Ayurvedic Treatments for Constipation starts from the identification of the underlying cause of the condition and diet, exercises, and medicines to correct the cause. The impaired digestive fire is the main cause of digestion and this is caused due to several anatomical and pathologic variations. Constipation refers to reduced bowel movement due to many reasons resulting in difficulty in passing stools. It may persist for several days or weeks.
- SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- CAUSES
- PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
- DIAGNOSIS
- TREATMENTS
- PROGNOSIS
- COMPLICATIONS
- CONSTIPATION AND AYURVEDA
- NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES
- PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS
- SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS
- LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS
- CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT
- AYURVEDIC LOCAL TREATMENT
- AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT
- AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT
- COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES
- HOME REMEDIES
- DIET AND BEHAVIOUR
- YOGA
- RESEARCH PAPERS
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CONSTIPATION
- Difficult passage of stools
- Straining when passing stool
- Reduced bowel movements
- Dry or hard stool
- Abdominal discomfort
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
CAUSES OF CONSTIPATION
- Dehydration
- Lack of dietary fiber
- Physical inactivity
- Medication side effects
- Underlying pathology
- Overuse of laxatives
- Reduced intake of drinking water
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Due to the causative factors bowel movements become reduced or stool becomes hard and the patient feels difficulty in passing stools.
DIAGNOSIS
- CT scan, MRI scan, or X-ray is done to find out the underlying pathology.
TREATMENTS for CONSTIPATION
- Constipation usually resolves itself without the need for prescription treatment.
- Eating more fibre
- Drinking more water
- Use of laxatives
PROGNOSIS
It is curable and the symptoms are manageable.
COMPLICATIONS
- Rectal bleeding after straining
- Anal fissure, which is a small tear around the anus
- Haemorrhoids (piles)
- Rectal prolapsed
- Hernia
- Faecal impaction
- In Ayurveda, Constipation refers to vibandha.
NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES
- Excess consumption of acrid, dry, ununctuous food
- Vata dosha vitiation
- Improper administration of purification therapies
- Suppression of urge of defecation
- Other diseases causing impairment of digestive fire
- Arsas
PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS
- Difficulty in passing stools
SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS
Due to the causative factors, vata dosha becomes vitiated and dries up the stools finally vibandha manifested.
LAKSHANA – AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Anaha – abdominal discomfort
- Adhmana
- Difficulty in passing stools
- Shirah Shoola – headache
AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS
- Prognosis is Sadhya – curable
CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR CONSTIPATION
- Gandharva hasthadi kashaya
- Chiruvilwadi Kashaya
- Pachanamrutham Kashayam
- Chirthakagrandhyadi Kashayam
- Saptasaram Kashayam
- Virechana Gulika
- Eranda Sukumaram
- Brihat Triphala Churna
- Avipatti churna
- Gandharva eranda
- Trivrit lehyam
AYURVEDIC SODHANA TREATMENT
- ANUVASANA VASTHI – pippalyadi tailam
- Phalavarti
What is the best Ayurvedic medicine for constipation?
- Gandharva hasthadi kashaya
- Anuloma DS tablets
- Chiraviwadi kashaya
- Avipatti churna
- Gandharva eranda
- Amritotharam kashayam
- Gandharvahastadi Erandam
- Trivrit lehyam
- Sukumara ghrita
- Sukhavirechana Churna
HOME REMEDIES FOR CONSTIPATION
- Intake of warm water frequently
- Intake of water boiled with coriander and cumin seeds
- Regular intake of Triphala Powder.
- Include Fibre rich diets
DIET AND BEHAVIOUR
- Avoid food items which produce dosha imbalance like cold and dry food, hard to digest. Because dosha imbalance aggravates the symptoms.
- Consume easily digestible food items
- Intake of more water and dietary fibres
YOGA
- Nadi Shuddi Pranayam – calms the mind and effective
The patient needs to be seated in a meditative posture with the head and spine erect, with the body relaxed. The patient has to close his one nostril (e.g. left nostril if using the right hand and vice versa) with the thumb and exhale completely through the other nostril. Again, he will have to breathe in deeply through the other nostril while the opposite nostril is still closed with the thumb.
- Yoga practice is of great role to prevent and control haemorrhoids. The practice of shatkriya or yogic cleansing techniques purify the body and prevent digestive problems.
- In haemorrhoids, one may experience constipation or difficultly in passing stool. Basti kriya aid smooth peristalsis movement for quick elimination.
- Ashwini mudra in various seated and inverted postures strengthen and prevent the enlargement or swelling of haemorrhoids. Inverted postures like viparita karani, sarvangasana and sirsasana are great reliefs from the irritation and pain from the haemorrhoids.
RESEARCH PAPERS
- Ayurvedic management of chronic constipation in Hirschsprung disease – A case study
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6033722/