Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Fiber wealthy meals or fiber weight loss program is a crucial inclusion and important a part of ‘constipation treatments’. They’re abundantly and popularly used within the therapy of constipation and power constipation in fashionable drugs.
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. Additionally they improve the majority of feces. Consequently the particular person 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 no less than 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 fashionable drugs from the Ayurveda lens and attempt to research their mode of motion on the doshas and malas by way of their attributes.
Associated Studying – 3 Fs and Persistent Constipation
Soluble forms 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, primarily based 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 stability vata and remedy constipation when used usually.
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. Additionally it is comfortable 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 among the finest treatments 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 acceptable treatment for these having constipation.
Nuts and seeds like sunflower, melon, flax seeds, almonds, peanuts which resulting from their fiber and oily content material stability vata and assist in simple 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 attributable to forcible withholding of pure urge of defecation which incorporates constipation of power varieties.
Associated Studying – Pramathi Annapana
To sum up
Any meals and drinks together with greens, fruits, grains and nuts which has laxative property, which permits vata to maneuver in its regular route 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 may be these meals which have fibers and therefore helpful in treating power constipation. Research on this route must be carried out on many meals inclusions from Ayurveda perspective. Pramathi Annapana is one massive clue from the treatises however with a deficit or nearly no rationalization.
