Preventing Constipation: Diet, Fiber, and Exercise Tips

Do the enema with plain warm water, or you can use triphala tea or dashamoola tea instead of plain water. That will relieve the immediate problem. Then, to regulate bowel movements, follow the suggestions in the following section. Here are several suggestions for avoiding constipation in the future.

PREVENTION • Follow the vata-pacifying diet (chapter 8). • Use a lot of fiber in your diet. • Drink 4 to 5 glasses of water a day, in addition to whatever juices or teas you may drink. • Get regular exercise.

Half an hour of walking, light jogging, swimming, or other aerobic exercise (suitable to your constitution, age, and level of fitness) from Monday to Friday will be very beneficial. • Yoga asanas will also help prevent constipation. In particular, practice the Sun Salutation (12 cycles a day), Chest-Knee pose, and Leg Lift (see appendix 4). • The yoga exercise known as nauli will also be beneficial (see appendix 3).

Constipation During Pregnancy See also “Constipation” The best remedy for constipation during pregnancy is the herb sat isabgol (psyllium husks). Take 1 teaspoon with a glass of warm milk. A cup of hot milk with 1 teaspoon of ghee added is also effective. Ghee and milk mixed together is a wonderful combination for gentle, mild laxative action during pregnancy.

One of the most effective herbal remedies for constipation, triphala, should not be used during pregnancy. It will irritate the child, and the baby will become hyperactive. Also, do not take castor oil or any other drastic purgative during pregnancy; like triphala, it will make the baby hyperactive. Cough A tickling sensation in the throat, dryness, irritation, or inflammation of the trachea or bronchus can all cause a cough.