Constipation occurs when bowel movements become difficult or less frequent. Some people have bowel movements three times a day; others, only one or two times a week. When you are not having bowel movement longer than three days than it become a problem. After three days, the stool or feces become harder and more difficult to pass.

You are considered constipated if you have two or more of the following reasons:
• Straining during a bowel movement
• Hard stools
• Incomplete evacuation
• Two or fewer bowel movements in a week

At Hashmi Dawakhana, we have treated a large number of cases of habitual constipation and have helped many patients to get rid of their dependence on purgatives and laxatives. We firmly believe that timely natural treatment can provide the best solution to chronic constipation and solve this problem from the roots.

What Causes Constipation?

Common causes of constipation include:
• Inadequate water intake
• Inadequate fiber in the diet
• A disruption of regular diet or routine; traveling
• Inadequate activity or exercise
• Eating large amounts of dairy products
• Stress
• Antacid medicines containing calcium or aluminum
• Medicines (especially such as antidepressants, or iron pills)
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Pregnancy
• Colon cancer

What are the Symptoms of Constipation?

Symptoms of constipation can include:
• Irregular bowel movements
• Swollen abdomen or abdominal pain
• Pain
• Vomiting

How Is Constipation Diagnosed?

Constipation can be diagnosed with the help of following tests and procedure:
• Examination of the rectum and lower, or sigmoid, colon (sigmoidoscopy)
• Examination of the rectum and entire colon (colonoscopy)
• Evaluation of anal sphincter muscle function (anorectal manometry)

Natural treatment:

Natural treatment has very good scope in the treatment of constipation. Natural medicines practitioners have repeatedly demonstrated that people who were prescribed constitutional remedies experienced significant relief from their constipation and overall improvement in their general health as well.

Natural remedies gently bring the functionality of the bowels back to normal. This helps in regularization of bowel movements as well in the formation of stools of normal consistency. After starting natural treatment, most patients can reduce their dependence on laxatives, purgatives, cathartics, etc. successfully.

Natural remedies, being a holistic healing science, take into consideration not only the physical symptoms of the case but also the psychological aspects while prescribing for the patient. Thus, the patient’s habits, nature, behavior, etc. are all taken into account while prescribing. This helps to treat the problem from the roots rather than simply treating it symptomatically.

During Natural treatment, the cause of the constipation is also taken into account for arriving at the correct remedy. For example, a remedy called Nux Vomica can be given to Type A personalities having an ineffectual urge to pass stools due to irregular food and sleeping habits; indulgence in substance abuse (like tobacco) or alcoholism. Patients with no urge to pass stools at all would probably need the natural remedy Opium. Platina would be a good remedy for extremely conscious and high-profile women who control the urge to pass stools when travelling because they don’t like to use public toilets. Alumina is very useful for patients who developed constipation because of eating food cooked in aluminum vessels for years together. Senna is a time tested remedy for obstinate constipation, especially in children.

A large number of people suffering from chronic constipation have been treated at Hashmi Dawakhana with good results. The best part about natural medicines is that they are non habit-forming. The importance of a proper, balanced diet and regular exercise cannot be over-emphasized when it comes to managing constipation. It is suggested that people suffering from constipation must opt for natural treatment at the earliest.

Self-care tips:

Based on our experience of treating a large number of cases of chronic constipation successfully naturally, we have observed that following certain diet and regimen tips goes a long way in management of this condition. At Hashmi Dawakhana, we have repeatedly verified these clinical tips and found them to be useful in most cases:
• Include plenty of vegetables, salads and fruits in your diet
• Chew your food properly; do not swallow food in a hurry
• Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water daily
• Eat only when hungry
• Avoid overeating and eating between meals
• Replacing polished rice with unpolished rice and white bread with brown bread is very useful for those suffering from habitual constipation
• Regular exercise helps in maintaining good bowel health
• Avoid over-the-counter laxatives because long-term intake of these may damage the lining of the bowels and injure nerve endings in the colon
• Preferably go to the toilet at the same time every day to ensure regular bowel movements
• A glass of warm milk before sleeping helps in relieving constipation