Constipation

Remedies and Treatments for Constipation
The first step to finding relief from constipation is to ensure that you are following a healthy diet (plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains), combined with regular daily exercise (which stimulates the bowels).

Fibre - The best way of adding fibre to the diet is increasing the quantity of fruits and vegetables that are eaten.  Try to consume 20-35g of fibre every day, especially from beans, wholegrains, bran, fresh and dried fruits and vegetables.  Limit the amount of low fibre foods such as dairy and meat.  Drink eight daily glasses of water, fruit and vegetable juice of clear soups.  Please see section on SOLUBLE FIBRE.

Certain sources of fibre may result in increased gas in certain people.  Finding the best source for you will often be a process of trial and error.

There are numerous foods with laxative properties.  Almonds, advocados, dates, figs, flaxseed, grapes, prunes, pineapple, papaya, soybeans and walnuts.

Aloe Vera Juice has a gentle, soothing effect on the bowel and is particularly good for people who have chronic constipation associated with IBS.  Take a tablespoon of commercially extracted juice twice a day.  You can buy this from any health food shop.

Honey is a very mild laxative.  Mix 1 tablespoon with warm water and drink three times per day.  You can also mix half a tablespoon of honey with half a tablespoon of blackstrap molasses. 

Herbal Remedies

Psyllium Seeds can be consumed with water to stimulate bowel action.  Psyllium contains mucilage, a soluble fibre, similar to that in oat bran.  Take a teaspoon of psyllium powder mixed with water or juice, one to two times per day.  IMPORTANT, drink LOTS of water.

Basil has been found to relieve constipation by acting as a bulk forming laxative.  

Linseed or flaxseed, is rich in fibre and essential fatty acids and can be used instead of psyllium husks.  Again for the seeds to work effectively it is imperative that you drink lots of water.  I soak my seeds over night, about a tablespoon.  In the morning they turn into a glue like substance.  I add some more water or juice and just knock it back.  It works wonders!  I do this every morning.

A recent study linked low magnesium intake with constipation.  Magnesium can be found in green leafy veggies, nuts, seeds and wholegrains.  It can also be taken as a supplement.

How to use Epsom Salt as a Laxative

Epsom salt can be used as a colon cleanser or saline laxative for relief of sporadic constipation. Although Epsom salt is effective as a laxative, you should ONLY use this remedy on occasion, or when absolutely necessary.

Instructions

1.  Pour 250ml of drinking water into a glass. 
2.  Measure 1 to 2 teaspoons of Epsom Salts into the glass.
3. Squirt some lemon juice into the water to flavour the mixture (as much as it takes to make it drinkable for you).  I warn you that it is disgusting! Stir the mixture until the ingredients have completely dissolved.
4. Drink all of the mixture, then wait near the toilet for it to begin working.  You should have a bowel movement somewhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours after you drink the mixture.
5.  Take another dose if the mixture does not help you the first time but my guess is it will!

BEETROOT CONSTIPATION

The beetroot is God’s gift to the colon. Beetroot constipation is just the most delicious, simple solution to a serious health problem. It has a form of natural soluble fibre that makes the stool soft and easy to pass. The very best cure for sufferers of constipation.

Constipation is a serious problem. Toxic bowel material needs to be passed every day and, allowed to build up in the colon, leads to many bowel diseases including colon cancer and diverticulosis. 

Anything less than a daily bowel movement should be considered abnormal.

It's the soluble fibre fraction in beets that is so friendly to the colon. For the same reason, the apple diet too is full of soluble fibre (75% is in the peel remember) which is why it too has proved so effective in the treatment of bowel disease. 

The beetroot diet was used by the ancients, but somewhere modern health care dropped the ball. They used it for the treatment of malignant growths, liver conditions, anaemia, ulcers, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), in addition to beetroot constipation. There are many cleansing diets using raw beetroot juice – it's reported to give quite a high!  Beets are rich in natural iron so if you are anaemic, eat or juice lots of beets!

SOLUBLE FIBRE

Like apples pickled beets are rich in soluble fibre, the best sort for a healthy colon. They make the stool soft and easy to pass. Don't be surprised by the colour - it's not blood! Pickled beets and apples - God's gifts to the constipated colon. The benefits of beetroot are vast.