Fiber, Constipation and Ayurveda

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Fiber wealthy meals or fiber food regimen is a crucial inclusion and important a part of ‘constipation cures’. They’re abundantly and popularly used within the therapy of constipation and persistent constipation in trendy medication.

Fiber wealthy meals take a very long time to get digested and therefore they create a sense of fullness within the abdomen. They’re additionally not absorbed into the system. In addition they enhance the majority of feces. Consequently the individual doesn’t really feel hungry.

Ayurveda, Fiber meals and administration of constipation

Has Ayurveda defined the idea of utilizing fiber wealthy meals in treating constipation?

No, Ayurveda has not specified or defined meals that are fibers or a minimum of we don’t discover direct references.

However we will analyze the idea of fibers and fiber meals from Ayurveda perspective on this article. We will attempt to see the actions of the fiber meals talked about in trendy medication from the Ayurveda lens and attempt to examine their mode of motion on the doshas and malas by means of their attributes.

Associated Studying – 3 Fs and Power Constipation

Soluble varieties of fibers act by forming gel-like substances – This gel-like substance resembles kapha in texture and qualities. So, they are often thought-about to be antagonistic to the ‘dry nature of vata’. Carrots, apples and citrus fruits, based mostly on their style are also vata-mitigating, along with being fiber meals. Whereas carrots and apples are candy in style and citrus fruits are bitter in style. Each tastes i.e. candy and bitter tastes are vata calming. Vata is the principle dosha concerned in causation of constipation. By style and content material (fibers), they steadiness vata and treatment constipation when used repeatedly.

Avocados by their candy style and Berries with their candy and bitter tastes, together with fiber content material – assist in balancing vata and relieving constipation.

Yava or barley which can also be a fiber meals, is sara – that which will increase intestinal motility and pichchila – slimy in nature. It is usually gentle and scraping in nature. Since it’s anabhishyandi it doesn’t trigger blocks, together with within the intestines. It will increase vata and mala i.e. excreta and therefore will increase the majority of the feces. It’s heavy and candy in style. By all these properties yava is without doubt one of the finest cures for constipation. Yavakshara – an alkali preparation of barley is used for treating bloating.

Among the many properties of Peas or Kalaya, which is a fiber wealthy meals, Shodala Nighantu treatise has talked about ‘Bhinna Vitka’ i.e. breaking the fecal mass. It additionally has madhura rasa and vikapa i.e. candy style and after digestion impact, which helps in balancing vata.

One other fiber meals, Nishpava – beans has madhura rasa – candy style, amla vipaka – bitter after digestion impact, guru – heavy and sara – laxative in motion. This makes nishpava an appropriate treatment for these having constipation.

Nuts and seeds like sunflower, melon, flax seeds, almonds, peanuts which resulting from their fiber and oily content material steadiness vata and assist in straightforward bowel motion.

Pramathi Annapana

These are the meals and drinks which assist in clearing the obstructions taking place within the channels of the physique. So this motion of those meals additionally applies to take away the obstruction taking place within the colon within the type of constipation. These meals are specifically talked about within the context of treating the problems brought on by forcible withholding of pure urge of defecation which incorporates constipation of persistent varieties.

Associated Studying – Pramathi Annapana

To sum up

Any meals and drinks together with greens, fruits, grains and nuts which has laxative property, which allows vata to maneuver in its regular course i.e. downwards and therefore balances vata, which has sara and drava high quality, which will increase bulk of faeces within the colon, softens it and facilitates the simple expulsion of faeces with none problem, from the Ayurveda perspective is likely to be these meals which have fibers and therefore helpful in treating persistent constipation. Research on this course must be completed on many meals inclusions from Ayurveda perspective. Pramathi Annapana is one large clue from the treatises however with a deficit or virtually no rationalization.