Constipation Remedies for Immediate Relief

Constipation may be the crappiest condition ever. (Yes, silly pun intended.)

Modern medicine does not have a cure for constipation. The only treatment available are laxatives. Most laxatives are habit-forming, cause bloating, dehydration, disturb your gut microbiome (which in turn weakens your immune system) and weaken your natural perstaltic reflex.

Ayurvedic medicine offers many constipation remedies for immediate relief that involve eating certain kind of foods and changing your habits.

Constipation is a condition in which a person has uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements. Generally, a person is considered to be constipated when bowel movements result in passage of small amounts of hard, dry stool, usually fewer than three times a week. 😫

And guess what, it’s the most common gastrointestinal complaint, with 2.5 million doctor visits annually and over 4 million people in the United States having frequent constipation.

In Ayurveda, constipation is most common in Vata types. Vata people are described as having a propensity towards being cold, having rough/dry skin with a tendency towards irregularity pretty much in all the things they do. If constipation is rough/dry backlogged poop if your body, than someone who already has a tendency towards being dry and irregular will face constipation as symptom when they get out of balance.

Constipation is also super common when you're pregnant, post-partum, chronically dehydrated, travel a lot or stressed out.

The emotions involved with constipation have a lot to do with fear and gripping for an outcome. 😨 😬

Enjoy the table below that compares western allopathic medicine, Ayurvedic medicine and the emotional root causes of constipation. The information in these graphics were shared during a lecture by Dr. Siva Mohan during a 2021 Ayurvedic training.

Healing the root causes of constipation goes above and beyond taking laxatives. Ayurveda offers lifestyle and dietary therapy. And, if you want to take it a step further, and look at the psychospiritual and emotional causes and cures for constipation, do some writing on your fears and what outcomes you are trying to control that may be out of your control.

Top 10 Foods for Constipation Relief

Ideally these foods will be eaten cooked (not raw)

1. Stewed prunes

2. Cooked apples

3. Cooked spinach

4. Pears

5. Figs

6. Artichoke

7. Chia seeds

8. Beets

9. Flaxseeds

10. Butternut squash

Stewed Dried Fruits with Spices

For immediate constipation relief, try this simple recipe. One of the fastest ways to get going to the bathroom, is by eating stewed dried fruits. Print out this recipe and keep these stewed fruits on rotation. It works!

Ingredients

1 cup dried prunes, pitted

1 cup dried apricots, pitted

1 cup golden raisins

1 strip lemon peel

2 whole cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 cup coconut flakes or chopped nuts (any kind), optional garnish

In a medium saucepan, add the dried pitted prunes, dried apricots, and golden raisins. Add enough water to just cover the fruit. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the sugar, lemon peel, whole cloves, and ground allspice. Stir adding a little water if the mixture seems dry.

Continue to simmer gently, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes or until the fruit has softened, and the syrup is thick.

Remove lemon peel and cloves, and discard.

Chill several hours before serving, garnished with chopped nuts or coconut flakes, if desired.