Constipation and You – The Ayurevda + Gut Healh Fix

I once asked a very enthusiastic client, ‘’How is your digestion’’? With a big smile, he said, “Super!” Curious, I probed a little deeper: “Do you go to the toilet daily?”
His reply: “Umm, no… once in two days or so.”

I often bring this up in my corporate wellness workshops, and it always sparks a roomful of murmurs and laughs. People are embarrassed to admit it, but constipation is rampant. And here’s the staggering truth:

According to a 2025 report by the World Gastroenterology Organisation, about 9–20% of the global population suffers from mild to chronic constipation. That’s 1–1.6 billion people worldwide. Let that number sink in for a moment!

Constipation Is Common—But Not Normal

Here’s the truth: just because constipation is common doesn’t mean it’s normal—or harmless. Left unchecked, it can set the stage for serious health issues. In Ayurveda, we place central importance on Agni, the digestive fire, which is the foundation of health. When Agni burns strong, your body absorbs nutrients, eliminates waste, and keeps disease at bay. But when Agni weakens, the whole system slows down.

Correct the Agni, and you have a foolproof formula for preventing disease in the long term. This is critical because disease pathology develops in six stages, and by the time something shows up on bloodwork, it may already be in the third or fourth stage. Constipation is often one of those earliest tell-tale signs of imbalance—your body’s whisper before it starts to scream.

Think about it: your liver filters toxins and sends them to your intestines for elimination. If your bowels don’t move, those toxins are reabsorbed into the bloodstream, leading to a toxic cycle that has been linked to autoimmune conditions, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and more. Plus, let’s be real—it literally makes you feel like crap.

Constipation: The Ayurvedic Perspective

In Sanskrit, constipation is called Vibandha—a blockage. The metaphor is almost too perfect. Picture your kitchen sink when it’s clogged: dirty water stagnates, starts to smell, and eventually overflows. Now imagine trying to wash more dishes in that sink. That’s exactly what happens inside your body when waste isn’t eliminated.

Constipation is commonly a Vata imbalance. Vata, made of the elements Air and Space, governs all movement in the body. When it’s out of balance, you’ll see dry, hard stools, irregularity, gas, restlessness—the body literally feels stuck. The antidote? Bring in the opposite qualities: warmth, moisture, grounding, regularity, rhythm and grounding routines.

Other contributing factors include:

• Low Agni (digestive fire) or sluggish intestinal motility
• Underactive thyroid
• Eating too much dry, cold, or rough food
• Suppressing natural urges (like holding in the call to go)
• Antibiotic overuse
• Stress, dehydration, and lifestyle imbalances
• Emotional holding on—difficulty “letting go”

Here’s the good news: this is an easy fix, if you address it early. As with everything, diet and lifestyle are your first line of defense.

Ayurvedic Hacks to Get Things Moving

Here are simple, practical steps that support regular elimination:

• Start by eating whole, real foods—minimally processed and balanced with carbohydrates, protein, fiber, healthy fats, herbs, and spices. And don’t be afraid of good fats—low-fat diets, though marketed as “healthy,” often worsen constipation.

• Eat warm, moist foods to balance Vata
• Self-massage (Abhyanga) with warm oil to calm the nervous system
• Stick to regular meal times – Vata likes the regularity
• Move your body daily — exercise is nature’s laxative
• Never ignore nature’s call
• Soak raisins and figs overnight and eat them in the morning
• Add a spoon of ghee to warm milk at bedtime
• Drink a glass of hot water on waking
• Eat a handful of soaked black raisins on an empty stomach
• Practice Kapalabhati (breath of fire) and Anulom Vilom (alternate nostril breathing)
• Try Malasana (yogic squat) or use a stool under your feet in a western toilet
• Don’t scroll on your phone in the bathroom—multitasking disturbs Vata
• Stay hydrated with warm water or herbal teas
• Practice gratitude, forgiveness, and letting go—emotional constipation leads to physical constipation
• Add chia seeds or ground flaxseeds if fiber intake is low

And if none of this helps, it may be time to get your thyroid function tested or consult an Ayurvedic practitioner to uncover deeper imbalances.

Let’s Talk About It

Constipation might be common, but it doesn’t have to be your normal. Your digestion is the first domino in the chain of health—when it flows well, everything else in your body flows too.

Are you currently struggling with constipation, or have you overcome it? What remedies worked (or didn’t work) for you? And if you need a little extra help and feel ready to take the next steps, book your 1:1 wellness consultation today.