Natural ways to ease constipation

Constipation is defined as infrequent bowel movements or dry stools leading to a build up of body waste. Constipation often leaves you feeling sluggish, bloated and sometimes, slightly embarrassed.

For many people in the western world the C word is relatively recent problem.  In the old days folk lived more frugally, there were less ‘good’ things to eat. Over a century ago manufacturers developed machines to make sugar and wheat ‘pure’ and ‘refined’, basically taking all the goodness out the them, making them white and tastier.  Naturopaths of the time warned against such folly as it could only lead to ill health. And  thus it has been proven.

What are common contributors to constipation?

White flour which is present in bread, cakes, biscuits and many other processed foods can cause much of the constipation problem. Only a generation back flour and water would be used to hang wallpaper, very successfully! Considering this, it is quite obvious that it can really glue up the intestines.

Sweets, particularly chocolate can have the same constipating quality.  Often I have been beside the bed of a sick person, seriously bunged up, and their well meaning friends and relatives have heaped chocolates and sweets on the top of the locker. Sadly, they are not doing their loved ones any favours.

Too many eggs, they ‘bind’, and too many dairy products are also to blame.

Prescription drugs too have their part to play in this problem. It is said that constipation is a small price to pay for the benefits of some relief from what so ever the medical condition was.  Again I have seen the distress of older people who have been free of constipation all their lives only to suffer it as a result of taking a drug for pain or heart problems. And they are so miserable.

So, the two major factors are wrong foodstuffs an medicine.

Natural ways to ease constipation

There is a booming market in laxatives, and many of them do work.   That is good, but the problem is that they will make the bowel lazy, and that is not so good.   It is necessary to tackle the problem yourself.

Take time to think about the food that you eat.  Write it down, make a list. Highlight the foods that you know to be bad for you, the floury products, dairy products and sweets. What is left? How much of that list included fruit and vegetables? I mean fruit and vegetables that come from the fruit and veggie counter, and not included in some processed meal.

Just lately the UK government is promoting the idea that we need to eat five a day.  That’s a start. So much better if you can exceed that. Yes, it is difficult if you have a family to consider, and not enough time to shop or give  the daily food much thought.It is more than just filling a hole, it is necessary to your whole way of life. Colour on the plate, as many good fruit and veg as possible, and organic.

Why organic?

With any illness there is a need to detoxify the body to give it a fighting chance to recover.   Produce that is not organic contain many harmful pesticides, and just think that if they are used to kill pests then over a period of time they will be harmful for us too.

Now to include the fruit and vegetables that you need. Fruit should be easier to consume. A daily orange at breakfast perhaps kiwi at night, most fruit has a laxative effect. Current thinking is that fruit should be consumed before lunch time.   If you prefer, fruit may be juiced into a pleasant drink. I have come across young women who shudder at the thought of fresh fruit for lunch, when a bottle of coke and a bag of crisps would appeal more.

Eating more vegetables could help ease constipation

It might be harder to persuade on the vegetable front.  Start by introducing a few into the meals, lightly cooked.   Then develop to the raw state, and after a period of time you may find that these are preferable.   It is quite easy to juice, carrots are very pleasant. Try making a coleslaw using carrots, raw onion and cabbage. If required a bit of mayonnaise adds interest.  To this  add fennel and celery. That is a good  basic.   Around the plate arrange nibble sized pieces of broccoli and cauliflower, three different colours of pepper, radish, mini sweet corn, tomato, green beans,  grated beetroot and celeriac.

It is quite easy to have a plateful of raw veggies, looking very colourful.  The supermarkets now a days have a good range, just look and see. To this cottage cheese could be added.

Oats are also excellent, a daily bowl of porridge for breakfast and some oat cakes instead of bread, it is all do-able!

Both the vegetables and the oats contain roughage and fibre which will help things along.

What else can you do to ease constipation?

Drinking plenty of water rather than tea or coffee. Fennel tea is available in health food shops and will help the problem.

Taking liquorice, the Panda variety in the Health Food shops is particularly good.

The Bowel Herbs or laxatives

Rasayana No 1 is an A. Vogel Institute (AVI) product and available from an independent health food shop.   This is a gentle laxative containing Frangula bark.   It is described in the literature as ‘a gentle laxative that does not glue you to the loo’.

If you need ‘a ruthlessly effective laxative’ then try Linoforce, also by AVI. This contains Senna as well as Linseed.

AVI recommend that with severe constipation, blood in the stool or vomiting, then a doctor needs to be consulted.

AVI also offer a Bowel Essence. This is a composition of the Flower Essences  to help with the emotional stresses of such a problem.

It has to be said that with any plant or herbal product the results will not be immediate, so persevere, it probably took a long time to get into that state, give the miracles a chance to work.

Aromatherapy

Another aid would be to massage the tummy in a clockwise direction using cream with oils added. The most suitable oils are Marjoram Rosemary and Fennel.

This is just a small sample of what you can do to help yourself. Remember to look at your dietary habits.