Lack of exercise, not eating enough fiber or being overweight or underweight are just some of the causes of irregular bowel movements and hard, painful stools. However, harsh laxatives shouldn’t be necessary to get things moving again.
HOME REMEDIES
- Drink a glass of prune or elderberry juice, diluted apple cider vinegar or warm water honey in the morning on an empty stomach.
- Alternatively, first thing each morning drink a large of warm water mixed with the juice of a lemon, this will stimulate the bowel and liver.
- Dissolve 1 teaspoon of sea salt in 500ml of warm water and drink. This should soften stools.
- Before each meal take 1 teaspoon of herbal bitters in water to improve general digestive function and stimulate the production of bile, the body’s laxative
PRUNES AND OTHER DRIED FRUIT RELIEVE CONSTIPATION NATURALLY
- Try a tried-and-trusted German cure. For centuries, Germans have touted the curative effects of the pickled cabbage dish sauerkraut. In fact, sauerkraut is rich in Lactobacillus bacteria, which help soften stools and keep intestinal flora healthy.
- Give yourself a daily stomach massage with a cold face washer (working in a clockwise direction) to stimulate a sluggish - intestine.
- Slippery elm and psyllium are bulking laxatives, substances that have the capacity to swell in the bowel, making the stool softer and easier to pass. Add 1-2 teaspoons of either or both to your morning cereal or to a smoothie.
PREVENTION
- Consume only moderate amounts of fats and sugars, which slow the operation of the intestines.
- Make room in your daily diet for additional digestion-regulating fibers, such as wheat or oat bran and linseeds (flaxseeds). Sprinkle them onto cereal.
- Combine a high-fiber diet with ample fluid intake.
- Avoid the tannins contained in dark chocolate, cocoa, black tea and red wine, as they disable digestive muscles. Stay away from these foods if you are prone to constipation.
- Exercise, such as a bike ride or a regular walk, is often all it takes to get sluggish intestine going.
- Take a probiotic. Good bacteria keep things moving along nicely. Yogurt containing acidophilus may help, or opt for a supplement.
- Relax and take your time. Being pressed for time on toilet doesn’t help.
Quick tip: Eat fruit, vegetable and whole grains – high fibre foods.
LAXATIVE TEA
These herbs regulate digestion.
Ingredients:
50g dried peppermint leaves
15g fennel seeds, ground
15g dried elderflowers
10g dried chamomile flowers
Procedure:
Mix the ingredients together and pour 1 cup (250ml) of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of the mixture. Leave it steep for 5 minutes, then strain. Drink a freshly prepared cup three times a day.
Do you suffer from frequent constipation? See a trusted medical professional for a more comprehensive check-up and treatment plan.