Simple home remedies for Constipation

Dr. Granny says “If you live up to my age (80 years) and eat just 1 kilo of food per day, you will have eaten 29,200 kilos of food in your lifetime. That's a lot of food and it's dreadful if your body cannot eliminate it properly.”

According to Dr. Granny elimination should be as natural as brushing your teeth. In days of old, people answered to natural calls as soon as they woke up from bed and regular elimination was natural. The reason being, they were hardworking, active, had regular eating habits and enjoyed a healthy digestive system. It's a different story today, in the rush to reach office on time people delay their elimination and disturb their bowel movement in the process.

Bowel movement is a part of indriya sudhikaran or t he purification of the senses in Ayurveda. In fact, good bowel movement is considered the backbone of good health. When elimination is disturbed for a long time it leads to constipation. Constipation is one of the most common health problems worldwide and it affects men, women and children alike. Inability to completely evacuate the bowels or passing very hard stools is known as constipation or vibandh in Ayurveda. If digestion is weakened and unbalanced, the doshas become aggravated and ama is produced leading to constipation, hyperacidity, flatulence and lack of appetite.

Dr. Granny says, “If the sewer system in your home is choked up, your entire home is affected. Why it should be any different with your body.”

Below you will find some useful home remedies for constipation:

1. Peel and chop a medium piece of ginger. Put in a glass container and add 1 tablespoon of cumin seeds. Cover the ginger with lemon juice, add a pinch of salt and mix. Place the container in direct sunlight for 2 days in summer and 4 days in winter. Take half teaspoon daily before meals.
2. Wash 3 or 4 dried figs and 15 raisins in hot water, and soak overnight in a cup. In the morning, eat the fruits and drink the water they were soaked in. This mixture should also be taken in the evening.
3. Soak 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in 1 cup of water overnight (or for at least 4 hours). Boil it to reduce around ¾ of cup, filter and drink warm. This can be taken once or twice a day.
4. Add 2 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to 1 cup of water and drink 2-3 times a day.
5. Take 1 teaspoon of Triphala powder at bedtime with lukewarm water or you can take it first thing in the morning.
6. Make a powdered mixture of celery seeds, cumin seeds, and asafetida in equal quantities and have half a teaspoon 15 minutes before meals twice a day.

Note:

Always consult a medical expert before using these home remedies. Home remedies are not a substitute for medicines. If there is no progress in your condition please consult a physician.

For long term solutions related to digestion, please consider taking digestive medicine with ayurvedic properties suggested by Jiva doctors