If you suffer from constipation you know that this is not a fun thing. It is rather uncomfortable and sometimes downright hurtful. According to allopathic medicine, having less than 3 bowel movements a week is considered constipation. However according to holistic/alternative medicine, having a bowel movement only 1x a day is considered constipation. Constipation is having infrequent bowel movements, or the inability to pass hard stools, (and at Six Nations - little bwooht balls). There may be a sense of incomplete bowel movement, possibly a prairie dog sticking out, but just having a look around. There may also be access straining during a bowel movement.
Causes of constipation:
- Lack or deficiency of water or dietary fibre
- Lack of nutrients like Magnesium
- Consistently delaying the urge to pass stools, (when you got to go, go!)
- Medication side effects
- Mental illnesses (depression, anxiety)
- Hypothyroidism
- Sedentary lifestyle, little exercise
- Abdominal or pelvic surgery
- Dysbiosis or imbalanced gut flora
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Terminally ill patients as they lose muscle tone
Someone might advise you to add more fibre to your diet and drink more water. However the good advice of one of my Naturopathic instructors said never do this until you get things moving first. For this a product containing Casacara Sagrada will do just this. ***Very Important Alert*** You never want to use this more that 4-5 days. Any product containing this ingredient will have the same warning, along with pregnant women and children 12 and under should avoid laxatives. If you used too much and too long it can cause abdominal cramping, loss of electrolytes, and dependency - loss of bowel function on your own. Herbolax by Genestra is one such product.
Another remedy that I recently came across for constipation is using the avocado seed or pitt. If you have a powerful enough blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec you can grind in with fruit for a small size smoothie. Why small? Because it taste bitter as heck. Some recommend to remove the outer brown skin of the pitt. You can roast it or use it raw. I have come across one reference of not using this too often as it can cause constipation. Although, I am not entirely sure, I would resort to using only occasionally, for possibly the same reason as the Casacara Sagrada.
Another important remedy for constipation is using probiotics. Genestra, New Roots, Flora and other companies do have specific probiotics for IBS or Colon care. Certain strains are more beneficial for the colon than others. There are also traveller's probiotics from New Roots and other shelf stable probiotics. Of course there are probiotics for children as well, Genestra's HMF Child is probably one of the best tasting ones and is a chewable tablet. They also carry probiotics for babies. You can also check my dispensary for various brands of probiotics in the product search.
Digestive Enzymes such as New Roots, Bio Enzymes or Digest Plus by Genestra also help. There are other Digestive Enzymes available in my dispensary as well. For constipation it is important that they have the added Betaine HCl or Hydrochloride. This helps digest the food more easily and gets the peristalsis, the action of the intestines to move food particles down the tract.
Homeopathics can also help with constipation, Dr Reckeweg's, R 37 is great and also has a safe child's version, even okay for babies. For acute constipation the recommendation is to take the recommended number of drops every hour with plenty of water in-between until it produces a bowel movement.
Now once things are moving or you are having some productive bwoohts (BM.s) you can add the fibre daily. Some people like the Psyllium husks like that in Alpha Science - Ultimate Fibre Plus, or Flora's Clear Fibre, or Platinum's Fibre Plus. This along with the increase in water intake will help to keep things moving. Other options are the ground flax seed, chia seeds, hemp for added fiber to the diet. The old reliable apple is great for fibre intake as it has apple pectin. So is prune juice for some. The ideal schedule is to have a BM shortly after every meal, so 3x a day.
Since I like Essential Oils, some of these will also help if rubbed or massaged on the abdomen in a warmed carrier oil or applying a heated buckwheat pack, heating pad or hot water bottle. Oils like peppermint, pepper, ginger or fennel oil are great for this.
Flora's Cleanse Smart is great if the constipation is not to severe.
Now we mustn't forget the Magnesium. Magnesium helps to draw water into the stools, making them softer and easier to pass. Because it is a muscle relaxant, it helps to relax the intestinal wall that might be causing constipation. Sometimes people use Magnesium Citrate like that in Natural Calm to help keep them regular. Magnesium Bisglycinate is also a great choice.
One other deserving mention here - is the squatty stools. They allow the puborectalis muscle to relax so the colon does not stay kinked when sitting on the toilet. Much like a kinked garden hose, the great toilet invention allows more blockage of the colon. This is especially true if you have installed a high boy potty for easier lift off for the elderly.
So don't be just sitting uncomfortably on the john, the throne, get things moving because chronic constipation can lead to more serious things like Haemorrhoids and other colon ailments. The colon may be holding an extra 10 or so pounds. This excess may enlarge and stretch out the colon, irritate the colon mucosa, harm the anal canal, and may produce toxins related to fermentation and rotting. I am sure you don't want that! Check out what might be helpful in the Life Sustainers store, or here in the Dispensary, if you want products delivered right to your door!