Natural Constipation Treatment
The digestive system is a very unique and complex organ system in our body. When things are off balance within this system it can cause some unpleasant and uncomfortable situations. One of these situations would be suffering from constipation.
Constipation is very uncomfortable and can also be very dangerous when left untreated. When constipation arises, the stools are hard which also makes it hard to pass them so you struggle to have a bowel movement. The frequency of bowel movements is also a lot less because your system is backed up. Normal passage of fecal material through the large intestine takes three to five days, but when you are constipated this goes beyond five days due to an excessive amount of water absorption. Because of this, the stimulation of the bowel emptying reflex slows and your body basically retains the feces instead of pushing it through. (Patton, 2015) Symptoms of constipation include hard stools, straining to have a bowel movement, having less than three bowel movements in a week, and feeling like you cannot empty your rectum. If constipation is not addressed and treated, complications can arise such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, fecal impaction, and rectal prolapse. ("Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic", 2016) According to the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, constipation can also be caused by a lack of fiber in the diet, inadequate fluid intake, being sedentary, medications, milk, irritable bowel syndrome, pregnancy, abusing laxatives, withholding bowel movements, and specific diseases and conditions. (Murray, 2012)
There are several natural support options that are readily available to people who are suffering from constipation. Making sure you are in taking between 25 and 35g of fiber in your daily diet can be beneficial in aiding bowel movements. Also, making sure you are drinking six to eight glasses of purified water every day. Prunes and prune juice can also be very beneficial and act as a natural laxative. Eating five to ten prunes or drinking four to eight fluid ounces of prune juice can assist in moving things along gently. (Murray, 2012) The use of herbal protocols can also be beneficial for a case of constipation.
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), basil (Ocimum basilicum), burdock (Arctium lappa), calendula (Calendula officinalis), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), and feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) are some herbs that are beneficial for constipation. These can be made into teas or added into meals.
Constipation is something that everybody deals with at some point in their life. It is a very uncomfortable situation and definitely a nuisance to deal with. Luckily, there are multiple ways we can change our lifestyle or dietary needs to help assist with a bout of constipation.
References
Murray, M. (2012). The encyclopedia of natural medicine third edition (1st ed., pp. 451-455). Atria Books.
Patton, K. (2015). Structure and Function of the Body - Softcover (1st ed., p. 382). Elsevier - Health Sciences Division.
Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic. (2016). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 27 May 2017, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/constipation/symptoms-causes/dxc- 20252715
