It is a common complaint, but not a disease. Many people have it in lesser degree or more, some having it in a chronic form. If continued, it can lead to gas formation, piles, dysentery and several other diseases.
A simple complaint of constipation can be removed by a mere change of diet, with more in-take of juicy fruits, frequent use of lemon in water, simple or with salt, accompanied by brisk walks in the mornings and performance of particular asanas or exercises.
The yogic asanas (postures) as in Paschimottanga-asana, Vajra-asana, Dhanurasana and Hala-asana may be highly useful. It has been mentioned elsewhere that the food constituents should be in the ratio of 80:20 for alkaline and acidic contents respectively.
Green vegetables, unskinned wheat, unrefined rice and fruit are alkline-dominated diets, while starch, refined wheat and rice, sugar, white bread, biscuits, etc. have acid-effects mostly.
Thus in the change of food to treat simple constipation, one should avoid taking foods roasted or cooked in fats.
Use of salads is greatly beneficial. Salads and vegetables having roughage contain fibre, which in itself does not digest, but its presence in the intestines, helps easy elimination of wastes and removes clogging of food in the intestines. Fibres in food help easy defecation.
No purgative should be taken, as it weakens the intestines, by consuming their precious juices of the digestive organs. Even enema is discouraged in favour of self-effort in easing oneself.
It is thus advised that one should visit the toilet once daily even in absence of an urge for it. A very useful application of Nature-cure is the Hipbath in cold water.
Sitting in cold water upto the hips (the navel), the large intestine gains strength of contraction, which enables it to eliminate the waste matter with much easier way, thus removing constipation.
In the case of Chronic constipation, besides taking all the above mentioned treatments, one should have fast with water only for 3 days, or fast with orange juice for a week.
During the fast, enema has to be taken, as without taking of any solid food or roughage, easing would not be possible. But once relaxation of bowels is achieved, enema taking may be abandoned. One should also form the habit of having ‘Usha Paan’ in the morning