During the Mughal period, people faced various everyday ailments, and constipation was a commonly recorded issue. Without modern medicine, they relied on advanced herbalism, Unani medicine, and wellness philosophies to treat it.
Let’s explore how people managed constipation back then 👇
🩺 1. The Primary Medical System: Greek-Islamic (Unani) Medicine
The Mughal elite and court physicians followed Unani medicine, a system rooted in Greek humoral theory, blended with Persian, Arabic, and Indian knowledge.
In Unani, constipation was called “qabz” (قبض) and was linked to an imbalance in bodily humors—often excess “heat” or dryness.”
🌿 2. Common Remedies for Constipation
① Dietary Adjustments (Most Common)
- Warm water + honey – Taken in the morning to soften digestion.
- Soaked black raisins – Eaten to lubricate the bowels.
- Ripe bananas or stewed figs – For natural fiber and movement.
- Warm milk at bedtime – Often mixed with ghee or almond oil.
- Olive/sesame oil – Added to meals for intestinal lubrication.
- Leafy greens & whole grains – Spinach stir-fries, lentil soups.
② Herbal Treatments
Unani and Ayurveda used these herbs:
| Herb | Effect | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Senna (Cassia angustifolia) | Strong laxative | Brewed as tea (taken at night). |
| Triphala (Three Fruits) | Gentle detox & long-term relief | Powdered, taken nightly. |
| Castor oil | Fast-acting bowel cleanser | 1 tsp alone or mixed in milk. |
| Ajwain (Carom seeds) + warm water | Relieves bloating & stimulates digestion | Taken after meals. |
| Hing (Asafoetida) | Reduces gas & softens stool | Added to food or pills. |
③ External Therapies
- Abdominal massage (clockwise) – Stimulated bowel movement.
- Hot compress on stomach – Eased tension.
- Enemas (for severe cases) – Rare, used cautiously.
🚫 3. Lifestyle & Dietary Restrictions
Unani physicians advised:
✔ Avoid late nights, stress, and sedentary habits.
✔ Reduce dry/fried foods, spicy dishes, and acidic drinks.
✔ Maintain a morning bowel routine (considered crucial for health).
🧠 4. Cultural Perspective: More Than Just Digestion
- Mughal nobles had royal physicians who treated constipation as a “blockage of vital energies” (affecting blood, breath, and spirit).
- The wealthy used metal scraping (Gua Sha) on the abdomen or hired masseurs for “qi flow.”
- Sufi traditions linked bowel health to spiritual purification, viewing detox as soul-cleansing.
🧾 Quick Summary
| Method | Approach | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary fixes | Honey water, raisins, greens | Safe & practical |
| Herbs | Senna, castor oil, Triphala | Strong to mild options |
| External aids | Massage, heat, enemas | Supportive care |
| Lifestyle rules | Avoid fried/spicy foods | Preventative |
在莫卧儿时期（16~18世纪南亚），人们确实会面对各种日常小病，便秘就是其中一个常见又被详细记载的病症。那时候没有现代药，但医学、草药学和“养生哲学”其实非常发达，很多疗法都挺讲究。
我们来看看当时人是怎么应对便秘的👇
🩺 一、主要治疗体系：希腊-伊斯兰医学体系（Unani）
莫卧儿帝国的官方与上层医术以“Unani医学”为主，这是起源于古希腊、融合波斯、阿拉伯和印度智慧的一整套医学体系。
在Unani医学里，便秘被称作 “qabz” (قبض)，它被认为是体液（humors）失衡导致的，比如“热”、“干燥”的体质太盛。
🌿 二、便秘治疗的常用方法：
1. 饮食疗法（最常用）
- 温水 + 蜂蜜：早晨饮用，润肠通便
- 黑葡萄干泡水吃：软化肠道
- 吃熟香蕉或煮无花果：帮助肠道蠕动
- 多喝温牛奶：尤其睡前一杯加酥油或杏仁油
- 橄榄油或芝麻油拌食：润肠作用强
- 多吃绿色蔬菜和粗粮：比如炒菠菜、豆类汤
2. 草药疗法
以下草药在Unani和阿育吠陀中都很常见：
| 草药 | 功效 | 用法 |
|---|---|---|
| Senna（番泻叶） | 强力泻药 | 泡茶喝，一般晚上用，第二天清肠 |
| Triphala（三果） | 温和通便、长期调理 | 打粉服用，每晚一勺 |
| Castor oil（蓖麻油） | 快速清肠 | 一小勺直接服用或混牛奶喝 |
| Ajwain（印度孜然）+ 温水 | 去胀气、刺激肠胃 | 餐后喝一点 |
| Hing（阿魏） | 抗胀气 + 软便 | 加在食物或药丸中用 |
3. 按摩 & 外治法
- 按摩腹部顺时针方向，帮助肠蠕动
- 热水敷肚子，缓解肠胃紧张
- 有些医生会建议放水灌肠（enema），但只用于严重便秘
🚫 三、禁忌与生活建议
Unani 医师常建议这些生活调理：
- 不要熬夜、焦虑、久坐不动
- 少吃：干燥食物（炸物）、刺激物（辣椒）、酸性饮料
- 保持晨起排便习惯（他们很讲究“晨起通肠”）
🧠 四、文化角度：这不只是“排不出”，而是“气、血、精”的失调
- 莫卧儿贵族常有贴身御医，连便秘都要谨慎应对，担心“气血阻滞”
- 有钱人甚至会用“金属片刮痧肚子”或请按摩师通气
- 苏菲派讲究节食与排毒，视“通便”是净化身体与灵魂的一种
🧾 小总结一下：
| 方法 | 内容 | 评价 |
|---|---|---|
| 饮食调理 | 蜂蜜水、葡萄干、牛奶、绿色蔬菜 | 安全有效，适合日常 |
| 草药 | 番泻叶、蓖麻油、三果粉等 | 有强有弱，看体质 |
| 外治法 | 按摩、热敷、灌肠 | 辅助方式，常用于老人或体弱者 |
| 禁忌 | 少油炸辛辣、规律作息 | 医生强调的“根本调养” |