Home Remedy for Constipation
Homeopathy for Constipation
Chinese Medicine for Constipation
Acupressure for Constipation
Massage Theraphy for Constipation
Medicine and Products for Constipation
Warning signs for Constipation

Take honey as natural laxative. Honey mixed with warm water has been used by ancient Egyptians as natural laxative. This is taken every morning for 3 to 4 days until the constipation is cured.

Olive oil as natural laxative. In the Mediterranean region, people have long relied on olive oil as a cure for constipation. Olive oil is taken every few hours until the stool is expelled. Olive oil (or any vegetable oil) acts as a lubricant by coating the stool and promoting easier passage.

Eat roughly at the same time every day and eat slowly. By this way, the body is trained for regular bowel movements.

Don’t ignore the urge to go to the bathroom. Holding it in is one of the common cause of constipation.

Don’t strain, sit in a relax position. Others use a footstool to make a squatting position and gives better leverage.

Take time to eat, breathe slowly, and chew food thoroughly.* Eat smaller, more frequent meals and avoid overeating at one sitting.

Homeopaths when prescribing remedies for constipation take into account a person's constitutional type. A constitutional type is defined as a person's physical, emotional, and psychological makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most appropriate treatment for each individual. Homeopaths consider the following remedies for the treatment of constipation based on their knowledge and experience

Bryonia – Bryonia is prescribed for constipation with large, hard, dry stools; this remedy is most appropriate for individuals who tend to be disagreeable, prefer cool rooms with open air, and whose thirst is quenched with cold drinks

Lycopodium – Lycopodium is prescribed constipation with small, hard stools with flatulence and bloating following a meal; this remedy is appropriate for individuals, particularly children, who fear being alone and have worsened symptoms in the late afternoon and early evening

Calcarea carbonica – Calcarea carbonica is prescribed for constipation without the urge to have a bowel movement; for children who often feel better when constipated rather than when bowel habits are normal; this remedy is most appropriate for individuals who tend to be overweight, lack stamina, experience heartburn, and produce sour-smelling belches; the individual may also suffer from pica (a craving for something not normally considered nutritional, such as dirt, clay, or chalk) and milk sensitivity.

Nux vomica – Nux vomica is prescribed for constipation accompanied by a constant urge to move the bowels, but with little success; or for constipation associated with overeating, alcohol, or drug use; this remedy is most appropriate for individuals who tend to be sensitive to noise, odors, and light

Silica – Silica is prescribed for constipation with the sensation that stool remains in the rectum after bowel movements; children for whom this remedy is appropriate may be wary of going to the bathroom; this remedy is most appropriate for individuals who tend to dislike cold temperatures but prefer cold foods and drinks

 

Practitioners of Chinese medicine thought that constipation develops when there is an imbalance in the Large Intestine and Stomach organ system. Constipation is treated by prescribing spicy foods to stimulate peristalsis. The following foods are recommended; ginger, radishes, orange peel, persimmons, and rhubarb.

 

The studies investigating acupuncture treatment for constipation have been small and have produced both positive and negative results. There is no conclusive scientific evidence that acupuncture can treat constipation. The results from scientific studies suggest that acupuncture is fairly individual. It may help your chronic constipation and it may not. Talk to your doctor about whether it is safe for you to try.

Acupressure can be used for the treatment of constipation. Try applying constant penetrating pressure at the following points:

Large Intestine 11, located at the outer end of your elbow crease on the thumb side.

Large Intestine 4, located on the back of your hand where the bones of your thumb and index finger meet.

Conception Vessel 6, located three finger-widths directly below your navel.

Stomach 25, located four finger-widths to either side of your navel

Stomach 36, located four finger-widths below your kneecap and one finger-width toward the outside of your shinbone.

 

Therapeutic massage can help reduce stress and help relieve constipation related to nervous tension and the resultant intestinal spasm.

 

Medicines and products for Constipation:

Laxatives: Many people use laxatives to relieve constipation. Some laxatives are safe for long-term use; others should be used only occasionally. Some are good for preventing constipation; others can be used to treat it.

Bulking agents adds bulk to the stool and stimulate peristalsis, such as bran and psyllium. Some Trade Names are: METAMUCIL, KONSYL, to be taken as directed.

Stool softeners are detergents that decrease the surface tension of the stool, allowing water to penetrate the stool more easily and soften, such as docusate. Some Trade Names are: COLACE

Suppositories or gentle laxatives, such as mineral oil or milk of magnesia, may also be used to establish regular bowel movements.

If constipation does not clear up after a week of self care using the above mentioned approaches, or is associated with vomiting, abdominal pain, or fever, consult your physician.

Pregnancy

Constipation is common in pregnancy. This is usually relieved by changing diet and drinking more water. When pregnant, DO NOT take herbs that are stimulating to the digestive tract since they can induce contractions. If diet and drinking plenty of water does not help consult your doctor.

Constipation in Children

DO NOT give laxatives or enemas to children without specific instruction from a doctor.

Other Medical Conditions

Fecal impaction cannot be treated with diet or easily with laxatives. The hard stool usually has to be removed by a doctor or nurse using a gloved finger. Sometimes, the impaction can be resolved with an enema.

People who have any degree of bowel obstruction, abdominal inflammation, or kidney or heart failure should NOT take over the counter laxatives without talking to their physician.