Trivrilleham: a Safe Ayurvedic Laxative

-by Sheela Rani Chunkath

Ayurveda is definitely diet focussed and a little obsessed with bowel movements. Shodana or elimination is something that ayurveda focusses on. When you just say shodana, it is taken to mean elimination of ama or waste products from the main digestive organs; the stomach, the intestines and the colon.

To keep healthy, moving the bowels once or twice a day is a must. If for some reason this does not happen, vaidyars set to find out the cause and as a purely temporary measure prescribe a safe laxative called Trivrilleham. This lehyam is not to be taken by the old, the sick or pregnant women without the specific prescription of a vaidyar. For those who are otherwise fit this is a very effective herbal laxative.

2 to 5 g of the lehyam is taken once or twice a day, usually after food. Sometimes vaidyars is prescribe it before food also. As far as this lehyam is concerned, the dosage has to 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.

Trivrilleham is often used as part of the panchakarma treatment for virechana i.e. purgation.

As far as old people are concerned, vaidyars 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. The reason I am writing about this lehyam is to introduce the reader to the availability of a safe laxative which not only relieves constipation but is also good for the heart.

The recipe for this lehyam is given in the Ashtanga Hridayam (Kalpasthana 2/9). A water decoction is made from the herb trivrit (Operculina turpethum). To this decoction is added trivrit powder, honey and trijatha (cinnamon, cardamom and and bay leaf or leaf of Cinnamomum tamala). 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. As is usual for many of our herbs, trivrit is also is used in the treatment of a number of conditions such as liver disorders, jaundice, arthritis, gout and headaches. A cleansed colon, from which all ama or toxins have been removed, promotes general well being.

In India, people still believe in moving their bowels every day and are concerned when they do not do so. It is a kind of ingrained habit we have learnt from our grandparents. Colon cancers are on the increase in the West because they do not pay enough attention to eliminating the toxins from the body. Trivrilleham helps you do it. Of course one should correct the main cause of constipation by paying attention to what is eaten. Often people ask me 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 we need to do whether we are on ayurvedic medication or not if we are to prevent the onset of disease. The foods we eat need to be based on our prakrithi. In general, as one grows older one should take less of chillies, tamarind, curds and lentils. Blander foods with ghee, rice etc. help us maintain our health.The use of processed food and preservatives is a serious cause for concern. We should preserve the tradition of home-cooked foods. And for those harassed housewives who are also office-goers, it is time our Indian men entered the kitchen in full force so that they continue to enjoy the luxury of safe home-cooked food made from scratch, like idlis made from homemade batter, or soft phulkas made from organic whole wheat flour. 

--- The writer was earlier Health Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and is currently Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman & Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation. She can be reached at Sheelarani.arogyamantra@gmail. com. Earlier articles can be accessed at http://arogyamantra.blogspot.com/