One of the most essential bits of information taken during any Ayurvedic consultation is the precise details of an individual’s bowel (aka pooping) habits.  This is because your elimination is directly related to your current state of health.  This typically un-talked-about topic is so important it often will be a major factor when determining the best diet, lifestyle, and herbal treatment.  Needless to say, how you are pooping can be a clear indicator of your current imbalances and toxicity that may be manifesting in your system.

Since the topic of pooping is considered embarrassing and often termed as “the unmentionable”, issues with our bowels can often go overlooked or undiagnosed.  Luckily in the world of Ayurveda, there is no topic that is too embarrassing to mention, and instead, our bowel habits are talked about in great detail.  Essential factors include how many times you are eliminating daily, as well as the quality, quantity, and sensations involved in your bowel habits.  For example, you may be pooping daily, but only a small amount of hard stool is passed painfully and accompanied by gas and cramping.  Although you are having daily bowel movements, this is not considered healthy since there are multiple signs showing increased Vata in the colon.   

In Ayurveda, pooping (termed purisha) is classified under the term mala meaning impurity or waste product, and is one of the three essential malas of the body.  Being an impurity, it needs to be eliminated from your system properly in order to establish optimal health.  This fact is clearly mentioned in the classical sutra stating the Ayurvedic definition of perfect health (svastha).

“Sama Dosha Sama Agnischa Sama Dhatu Mala Kriya

Prasanna Aatma Indriya Manaha Svastha Iti Abhidheeyate”

– Sushruta Sutra Sthana, Ch 15 Vs 41

This well-known sutra states that in order to establish perfect health (svastha) one must have balanced doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), dhatus (7 vital tissues), Agni (digestion), mala (elimination of impurities), mind, and senses.  Knowing this we must strive to find balance in these areas and this includes our bowels!

Signs of Healthy Pooping

• Well-formed, soft stools (as Dr. Lad says, “like a ripe banana”)
• Not sticky, hard, dry, or oily
• Easy to pass with no straining
• Passes with no gas or cramping
• Floats
• Minimal odor, not foul-smelling
• Light to medium brown in color
• Wipes easily without residue
• 1-3 bowel movements daily
• No skipping days
• Fulfillment after each bowel movement
• Feeling of lightness, slight hunger, and energy after passing
• Eliminates within 30 minutes upon awakening, ideally before food intake
• Eliminates at consistently regular times each day (e.g. upon awakening and mid-morning)
  

Unhealthy Pooping Habits and What It Means for Your Health

Click here for a printable chart, perfect for your bathroom!

Click here for a printable chart, perfect for your bathroom!

If you are showing signs of unhealthy pooping habits, it will be essential for your overall well-being to treat whatever issues are occurring.  Since elimination is directly correlated to digestion, this will likely need to be addressed as well (through diet, herbs, etc).  Here are some quick ideas on how to treat the underlying elimination issue.  Please use the chart above to see which dosha needs to be treated in order to discover some healthy ways to bring balance to your bowels.

NOTE: This is simply general information and may not pertain to every individual’s needs.  For example, one may have diarrhea but instead of stemming from Pitta, it is being caused by anxiety.  This is termed Vata (the anxiety) pushing Pitta (the loose stools) in the colon and in this case, the Vata would need to be treated.  Therefore for more serious conditions or conditions with multiple doshic involvements, it is always best to seek out individualized treatment through an Ayurvedic consultation. 

General Treatment for Weak Digestion and Vata Imbalance in the Colon

• Follow a Vata-pacifying diet (click here for Vata dietary guidelines)
• Eat on a consistent schedule at the proper times
• Drink warm-hot water first thing in the morning and sip on it between meals
• Basti (enema) using Dashamul tea or sesame oil (purchase my Dashamul Enema Kit here) 
• Vata-reducing herbs that have an affinity for the GI tract and colon such as Haritaki, Ajwain, Yogaraj Guggulu, and Dashamul
• Take 1 spoonful of Vata Honey Infusion before each meal 
• Take 1/2 to 1  tsp of Triphala Churna before bed nightly

General Treatment for Excessive Heat and Pitta Imbalance in the Colon

• Follow a Pitta-pacifying diet (click here for Pitta dietary guidelines)
• Take 1 teaspoon of Tikta Ghrita each morning in warm-hot water before food intake (purchase my handcrafted Tikta Ghrita here!)
• Basti (enema) using Guduchi, Licorice, and Shatavari (read more on the Ayurvedic enema treatment here)
• Pitta-reducing herbs that have an affinity for the GI tract and colon such as Guduchi, Shatavari, Licorice, Kamadudha, and Bhumyamalaki
• Take 1 spoonful of Pitta Honey Infusion before each meal

General Treatment for Congestion and Kapha Imbalance in the Colon

• Follow a Kapha-pacifying diet (click here for Kapha dietary guidelines)
• Avoid all food intake after 6 pm
• Drink warm lemon and honey water first thing in the morning
• Sip on hot water between meals
• Basti (enema) using Punarnava, Guduchi, and a small amount of Trikatu Churna (read more on the Ayurvedic enema treatment here)
• Kapha-reducing herbs that have an affinity for the GI tract and colon such as Bibhitaki, Ajwain, Punarnava, Trikatu, Triphala Guggulu, and Chitrak
• Take 1 spoonful of Kapha Honey Infusion before each meal

General Treatment for Toxins in the Colon

• Drink hot lemon water first thing in the morning
• Take 1 teaspoon of Tikta Ghrita each morning in warm-hot water before food intake (purchase my handcrafted Tikta Ghrita here!)
• Drink Detox Tea or CCF Tea between meals
• Perform a Kitchari Cleanse for 3-7 days depending on the severity of the toxins (click here for full instructions)
• Follow a simple, sattvic (balanced) diet based on mainly well-cooked, well-spiced, easy-to-digest foods that are appropriate for your dosha type
• Avoid all food intake after 6 pm
• Take 1/2-1 teaspoon of the Daily Detox Formula, three times daily before each meal (purchase my Daily Detox Formula here)
• Take 1/2-1 teaspoon of Triphala Churna each night before bed (purchase my Triphala Churna here)

Continue Reading

• 11 Ways to Eliminate Gas and Bloating With Ayurveda

• 11 Ayurvedic Remedies for Constipation (that really work!

• The Four Types of Agni

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