Ayurvedic Treatment for Constipation and Gas

Many times may be after eating something heavy or due to prolonged chemical-based modern medications, you might often feel bloated and struggle for a smooth bowel movement! It’s called constipation. There are many different reasons that are responsible for constipation. Sedentary lifestyle, spicy and oily food, junk intake, and other stomach-related issues like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) might also be the factors resulting in such bowel disruption.

Constipation shows a disturbance in your gut health, thus it's beyond an abrupt bowel movement. Ayurveda calls constipation “Vibandha”. Vibhanda occurs when Vata Dosha is aggravated. Looking more into it, Apana Vata, a subtype of Vata, when in excess, causes Constipation. Apana Vata regulates the downward movement of the bowels. Thus, when imbalanced, it causes constipation.

In this blog, we will explore how Ayurveda explains, diagnoses, and treats constipation. 

What is Ayurveda Constipation?

According to Ayurveda, the three Doshas govern our body and define our body type. These Doshas are- Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. When any of these Tridoshas are imbalanced, it can lead to different ailments, physical, emotional, and mental. When Vata is aggravated, it becomes rough, cold, and dry. When Vata becomes dry, it also makes the colon dry, obstructing the smooth bowel movement.

Ayurveda does not just suppress the symptoms of Ayurveda. It diagnoses the root cause of the constipation and watches out for the individual’s body type before formulating any treatment plan. The diagnosis includes methods like body parikshan, mal and mutra parikshan, etc.

The treatment is purely customised as per the prakriti and the reason for the constipation of an individual. Not every person gets the same treatment. The treatment combines therapies, herbs, and exercises. Ayurveda is far away the chemical-based modern medicines that can distress the body in the long term.

This ancient healing science involves ‘prakritik’ and holistic methods of curing constipation from the root cause. Moreover, Ayurveda is not just about the medicines and therapies; it is a lifestyle. When taking Ayurvedic medicines to cure and heal, dietary and routine correction is a must. 

Common causes of constipation, as described in Ayurveda, are:

• Poor food habits include more consumption of spicy and oily food and less intake of fibrous foods.
• Mental stress, long sitting hours, and less activity can also result in bloating and constipation.
• Dehydration or low fluid intake also causes constipation.
• Many chronic diseases, like IBS, can also lead to constipation as a symptom.

Ayurvedic Solution for Constipation

Ayurveda combines different methods of healing in Ayurveda. Therapies, diet corrections, routine medication, and other natural approaches are there to correct constipation.

1. Therapies: Therapies are the foremost approach that an Ayurvedic practitioner follows to heal any ailment. For constipation, therapies like Abhyanga, in which ayurvedic oil massage is given mostly on the abdomen to rejuvenate and improve the functioning of the gut health, and Basti, which is basically a kind of natural enema that lubricates the colon, are used.
2. Diet Correction: Ayurveda includes correcting the food portion to relieve constipation. A green and colourful plate, daily enriched with high fibre, helps in calming constipation and bloating naturally. Along with medicines and herbs, such modifications aid in the cure and prevention. Diet modification not only helps in curing any ailment but also helps in rejuvenating the whole body, ensuring wholesomeness.
3. Routine: When the routine is disturbed, it causes constipation. So, while taking Ayurvedic medicines, it is important for a practitioner to bring back the routines in the patient’s life. Our body has a natural biological clock that determines the wake-sleep cycle. When this cycle is disrupted due to modern routines, it can cause gut imbalance. Ayurveda helps in bringing back the routine and helping gut issues resolve naturally with less medicines and therapies.
4. Exercise: India is blessed with Yoga. Yoga and meditation are not just exercises but a natural healing method. Ayurveda is always coupled with daily yoga like Malasana, and breathworks like Kapalbhati to relieve constipation.
5. Medicines: Another main ingredient of the Ayurvedic treatment plan is medicine. Herbs and formulations are targeted to balance the tridoshas and heal the body.

Best Ayurvedic Medicine for Constipation and Gas

Medicines for constipation include the following:

1. Triphala Churna: Triphala is a combination of three powerful herbs-Amla, Bibhitaki, and Haritaki. This herb is used to relieve constipation by detoxifying the colon. It is a very gentle laxative with no side effects, it also supports the liver health, thereby ensuring good gut health.
2. Isabgol: This is used widely in Ayurveda’s routine to treat constipation. This herb is a good source of fiber that adds bulk to the stools and helps in easy passage.
3. Avipattikar Churna: Constipation doesn’t come alone, it is mostly present with burning and acidity. This churna is used to cool the gut and relieve the constipation that causes symptoms like acidity and bloating. This is often included in constipation’s treatment plan by Ayurvedic Practitioners.
4. Abhayarishta: One of the other wonderful herbs to heal constipation with symptoms like gas and burning. It is one of the most used herbs for gut problems. 
5. Eranda Tail: Another medicine that relieves Vata and pacifies it. It has powerful purgation effect that relieves the most chronic constipation. This is usually advised to take with warm milk. The quantity depends on your problem, severity, and body type. Any medicine should be taken only as guided by a professional Ayurvedic practitioner.

There are many other medicines which are mixed and a customised treatment plan is formed.