DETOX - Day 9
PHASE TWO
The Ayurvedic Approach to Constipation During a Cleanse
For many of us—especially those of us with a fair amount of vata in our prakriti or vikriti —a mild case of constipation is relatively common during a cleanse, particularly if it involves eating only kitchari for a number of days. However, proper elimination is as important as ever during a cleanse because it’s the body’s natural mechanism for detoxification. A supportive cleanse will clear excess vata, pitta, kapha, ama, and toxins out via the channels of elimination (the urine, feces, and sweat). We want to keep those channels open and flowing throughout a cleanse so that the body can clear these accumulations and achieve greater health.
Balancing Constipation During a Cleanse
Navigating constipation during a cleanse can be a bit delicate. We want to get the bowels moving again without having to throw in the towel on the entire cleanse. These gentle measures may help to support regularity without forcing you to drastically alter the structure of your cleanse.
Drink plenty of warm, hydrating fluids (like warm water and rehydration tea), away from meals.
Increase the quantity of ghee (or other high-quality oils) in your diet; you can garnish everything with a little extra ghee.
If you are eating cooked vegetables, eat more of them.
Consider drinking a cup of mung broth before bed.
Start with 1 part whole mung beans and 8 parts water. Cook them in much the same way as you would kitchari—adding ghee, spices, carrots, etc. When the beans are cooked, strain the soup and drink only the broth.
Be sure to take Triphala about a half an hour before bed to support the proper functioning of the colon.
Take 2 Triphala tablets with a glass of warm water.
If you have tried all of these measures and still feel constipated, consider adding some soaked prunes, soaked raisins, a ripe banana, or prune juice to your diet first thing in the morning, at least 30 minutes before any other food.
