When you are not regularly having bowel movements and you spend ages sitting on the toilet straining, with great difficulty trying to poop, something is not right in your stomach.
Worse, you battle to pass fasces that looks gross in color – all that heaving and battling produced hard little balls, and now you feel exhausted. Many of us have been there.
And it’s not good.
There are lots of reasons why you might not be pooping regularly; showing you that something is off and not 100% right.
Maybe you can go back to that time you ate too much spicy food, or what about that time that you were so ill with that virus?
Maybe you are dehydrated.
It could be also possible that you have some underlying digestive disease or illness that you are not aware of yet.
The fact of the matter is that the color, frequency, size, and shape of your poops can tell you quite a bit about the health of your body.
Relieving Constipation: Home Remedies And Other Treatments You Can Use
Today, we are going to talk about how to relieve constipation if that is what is ailing you right now.
What is constipation?
Constipation was long ago called “the great American tragedy”, no doubt because it was the most common health problem in the country at that time. And it came with many complications. [1].
Autointoxication was said to result from absorption into the bloodstream of toxic fecal waste products.
It was one of the chief causes of old age.
That’s what an old-time Professor Metchnikoff, a Russian physiologist once claimed [2].
He maintained that prevention of such intoxication would help to preserve youth and prolong life beyond the normal span.
Regular daily evacuation of the bowels was a very important step in maintaining and rebuilding a clean pure bloodstream.
It would keep you feeling healthy and youthful.
However, it is agreed by most people that laxatives and drugs do ultimately more harm than good in coping with the problem of constipation.
Many have used natural methods for dealing with sluggish bowels and we are going to show you them as well!
Natural products taken by people to overcome constipation
1) Less milk and more fruit
One person claims that their experience with laxatives ended abruptly when she was forced to go into hospital.
When she came out of hospital she decided on a very simple change to her diet.
She cut out bread and milk and added in more fruits [3], meat, and veggies.
Her intention was to help her asthmatic condition for which she had gone to the hospital for.
She said it immediately corrected her constipation.
2) Brewer’s Yeast
Brewer’s yeast is used as a nutritional supplement, helpful in aiding defecation [4].
It’s a rich source of chromium and a very rich source of vitamin B.
It is considered a probiotic and is used to aid in digestion.
It contains small organisms that help to maintain the function of the digestive tract.
The probiotic characteristics of brewer’s yeast make it very effective in dealing with diarrhea and enhancing the immune system.
3) Sunflower seeds
Sunflower seeds wear the crown when it comes to being regular. Sunflower seeds act as a laxative.
They also provide the body with plenty of good nutrition.
Sunflower seeds are very high in dietary fiber.
This fiber bulks up stools and facilitates the peristaltic movement of the intestines.
This optimizes the digestive process. Look at this amazing natural remedy here for an instant solution to constipation. You will love it.
4) Blackstrap molasses
Some people who have been bothered with constipation for years and who had to rely on pills for years say Blackstrap Molasses did the trick [5].
They take it in the morning and at night just before they retire.
5) Supplements can help
- Sprouted flaxseeds and chia seeds are known to help with constipation because they are high in fiber and healthy fats. If you want to make yourself poop immediately, eat around 2–3 tablespoons of seeds daily with water.
- Psyllium husk is a natural constipation treatment. It is high in fiber, helping to form stools. For both children over 12 years and adults, mix one tablespoon with 8 ounces of liquid once a day.
- Cod liver oil still does the trick. One tablespoon of cod liver oil mixed with fresh carrot juice will stimulate bowel movements.
- Magnesium works for constipation [6] in that it improves gut motility.
- Probiotics: Everyone needs to maintain a healthy intestinal tract for avoiding digestive problems. You need to take a probiotic supplement that contains at least 15 billion “live and active” organisms.
- Aloe Vera juice [7]: Aloe Vera juice helps to reduce inflammation and improve how often you have bowel movements. Take a quarter cup twice daily.
Causes of Constipation
1) High levels of stress
One study from the World Journal of Gastroenterology, says that “Psychological stress is an important factor for the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)”.
In fact, chronic stress makes it hard for people to relax and go to the toilet properly, particularly when our brain communicates these stress feelings to our digestive tracts.
2) Your diet is low in fiber
Fiber is a top priority when it comes to healthy pooping. It’s the binding substance that gives poop its form as it moves through the digestive tract.
f you are struggling with ongoing constipation, pay attention to how much fiber you eat on a daily basis.
3) Inflammation and autoimmune foods
Unfortunately, people do eat allergen and inflammatory foods frequently.
They don’t realize fully how this can totally mess up their digestive systems and even create serious conditions like leaky gut syndrome and autoimmune disease.
Look at these typical culprits that promote inflammation:
- Conventional dairy foods like yogurt, cheese, and milk that are not pasteurized or organic
- Gluten, which is found in wheat products and can make digestive disorders worse
- Processed soy is used in food like soy meat, soy milk, packaged and processed foods
- Large amounts of sugar
- Foods that are high in allergens like some grains, nuts, and shellfish make them difficult for some people to digest
4) Caffeine and alcohol
Caffeine, accompanied by stress can cause a whole range of negative reactions in the digestive tract – it will depend on each individual.
Some people experience an urge to poop after drinking caffeine whilst others have the opposite result.
But both caffeine and alcohol can dehydrate the colon and we all know that a well-hydrated digestive tract is imperative for creating healthy and normal poops.
5) Hormonal changes
Women report more constipation than men do, as well as more digestive issues and IBS.
Experts say that they believe it can be because of changes in hormones [8] that occur throughout the menstrual cycle of a woman.
Pregnancy and hormonal medications apart from feeling stress all cause constipation.
6) Underlying illnesses
If you are constipated or your poop is an unusual color, it is natural to jump to conclusions and think something is wrong.
If you are worried, you can see a doctor so he can discover if there are any underlying medical conditions at play.
Changes in your bowel habits can often point to serious conditions like liver disease, gallbladder problems, gut parasites, and more.
Getting constipation under control and poops back to normal
- Increase your fiber intake
- Drink plenty of water
- Supplement your diet with magnesium
- Take care of your liver
- Walk or get the body moving with exercise
- Manage stress
- Take probiotics
What are some good medications if you want to don’t go the natural route?
1) Take laxatives
Laxatives come in a variety of forms, from lubricants to stimulants, bulk-formers, and stool softeners; all working similarly.
They soften the stool and this helps it to pass through your colon.
Don’t overdo it on the laxatives.
They can cause constipation if you use them too often and for too long. They should just be a temporary measure.
2) Enemas
An enema is a medication that you insert into your rectum so you can flush out stool that won’t budge. An enema is a quick solution for constipation because it works within minutes.
Lifestyle changes [9] with short-term laxative use can fix a lot of cases of constipation.
Final Thoughts
So you’re having trouble pooping?
Well, you are not alone.
Most of us know about it.
Even babies and children know the discomfort constipation brings.
Constipation accounts for over 2.5 million doctor visits every year by people.
It might be normal to have trouble going to the bathroom every now and then when you travel or are stressed.
But it’s another thing to experience when your quality of life is compromised regularly.
Constipation comes with some nasty symptoms too such as gas, bloating, lower back pain, and even anxiety and fatigue.
Consumers spend millions of dollars on laxatives and other prescriptions to deal with constipation.
Constipation can be prevented – that’s the good news.
We have given you natural relief remedies as well as other solutions if you are a sufferer.
The natural constipation relief remedies include wonderful solutions from nature and also drinking warm liquids.
Even though laxative teas, tablets, and other solutions might temporarily help relieve constipation, they can still be overused and cause side effects.
A much safer way to control constipation is through natural laxatives like a healthy diet, exercise, and reducing stress.
You also get something like a salt-water flush which serves as an enema we mentioned above.
Laxatives are very dangerous when you use them as a “purging” dieting technique or you take them too frequently and you would be much better off if you change your lifestyle, eat healthily, and exercise.
Then your poops are going to be healthy too, and that means they have the right form and smell healthier too.
References
- [1] https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/stomach-liver-and-gastrointestinal-tract/constipation/
- [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3607857/
- [3] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322382
- [4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11388452/
- [5] https://www.thehealthy.com/digestive-health/constipation/home-remedies-constipation/
- [6] https://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/MBCP/Magnesium.pdf
- [7] https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/aloe-vera-juice-for-ibs
- [8] https://www.healthline.com/health/menopause-constipation/
- [9] https://www.healthline.com/health/cic/lifestyle-tips-and-therapy-options/