Constipation – Its Causes and Cure
by Swami Sivananda
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Hardcover: viii + 127 pages
ISBN: 81-7052-189-0
Book Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.30 inches
Shipping Weight: 150 grams
Table of Contents
| Publishers’ Note | v | |
| Chapter I: | Prayers | 1 |
| Chapter II: | Constipation | 5 |
| Chapter III: | Causes of Constipation | 12 |
| Chapter IV: | Hints on Treatment of Constipation | 20 |
| Chapter V: | Laxatives And Purgatives | 28 |
| Chapter VI: | Prescriptions | 39 |
| Chapter VII: | Purgatives | 49 |
| Chapter VIII: | Ayurvedic Medicines | 54 |
| Chapter IX: | Cathartic | 61 |
| Chapter X: | Naturopathic Treatment of Constipation | 66 |
| Chapter XI: | Chromopathy | 75 |
| Chapter XII: | Homeopathic Treatment of Constipation | 78 |
| Chapter XIII: | Unani Remedies For Constipation | 84 |
| Chapter XIV: | Yogic Panacea For Constipation | 86 |
| Chapter XV: | Yoga Therapy | 96 |
| Chapter XVI: | Piles Saquelae | 98 |
| Chapter XVII: | Story of Piles | 100 |
| Chapter XVIII: | Hints On Treatment of Piles | 105 |
| Chapter XIX: | Divine Namapathy | 118 |
| Chapter XX: | Mr. Constipation And Mrs. Piles | 120 |
Publishers’ Note
Constipation, along with Diabetes and Blood Pressure, has come to be regarded as a natural outcome of modern civilisation. There is virtually no one in the world today who has not seriously suffered from this disease at some time or the other; and, what is worse, who has not been afflicted by the numerous diseases that spring from this root-disease.
The Compassionate Sage of Ananda Kutir, who is ever eager to remove the sufferings of mankind by every means possible, has blessed us with his characteristically comprehensive and concise treatment of this dire disease.
We do hope and pray that the present publication, CONSTIPATION: ITS CAUSES AND CURE, will serve its purpose well, viz., of enlightening men of the true causes of Constipation, how to avoid, it, how to cure it, when it has already been contracted.
Chapter I
PRAYERS
Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
ॐ त्र्यंबकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्।
उर्वारुकमिवबन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥
Om Tryambakam yajamahe
Sugandhim pushti vardhanam
Urvaarukamiva bandhanaan
Mrityormuksheeya maamritat
Meaning
We worship the three-eyed One (Lord Siva) who is fragrant and who nourishes well all beings; may He liberate us from death for the sake of Immortality even as the cucumber is severed from its bondage (to the creeper).
Benefits
1. This Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is a life-giving Mantra. In these days, when life is very complex and accidents are an everyday affair, this Mantra wards off deaths by snake-bite, lightning, motor-accidents, fire-accidents, cycle-accidents, water-accidents, air-accidents and accidents of all descriptions. Besides, it has a great curative effect. Again, diseases pronounced incurable by doctors are cured by this Mantra, when chanted with sincerity, faith and devotion. It is a weapon against all diseases. It is a Mantra to conquer death.
2. It is also a Moksha Mantra. It is Lord Siva’s Mantra. It bestows long life (Deergha Ayush), peace (Shanti), wealth (Aisvarya), prosperity (Pushti), satisfaction (Tushti) and Immortality (Moksha).
3. On your birthday, repeat one lakh of this Mantra or at least 50,000; perform Havan and feed Sadhus, the poor and the sick. This will bestow on you long life, peace and prosperity.
4. Kindly consecrate one Maala or more daily to Sri Swami Sivanandaji!
Hari Om Tat Sat
Prayer for Health
O adorable Lord of ocean of compassion,
Salutations and prostrations unto Thee.
OM Namah Sivaya.
OM Namo Narayanaya.
OM Namo Bhagavate Vaasudevaya.
O Lord, grant me good health and strength,
Free me from constipation and all other diseases.
Without good health and strength
I cannot practise concentration,
I cannot do any kind of Sadhana.
Thou art my sole refuge,
Thou art my father, mother, friend and preceptor.
I am Thine, all is Thine,
Thy Will be done, O Lord.
Antaryamin Upanishad
He who dwells within this constipation,
He who is within this constipation,
But whom constipation does not know,
Whose body constipation is,
Who rules constipation from within,
Is thy Inner Ruler, Immortal,
Antaryamin, Amritam,
Know Him, realise Him,
And be free from constipation, body and death.
Thus Spoke Constipation
I alone cause intestinal colic,
Piles, Varicocele, and auto-intoxication.
I produce fever, depression, headache,
Lassitude, lack of concentration, vertigo,
General ill-health, boils, acne, anaemia,
Palpitation, nocturnal emissions.
I establish drug habit, enema habit,
I assume various forms, Acute, Chronic, habitual and occasional.
I make the tongue furred, appetite poor.
I cause much straining at stools,
And diarrhoea from irritation of scybalae.
All Medical Systems Are Necessary
Maya is plurality.
Minds are different.
Temperaments are diverse.
Constituents are different.
Hence different systems of medicine are needed.
Allopathy suits some;
Homeopathy suits others.
Senna is agreeable to some,
While cascara is suitable to others.
Behold God in everything.
See God in everything.
Learn to become wise.
Do not fight and quarrel.
Weights and Measures
1. Weight for Solids
| 1 drachm | 60 grains |
| 8 drachms | 1 ounce |
| 1 ounce | 437.5 grains |
| 1 pound | 16 oz., 7000 grains |
| 20 grains | 1 scrupple |
| 180 grains | 1 tola or 1 rupee weight |
| 5 and 5/8lb. Av. | 1 seer |
| 3 lbs 2 oz Av. | 1 viss |
| 3 lbs 9 oz Tro. | 1 viss |
2. Measure for Fluids
| 1 minim | more or less one drop |
| 60 minims | 1 drachm |
| 8 drachms | 1 ounce |
| 20 ounces | 1 pint |
| 8 pints | 1 gallon |
| Quart | 2 pints |
| Teaspoonful | 1 drachm |
| Dessert spoonful | 2 drachms |
| Table spoonful | 4 drachms |
| Wine glassful | 2 1/2 ounces |
3. Weights and Measures
| 32 kunrumanis (gunjas) | = 1 varahanidai |
| 9 panavidai | = 1 varahanidai |
| 1 palam | = 10 varahanidais |
| 1 kazhanji | = 1 1/4 varahanidai |
| 1 tola | = 3 1/4 varahanidais |
| 50 palams | = 1 thooku |
| 1 panavidai approximately |
= 3 kunrumanis edai or 5 grains |
| 16 salli edai | = 1 palam |
| 5 seers of liquid (volume) | = 1 Madras measure |
| 1 seer (volume – above) | = 40 ounces of water |
Chapter II
CONSTIPATION
Introduction
Constipation is otherwise known by the names faecal accumulation, costive bowels. It is more common among women than men and is even natural to some persons. It may be occasional or habitual.
The human body may safely be compared to a municipal town. The intestines or entrails or bowels of the human frame exactly represent municipal carts which remove the solid refuse from a town. A person suffering from constipation can no more be healthy than can a town whose street sweepings, excreta, kitchen waste, house waste, stable waste, factory waste, etc., are not got rid off. Accumulation of faecal matter proves deleterious to health, and constipation of a long-standing nature exerts as bad an effect on the health of a man as accumulation of refuse matter in a town has on the health of the community at large.
The action of the bowels is to a large extent a question of habit. The bowels should be moved at least once daily. Some persons answer the calls of nature once, or twice daily, while in some, movement of the bowels occurs once every two or three days without any appreciable ill-effect upon the general health, and unattended by unpleasant symptoms.
Proper elimination is almost as important as a correct diet. Even when the right food is eaten, good health will not be enjoyed unless waste matter is properly removed from the system. Faulty elimination is an exceedingly common condition today owing to faulty habits of eating and living. Inactivity of the liver and kidneys is often associated with this complaint.
Dangers of Constipation
Though constipation is regarded as a trifling ailment, its phase of grave import must not be ignored. With its usual train of attendant evils as nausea or a tendency to vomit, loathing for food which amounts to even anorexia or loss of appetite, griping pains in abdomen, a feeling of discomfort and depression, etc., constipation predisposes to a host of ailments as piles, prolapse of rectum or anus, poisoning of the system, etc. There seems reason to believe that some people’s intestines are weak from birth. This is not surprising as it is well-known that weakness in other organs, such as the heart and stomach, may be passed on from parent to child. This is not a haphazard trick on the part of Nature, but the simple working out of the law of cause and effect, bad habits of the parents having their effect upon the lives of their offspring.
Constipation is often the frequent result of sluggish action of the bowels induced by sedentary habits and avocations, lack of exercises, general debility, senile decay or degeneracy, habitual neglect of calls of nature, errors in diet. The diet of the modern civilised races is too concentrated and too rich in protein and sugar. Consequently the intestine does not contain enough waste matter to stimulate it into action. In a natural diet containing a good proportion of wholemeal bread, fresh fruit, and vegetables, this difficulty is overcome.
Health of the Bowel
The health of the bowel is of paramount importance. The general health of the individual largely depends upon the health of the bowels. The digestive processes in the intestines should be kept up properly. The faecal matter should not accumulate in the bowels. If it accumulates decomposition and fermentation will take place. There will be formation of foul gases. The poisonous or toxic products of decomposition will be absorbed and autointoxication or faecal toxaemia will take place and there will be various unpleasant symptoms and deterioration of health.
You should have a very clear broad motion daily in the early morning. This is a sign of bowel-health and general good health. A stagnant bowel is a centre of diseases. The bowel must be kept as clean as possible.
Vegetables green and leafy, fruits, milk, diet rich in organic salts and cellulose or roughage keep the bowel healthy and efficient.
Myrobalan, Indian Gooseberry (Amala) Bael leaves, Bael fruit, lemon, bland, non-irritating foods etc., tone the bowels and ensure bowel-health.
Too much Chutney, pickles, spices, condiments, chillies, too much tamarind and other irritating foods, liquors spoil the bowel-health.
The stools of the chief meal of the day should pass out of the body next day. If this is done the health of the bowel and the general health will be surely maintained.
If there is accumulation of faecal matter, take an enema.
Have abdominal massage. This will ensure good bowel-health.
A healthy bowel means a healthy brain, a healthy in and a healthy heart too.
The Small and Large Intestines
The small intestine extends from the stomach above to the large intestine below. It is a convoluted tube about 20 feet in length. It fills the greater part of the front abdominal cavity. Its diameter is about 2 inches at the beginning. It gradually diminishes in size and is hardly an inch in diameter at its lower end. It is divided into 3 portions viz., the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum.
The duodenum is twelve finger’s breadth in length. The jejunum is 7 1/2 feet in length. The ileum constitutes the balance of the small intestine.
The large intestine is about 5 feet long and from two and a half to one and a half inches wide. It extends from the ileum to the anus. It is divided into three parts, viz., the caecum with the vermiform appendix; colon and rectum.
The colon is subdivided into the ascending, transverse and descending colon with the sigmoid flexure. The rectum is from 6 to 8 inches long. The anal opening is guarded by two circular muscles, the internal and external sphincters.
What is Peristalsis?
The alternate contractions and dilatations of adjoining segments of the intestines or bowels is termed peristalsis. It produces a wave-like motion or vermicular movement (worm-like) along the intestinal tract. Have you seen the movement of the caterpillar? Peristalsis is similar to the movement.
When food is taken, it is thrust into the oesophagus or gullet by the action of the pharynx. The muscular wall of the oesophagus just above the bolus contracts and pushes it down into the next lower part. Then the wall of the part contracts and pushes the mass a little further down and so on. In this way the food is finally thrust into the stomach by a series of contractions of each part of the oesophagus in succession. This is also spoken of as peristaltic action.
Drink also is taken in exactly the same way as food. It does not fall down the pharynx and gullet, but each gulp is grasped and passed down.
The muscular coat of the small intestines is made up of two layers, an outer longitudinal, an inner circular. The circular fibres of any part are able to contract successively in such a manner, that the upper fibres or those nearer the stomach, contact before the lower ones, or those nearer the large intestine. The contents of the intestines are constantly being propelled by successive and progressive narrowing of their calibre (peristaltic movement), from their upper towards their lower parts. The same peristaltic movement takes place in the large intestine from the ileo-caecal valve to the anus or the termination of the alimentary canal.
Defective peristalsis is due to atony or loss of tone of the muscular coat of the intestines, old age, anaemia. Atony of the colon causes constipation. If the intestine are toned by the practice of Asanas, Pranayama or abdominal massage, constipation will be cured.
Faeces and Defaecation
By the abstraction of all the soluble constituents and especially by the withdrawal of water, the liquid contents become, as they approach the rectum, changed into a firm and solid mass of waste matter, ready for ejection from the body and called faeces.
The faeces consists of the undigested and indigestible substances of the food. Among them are the elastic fibres of connective tissue, the callulose, which is the chief constituent of the envelopes encasing the cells of plants, and the indigestible mucin of mucus. These three materials, together with some water, some undigested food-stuffs and some excretory substances found in the various secretions poured into the alimentary canal, form the bulk of the material expelled from the body.
The normal rate of passage through the intestine is from the ingestion of food to the caecum 4 1/2 hours, hepatic flexure 6 1/2 hours, splenic flexure 9 hours; entering the pelvic colon at 12 hours, and rectum at 18 hours.
The average daily amount of faeces in health is 120-180 grm. (about 4 ounces).
The colour of normal faeces is partly due to stercobilin, partly to chlorophyll and other pigments.
The odour of the faeces is due to the presence of indol and skatol.
In obstinate constipation the form and consistence of the stools may be such drier and harder than normal, and even friable. The stools of constipation have often the form of round balls, frequently coated with mucus.
II
Defaecation is the term applied to the act of expelling the faeces from the rectum.
(a) The food taken into the mouth and masticated is mixed with saliva and swallowed undergoes gastric digestion in the stomach; passes into the intestines, and is subjected to the action of the secretions of the liver and pancreas, with which it there becomes mixed and finally after the more or less complete extraction of the nutritive constituents, the residue mixed up with certain secretions of the intestines, leaves the body as the faeces.
By the time, the contents of the intestines have reached the ileo caecal valve, a great deal of the nutritious matter has bean removed. Still even in the large intestine, some nutritious matter has still to be acted upon.
In the caecum and commencement of the large intestine, changes are taking place, apparently somewhat of fermentation, whereby the contents become acid.
(b) Defaecation is a reflex action carried out by the spinal cord as soon as it has been started by the will. The sensory surface is the mucous membrane of the rectum, the necessary stimulus is supplied as the result of the distention of rectum by the accumulated faeces.
Chapter III
CAUSES OF CONSTIPATION
Constipation is insufficient action of the bowels, delay in the passage of the contents of the bowels, causing hard, dry faeces Scybala. The delay is usually in the pelvic colon or the rectum. A useful and simple test consists in giving a tablespoonful of powdered charcoal at night. It should normally have completely disappeared from the stools before 48 hours.
To ensure the due evacuation of the bowels the digestive functions of the stomach and small intestine and the secretion of bile and pancreatic juice must all be in proper working order. The colon must absorb some of the water from the fluid faeces, rendering them of a proper consistency for expulsion. The intestinal muscles must be in a healthy condition. Therefore constipation may be caused by interference with any of these functions and hence may be due to large variety of causes.
The retention of hard stools may give rise to an alternating diarrhoea, which leads to error in diagnosis. Piles result from habitual constipation.
The Chief Causes Are:
1. Causes which produce stony or loss of tone of the muscles of the intestines: (a) general diseases such as anaemia or poverty of blood, the specific fevers, chronic Bright’s disease (of the kidney), (b) nervous diseases, such as nervous debility, paraplegia (c) sedentary habits.
2. Errors of Diet: A diet which does not sufficiently stimulate the bowel. There may not be enough food (too little or poor food, deficiency of vitamins), or it may be too dry (deficient fluid ingesta) or it may not cause sufficient mechanical irritation (defect of vegetable matters,–no vegetables, no food, with coarse residue). The faeces may become dry through loss of water by other channels, diabetes, granular kidney, vomiting, perspiration.
3. Causes of Defective Peristalsis: (a) Sedentary habits, (b) depressing emotions, anxiety, worry, etc., cause sympathetic inhibition, hence spasm, (c) old age and other conditions with poor general tone, such as anaemia, (d) prolonged disregard of the calls of nature with dilatation of rectum and pelvic colon, consequent on blunted sensation, (e) weak abdominal muscles, (f) atony or loss of tone of the colon, (g) some febrile states, (h) endocrine disorder, specially deficient acting of thyroid and pituitary, (i) reflex spasm as in catarrh of the colon or disease of the womb, (j) diseases of the brain or spinal cord, such as tabes, and cerebral tumour.
4. Deficiency of bile or intestinal secretions: (a) Functional inactivity of the liver, (b) profuse vomiting, (c) excessive loss of fluid by skin or kidneys, (d) astringents, such as chalk or catechu. Hard waters also act in this way.
5. Mechanical obstructions such as ‘Kinks’.
6. Neglect of the daily call to defaecation. This leads gradually to extinction of the impulse.
7. Inhibition of the reflex action of the bowel. On account of painful defaecation or abdominal pain.
In one type the delay may be in the colon. There is slow passage through the intestines to the rectum. In another type there is delay and difficulty in emptying the rectum (“dyschezia”). The rectum is constantly full of hardened faeces. It may become blocked by scybalous masses. The passage to the pelvic colon is at a normal rate.
Pressure of the faecal matter on the intrapelvic veins may cause haemorroids or varicocele. Where the lower bowel is much loaded, there may be pressure on the lumbar or sacrel nerves and pain down the back or part of the left thigh.
Another common cause of sluggishness in the bowels is lack of fluid. In the large intestine water is normally absorbed from the faecal mass and thus it is rendered too hard if insufficient water be present.
The wearing of tight belts, tight girdles, rigid corsets and waist bands impedes the free and natural movements of the abdomen and induces constipation.
Country people hardly suffer from costiveness of the bowels and it is only in the case of the people of urban localities whose artificial mode of life forces than even to the putting off answering the calls, that constipation is frequently met with. This failure to heed the calls of nature is another important cause of constipation. Neglect in this respect is much more common than might be supposed, and frequently it can be proved to be the starting point of constipation. Therefore it is most important to have what may be termed ‘habit time’. This means that a regular time should be fixed each day for defaecation, and an attempt should be made to empty the bowels even if no desire is felt.
Constipation in babies is due to improper feeding either of the child or mother. Condensed milk binds the bowels and this difficulty may be obviated by having recourse to fresh cow’s milk. Constipation occurs from sluggish action of either liver or small bowels or large intestines. Failure to answer the calls in time causes undue dryness of the faecal matter by the absorption of a portion of water and constipation results.
Crusade Against Constipation
Delay in the passage of faeces through the intestines or delay in their evacuation is constipation. Disturbance of the digestive system most commonly manifests itself in the form of constipation or diarrhoea. If food taken does not pass out within twenty-four hours, it is a slow action of the intestines or bowels. It is constipation if it does not pass off within forty-eight hours. Whereas a quick passage of food through the bowel is called diarrhoea. Diarrhoea may be a symptom of constipation. The accumulated faecal matter irritates the lower bowel and causes diarrhoea.
Constipation may be a symptom of certain acute diseases such as typhoid fever or of chronic diseases such as affections of the liver or stomach or of anaemia or poverty of blood. Or it may be due to mechanical obstruction of some part of the bowel.
There are three varieties of constipation. (1) Intestinal constipation: there is delay in the passage of the stools through the intestines, usually in the colon. (2) Rectal Constipation: here the intestinal transit time is normal but the motions accumulate in the pelvic colon and rectum. (3) Greedy colon: here excessive absorption reduces the bulk of the stools.
One kind of constipation is usually due to an accumulation of faecal matter in the rectum which becomes insensitive to the stimulus of distension. It is not due to delay in the emptying of the colon. If you give large doses of purgatives in this type of constipation there will be increase in the toxic absorption from the bowels.
The contents will become liquid and the food will be hurried into its lower reaches where fermentation takes place.
The delay in the passage of the faeces through the intestines may be due to the small bulk of the stools on account of insufficient food. It may be due also to a diet poor in residue such as callulose, to insufficient fluid contents, to excessive loss of fluid as in diabetes, to excessive sweating or to excessive absorption as in greedy colon.
It may also be due to a large bulk of stools as in gluttons, which causes difficulty in propulsion, to weakness of the intestinal walls, to obstruction by growth in the intestines, by intussuesception and to loss of muscle tone.
Ordinarily the bowels should be moved ones daily, but to some this does not naturally occur. Hence there are unpleasant symptoms as giddiness, heaviness in the bowels, etc. For constipation of this kind, medicines as a rule, are not necessary. Exercise, more fluid and fruit diet will remove the evil.
The barium meal will indicate where the delay takes place. Normally the meal should reach the caecum in 5 hours, the hepatic flexure in 7 hours, the splenic flexure in 9 hours, the pelvic colon in 12 hours and the rectum in 18 hours.
Faecal Toxaemia: If the faeces accumulates in the bowels, they ferment and decompose after some time. Various kinds of toxins or poisons are formed in the bowel. They are slowly absorbed into the blood and cause a kind of toxaemia or slow blood poising. This is called faecal toxaemia. The symptom and sign of faecal toxaemia are lassitude, fever, mental depression, lack of appetite, furred tongue, headache, a sallow complexion with loss of flesh, nervous debility, anorexia or loss of appetite, flatulence, abdominal discomfort or colic.
There are some doctors who trace the origin of all diseases to constipation, just as there are some doctors who trace the origin of all diseases to pyorrhoea, stomach or blood. But the real cause is Prarabdha or Karma. Vedantins trace the cause of all diseases to the mind (Vasanas and cravings), Adi Vyadhi. According to Vedantins and Raja Yogins the primary causes are bad thoughts If these thoughts are destroyed, all bodily diseases will vanish.
Hard stools are due to costive condition of the bowels. If the stools are hard know that more water has been extracted from them than is necessary. The faeces stay in the bowels for a longer time and so water is lost. Drink more water. The faeces will become very soft.
If the bowels are sluggish in expelling the faeces, drinking of abundant water will not remove the hard lumps. In such cases enema will bring the desired effect. The bowels must be washed out.
There must be abundant roughage in the food-stuff. Take more of leafy and fibrous matter and husk of cereals. These will give bulk to the faecal matter. You will get soft motion.
Correct the condition without the use of purgatives. Take recourse to natural methods. Some drugs irritate the bowels, cause the contents to become fluid, increase the toxic absorption and lessen the response of the bowel to natural stimuli. Thus the condition is rendered worse.
Do not neglect the desire to answer the calls. Fix a special time for answering the calls (morning 4 or 5 a.m.) and stick to it. Even if there is no desire to defaecate, make the attempt at the proper time. Do not make hurried visits. Wait till there is complete evacuation.
Do not bother if there is no evacuation in a day. Do not worry. Do not be anxious. This anxiety will upset the nervous mechanism of bowel evacuation and will encourage the use of purgatives.
Take plenty of water. Take fruits and vegetables. Take sufficient quantity of food. Take a tumbler of water as soon as you get up from the bed. These supply the bulk which is necessary to stimulate the bowels to pass its contents along.
See that the bulk of the food is sufficient. Constipation is due to insufficient quantity and unsuitable quality of food. Excessive absorption of fluid from the colon is also the cause for constipation. In this case drink much larger quantity of fluid.
Spend sufficient time in answering the calls of nature. The bad act of rushing the act is often contracted at school.
A tendency to constipation is natural to many persons, especially to women. Regulate the system in such a way that there is neither constipation nor diarrhoea. Then alone you will keep good health.
Observe the rules of health and hygiene. Take proper, wholesome food and drink in moderation. Be regular in your exercise, Kirtan, meditation, Asanas and Pranayama. You will be free from constipation and diarrhoea.
Massage the abdomen nicely. This may assist defaecation. Start from the right lower corner across the top of the abdomen and down the left side to the left lower corner. Use gingely or mustard oil for massage.
A teaspoonful of liquid extract of Cascara Sagrada or Cascara Evacuant is very useful.
If all these measures fail, a small enema or a glycerine suppository may be found very effective in cases where there is accumulation of faecal matter in the rectum. It can be tried in the early morning at the time the bowels are required to open.
For temporary constipation, castor oil, mercurials, salines, compounds of sulphur and senna, rhubarb or cascara are prescribed.
For chronic constipation, a small morning dose of sulphate of magnesia, anthracenes, vegetable laxatives or liquid paraffin usually with agar-agar are given at bed time.
Constipation with anaemia and amernorrhoea is often treated with aloes and ferrous-sulphate.
Purgatives are to be given with caution in suspected intestinal obstruction, intestinal haemorrhage, pregnancy, menorrhagia and in severe asthenia and also in enteric and eruptive fevers and in kala-azar.
Chapter XIX
DIVINE NAMAPATHY
When allopathy, homeopathy, chromopathy, naturopathy, Ayurvedapathy and all other pathies fail to cure a disease, the Divine Namapathy alone can save you. Name of the Lord is a sovereign specific, a sheet anchor, an infallible panacea and a cure-all for all diseases. It is an ideal or supreme “pick me up” in gloom and despair, depression and sorrow, in the daily battle of life or the struggle for existence.
There is a mysterious power in the Name. There is an inscrutable Sakti in God’s name. All the divine potencies are hidden in Lord’s name. It is a cream or quintessence of Chyavanprash, Makaradhwaja, almonds, Vasanta Kusumakar or Svarna Bhasma or gold oxide. It is a mysterious, ineffable divine injection ‘1910194’.
You can take this medicine of Nama Japa yourself for curing any disease. You can administer this marvellous medicine to other patients also in your house or elsewhere. Sit by the side of the patient and repeat the Name of the Lord with sincere devotion and faith like Hari Om, Sri Ram, Om Namassivaya, and sing His Names also “Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare — Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.” Pray for His mercy and grace. All maladies and agonies will come to an end. Do the treatment of Nama Japa for at least 2 hours in the morning and evening. You will find the miraculous effect within a short time. Both the doctor and the patient should have perfect faith in Lord’s Name, His mercy and grace. The real doctor is only Lord Narayana:
Lord Dhanwantari, the physician of the three worlds (who expounded the Ayurvedic Medical science) has himself declared: “By the medicine of the repetition of Aychuta, Ananta, Govinda all diseases are cured…. this is my definite and honest declaration.” In all treatments Lord Narayana is the real doctor. You find that even the world’s best doctors fail to cure a dying king. You might have also heard of many instances where patients ailing from the worst type of diseases are cured miraculously where even the ablest doctors have declared the case hopeless. This itself is clear proof that there is Divine Hand behind all cures.
The Divine Name will eradicate the disease of birth and death and bestow on you Moksha, liberation or Immortality.
The son of a landlord in Meerut was seriously ailing. Doctors pronounced the case to be absolutely hopeless. Bhaktas took the case in their hands. They did continuous Kirtan day and night for seven days around the bed of the patient. The patient stood up and began to sing God’s name on the seventh day. He recovered completely. Such is the miraculous power of Sankirtan.