By Setareh Kiumarsi
Do you suffer from constipation?
Let’s explore how constipation occurs and why stool may not move smoothly through the intestines.
Different Types of Constipation
According to Ayurveda, constipation can result from an increase in dryness, coldness, heat, or moisture (i.e., undigested phlegm) in the intestines. Sometimes:
- Dryness + cold increase together → Vata-type constipation
- Dryness + heat → Pitta-type constipation
- Cold + dampness (phlegm) → Kapha-type constipation
Understanding which type you suffer from requires advanced Ayurvedic training, but let’s keep it simple for now. Over the next few posts, I’ll explain common constipation types caused by dryness or dampness, along with symptoms and home remedies.
What Is Considered Healthy Bowel Movement in Ayurveda?
If you:
- Have a bowel movement 1–3 times per day
- Pass stool effortlessly without straining
- Stool has a formed, banana-like shape
- Stool doesn’t fall apart in the water
…Then your digestion is considered healthy in Ayurveda.
But:
- If you go every other day (even if stool is soft), you have constipation
- If you go daily but stool is hard, that’s constipation
- If stool is unformed and loose, it’s still not healthy and indicates imbalance (we’ll cover this in future posts on diarrhea)
What Is Constipation Due to Dryness?
Imagine your intestines are like a tunnel and your stool is like a boat trying to float through. If there’s water in the tunnel, the boat moves easily. Without water, it gets stuck.
Similarly, your intestines have a mucus membrane that keeps things lubricated. But when dryness increases, this mucus layer shrinks or disappears, and stool cannot glide easily—causing constipation. This type is usually due to Vata or Pitta imbalance.
Symptoms of Dry-Type Constipation
- Hard, dry stools
- Pellet-like or stone-like pieces
- Associated with bloating, cramps, and gas movement in the abdomen
What Causes This Dryness in the Gut?
Mainly consuming too many astringent (drying) foods or cold/raw foods, such as:
- Fruits: Quince, pomegranate seeds, blueberry, persimmon, dried barberries
- Vegetables: Raw apple, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, green beans, Brussels sprouts, celery, cilantro
- Legumes: Lentils, mung beans, chickpeas, fava beans, split peas, all types of beans
- Spices: Ginger (in large amounts), cumin, sumac
- Grains: Barley
- Others: Potato, mint, mint tea, tea (especially black or green), coffee, cigarettes, too much caffeine
What to Do
- Reduce Intake of Drying and Astringent Foods
- Limit the list above, especially if you already experience dryness.
- Don’t eat cold vegetables raw. Always cook and season them with digestive spices.
- Choose Cooked Fruits
- For example, eat baked apples instead of raw.
- Avoid Potatoes
- Surprisingly, they’re considered a strong anti-diarrheal and can worsen constipation.
- Reduce Legume-heavy Dishes
- Like lentil stews, hummus, falafel, and dishes heavy in beans.
- Cut Down on Tea and Coffee
- Replace them with digestive herbal teas.
- Reconsider Ginger Use
- Many people with cold constitutions overuse ginger to warm up—but ginger is a strong drying agent. Daily use dries out gut mucus and worsens constipation over time.
Ginger is best used medicinally during specific illness (e.g., colds or diarrhea), not daily—especially if you have Vata or Pitta dominance.
- Barley Bread Isn’t Always Better
- Many health-conscious people switch to barley bread, but did you know barley is a strong drying agent too?
Instead, opt for multi-grain breads made with a mix of flours (whole wheat, rye, oats, etc.) and baked with digestive spices like fennel, black seed, cumin, etc.
In the next post, I’ll cover laxative foods and home remedies for constipation caused by dryness.
May your body be filled with wellness.
Please be sure to credit the author, Setareh Kiumarsi, when sharing or republishing this article, which was written with love and the hope of well-being for all.
