Constipation

Index of Diseases / Health Conditions ... Medicinal Foods, Herbs, Spices & Household Items

The below provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. Any treatment protocol should be discussed with a qualified healthcare practitioner ... Please refer to: Medical & Legal Disclaimer.

According to researchers at the University of Iowa, about 15% to 20% of the U.S. population report chronic constipation. (Clin. Castro Hep. 2007 Mar5(3):331-338) and about 4 million Americans report continual constipation. Research indicates that this problem gets worse as you age.

Opinions differ about what constitutes constipation. Conventional doctors believe one bowel movement daily or every other day may be sufficient. Natural practitioners believe that 2 to 3 bowel movements daily are necessary to keep the bowel functioning optimally.

Factors that contribute to the problem:

• Diet:
  • Eating too many unrefined foods lacking fiber
  • A diet missing vital nutrients, such as magnesium, vitamin C and Bs and choline.
  • Inadequate digestive enzymes







 
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• Calcium Supplements: Calcium supplements are frequented indicated in bone loss / osteoporosis and often, the recommended dose often is 1,200 mg a day. However, supplementing with over 800 mg a day or using a carbonate-based supplement appears to have a drying, muscle-contracting effect on the intestines resulting in constipation. For this reason, if these symptoms occur, it's best to switch to calcium citrate. It's easier on the gut and better absorbed by the body. Alternatively, pair calcium with magnesium. In addition to boosting calcium absorption by ~70%, magnesium has muscle-relaxing properties that cancel out calcium's intestine-contracting effect. (You can purchase it as one convenient supplement: NOW Calcium & Magnesium at local drug stores.  Or ask for a recommendation at your local health food store).







 
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• Drinking too little water







 
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• Too little exercise







 
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• Overuse of laxatives and enemas







 
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• Side effects from pharmaceutical drugs







 
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• Stress

Beneficial Changes:

• Exercise on a regular basis.
  • Walking. Try to walk at least 45 minutes a day, six days a week.
  • A rebounder is a wonderful exercise tool plus it helps "loosens things up."







 
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• Improve your diet:
   
  • Reduce your consumption of refined foods.
  • Instead, eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and fiber-rich whole grain.
    • Flaxseeds contain approximately 28% fiber, soluble and insoluble. The insoluble fiber helps to relieve constipation, improve colon health and may prevent colon cancer. The soluble fiber comes primarily from mucilage fiber, which is also a great stool softener when consumed with lots of fluid. It also prevents toxicity which results from constipation.
    • The fiber in bran helps relieve constipation and dry stools by allowing the stools to soak up additional moisture and thus move more easily
    • Bananas are high in fiber that can help restore normal bowel action without having to resort to laxatives.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
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  • Don't forget the enzymes!







 
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• Drink plenty of water.

  When you are dehydrated, everything "dries up" causing / aggravating constipation. I once read drinking between 24 to 28 ounces of water early morning, before eating or drinking any else is a wonderful way to hydrate after a long night and according to Chinese medicine helps with elimination and detoxification. I have been following this routine for many months now and this one habit I intent to keep.

  • Don't forget: if you eat fiber, but don't drink enough water - this will CAUSE constipation.







 
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• Maintain a daily routine. Go to the bathroom the same day every day.

Elimination Assistance:

Herbs can act as bowel toners, stimulating laxatives, bulking agents and lubricants.

• Bowel toning herbs, such as the formulation known as Triphala as well as Cape Aloe, speed bowel transit time. They help waste matter pass through your system more efficiency by improving muscle function.

• Stimulant laxatives, such as rhubarb, encourage the large intestine to empty more frequently.






 
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• Lubricating herbs, such as Slippery Elm and Marshmallow, encourage bowel movements by coating the bowel's contents with a film that cuts back on friction and facilitates the movement of waste products. The advantage is that the stool remains soft and excreting them is more comfortable.

Recent investigations into the herbal formula Trihala have shown that it possesses clear health benefits beyond those that it is usually used for (constipation) -- specifically lab studies indicate that it generally helps protect against the stress of a noisy environment (Mol Cell Biochem 2006 Feb,283(1-2):67-74), it may boost our resistance to illness (Bio Pharm Bull 2005 Aug.28(8);1398-403) and it can promote the healing of infection (Jrnl Surg Res 11/26/07).

A Doctor's Perspective on Colon Cleansers
by Dr. Edward F. Group III

Most herbal cleansers on the market today contain either stimulant laxatives or bulk fiber fillers, if not both. I recommend that stimulant laxatives, herbal or not, be used sparingly since the body easily can become dependent on them. Bulk fiber, while generally helpful for relieving minor constipation, tends to only push waste through the middle of the colon without actually cleaning it. When taken with inadequate amounts of fiber, bulk fiber also can cause constipation.

I personally recommend the oxygen-based cleanser Oxy-Powder to all my patients. However, for those who are absolutely insistent on using herbal cleansing products, I strongly recommend only trying products that are 100% organically certified and carry a documented safety record." Dr. Edward F. Group III

Also refer to: Anti Aging Digestion Enzymes Are Essential For Life

Information contained on this website is provided as general reference only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought.
 

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