your body is unable to evacuate the waste that is lying hardened in your intestines. Constipation is contaminating. If stools are not passed at regular intervals, the health of all the systems in your body will be affected. Do not disregard constipation; prolonged and severe cases of constipation can lead to problems like fissures, fistulas, loss of appetite, piles and indigestion.
Reasons/Causes
The main cause of constipation is – yourself. That is, if you are careless about what you eat - the wrong food, the wrong diet, the wrong eating habits, you are a prime candidate for constipation.
Answer the following questions:
If you have answered the first five questions NO and YES for the next five, the chances are that you have suffered constipation sometime in your life.
Signs/Symptoms
Remember those moments when you had wished that you weren't born, those moments in public when you could no longer suppress that rumbling up gases inside you and 'broke the wind'? Flatulence is a dignified term for farting; but along with that, pain or heaviness in your stomach, the lack of appetite, indigestion, vomiting sensation, acidity and pain while defecating all could be symptoms of constipation.
Constipation as per Ayurvedic Concept
According to Ayurveda, this is Vata Dosha, an impairment of body constitution. When undigested food and stools with traces of blood (occult stools) accumulate in your digestive tract, your bowel movement is restricted and it leads to the condition of constipation.
Lifestyle Guide & Recommended Diet
All you have to do is to eat healthy food. In addition, you will have to make certain changes in your lifestyle. Here are a few tips for your daily life.
There are quite a few home remedies for constipation. Try these out.
If you suffer from constipation too frequently, it can lead to severe health problems. Do consult a physician at the earliest.
Explanation
Constipation or Vibandh as it is known in Ayurveda, is the inability of bowel movement. Simply put, your body is unable to evacuate the waste that is lying hardened in your intestines. Constipation is contaminating. If stools are not passed at regular intervals, the health of all the systems in your body will be affected. Do not disregard constipation; prolonged and severe cases of constipation can lead to problems like fissures, fistulas, loss of appetite, piles and indigestion.
Reasons/Causes
The main cause of constipation is – yourself. That is, if you are careless about what you eat - the wrong food, the wrong diet, the wrong eating habits, you are a prime candidate for constipation.
Answer the following questions:
- Do you eat at regular intervals?
- Do you take sufficient fluids?
- Is the content of your food sufficient in fiber?
- Do you exercise regularly?
- Do you eat in a calm, relaxed atmosphere?
- Do you eat a lot of oily, spicy, fried and junk food?
- Do you eat in a hurry, gorging food?
- Do you watch TV while eating?
- Do you eat while you are mentally stressed in any way?
- Do you eat at late hours?
If you have answered the first five questions NO and YES for the next five, the chances are that you have suffered constipation sometime in your life.
Signs/Symptoms
Remember those moments when you had wished that you weren't born, those moments in public when you could no longer suppress that rumbling up gases inside you and 'broke the wind'? Flatulence is a dignified term for farting; but along with that, pain or heaviness in your stomach, the lack of appetite, indigestion, vomiting sensation, acidity and pain while defecating all could be symptoms of constipation.
Constipation as per Ayurvedic Concept
According to Ayurveda, this is Vata Dosha, an impairment of body constitution. When undigested food and stools with traces of blood (occult stools) accumulate in your digestive tract, your bowel movement is restricted and it leads to the condition of constipation.
Lifestyle Guide & Recommended Diet
All you have to do is to eat healthy food. In addition, you will have to make certain changes in your lifestyle. Here are a few tips for your daily life.
- Include more fibrous foods such as fruits like apple and ripe banana and cooked vegetables.
- Drink 7-8 glasses of water a day; lukewarm in winters and room -temperature in summer.
- At mid-morning, have a vegetable soup with spinach and tomato.
- Make sure your food is freshly cooked and warm.
- Exercise! Walk, run or bicycle depending on your physical fitness for at least 20 minutes daily.
- Minimize stress; learn to relax and enjoy life.
- Nuts and whole grains will have you chirping like a squirrel!
- Rice or wheat, with bran it is the best! Polished grains are insoluble fiber.
- Have a yet for high protein foods like cheese, red meat, and soybeans? Take it with salads and liquids.
- Avoid; if not, reduce meat intake.
- Eating is a pleasurable activity. Enjoy your food stress-free in an amiable atmosphere.
- Disturbing psychological factors should be removed, and meals should be taken in a relaxed and calm atmosphere.
- Go easy on that ice cream and chilled drinks.
There are quite a few home remedies for constipation. Try these out.
- Make a concoction of black pepper, dried ginger root, black salt, and long pepper and mix a teaspoon of it with lukewarm water alongwith 2/3 teaspoons psyllium(Ispaghula) husk. Take it before going to bed.
- Take half a teaspoon of cumin seeds, powdered celery seeds and asafetida in equal quantitiesand eat it before 15 minutes of your daily meals.
- Mix 1/2 spoons of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it 3/4 times a day.
If you suffer from constipation too frequently, it can lead to severe health problems. Do consult a physician at the earliest.