Constipation Home Remedies

Constipation

Constipation is both, painful and frustrating. Although all people get constipated at some occasions in their lives, there are many people who suffer from a continuous constipation problem and don't seem to get relief from it. Ayurveda focuses on 'Pachan Shakti' or digestive capability of a person for holistic health. However, when digestion is not proper, it indicates towards improper food habits that are not compatible to the body type of a person. As a constipation relief measure, Ayurveda suggests changes in food habits, certain exercises and herbal and home remedies for constipation. Before moving on to the issue of constipation relief, it is desirable to know all the basics of constipation so that one can get rid of it permanently by treating the root cause of constipation.

What is Constipation?

Medical definition of constipation is “fewer than three bowel movements a week.” Normal bowel movement pattern is one bowel movement per day. However less than 50% of people have this kind of perfect bowel movement. Most of the people have between 3 and 21 bowel movements per day which is quite a normal condition. Lesser than three bowel movements a week means the person is constipated. Constipation also differ in degree of severity- a person may suffer from occasional mild, severe, acute or chronic constipation. Causes of all these types of constipation differ from each other.

Severe constipation- Less than one bowel movement per week. Improper food habits and lack of physical activities may be the causes of severe constipation.

Acute constipation- It is the sudden or recent onset of constipation. A serious medical illness like tumors of the colon may be the cause of acute constipation. It requires urgent medical assistance.

Chronic constipation- It is the constipation that lasts for long durations. Again the food habits and lack of physical exercises can be the causes of chronic constipation.

What are Constipation Symptoms?

Depending upon the severity and type of constipation, the symptoms of constipation might also differ from person to person.

• • Infrequent stools.
• • Hard stools
• • Straining or difficulty in passing stools
• • Sense of incomplete evacuation after a bowel movement.

Acute constipation might show such symptoms as rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and cramps, nausea and vomiting, and inexplainable weight loss.

Who gets Constipated?

Almost everyone gets constipated at some point in their lives but that is not a real constipation problem. Commonly women, children and adults over 65 years of age get constipated. This does not mean that men or other segments of population do not get constipated. Here is the list of people who can suffer from constipation most or all of the time (if they don't take measures for constipation cure)

People Over 65- As senior people are not able to get proper food, drinks and exercises due to their diminishing digestive capabilities and stamina, they often suffer from constipation. Old age also makes the muscles of the large bowel weak that is one of the causes of constipation.

Pregnant Women- Hormonal changes during pregnancy slow down the intestinal activities which might lead to constipation. Pregnancy constipation is also due to hemorrhoids (swelling and inflammation of veins in the rectum and anus) as a result of increased pressure against the bowels.

Frequent Travelers- Travel affects regular habits of eating, sleeping, and normal bowel routines. However, this type of constipation might get over as soon as normal routine is resumed.

New Mothers- Women who just gave birth to a child have a slower digestion and a temporary loss of muscle tone in the abdomen that leads to constipation.

Inactive People- Sedentary lifestyle without any exercise regime can lead to severe constipation over time.

Junk Food Lovers- People having food without fiber, low fiber food and inappropriate quantity of water may get constipated more often.

Certain Patients- Patients having particular types of medication (that cause constipation) can also get constipated for the time being. As soon as they stop those medicines, they are relieved from constipation. Patients who are recovering from surgery may also get constipated due to medications again and also due to inadequate physical activity or use of a bedpan.

What Causes Constipation?

Speaking of bodily mechanism, constipation is caused by the slow passage of digesting food through intestine, particularly in the colon. When food moves through the colon, the colon absorbs water from it and forms the waste products or stool. Stool is pushed towards the rectum through muscle contractions in the colon. By the time stool reaches rectum, it becomes solid as most of the water has been absorbed till then. However, when too much of water is absorbed by the colon than required, it results into constipation. Also when the muscle contractions in colon is slow or weak, constipation is caused as the stool moves through the colon very slowly. There are certain other internal as well as external causes of constipation.

• • Inadequate intake of water
• • Low fiber diet
• • Lack of physical activities or exercise
• • Having too much of dairy products
• • Stress
• • Resisting the urge of bowel movement frequently.
• • Using laxatives (that soften the stool) too often. Overuse of laxatives may lead to weakening of muscles in the colon responsible for pushing down the stool.
• • Certain diseases, particularly diseases that affect colon and central nervous system. Some of the examples of diseases that cause constipation include hypothyroidism, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, depression, colon cancer, diabetes, scleroderma, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, Hirschsprung's disease, Chagas disease, colonic inertia ( where the nerves and/or muscles of the colon do not work normally), pelvic floor dysfunction (where the muscles of the lower pelvis that surround the rectum do not work normally) etc.
• • Certain medications like narcotic pain medications, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, iron supplements, antacids containing calcium or aluminum etc.
• • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that is the functional bowel disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and diarrhea often alternating with periods of constipation.
• Eating Disorders
• • Hormonal imbalance like during pregnancy, hypothyroidism, menstrual periods, etc.
• • Temporary or permanent changes in life such as pregnancy, traveling, old age etc.

How to Identify Constipation Causes?

Diagnosis of constipation generally does not require extensive tests. The medical history of a constipated patient is all to identify the seriousness and causes of the constipation problem. For example

• • The bowel movements that are difficult to pass, very firm, or are made up of small hard pellets may be constipation, even if they occur every day. This may indicate lack of dietary fiber.
• • If defecation is painful, there may be anal problems such as a narrowed anal sphincter or an anal fissure.
• • If patients suffer from small stools, it may be again a lack of fiber in the diet.
• • If the patient feels straining, it may be pelvic floor dysfunction.
• • If the patient is on regular or temporary medication, the revelation of the medicines before doctor can clarify whether the constipation cause is medicines or not.

Maintaining a food diary for a week or two can be recommended by the doctor to know if a low fiber diet is the cause of constipation. A small number of patients with constipation who have a more serious medical problem can be directed by physician to get some tests done which may include blood tests if the doctor is doubtful of hormonal imbalance; barium studies or colonoscopy if obstruction of the colon is suspected.

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