Home Remedies and Herbs for Constipation

Constipation is defined by a change in a person’s regular bowel movements where they become infrequent and the stool becomes hard, dry and difficult to pass. It often results in abdominal pain and requiring considerable pressure in attempting to pass a stool. ^1,2,4 Officially, constipation is when a person has three or less bowel movements during a week and the condition persists for more than several weeks at a time. Constipation can be acute where it comes on suddenly and lasts only a brief period or it can be chronic where is carries on for months and sometimes continually.^1,2,4 Most people experience constipation at some point in life and it is very normal to occur. ¹ Fortunately, there are many very effective constipation natural remedies including treating constipation in children.

What Causes Constipation?

There can be many constipation causes. Some are dietary, some are lifestyle and some are the result of some other abnormality in the body such as certain medications or from surgical anesthetic. Other constipation causes may include: ^1,3

• Blockages in the bowel, colon or rectum
• Problems in the lower gastrointestinal (Lower GI) tract
• Difficulty in the elimination muscles
• Hormonal disorders
• Disease such as diabetes and colon cancer
• Pregnancy

In some cases, less common conditions like pernicious anemia and Crohn’s disease may cause symptoms of gastritis as well ³.

Constipation Symptoms

Constipation symptoms are very noticeable and can be quite uncomfortable. Common are: ^1,3

• Irregular bowel movements
• Passing three or fewer stools per week
• Hard, dry and lumpy stools
• Straining during bowel movements
• Abdominal discomfort
• Feeling that bowel is never emptied
• Needing help to empty bowel such as pressing on abdomen or using finger

Natural Remedies and Herbs for Constipation

Constipation cures are some of the most well-known and proven home remedies known to humans. Primarily they soften the stool and relax the bowel and abdomen muscles so the stool can be easily and regularly passed. The easiest, most economical and effective constipation natural remedies are: ⁵

• Prune Juice - Prunes are dried plums. The juice extracted from drying prunes is by far the best known natural remedy for constipation. Drinking several ounces of prune juice several times per day will loosen the stool and keep it loose.
• Olive Oil - Olive oil has been used as a constipation cure for thousands of years in additional to being a staple in the Mediterranean diet. The oil increases moisture in the bowel and softens the stool and acts as a lubricant in letting the stool slide through the bowel to be discharged.
• Psyllium Seed Husks - The husks from the psyllium plant’s seeds are not able to be digested in the human system. When ingested, they act as agent that allows the stool to be easily fractured and allowing the stool to break up. Psyllium seed husks should be taken with large amounts of water for a constipation cure.
• Ginger, Milk and Sugar - Mixing diced ginger root or powder with sugar and milk is an excellent laxative and effective as a constipation home remedy.
• Molasses - Molasses is another natural remedy for getting the bowel to move. Just one teaspoon of blackstrap molasses can be effective. Because the taste may be bitter, adding another home remedy like prune juice or ginger with milk and sugar can really get things moving.
• Magnesium - Magnesium is a mineral naturally found in many foods. Taken in concentrated form, magnesium is a well-known constipation cure. It relaxes the bowel muscle and draws water into the stool.

References

1. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/constipation/basics/definition/con-20032773
2. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/constipation
3. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-diseases/constipation/Pages/symptoms-causes.aspx
4. https://medlineplus.gov/constipation.html
5. https://draxe.com/natural-constipation-relief-remedies/