Click here to read Constipation part 1: health issues and causes
Apart from the discomfort, there are other important reasons we want to avoid becoming constipated. Constipation can lead to serious health issues:
- Colon polyps and Colon Cancer
- Diverticulitis – where impacted faeces push on the lining of your colon forming permanently bulging sacs where food can get trapped and lead to infection and sepsis
- Increasing likelihood of Parkinson’s Disease – because of autointoxication
- Autointoxication – which can lead to many disease states including MS, Dementia, Parkinson’s and cancer
If we take Parkinson’s Disease: Studies found that men who had difficulty producing one bowel movement a day had a 2.7-fold increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease compared with men who had one movement per day. This rose to a 4.1-fold increase compared with men reporting two bowel movements daily1. This is not surprising if we consider that Parkinson’s is most likely caused by toxicity in the first place and constipation prevents the body from eliminating toxins.
Natural Treatment for Constipation
So what can we do if we are not having those magic 2-3 bowel movements daily? I would suggest the following steps before resorting to laxatives.
- Safely remove your amalgam fillings with a mercury aware dentist (more on this in later). Metal toxicity, above all mercury toxicity (from your mercury fillings), causes chronic constipation
- Increase your water intake – dehydration constipates
- Increase your dietary fibre – lack of fibre constipates
- Exercise to aid bowel movements – your colon needs and loves movement
- Soak 5 prunes in water and eat the prunes and drink the fluid the following morning
- Drink unsweetened prune juice
- Papaya is a natural laxative, take daily with a little fresh lime juice to enhance the taste
- Take Magnesium Oxide for a limited period of time until frequency improves e.g. a very effective yet gentle product is OxyTech from Dulwich Health, a combination of Magnesium Oxide bound to Ozone and Oxygen, start with one at bedtime and gradually increase until your bowels are moving daily with soft but formed stools, adjust the dose over time: https://dulwichhealth.co.uk/product/oxytech-180-capsules/
- Take a multi-strain probiotic at bedtime
- Water enemas bring instant relief to adults and children. Within seconds of doing a water enema your bowel will be voiding. Enemas are available on Amazon.co.uk.
- Colon irrigation (Darmspülung) – water is pumped into the colon and faeces, even those impacted on the bowel wall, are loosened and flushed out. This is advisable where there has been long-term constipation and / or parasite infection
Infants can also suffer from constipation if they lack beneficial gut flora (more on this later). A healthy infant should be having three easy bowel movements daily. If not, your baby is constipated. There are simple natural remedies you can give your baby to help with this.
Infants constipation can arise when they transition from breast milk to solid foods, if they are dehydrated, if after weaning their diet is too low in fibre, or simply changing formula milk.
- Papaya is a well-known laxative. This could be given mashed or as part of a smoothie with milk or water
- Milk or coconut water (if dairy intolerant) kefir, rich in beneficial gut flora, supports a healthy gut and regular bowel movements
- Stewed apple or apple juice mixed with water is a good natural laxative. Fennel tea is also good. You can buy fennel tea or seep bruised fennel seeds in hot water until cool
- Gently massaging your baby’s tummy in an anti-clockwise direction will help move the contents of the colon in the right direction
- Increase water consumption by giving ½ glass water 2-3 times a day. Dehydration leads to constipation
- Prune juice has a laxative effect as do prunes soaked overnight in hot water. Start with small amounts to avoid causing wind
- Give high fibre fruits such as plums, apricots, pears and peaches
- Place your baby on his/her back and move her legs in a circular motion, like riding a bike. The motion can help release pressure in the abdomen
If you have laxatives be careful not to take them for prolonged periods of time to avoid your bowel becoming lazy. Far better is a quick water enema – 30 seconds can be more than enough. Also squatting on the loo (yes, feet on the loo seat!) can aid evacuation as the exit route is straighter than when sitting. For those of you who find squatting beneficial, squatty potties are available online!
There is so much you can do to keep your bowels healthy and most of it tastes good!
References
