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n Ayurvedic medicine, as well as all other functional and holistic healing modalities, the state of the gut is seen as the root of all disease and imbalance.

A happy gut leads to happy metabolic function, happy hormones, happy skin, and happy mood.

It’s literally the most important aspect of your health to address.

AND YET, most people, women especially, experience signs of an unhealthy gut that they either ignore, or are assured by their doctors are normal.

In conventional western medicine, it is considered “normal” to poop just twice a week.

But in Ayurveda, we know better.  We have very clear standards of what is normal and healthy in terms of elimination.

Here are the signs of healthy elimination:

1. At least one good, solid BM every single day (preferably in the morning)
2. Consistency is like a ripe banana — a smooth log that passes easily
3. There is no strain or difficulty in passing the stool
4. Use of laxatives and stimulants (like coffee) are not needed in order to have a BM

These are the signs of constipation:

1. BM less frequent than once per day
2. BM’s that are hard, pebbly, or thin
3. BM’s that are difficult to pass
4. Needing a laxative or cup of coffee in order to poop

Thankfully, because of the huge focus placed on healthy elimination in Ayurvedic medicine, we have so many tools to choose from to encourage a healthy gut and healthy poops!

It’s important to note that all bodies are different, and causes of constipation are many and varied — from improper diet and unhealed stress and trauma, to gut dysbiosis, IBS, and SIBO.  So you’ll want to experiment with the different natural remedies for constipation below to find the best combination for your unique gut state.

And as always, I recommend consulting with a functional/holistic practitioner to help you get to the root of your own gut imbalances and customize your healing protocol.  Click here to schedule an initial consultation with me!

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