Constipation

This Newsletter will cover the main causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of Constipation through Naturopathy, Yoga, Diet and Lifestyle modification and other Natural therapeutics.

The most common medications to cause constipation are:

• Narcotic (opioid) pain drugs
• Antidepressants
• Anticonvulsants
• Iron supplements
• Calcium channel blocking drugs
• Aluminium-containing antacids
• Diuretics

Diseases like Parkinson’s disease, stroke, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, poor glycemic control, and hypothyroidism etc. tend to slow down the movement of faeces through the colon, rectum, or anus can cause constipation.Constipation also occurs in people with cancer, mainly due to pain medications and chemotherapy. Or if a tumor blocks, squeezes the digestive system

PUSHTIMUDRA Pranayam should be practised daily in the morning & evening for 20 minutes. It should be done under qualified experienced yogacharya:-

1. Sit in vajraasana or sukhasana.
2. Press the index fingers with the thumbs
3. Place your hands on your thighs,elbow s sticking to the side.
4. Do pranayam breathing inhale as deeply as you can, then hold the breath till you can, then exhale fully & again hold till you can. (Initially inhale, hold & exhale, time duration ratio may be 1:2:2 respectively)
5. Do this for 20 mins. Pranayam is done on empty stomach.
   Some patients got good response from Sound therapy.

By Dr. Nandini Bharadwaj
MBBS
Consultant (Diet & Lifestyle)

• Consume fresh fruits, and fortified cereals, have high fibre content salads and juices in the breakfast.
• Bael fruit is regarded as best of all laxatives. It cleans and tones up the intestines. About 60 gms of fruit will suffice for an adult.
• Grapes have been proved highly beneficial in overcoming constipation.
• Soup is extremely beneficial in treating constipation, soup should be included in the diet before lunch and dinner.
  Soup of cabbage, cucumber, tomatoes, ginger and coriander. Or soup of carrot, fenugreek leaves, ginger, Indian gooseberry(amla).
• Drinking hot water with sour lime juice is also an effective remedy for constipation.
• Pudhina, coriander and tulsi(basil) water at night before going to bed.
• Simple vegetarian meal with less processing and adding bulking agent to your diet can help soften stools and make them easier to pass.

• A millet meal which is light to stomach for dinner would be an ideal diet.
• Avoid processed, stored, deep fried and oily foods.
• Food substances having more vitamin B are useful in removing constipation.
• Take two teaspoons of flax seeds swallowed with glass of water in the morning & night.
• Patient should take eliminative diet which include liquids like lemon, citric juices, tender coconut water, vegetable soups of ridged gourd, bottle gourd, cabbage, capsicum, beetroot, French beans, carrot, tomatoes, cucumber, german cabbage(ganth gobi)
• Eat more root vegetable.
• Poor sleep may predispose a previously healthy individual to constipation. Waking up early in the morning and sleeping early at night helps preventing gastrointestinal disturbances
• Do not watch tv while eating food.