Diseases of Vata, Pitta and Kapha
March 11, 2019Leaky Gut
March 13, 2019Trivrit Lehyam is an effective Ayurvedic medicine for constipation. It is in herbal jam form. It is also known as Trivritadi Lehyam and Trivrilleham.
The trivrit herb which is native to India is a climber with a twisting stem. The Sanskrit name trivrit means ‘thrice twisted’ as the stems grow in an intertwined fashion.
Found in many Ayurvedic preparations, trivrit is also is used in the treatment of a number of conditions such as liver disorders, jaundice, arthritis, gout and headaches.
Shodana or elimination is a process recommended in Ayurveda. It is useful to eliminate ama or waste products from the main digestive organs; the stomach, the intestines and the colon.
With colon cancers on the increase in the modern world paying attention to eliminating toxins from the body would seem a wise choice. This does not negate the fact that you should correct the main cause of constipation by paying attention to what you eat. People will often ask if they can go back to their old ways of eating and stop the ‘pathyam‘ once they stop using ayurvedic drugs. Eating right is something you need to do whether you are on ayurvedic medication or not if you are to prevent the onset of disease. The food you eat needs to be based on your constitution (prakruti). As you grow older consume less chillies, tamarind, curds and lentils. Blander foods consumed with ghee, rice etc. help maintain health. The use of processed food and preservatives is a serious cause for concern. All people should preserve the tradition of home-cooked foods. For those over-worked, time poor housewives who also maintain a job, it is time the menfolk entered the kitchen in full force so that they continue to enjoy the luxury of safe, home-cooked food made from scratch, such as idlis made from homemade batter, or soft roti made from organic whole wheat flour.
A cleansed colon, from which all ama or toxins have been removed, promotes general well being. To maintain health, moving the bowels regularly is necessary. If for some reason this does not happen, vaidyars set to find out the cause, and as a purely temporary measure, may prescribe a safe laxative known as Trivrilleham. For those who are otherwise healthy, this is a very effective herbal laxative, which not only relieves constipation but is also good for the heart.
Benefits
- It helps to relieve constipation, it is an excellent purgative with no bad taste.
- It is good for the heart.
- It is often used as part of the panchakarma treatment for virechana i.e. purgation.
Dose
1 to 6 g of the lehyam is taken once or twice a day, usually after food, although it can be sometimes prescribed before food. The dosage should be completely tailored to the individual. Some people have very good bowel movements even with just 1 gm of the lehyam. So anybody trying this lehyam should start with very small quantities, observe the effect on the bowel movements and then adjust the dosage.
It is administered along with honey, milk or warm water.
For purgation it is taken at 5 a.m. to be following up with frequent drafts of hot water.
As daily laxative, it can be taken after dinner.
Side effects
Its dosage varies from person to person based on the strength of the digestive system.
Slight overdose may lead to severe diarrhoea.
This lehyam cause severe gastritis and vomitting, in addition to diarrohea.
It is best avoided in diabetic patients.
Caution
This lehyam is not to be taken by the old, the sick or pregnant women without the specific prescription of their Ayurvedic physician. As far as old people are concerned, Ayurvedis vaidyas caution that it is better for them to be a little constipated than to cause them diarrhoea. So older people should consult a vaidyar before taking this lehyam.
This medicine should be taken strictly under medical supervision only.
Ingredients
A water decoction is made from the herb trivrit (Operculina turpethum).
Allowed to cool down.
To this decoction is added trivrit powder, honey or sugar and trijatha (cinnamon, cardamom and bay leaf or leaf of Cinnamomum tamala), and heated to semisolid consistency.
Reference
The recipe for this lehyam is given in the Ashtanga Hridayam (Kalpasthana 2/9).
त्रिवृत्कल्ककषायाभ्यां साधितं ससितो हिम: ।
मधुत्रिजातसंयुक्तो लेहो हृद्यं विरेचनम् ॥
trivṛtkalkakaṣāyābhyāṃ sādhitaṃ sasito hima: |
madhutrijātasaṃyukto leho hṛdyaṃ virecanam ||
Warning
Do not take this product without the consent of your Ayurvedic Physician. The information provide is only for the purpose of information.
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This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease