Constipation (Ayurvedic Name- ‘Vibandha’) is a condition in which individual experiences uncomfortable or Infrequent Bowel Movement or a decrease in frequency, size, consistency, and ease of bowel movement and the complaint depends on the individual perception. The main symptoms of this condition are the inability to completely evacuate the bowels or passing very hard stool, knowns as Constipation, and co-related this condition in Ayurveda as ‘Vibandha’.

Occasional Constipation is very common nowadays, some people experience chronic conditions of constipation which leads interfere with their ability to go about their daily routine life. People also may feel strain excessively to have a Bowel movement in chronic constipation.

In General, it is a relatively common condition in which a patient may have fewer than three Bowel movements a week, Stool may be Hard, Dry, or maybe Lumpy, difficult to pass, or painful at the time of Defecation (2 Bowel movements per week) with feeling that not all stool has passed.

Etiological Factor of Constipation …

• Dietary habits like Low fiber intake or inadequate food
• Constipation is associated with Endocrine disorders like Hypothyroidism, Diabetics, etc
• It may be psychological like Depression, Eating Disorder (Anorexia), denied bowel actions-natures calls (Suppression of Natural urge)
• Low body exertion (Reduced Physical activity) or sitting in a posture for a long time due to heavy travel or long exposure to sunlight.
• Excessive use of Antacids
• Anatomical structural problems such as Twisting of the intestine (Volvulus)
• Colon cancer

Symptoms of Constipation…

Constipation may be chronic if you experienced below mentioned 2 or more of these symptoms for the last 3 months:

• Difficulties in passing stools
• Straining to occur while passing stool
• Passing less stool than the normal defecation.
• Stool will be Hard, Dry, or Lumpy
• Nausea
• Loss of Appetite
• Feeling of incomplete evacuation
• Malaise or Headache may be present
• Abdominal Pain may occur in the chronic stage of Constipation.

Complications

Usually, constipation is rarely serious but if it is left untreated, it’s become chronic and manifests several digestive and alimentary complications such as:

• Bowel Obstruction
• Piles or Haemorrhoid
• Rectal Prolapse
• Hernia
• Spastic Colitis
• Laxative Colitis- It’s a condition where people use laxatives (Self -Medication) for constipation for a longer duration, it can alter the normal psychological function of the intestine.
• Fecolith (hard, stone-like feces)

Ayurvedic Concept with Management

In Ayurveda wisdom, Constipation is co-related with ‘Vibandha’, which means ‘Non-Expulsion of Stool due to accumulation of toxins in the Rectum Region’.

According to Ayurveda, ‘Apana Vata’ is responsible for free expulsion or the free flow of stool and Urine, it’s the main function of ‘Apana Vayu’, and when this function is impaired or significantly affected, it results in ‘Vibandha’

[Note- ‘Vata’ governs all movements in mind and body and is divided into five categories, ‘Prana Vata’, ‘Udana Vata’, ‘Samana Vata’, ‘Apana Vata’, ‘Vyana Vata’. Here this condition is caused by the Vitiation of Apana Vayu.]

Sedentary Lifestyle, inadequate sleep or day sleep, spicy food, and chewing tobacco is the main factor for vitiation of ‘Apana Vata’ and lead to constipation and also invite another disease. ‘Vibandha’ is mentioned in Ayurveda classic as a symptom associated with other diseases but in allopathic medicine, it is described as an individual digestive pathological condition.

Ayurveda further explained due to ‘Vata Vardhak Ahar-Vihara’ (Factor which aggravates the ‘Vata dosha’ including diet and lifestyle, which is mentioned above), ‘Apana Vayu’ got abnormal movement and leads to the formation of ‘Aam’(Metabolic toxins formed due to improper digestion), makes the stool dry, peristalsis (involuntary constriction and relaxation of the muscles of the intestine or another canal, creating wave-like movements that push the contents of the canal forward) is slowed and stool is retained in colons(lower part of the large intestine) and Constipation manifested due to failure of the expulsion.

In Pranava Kerala Ayurveda Clinic, the first line of treatment for Constipation is ‘Mridu Snehan’ which is called ‘Mild Oleation Therapy’, given internally and externally.

Internal Oleation – called ‘Abhyantara Snehana’, administering 5-10 gm of Ghee or Medicated Ghee such as ‘Sukumara Ghrita’.

External Oleation – Medicated Oil Massage with Sesame Oil or ‘Mahanarayana Oil’ etc.

Treatment like ‘Virechana therapy’ means the use of Laxative drugs called ‘Sukh Virechana’ with the use of suppositories like ‘Guda Varti’.

Useful Herbal preparation from ‘Hareetaki’ (Chebulic myrobalan), ‘Aragwadha’ (Cassia Fistula), ‘Draksha’ (Raisins and Dry Grapes-Vitis Vinifera), ‘Patola’ (Trichosanthes Dioica), ‘Katukrohini’ (Picrorrhiza kurroa) with the combination of Castor Oil is highly useful for Mild Constipation and Severe Constipation, we use ‘Jayapala’ ( Croton Tiglium), ‘Danti’ ( Balliospermum Montanum) and ‘Trivrit’ (Operculina turpethum).

Ayurvedic Medicine in Pranava Kerala Ayurveda Clinic (consume only prescribed dosage)

Diet and Lifestyle Advice by ‘Pranava Kerala Ayurveda Clinic’

The fiber-rich diet should be increased including Fruit & Vegetables, like Cauliflower, Raisins, Cabbage, Berries, Green leafy vegetable, Celery, Beans, Guava, Figs, Flaxseed, Orange, Mushroom, etc

Ayurvedic Practitioners of Pranava Kerala Ayurveda Clinic advise drinking a good amount of water. Tea, coffee, milk products or dairy products, excessively spicy food, heavy non-vegetarian food, and fried food should be cut down.

Do not hold natural urges, because as per Ayurveda, natural urges are a signal to an individual to act, and need to be attended immediately. suppression of natural urges will lead to constipation.

To find out more about how Ayurveda can help with the above condition, visit Pranava Kerala Ayurveda Clinic or call 0208 907 7902 to book an appointment with an expert Ayurvedic Practitioner.