Home Remedies for Constipation – Symptoms and Natural Treatment

Do you need to learn about various constipation remedies? Before you answer that one, answer the following questions first:

Do you defecate three times or less every week? And when you do get to go, do you have a hard time, like having to strain hard and for a long time? And when your stool does come out, is it really hard or dry or both? After passing stool, do you feel like there’s still more inside you but you just can’t let it out?

If you answered yes to even just one of these questions, then your answer to the first one above should also be a resounding YES! You are suffering from constipation.

What is Constipation?

constipation shows by clenched feet on toilet

While most people’s automatic reaction when suffering from constipation is to take artificial laxatives, bear in mind that they only provide instant relief but does very little in solving the root causes of constipation. Besides, the habitual use of these laxative drugs can lead to lazy bowel movement syndrome- you’re essentially training your body to be dependent on these drugs to pass stool, and that can’t be good for you too. Fortunately, there are effective home remedies you can employ that will help you have a healthier digestive system, and therefore a healthier you!

But one must first know what causes constipation as this can help you make an informed decision when choosing which constipation remedies are best for you.

Normally, when food passes through the colon, it absorbs water from the food and uses that to form waste products. Muscles in your colon then contract to push the waste products, or stool, out towards the rectum at which point the stool would have absorbed the water and that’s why it comes out solid.

Constipation occurs when the colon absorbs too much water and/or when the colon muscles are contracting poorly or slower than normal which results in the stool moving very slowly and losing more water in the process.

Common Causes

• Certain drugs (among the most common are antacids containing aluminum and calcium, habitual use of laxative drugs, narcotics for pain such as morphine and codeine);

• Not enough fiber in your diet (fruits, vegetables and grains are good sources of soluble and insoluble fiber, and since fibers pass through your digestive system practically unchanged, they act like a broom that helps push your stool along the colon);

• Not enough water (which plays a vital role in the proper elimination of waste products from your body);

• Lack of physical activity (exercise and other physical activities help lessen the time it takes for the stool to pass through your large intestine, thus limiting the water your body absorbs from your stool keeping it soft and easier to pass).

One of the simplest constipation home remedies and one which is useful for baby constipation too, is to drink lots of fluids, particularly water. A properly hydrated body results in better bowel movement as they help make your stool softer and much easier to evacuate. But when we say fluids this does not include coffee, sodas and alcoholic beverages as too much of these can cause the exact opposite – dehydration.

Mind your fiber intake. Just 6 ounces of grains such as cereal, whole-wheat bread, and starchy vegetables such as beans, peas, potatoes and corn daily can provide your body with enough fiber to improve your digestive system.

Cutting back on processed and refined foods is also an effective home remedies for constipation as these types of food tend to worsen constipation.

Plan your eating:

Effective Natural Remedies for Constipation

• Half a glass of water with 1/4 teaspoon of Epsom salt;

• Half glass of olive oil mixed with half a glass of fruit juice has been known to be among the most effective constipation remedies;

• Castor oil, about 2-4 teaspoons can provide relief from constipation;

• For better lubrication and roughage, a teaspoon of linseed taken with water works well;

• Mangoes are high in fiber, and is therefore advisable as one of the best natural remedies for constipation;

• A guava or two everyday when suffering from constipation can bring about relief, specially when eaten with seeds as they help provide roughage to your diet, resulting in proper bowel movement;

• Half a papaya before breakfast acts as a natural laxative;

• The formula, “an apple a day,” is also effective as apples contain both soluble and insoluble fibers. An added benefit you get from eating apples aside from providing relief from constipation is that it helps get rid of bad cholesterol;

• Including brown rice as a staple in your diet can help a lot in dealing with constipation due to its high fiber content that helps move waste much easier through your body by making your stool heavier and wetter;

Special Homeopathic Remedy for Constipation

Triple Complex Digestion Tonic is a safe, non–addictive, natural remedy containing 100% homeopathic ingredients to relieve digestive discomfort, including diarrhea, constipation, flatulence and abdominal pain.

Learn more about Triple Complex Digestion Tonic here!

Also, ask your doctor about any medications you are taking as your constipation may be a result of taking any one or a combination of these drugs.

Closing Thoughts

Lastly, get physical! As mentioned above, the lack of enough physical activity can lead to constipation. So conversely, getting enough exercise and other physical activities make for a much healthier digestive system. There are a lot of simple exercises you can do that can do wonders for your body such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator; taking long walks to your destination whenever you can instead of taking the car or if you have a dog, take leisurely walks around the neighborhood with your pet; learn to do Kegels, or exercising your pelvic floor muscles – this is something you can do practically anytime, anywhere whether you’re at home watching TV or at work sitting on a chair.

These home remedies can help you avoid more serious illnesses as a result of chronic constipation. Hemorrhoids is one of the side effects of constipation which sometimes requires surgery to correct. And when bowels stay in our system longer than they should as they do when we’re constipated, toxins can leak into our blood stream. And one cannot ignore the link between poor bowel movement and colon cancer.

But with these simple natural constipation remedies and prevention methods, hopefully you may never get to experience the pain and discomfort that comes with constipation, and the more serious illnesses that they may cause.

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