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Balancing Elimination with Maharishi Ayurveda

 

Questions and Answers:

 

Dr Greg Watras answers questions on Ayurveda and problems of unbalanced elimination.

 

Q. Which illnesses and chronic diseases result from unbalanced elimination?

 

Poor elimination will give rise to all sorts of problems. When people talk about unbalanced elimination they usually mean constipation.

 

So not eliminating enough will tend to cause a back pressure of Vata. So the downward Vata (Apana vata) isn’t functioning properly so it puts more pressure on the other Vatas.

 

You can get toxins, or Vata and toxins, pushing outwards into the tissues in the low abdomen and into the pelvis.

 

So back pain would probably be the commonest sort of thing, but certainly arthritic sorts of problems in the lower back would be one of the first things.

 

Also, women can get problems with periods.

 

Another thing that a block in the flow of downward Vata would do is to create a pressure upwards which would disturb the digestion.

 

This could also progress and go further up and into the head as well.

 

Too much Vata in the head brings anxiety, sleeplessness.

 

Lower down in the tummy it will cause tummy ache, wind in the tummy, incomplete digestion, build up of toxins, build up of ama, which can go all round the body.

 

You can’t exaggerate how important regular elimination is.

 

Daily, regular, easy elimination is central. When it goes wrong it can create all sorts of problems.

 

Q. What would be the first physical, mental, behavioural signs of elimination being out of balance? What would people notice first?

 

Probably irregularity in the elimination.

 

If it’s too slow, then these things I’ve said due to constipation would happen.

 

If downward Vata is too quick, then you may find you’re not getting proper digestion because things are going through the body too quickly and you won’t get proper absorption of nutrients.

 

So people would be less nourished. They may lose weight, or they may not have good energy.

 

When downward Vata is too quick the stools would tend to be more loose, because if they are hurrying through there isn’t the water-absorbing function happening in the large bowel.

 

How does Western medicine treat elimination problems?

 

Western medicine tends to treat with diet, so they would suggest giving a high fibre diet. Western medicine tends to use fewer laxatives nowadays, although they go in and out of fashion; and they tend to give bulking agents as well. Bulking agents will absorb water and will make more bulk in the bowel and therefore tend to create a more frequent urge to empty.

 

How would Ayurveda detect the early signs of elimination imbalance?

 

You may find it from the history. The patient may tell you that they are not eliminating.

 

Most people don’t realise they have an elimination problem.

 

If they only go to the loo every other day, or miss a day now and then, most people are not aware that this is a problem. Most people think it’s normal, that it’s not causing any problems in their health.

 

So, from the history you would pick it up.

 

Q. But is that a problem, if they are not going every day? Is that the first level of the problem?

 

Yes, you would think of that as an early stage.

 

But some people a doctor sees go to the loo once a week, or even less than that. It can be quite marked.

 

Q. What is the Ayurveda approach to balancing elimination?

 

Again it is to do with diet. You would see it as a Vata disturbance so you would give all the normal Vata reducing advice in terms of routine, and food that is Vata-reducing as well.

 

So you would have more moist food; a little bit of oil, though not too much in the way of fat in the diet, because Vata is very drying; and have more warm drinks as well.

 

You would suggest foods which stimulate the bowel to move, such as some cooked whole grains; and also soaked and cooked dried fruit, such as raisins, prunes, figs, apricots, if they are appropriate.

 

And you would tend to think of suggesting people took some Triphala before bed. Triphala supports elimination in a mild way. It is made of three dried fruits and it also nourishes people, so it doesn’t deplete people.

 

Also, in terms of diet, you would think about soups and yoghourt lassi.

 

Q. How many people in the population have elimination problems?

 

Elimination problems are very common. Constipation is a common side-effect of allopathic medicines. All the pain killers will cause constipation.

 

It’s a bit of a paradox in a way. Some people will take a pain killer for back pain; the pain killer will then make the bowel move less regularly; and so be a cause of what it is intended to remove.

 

Q. Could you estimate a percentage of the population with elimination problems?

 

I’d be plucking a figure out of the air, but maybe half the population will have trouble (with elimination).

 

Q. Are any groups more susceptible to elimination than others, for example women, children, older people?

 

Basically people of any age with imbalance in Vata.

 

Because older people are in their Vata phase of life (age 50+), they are probably the most likely to get problems in that direction.

 

The other thing is that moderate exercise is important for elimination, so lack of exercise is a cause of imbalance.

 

So, people who have a very sedentary life, also people who are on shift work, people who travel a lot, people who are suffering from a lot of stress.

 

Any lifestyle which generates a Vata disturbance contributes to elimination imbalance.

 

Q. What about children? Can it start early with children? How early?

 

Kids being breast fed. It can start with very young children.

 

Q. Is that just due to the quality of the milk, or the general environment?

 

It can be related to the imbalance the child has in terms of the doshas. You can see relatively new born children with slow bowels.

 

Q. What can you do about that?

 

For very small kids the usual thing is just to put a little bit of sugar in their feeds. That helps. For young children you might start to use prune juice, or prune syrup, or dried fruit purees.

 

And probably more liquid is helpful. So as well as giving the sugar, you might give water with it so there is extra water there.

 

Q. Do Ayurvedic elimination preparations have any side effects?

 

If you use more than you need the side effect of them would always be to make you go to the loo more than you really need to. So, working excessively, I suppose.

 

As well as Triphala there is another preparation, called Herbal Cleanse, which supports elimination as well, but which you wouldn’t want to take every day.

 

Triphala you can take regularly. Herbal Cleanse you can take for short periods when a stronger effect is required.  Digest Plus is another product that helps to stimulate a sluggish elimination in addition to helping to keep the digestion in trim.

 

Q. When these preparations make you go more, does it have the effect of depleting you in some way?

 

No, when used according to the label recommendations they help establish a normal, healthy bowel habit.

 

You want to eliminate once or twice a day. So, first thing in the morning and then, say, before the evening meal.

 

If you are going to the loo more than that, this may be a sign of things hurrying through and not being properly digested.

 

Triphala does not just support elimination, it’s also a nourishing preparation supporting digestion, vision etc.

 

Q. What would be the physiological and psychological benefits of having balanced elimination?

 

You would feel healthy and normal.

 

That means the body is getting rid of toxins as they are being made, getting rid of waste products on time so that those wastes aren’t being driven out into the tissues.

 

Q. Are there any other behavioural routines which help elimination?

 

Leaving time in the morning to make sure you do evacuate at that time. So, if the bowel movement doesn’t come easily, leaving yourself time to sit for a while and wait.

 

Sometimes it’s quite helpful to take a glass of water first thing in the morning.

 

It’s probably good not to drink too much tea or coffee because that has a drying effect and may make the bowel a bit sluggish.

 

So, get up early, sit on the loo. The bowel tends to move more easily in the latter end of Vata time in the morning. So, as soon as you get up. Between five and seven in the morning.

 

And it is quite interesting that if the elimination is a bit wobbly, then you may find there is a time (in the morning) after which it just doesn’t happen for you.

 

So you may find just getting up that little bit early and making sure that you go to the loo then, rather than getting on doing something else, will help.

 

And don’t sit there reading book or doing Sudoku. Just put your attention on the job at hand.

 

Q. In what way is elimination important to the overall functioning of the body?

 

You can’t overestimate the importance of it.

 

It is very, very important. It’s on the same level as digestion and sleep.

 

Q. If someone is starting a programme to correct imbalance in elimination, what is the first, most important, step to take?

 

Probably to go to bed early.

 

That is the best way to start balancing Vata. Just get in a good routine. If you go to bed early, you wake up early. You’ll be sitting on the loo at the time when your body is ready to eliminate.

 

The next thing is to stop doing the things that aggravate Vata; or to reduce them.

 

Make sure you have some exercise in the morning.

 

Take more fluids in the diet.

 

And then, if necessary, take Triphala at night.

 

And occasionally, if necessary, you would take Triphala at night and then again in the morning.

 

Q. If you are taking medicine prescribed by your doctor, can the Ayurveda preparations be used instead of this medicine?

 

You could do either to get the effect you want. So really you want to be going to the loo once, or twice, a day, every day without a struggle.

 

If you find you are taking Triphala and that happens, and you don’t need to take everything else, then take that.

 

(NB it is wise to let your GP know what you are doing if you have been prescribed drugs by him.)

 

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Renowned for its numerous health benefits. Triphala with Rose is much appreciated for its gentle cleansing effect and can be taken regularly for extended periods with cumulative benefits.