Constipation is considered to be an acute or chronic condition in which bowel movements occur less often than usual or consist of hard, dry stools that are painful or difficult to pass. Bowel habits vary, but an adult who has not had a bowel movement in three days or a child who has not had a bowel movement in four days is considered constipated.

As per Ayurvedic approach the definition of any disease doesn’t have much significance the thing is that what the consequences of a condition are on long term. When a person is not passing feces daily, it results in accumulation of fecal matter in the intestines and increase in mucus production. This proves to be a potential feeding ground for pathogenic bacteria, fungi, virus and parasites. These pathogens excrete toxic enzymes, acids and gasses – substances which can cause inflammation and degradation of the intestinal walls. They ultimately absorb and circulate to the cell level. Constipation slows circulation. Un-eliminated waste finds storage space throughout the body via the blood and lymph and eventually effects circulation to the organs and tissue including the head, feet and hands.

This waste, circulating with in the blood results in headaches, fever, chills, colds, skin eruptions, pain in calf muscles and more constipation. Every one will be amazed that a simple looking constipation may have so drastic consequences.

A constipated fellow feels pain every time, it may be both severe and lingering, something that will have an emotion and psychological affect on him and his friends, loved ones and co-workers. Just as it is difficult to work with a broken leg, working while feeling the pain resulting from constipation can result in short temper, mood swings and anger.

Hemorrhoids may develop, as can anal fissures, and rectal bleeding. Rectal prolapse, though rare, may occur, a condition where a piece of intestinal lining pushes from the anal opening.

More than this the large intestine is the area of Vata Dosha (The air component of the body), which regulates the functioning of the nervous system. As a result of nervous system being affected there are problems as loss of memory, uncoordinated movements of body parts, abnormal sensations especially in body parts below the umbilicus and indigestion.

The whole digestive system works in synchronization so disturbance in elimination of unwanted wastes cause deranged digestion, assimilation and the person feels stomach ache and cramps, bloated, nauseous, and loss of appetite. Now how much nutritious food we may eat, it is of no use as the body is not getting it properly. So the consequences are under nutrition, decreased body defense against diseases and body gets readily attached by them.