Herbs for Constipation

7 Sri Lankan medicinal plants traditionally used for this purpose. Open a herb to see its Sinhala, English and botanical names, the parts used, how it is prepared, the research behind it and safety notes.

Use with care: Traditional use does not prove that a herb works or that it is safe for you. Talk to a doctor or a registered Ayurveda practitioner before using herbs to treat a condition, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medicines, or treating a child. Read our disclaimer

Leaves

Senehe Kola (Senna alexandrina): The Herbal Laxative That Actually Works

(Senna alexandrina)

Most herbs on this site come with the caveat that their traditional reputation runs ahead of the evi

Fruits & Seeds

Beli (Aegle marmelos): The Sacred Bael Tree for Digestive Health

(Aegle marmelos)

Beli (Aegle marmelos) may be the only medicine in Sri Lanka that works in both directions. The unrip

Fruits & Seeds

Endaru (Ricinus communis): Castor, the Oil Plant With a Poison in Its Seeds

(Ricinus communis)

Endaru (Ricinus communis) grows on every neglected roadside in Sri Lanka, its glossy, star-shaped le

Fruits & Seeds

Aralu (Terminalia chebula): Haritaki and the Triphala Tradition

(Terminalia chebula)

Aralu (Terminalia chebula) carries an unusual reputation: Tibetan medical texts depict it in the han

Fruits & Seeds

Ehela (Cassia fistula): Avurudu's Golden Tree and Gentle Laxative

(Cassia fistula)

Every April, as the koha starts calling and families get ready for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, e

Leaves

Gaslabu (Carica papaya): What Papaya Leaf Can and Cannot Do for Dengue

(Carica papaya)

Almost every Sri Lankan home garden has a gaslabu, or papol, tree (Carica papaya): a tall, unbranche

Fruits & Seeds

Siyambala (Tamarindus indica): Tamarind, the Sour Fruit With a Sweet Pharmacology

(Tamarindus indica)

Siyambala (Tamarindus indica) shades half the temple courtyards and village junctions of the dry zon

Other uses

Digestion (42) Coughs and Colds (22) Skin Conditions (22) Blood Sugar and Diabetes (18) Fever (16) Urinary and Kidney Health (16) Cooling the Body (14) Joint Pain and Arthritis (13) Wound Healing (12) Sleep and Stress (9) Immunity (8) Diarrhoea (8) Oral and Dental Health (8) Cholesterol and Heart Health (7) Hair Care (7) Liver Health (6) Asthma and Breathing (5) Women's Health (4) Inflammation and Swelling (4) Memory and Brain Health (4) Eye Health (4) Weight Management (3) Piles (Haemorrhoids) (3) Intestinal Worms (3)