CONSTIPATION(VIBHANDA)-INTRODUCTION,CAUSES,SYMPTOMS & MANAGMENT (ACCORDING TO AYURVEDA & MODERN SCIENCE)

Introduction- Ayurveda says that constipation is vibhanda, which is marked by symptoms like fewer bowel movements, solidified hard stool, painful defecation, bloating, abdominal discomfort, and incomplete elimination. Vata dosha is responsible for excretory function while a vitalized vata is the reason for constipation.

 Constipation is an acute or chronic condition characterized by dry and hard infrequent stools that are painful or difficult to pass.



The sedentary life-style and wrong eating habits are responsible for constipation. When one is facing difficulty to pass stools from several weeks or longer it leads to chronic constipation. Constipation can become a serious problem if not treated on the right time. Constipation can be quite beyond a simple slow or obstructed bowel movement. Constipation can be secondary or as an associated symptom of other pathologies like depression, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, gastritis etc.

causes of Constipation -bloating is caused by a weak digestive fire or agni. In Ayurveda, this condition is called Aadhmaana, and it is a type of vata imbalance. Occasional bloating or gas is normal but when it becomes regular and persistent, it a sign and symptom of digestive imbalance.

Abdominal bloating can be painful and uncomfortable. uncomfortable. Not only your stomach appears bigger and your clothes don't fit right, but you may also feel full despite eating very little. Sometimes, your poor eating habits are to blamed for this health condition. Not chewing your food well, eating certain foods that are difficult to digest for you, eating when you are stressed or taking in more calories than required could lead to bloating.



Food habits- Eating heavy and fatty foods, which can delay stomach emptying Raw and uncooked food, which is difficult to digest for a person with weak agni and poor digestion Some beans Cold food and drinks Drinking milk (in some adults) Drinking carbonated drinks and gassy food Swallowing air when eating too quickly, drinking through a straw, chewing gum or sucking on candies

Addiction and medicines- Smoking Certain medicines like narcotics and calcium channel blockers slow down the gut, and may lead to gas being trapped in the bowel. Medical conditions A gastrointestinal infection, blockage or disease Irritable bowel syndrome, a condition characterised by abdominal pain, cramping and changes in bowel function Conditions such as celiac disease or lactose intolerance in which the intestines aren’t able to digest and absorb certain components of food. Stress or anxiety

Preventative advice The expert also recommends the following remedies to prevent or treat bloating: * Chew roasted fennel seeds post meals * Drink mint water throughout the day * Have cardamom water one hour post meals * Enjoy CCF (cumin, coriander, fennel) tea thrice a day before or after meals * Swallow half a tsp of ajwain (carom seeds), rock salt and a pinch of hing with warm water 45 minutes post meals



1.Enjoy mostly cooked foods. Do you know there are two types of cooking? One that happens in the kitchen and the other inside our bodies. When you have a strong internal fire, you can tolerate a certain amount of raw food. But if your digestive fire is weak, and you are experiencing symptoms of bloating and gas, you definitely need to favour cooked food. It is easier to digest and gentle on your system.

2.Spice up your food. In ayurvedic cooking, we use spices and ghee not only for taste but also for medicine! Some of the common spices that balance the agni or digestive fire are cumin seeds, ajwain, fennel seeds, ginger, and asafoetida.

3.Use ghee. Ghee helps to lubricate your food and hydrate your intestine for proper digestion, absorption and elimination.

4.Chew thoroughly. Why do we have 32 teeth? Of course, for chewing and smiling perfectly. Chewing is an important part of digestion. When we rush our meals, we don’t give adequate time for the first stage of digestion that occurs in our mouth. Slow down and chew – ideally up to 32 times each mouthful. And chewing some fennel, ajwain or cumin seeds after food also aids digestion.

5.Eat mindfully. Sitting quietly and eating slowly is the secret of happy digestion.

6.Drink 30 minutes after, not before and during, your meal. Ayurveda says drinking liquid before and during your meal dilutes your digestive enzymes and dampens your digestive fire. However after your food has settled (approximately 30 minutes), it is good to drink some herbal tea like ginger tea, cumin tea, ajwain tea or butter milk (ayurvedic lassi).

7.Eat smaller amounts. Ayurveda discourages eating to full capacity. It loads our system, giving it too much work to do. A rule of thumb is to fill our stomachs throughout the day with 50% solids, 25% liquid leaving the remaining 25% empty. But this is a personal experiment. Find out what works for you to keep it light.

8.Herbal medicine Triphala: Triphala is a mixture of 3 medicinal fruits that treats the entire digestive tract.

Hingwastak powder or tablet:-    Ashta Choornam: Ashta choornam is an ayurvedic preparation that is excellent for the digestive tract. It stimulates appetite, assists proper bowel elimination, and prevents accumulation of gas. Half a teaspoon of Ashta choornam is mixed with a tablespoon of warm rice and a small amount of ghee (optional) and taken before the meal.

Ayurvedic management of bloating- Treatment modalities include promoting deepana (by carminatives), paachana (by digestives) and vaataanulomana (by gas expellers). For customised treatment, your ayurvedic doctor will assess your constitution and tailor a solution for you.

Ayurvedic detox (panchakarma) is also recommended for eliminating the symptoms and the causes of digestive discomfort. It entails virechana (purgation) and vasti (herbalised enemas) for cleansing the intestine.

* Avoid drinking excessive water during or post meals * Avoid late night dinner and heavy meals

In case of chronic bloating due to poor gut health issues like IBS, indigestion, constipation, gastric trouble, hormonal imbalance, obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, etc; one should consult an expert and make necessary lifestyle modifications in terms of eating, sleeping, exercise and stress management.