Constipation - Causes and Ayurvedic Natural Cure

According to Ayurveda, constipation is caused due to aggravation of vata. But it can also be caused due to aggravation of pitta or kapha.

Wrong eating habits and bowel habits are main reasons for constipation. Eating too much of food that the digestive system can't handle, eating food items that are not easily digested by body, not taking enough fibrous food like fruits and vegetables, irregular sleeping pattern, mental tensions, etc can cause constipation.

The best laxative is triphala. When used as a laxative, triphala strengthens colon. Other laxatives are harsh on colon, which is unfavorable condition. It balances metabolism, thereby ensuring more nourishment to blood. Take a teaspoon of triphala powder at bed time. Dietary recommendations to Prevent Constipation

Include fruits like papaya, mango, banana, grapes, oranges, apple etc in daily menu.

Carefully chew your food.

Avoid spicy, frozen food items. Also avoid food items that have preservatives.

Avoid food items that are overcooked, refrigerated, preserved or canned. Replace refined starch food items with whole grain food items.

Food prepared with cumin seeds, coriander, turmeric and fennel as condiments are easily digested. Lifestyle Recommendations to Prevent Constipation

Avoid stressful conditions.

Squat for 10 minutes in the morning and preferably while eliminating.

Make going to toilet early in the morning a habit.

Fast a day per week.

Don't wear very tight belt.

Practice yoga. Several yoga postures are especially beneficial in strengthening colon, promoting appetite and facilitating digestion.

There are generic directions to help you prevent constipation. Follow these rules to prevent constipation.

Dev Sri provides insider information about Ayurvedic herbal medicine practices and Ayurveda in Kerala. Find more about Ayurvedic medicines at http://www.KeralaAyurvedics.com/

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What You Should Know About Constipation

The world "constipation" has its roots in the Latin "con" (meaning together) and "stipare" (meaning to press). This derivation suggests an early belief that constipation caused the bowels to be pressed together, thereby inhibiting natural function, or alternatively that the contents of the bowel become compressed, with the same result. Experience of general practitioners reveals that lazy bowels bother every person at some time, regardless of age.

There are two main types of constipation-primary or functional constipation and secondary constipation, which accompanies various conditions.

Basically, primary constipation comes about when too much water is absorbed back into the body from the bowel. This leads to a drying-out and hardening of faeces, and makes their passage through the bowel uncomfortable or even impossible through lack of natural lubrication.

Primary constipation occurs often in elderly people as a result of senile changes. The loss of the tone in muscles of the abdominal wall can result in senile changes and irregular bowel movements. Children, suffer from it when their growing systems have not yet adjusted themselves to an accustomed pattern of bowel behaviour. When a proper habit is established in childhood, the basis for a healthy routine in adult is created. Radical "crash diets" frequently lack the proper balance the body requires of its food mix, and the normal rhythm is disturbed. Nearly every mother-to-be finds constipation a problem as a result of increasing pressure against the bowels during pregnancy.

There can be few ailments about which there is such wide opinion on treatment and "cure".

Certain primitive tribes, obsessed with maintaining inflexible regularity, still practise elaborate rites involving reed enemas and violent herbal preparations; even tiny babies, displaying the slightest sign of a sluggish bowel, are subjected to this drastic treatment. To the more enlightened world, it is obvious that such measures are injurious.

A great many people, however, are still ignorant of the dangers which are attached to persistent use of harsh laxatives. These laxatives-numerous on the market-contain phenolphthalein compounds, bowel irritants, or mineral oils. They are not only immediately harmful to the system but can cause long-term damage through creating a dependence. The bowel movements become impossible with out increasing doses of the purgative. Even the time-honoured favourites of earlier generations, castor oil and liquid paraffin, fall into this category because they interfere with the natural bowel behaviour.

Under normal circumstances, regularity can be maintained by bearing in mind the following hints:

1. Have a leisurely, light breakfast. The physiological gastro colic reflex will signal the large bowel to empty itself soon after food enters, the stomach.
2. Establish a set, unhurried time for using the lavatory.
3. Be sure to include a certain amount of roughage in your diet.
4. Light exercise is essential if your work keeps you at a desk for long hours.

If, however, constipation occurs, then it assumes first-aid importance. It should be tackled immediately to prevent a bad pattern of bowel behaviour becoming established. A suitable treatment is a safe, effective and non-habit forming laxative such as milk of magnesia. Milk of magnesia contains Magnesium Hydroxide which draws body fluids into the intestines through the process knows as osmosis. This increases the bulk and softens the contents of the large intestine rhythmic bowel movements called peristalsis and assisting evacuation through a gentle flushing action. Practice regular and sensible eating habits and establish a routine that your body gets used to, so that bowel movements occur at a fixed time every day or every other day. The key is to establish a pattern that your body will get used to so that at that time it ready to empty itself! When nature finds you ready and willing, you will not have any difficulties.

Stella Marie is a trained Beautician & Dietician. Alongwith her clinic, she also runs the popular website www.greatoffers4u.com. Visit www.greatoffers4u.com/library for more articles.

Constipation remedy using citrus juice

Citrus Juices



Citrus juices are a constipation remedy that is an excellent way to stimulate your colon and other parts of the body. Since your colon is less active at night, drinking juices as soon as you awaken and get up can stimulate strong peristaltic action and promote a bowel movement.

Lemons

Lemons are filled with minerals, especially potassium, Vitamin C, and bioflavonoids. They have a cleansing action for the entire body.

Fresh lemon juice is the king of fruit juices. It contains citric acid, which acts in the body in a way no other juice does. First it acts on the liver to build up its enzymes so it can detoxify toxins in the blood. Then it combines with calcium to form soluble chemical substances. This makes it effective in removing kidney and pancreatic stones, plack build up along artery walls, and other calcium deposits that occur in the body.

When the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas are not working right, food digestion is affected. This in turn will create constipation.

Use lemons moderately since they break up oils during digestion and in our body they make oils less available to our cells and joints.

If you have lemon allergies or ulcers then you should avoid lemon juice. If you have arthritis lemons are not a good choice.

Heres what to do:

Squeeze one lemon into a glass of warm distilled water. Drink it first thing when you wake up. Dont drink anything else for at least 1/2 hour

You can use a citrus press to juice the lemon or just squeeze it to get the juice out.

Grapefruit Juice

Another constipation remedy you can use is drinking a glass of fresh squeezed grapefruit first thing in the morning. Again wait at least 1/2 hour before you eat anything.

If you are taking any anticonvulsant drugs, birth control pills, estrogen, protease inhibitors and even other types of drugs avoid drinking grapefruit juice. It slows the breakdown of certain drugs allowing them to increase in the blood to dangerous levels.

Grapefruit and Orange Juice

One drink I like in the morning is a combination of grapefruit and orange juice. Just prepare a half and half drink of these citrus fruits and drink it first thing in the morning.



About the author:
Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. For information on constipation and other remedy ebooks go to: http://www.stop-constipation.comSee some of his newsletters at: http://www.natural-remedies-thatwork.com/archive.html