Home Remedy for Constipation

Are you constipated?

That depends, I guess. It may mean different things to different people:
stools are infrequent, difficult to expel, hard stool, small stool or the sense of incomplete evacuation.

Generally speaking constipation results when the fecal matter (waste material) moves too slowly through the large bowel (colon).

A lot of people seek an easy way out once they begin to suffer from uncomfortable symptoms. Such as nausea, heartburn, indigestion, headache (yes!), bad breath (yuck!).

Constipation may lead to even more serious consequences: depression, insomnia, diverticulitis, appendicitis, hemorrhoids, fissures, bowel cancer, obesity etc. etc.

People spend around $400 million every on laxatives (in the U.S. alone). The widespread use of laxatives indicates how common constipation really is.

Causes of constipation

There is many. In most cases however constipation arises from insufficient amounts of fiber and fluids in the diet. Another common cause is lack of exercise, sedentary lifestyle, pregnancy. Constipation is often a result of advanced age, prescription drugs, iron pills etc.

In some cases constipation may signal abnormalities in the body or serious conditions that require very careful medical evaluation. More about causes of constipation

Home remedy for constipation

Constipation, even habitual or chronic, will normally respond well to these three things:

• more fiber in the diet
  
• more fluids (water) in the diet
  
• increased physical activity

Based on my own practice I consistently find that people simply drink too little water. Meeting you own body's requirement for water is a must. Water is absorbed in the colon. Not enough water means dry stools. Pure and simple.
Water is the first and most important home remedy for constipation.

I recommend that you add chlorophyll in the water you drink.
Chlorophyll acts as deodorizer. It will also block so-called alpha-toxins thus preventing cancer.

You mama was right: you do need fiber

Veggies, fruits and even more veggies.
All plants contain fiber. You must eat more of them. Fiber is a single most effective home remedy for constipation. If you cannot consume more veggies, whatever the reason, please consider dietary fiber.

Fiber absorbs water. It also easily absorbs toxins. It helps make your stool nice and soft. It will decrease bowel transit time and improve both frequency and quantity of bowel movements.

If you need additional support think about using fiber formulas.They act as bulking agents. They are normally composed of natural plant fibers derived from psyllium (hulls and seeds), kelp, agar, pectin and plant gums (such as guar gum).

Move that bowel!

The large bowel is a muscle. And like any other muscle it requires physical exercise. Walking is probably on of the best and easiest thing to do. You don't need a lot, try 30 minutes every day or even every other day. Moderate exercise is an easy yet essential home remedy for constipation.

Home remedy for constipation straight from the kitchen cupboard

Oh, well, prune juice, right? Yes, both prunes and prune juice posses excellent laxative effects. Prune juice enjoys the fame of an excellent, well known home remedy for constipation. About 8 ounces is normally pretty effective dose.

Bran is also effective home remedy for constipation. Half a cup of bran cereal is your starting point. You can increase up to 1 1/2 cup over several weeks.

Corn bran is better than wheat bran, while oat bran is less irritating and it absorbs fats better too.

Herbal remedies for constipation

Fiber formulas approximate most closely the natural mechanism promoting a bowel movement. Unfortunately they may not be enough in some individuals.
If this is so, you may want to resort to herbal formulas or individual herbs that are known to enhance and even repair the peristalsis.

• Aloe Vera Juice has healing and cleansing effect and aids in forming soft stools.
  

• Acidophilus, Bifidophilus (or other good bacteria supplement, such as Probiotic 11) is needed for proper intestinal function. It will help to overcome bad, putrefactive bacteria and other non-friendly critters in the intestinal tract. You must take a friendly-bacteria-supplement if you are using laxatives on a regular basis.

• Cascara Sagrada (Spanish for "sacred bark") - is a great peristalsis stimulant and enhancer. Every night at bedtime take one or two capsules. Find the amount that ensures a good bowel movement in the morning. Gradually decrease this dosage over couple of weeks. This will help to retrain your colon.

Retrain that bowel!

I am assuming that you have found and identified known causes of constipation. Here are few pointers to re-train your bowel:

• Consume high fiber diet, fruits and vegetables, use dietary fiber formulas

• Drink up to 8 glasses of water every day
  Remember this is the first and essential home remedy for constipation.

• Exercise at least 3 times a week for about 30 minutes, brisk walks are very good, but you can do biking, swimming etc.

• Never repress an urge ("if you have to, you have to")

• Try to defecate every day at approximately same time, e.g. after breakfast or immediately after exercise. Sit on a toilet even when the urge is not present, you need to learn a habit.

• Use only plant laxatives (see herbal remedies for constipation above). Try to slowly eliminate them to re-establish natural peristalsis.

• Avoid foods that impair the peristalsis: sugar, chocolate, all refined carbohydrates, processed and refined foods.

• Increase your intake of a good quality vitamin C.

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