I have some remedies lined up that will scare the crap out of you (lol)!
Sorry everyone, just couldn’t resist…if however you are looking for natural home remedies for constipation, you came to the right place! I have a personal interest here; for as long as I can remember I have been a “victim” of this condition; and have firsthand experience of how utterly miserable this condition can make one feel…
Still constipated? Better read on…What is constipation? Basically that you’re full of crap (pun intended); lets, however, give you a textbook definition:
“Constipation means different things to different people. You may have constipation if you have three or fewer bowel movements in a week or if the stool is hard, dry, painful, or difficult to pass. Some people with constipation lack energy and feel full or bloated.
Some people think they have constipation if they don’t have a bowel movement every day. However, bowel habits are different for everyone. The foods you eat, how much you exercise, and other factors can affect your bowel habits.
At one time or another, almost everyone gets constipated. In most cases, it lasts for only a short time and is not serious. When you understand what causes constipation, you can take steps to prevent it.”
Source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/constipation_ez/
I won’t bore you with elaborating on each of the many causes of constipation; suffice to say the most common culprits are:
- Daily diet lacks enough fiber and fluids
- Not getting enough exercise
- Stress
- Some medications (painkillers like ibuprofen and aspirin when used regularly; antidepressants like Prozac and Elavil – use gentle stool softeners when you experience constipation when taking these medications )
- Sweeteners
- Foods that cause constipation include chocolate (ouch!), green bananas (2 ripe bananas between meals may bring constipation relief), too much cheese, too many eggs, and black tea
- Vitamins which contain components such as calcium and iron
- Ignoring the urge to go
- Antacids (for relief from heartburn) which contain aluminum or calcium
- Depression (brings about a slowdown in the body’s normal functions which may affect the bowels)
- Stimulant laxatives (Dulcolax, Ex-Lax, Senna, Movicol) used for long periods of time – use only as instructed by your doctor or product label
- Diseases of other body parts that affect the colon, i.e. hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), diabetes, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.
What follows is by no means an exhaustive list of home remedies for constipation; I need YOU, my reader, to add your favorite “recipe” on how to get rid of constipation fast by commenting at the end of the article…
I assume you are here because you, like me, prefer natural constipation remedies…In no particular order, here are some of the most powerful constipation remedies for quick relief:
- For quick constipation relief mix 2 tablespoons molasses into 8 oz milk or fruit juice (prune juice is best for an extra powerful punch) and drink. Be warned: this constipation remedy apparently works in a matter of minutes. Since molasses is high in calories; it subsequently is not recommended for daily use.
- Another home remedy for constipation that many fellow sufferers recommend is olive oil. For fast constipation relief drink ½ cup straight (ugh!) or mix with any juice. Within 2 hours olive oil will prove to be one of your “run to” quick constipation remedies!
- A tasty cure for constipation is honey, regarded a mild laxative. You can either take 1 tablespoon 3 times daily neat or mixed into a glass of warm water. If however, you need something stronger, consider adding 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (used to cure a sore throat and canker sores) to the mix.
- One or two teaspoons castor oil on empty stomach is the best remedy for constipation if you can wait about 8 hours for relief…
- Drinking a cup of hot coffee has more than once brought relief for me personally
- Whole flaxseed (linseed) is a constipation solution that can be “incorporated” into your diet. Just add 1 tablespoon to your cereal or smoothie; alternatively, eat 1 tablespoon three times daily.
- Taking magnesium for constipation relief is another remedy which generally works well. When deciding on a magnesium supplement for treating constipation, look for one that only contains magnesium; combined with other minerals like calcium, it could actually worsen constipation. Alternatively, stir 1 teaspoon of magnesium powder into 8 oz warm water or juice and drink while still warm.
Here is how magnesium works to bring relief from constipation: “The laxative effect of magnesium appears to come through two different mechanisms. Magnesium relaxes the muscles in the intestines which help to establish a smoother rhythm. Magnesium also attracts water; this increased amount of water in the colon serves to soften the stool, helping to make stools easier to pass.”
Source: http://ibs.about.com/od/constipation/a/magnesium.htm
Foods that contain magnesium which can help to keep your daily intake natural are “Green vegetables such as spinach are good sources of magnesium because the center of the chlorophyll molecule (which gives green vegetables their color) contains magnesium. Some legumes (beans and peas), nuts and seeds, and whole, unrefined grains are also good sources of magnesium [2]. Refined grains are generally low in magnesium [1-2]. When white flour is refined and processed, the magnesium-rich germ and bran are removed. Bread made from whole grain wheat flour provides more magnesium than bread made from white refined flour. Tap water can be a source of magnesium, but the amount varies according to the water supply. Water that naturally contains more minerals is described as “hard”. “Hard” water contains more magnesium than “soft” water.
Eating a wide variety of legumes, nuts, whole grains, and vegetables will help you meet your daily dietary need for magnesium.”
References:
- Institute of Medicine. Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes: Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D and Fluoride. National Academy Press. Washington, DC, 1999.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 2011. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 24.
Source: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
- Herbal remedies for constipation include dandelion and mallow teas. Simply steep the leaves in boiling water and drink. Tea for constipation is often recommended; I myself have experienced relief this way.
- When immediate constipation relief is all you want, a self-administered enema is probably your best option. Anyone who has ever used enemas as a means to get rid of constipation knows this is one of the quickest ways! What is an enema you ask?
“An enema is an injection of liquids into the colon via the anus. The most common form of enema is the use of large amounts of liquid to fill and flush the colon.” This website not only offers you 7 different natural enema solutions to choose from; they also tell you about their herbal enema solutions. They provide home enema instructions in an easy to understand way so you can get the full benefit of this natural remedy for constipation. Learn all you need to know about enemas by clicking on the link below…
- Prune juice is one of the very best natural cures for constipation; be careful not to drink too much, however. Keep in mind also that natural stool softeners generally do not bring about instant constipation relief. Drinking 1 glass in the morning and 1 glass at night should get your digestion back on track; more than that can keep you running to the toilet…
”Sorbitol in prune juice is a natural carbohydrate that the body does not easily digest, causing the sorbitol to absorb a lot of water as it passes through the intestines and successfully softening stools. However, sorbitol also is attracted to the natural bacteria in the gut, which produces excess gas. Too much prune juice will not only get those stools so soft that they are almost watery, but the gas produced in the gut can become very painful and create a constant urgency to use the bathroom.”
Source: http://voices.yahoo.com/drinking-prune-juice-constipation-8077706.html?cat=70.
Personally I prefer to just eat fresh fruit; prunes are known as one of the foods that relieve constipation.
- Constipation and bloating at times go hand in hand. Typical reasons for constipation and bloating are food intolerances (gluten in rye, barley, and wheat), stress, menstruation (some bloating or cramping is quite normal), etc. The purpose of this article is to provide information on how to relieve constipation fast, as well as offer some bloating remedies.
Bloating essentially is a buildup of too much gas (gas is part and parcel of the normal digestive process). When we eat, drink and chew, we swallow a lot of air, especially when we drink fizzy drinks and laugh and talk while we eat. “The human gut, particularly the large intestine (colon) is host to vast numbers of bacteria. Some can be potentially harmful, the so-called ‘pathogenic’ or bad bacteria, but some are beneficial to our health and wellbeing which are the friendly bacteria.”
Source: http://www.bloatingtips.co.uk/article/flatulence-and-bloating.html.
A delicate balance of the bacteria keeps the digestive system regular and smooth running. An imbalance caused by factors such as poor diet, stress, medication, etc. results in fewer good bacteria in the gut, known as dysbiosis.
As you remedy constipation, you will essentially also get rid of bloating. Some bloating remedies you can try to get rid of both bloating and constipation include:
- Foods rich in potassium (potassium helps to regulate the body’s fluid balance) such as mangoes, tomatoes, nuts, bananas, asparagus, and mangoes
- Refrain from drinking through a straw, talking, laughing, smoking, etc. while eating (these activities cause you to swallow excess air)
- Do not eat bread or pasta before bedtime, they may cause water retention
- Refrain from drinking fizzy drinks
- Artificial sweeteners, particularly sorbitol, (found in many sugar-free gums and candies), are digested with difficulty by some people. Avoid these if you suspect you may be one of them
- If you tend to swell up before and during menstruation, ensure your daily intake of 1200 mg calcium and 200-400 mg magnesium respectively is adhered to as these minerals greatly relieve PMS symptoms, i.e. bloating
- Freshly chopped parsley added to meals is a natural diuretic
- Irritable bowel syndrome treatment often consists of probiotics. Studies indicate that IBS, characterized by bloating, constipation, abdominal pain and/or diarrhea benefit positively from the probiotic strain B infantis found in yogurt (check the label for this strain – also in supplements and other cultured milk products) as it apparently brings about less bloating. Probiotics for constipation may very well be one of the best-tasting home remedies for gas to help you get rid of bloating
- Exercise daily to keep food moving through the digestive tract, i.e. walk for 15-20 minutes, cycle, run, swim, etc
We need to learn how to prevent constipation. Actually, this is simple as 123, and natural remedies for constipation are:
- Drink between 6 and 8 glasses of water daily (natural stool softener which helps in moving the fecal matter down the digestive tract)
- Foods that make you poop are rich in fiber! The daily recommendation for women is 25 grams; for men 38 grams, or 14 grams/1000 calories. Veggies such as beans, cabbage, and broccoli, fruits like apples, prunes, avocados, figs, grapes, pears, pineapples, and pears, as well as whole-grain foods are great sources of fiber. Keep in mind that fiber only will not keep you regular, drinking water and getting enough exercise is part and parcel of keeping stool soft
- Get some exercise. Walking, cycling, swimming, running, yoga, etc for constipation relief should become a daily routine which can greatly prevent constipation most of the time
Avoid constipation by observing the above. These simple measures can effectively cure constipation; taking the necessary actions is up to you…
In closing: There are times when constipation is accompanied by symptoms that are cause for concern. If your constipation condition started recently (acute constipation), or when you experience any of the following symptoms, i.e. abdominal pain and cramps, rectal bleeding, nausea and vomiting, weight loss, etc. seek immediate medical advice, as it may be indicative of a serious medical condition!. Chronic constipation (long term) can usually be cured with simple preventive actions such as home remedies for constipation…
Read more on constipation in toddlers…
