Constipation Advice

[Therapist1]

Hi everyone, I've posted some constipation advice below as a few people have asked. Please remember individuals respond to different measures but everyone needs water!

I hope this is of help to some of you.

CONSTIPATION ADVICE

Constipation is a very common problem in our society today and the toxic load on the body can cause many symptoms including - headache, lethargy, bloating, abdominal pain, depression, bad breath, skin problems including acne and eczema, weight gain and increase in clothes size. If left untreated it can lead to much more serious illness! Occassionally it is necessary to hospitalise the patient for up to 5 days to clear many pounds of waste (up to 20lbs in serious cases) from the colon. This is addressed on the NHS by prescribing irritating laxatives which can make the bowel dependant and in severe cases administering enemas 2-3 times daily and giving bowel clearing solutions such as Picolax/ Clean Prep etc. Colonic Irrigation is not available on the NHS but I believe this is being looked at.

There are many different causes of constipation and the most common ones are listed below:

Dehydration

Diet low in Fibre (Fruit and vegetables, pulses etc)

Lack of Exercise

Diet high in sugar, salt and saturated fat

High Wheat intake (cakes, bread, pasta etc)

High Dairy intake including hard cheeses

Fast Foods/ Convenience Meals

Caffine and Alcohol

Heriditary Factors

Medications

Recreational Drug Use

A bowel in good working order can make a huge difference to health and wellbeing on a daily basis and ideally your bowel should be moving at least once a day - the amount of food that you consume should be released in roughly the same quantities, otherwise it is clogging up in the bowel and over the years becomes hard and compacted onto the bowel wall, a toxic, acidic load which you are carrying around with you!!

Listed below are some measures to help get the bowel back in good working order and you back to good health!

Start by increasing the amount of plain water/ herbal teas to 2 litres daily

Decrease, with a view to cutting out tea coffee and fizzy drinks

Reduce Alcohol intake

Increase dietery fibre in the form of fruit, veg, beans, chick peas, lentils etc

Reduce with a view to cutting out wheat products, bread, pasta, cakes etc

Reduce dairy intake

Increase exercise

Avoid red meat

Chew food well before swallowing to aid digestion

Manage stress levels

Massage your abdomen morning and evening for a couple of minutes to release waste and wind and help relieve abdominal tension

Helpful Tips and Advice

It is best to drink filtered or bottled water. For variety add some Thorncroft Detox Cordial available from health food shops

Digestif Herbal tea and also Fennel, Chamomile, Liquorice and Peppermint Teas are great for digestion

If drinking alcohol have a glass of water in between alcoholic drinks and take milk thistle before and after drinking.

Take vegetables in all different forms eg raw, stir fry, soups, in stews, grilled etc

Any beans, lentils, chick peas etc are great sources of dietary fibre

Eat fresh fruit on an empty stomach and don't eat anything for an hour after

Excellent exercise is fast walking, trampolining, hula hoop, fit ball etc.

Supplements and Natural Remedies

Soak 2 heaped dessertspoons of linseeds in water overnight. Stir and drink in the morning

Pro Biotics

Psyllium Husks

Aloe Vera Gel

Slippery Elm with fennel

Co Ton (cascara compound)

Dr Stuart's Lax plus tea

Take Omega oils/linseed oil/starflower oil/ hemp oil

Black Strap Molasses

[jayjay57]

Thank You so much for all this information, I will certainly be giveing all your advice a try, once again many Thanks to you.

Regards jayjay x

[Hidden]

Thank you from me as well! This is so useful and the best advice I have read on constipation.

[someonenew]

Thanks very much for this advice!! Will be trying everything

[Raas21]

Thnx.

[annie-w]

Just a tiny addition to the excellent advice.I don't suffer nearly as severely with bloating but I have found that sometimes lying on my side, left side preferably and curling up into the foetal position as tightly as possible can help squeeze out the wind ( can be a little uncomfortable)also try getting down on hands and knees with bottom in the air (not a pretty sight ) may help a little. May not work but worth a try. I think stress and anxiety are major contributory factors.

[Hidden]

Thank you for posting this information

[Therapist1]

Thank you all for your kind comments re the information, if some of the measures help some of you then I'm delighted and your comments make it worth the effort of posting

[Floanne in reply to Therapist1]

Thanks for the info,but can I ask another question. Very bad constipation and last week started to have very bad pains in my chest and my arms from the elbows down are like elastic bands are tied around them. I am also on a drug for acid reflux, debating if I should see my dr. Thankyou

[AbFlower]

Some great great great advice!!