constipation

Constipation

Constipation is the most common digestive disorder seen affecting individuals of all ages and is the leading cause of many chronic diseases.  Some diseases cannot be cured or relieved if constipation persists. Constipation is “hard, dry, or lumpy stools, straining or pain when passing stools, a feeling that not all stool has passed, a feeling that the rectum is blocked, waiting too long to pass stool,” etc. Constipation is a lifestyle-based disease. A lack of dietary fibre, inadequate water intake, and sedentary life are the leading causes of constipation. Regular consumption of allopathic drugs also causes constipation.

                Constipation can be acute or chronic. Acute constipation may result from some irregularity in routine: going to bed late at night, eating heavy food, partying, eating outside, having special feasts, etc. Chronic constipation could be the result of an unhealthy lifestyle, some diseases, or prolonged usage of certain drugs, especially allopathic medicines.

             Constipation needs to be cured naturally. Taking purgatives or allopathic medicines will be harmful due to their side effects. Using laxatives may cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, severe diarrhoea, metabolic disorders, chronic constipation, decreased net absorption of fluid in the intestine, loosening of intestinal muscles and nerve response, and so on. Drinking carbonated drinks such as sugary soda is not a good idea, as these beverages can have harmful health effects and may make constipation worse.

           Chronic constipation takes longer to cure and requires lifestyle correction. Meanwhile, acute constipation can be easily cured in a day or two.  Following Naturopathy and Homoeopathy based preventive and curative measures will keep everyone free from this disease.

  • Preventive Homoeopathy : Take two doses of Pulsatilla 200 at a gap of 15-20 minutes, 20 – 30 minutes after heavy food, outside food, special feast, etc.
  • Preventive Naturopathy : Avoid cooked food once a week and eat only fresh, seasonal fruits and salad. Do the same the next day of a heavy meal or special feast.
  • If you take outside food for any reason, take about 200 gms of curd with it.
  • Preventive & curative Homoeopathy : As a matter of routine, once a month, take Sulphur 200 on an empty stomach in the morning and Nux Vomica 200 about 30 minutes before going to bed on the night the same day.
  • Preventive & curative Naturopathy : Take fresh Lemon water at least once daily, with raw honey or black salt. It is not harmful if taken more than once a day.
  • Form a habit to finish your dinner at least two hours before bed.
  • Chew your food well, eat slowly, and do not fill your stomach completely. Do not drink water with food. Take it 1½ to 2 hours after food.
  • Make enough salad, sprouted grains, buttermilk, and fruits a part of your diet, not in addition to your regular diet, but as part and parcel of it by reducing grains, etc.
  • Get up early in the morning, at least before Sunrise.
  • When you wake up, drink two glasses of plain water. Do not use refrigerated water even during the day. Drink at least 2.5 to 3 litres of water every day.
  • Mix about 20% bran in your wheat flour, or switch to millets and flour of coarse grains—black gram with skin, barley (Jao) with skin, maize, etc. 
  • Avoid maida (white fine flour) and besan (gram fine flour). Replace polished rice with brown rice.
  • A routine diet should contain green vegetables, leafy vegetables, high-fibre vegetables, some seasonal fruits, salad, sprouted grains, and buttermilk. Vegetables and other foods that are heavy and a little difficult to digest [paneer (Indian cottage cheese), rajma (kidney beans), cholley (white gram), vigna mungo (black gram, urad dal, etc.)] may be taken occasionally but not regularly. Avoid paneer, mainly highly processed paneer like those in restaurants, refrigerated, etc. 
  • Do exercise and walk regularly.  Its importance increases manifold if you are doing a sitting job.
  • Yoga : Uttanpadasana, Sarvangasana, Pavanmuktasana, Naukasana, Bajrasana, Balasana, and Matsyasanaare beneficial.  In case of acute constipation, do Uttanpadasana, Naukasana, and Pavanmuktasana before going to the toilet.
  • Naturopathy based TIPS : Regular use of Triphala is excellent in every respect as a preventive and as a medicine. Apart from being a natural laxative, it is a potent antioxidant and anti-bacteria and may promote proper digestion and absorption of food, reduce serum cholesterol levels, improve circulation, relax bile ducts, prevent immunosenescence, maintain homeostasis of the endocrine system, and increase production of Red Blood Cells and Hemoglobin. It also prevents various eye diseases, including Cataracts, Macular degeneration, and age-related vision problems. It strengthens eye muscles and improves eyesight.

To get proper benefits from this magical herbal mix, do not buy it in powder, tablet, or capsule form, but in its original form, i.e., uncrushed. Take one part Harad (Haritika), two parts Baheda ( Bibhitaki), and four parts Amla.  Keep it water-soaked for 18-20 hours; filter with a soft cloth (Malmal); drink one glass early in the morning on an empty stomach to improve the functioning of the digestive system. There is no harm in taking it daily as a preventive measure, even without any problem. Wash your eyes well with another glass of Triphala water and follow this process regularly to avail yourself of all the eye-related benefits mentioned above.

  • Papaya, guava, fig, grapes, and bael fruit (Aegle marmelos) are very good natural purgatives, and they have many other benefits. At least one of them should form part of our regular diet.
  • A few Munakka (golden raisins) are also excellent natural laxatives. You can take it in either of the three ways: a) can chew as such, removing its seeds, or b) remove its seeds, apply a pinch of Black salt and pepper inside, slightly dry roast, and consumer, or c) take 7-8 pcs, remove its seeds, put in a glass of milk and boil.  It will bulge like a small gulab jamun (a sweet confection). Then, consume both the milk and Munakka. 
  • Another natural purgative is Castor. You can peel 7-8 seeds, crush a little bit, boil with milk, or add ½ to 1 small spoon of its oil with warm milk.
SOME HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES TO BE TAKEN IN CASE OF NEED :
  •  Most general medicine : Nux Vomica 200 – one single dose at bed time. In chronic cases can even be taken 4 times a day.
  • Large, dry stools that are challenging to pass, along with sticking or tearing pains,- Bryonia 30 or 200
  • Feel more stable when constipated, and experience discomfort and fatigue when the bowels have moved. Large stools are hard at first, then sticky, then liquid- Calcarea Carb 30
  • Frequent indigestion with gas and bloating, and many problems involving the bowels. Craving for sweets – Lycopodium 30
  • Obstinate constipation, no motion since last few days, Pain and heaviness in abdomen – Kali Mur 3 X take 30- 40 pills with a full glass of hot water. If no motion takes place within 30 – 40 minutes repeat second dose same way.