Difficult or infrequent bowel elimination is disagreeable enough, but it may also produce such troublesome symptoms as irritability, moodiness, depression, bad breath, fatigue, coated tongue, and headaches.
More precisely, constipation is defined as the insufficient elimination of waste resulting in too few bowel movements. Normal bowel functions produce about as many bowel movements as we have meals. Many people think that they are not constipated when having a stool every two days, and those who have a stool every day have the conviction that they have normal bowel functions. Intestinal problems are now so common that they are considered normal. We should remember that one of the conditions for a long and healthy life is to have good bowel functions and regular bowel movements.
Most of the problems come from the fact that we eat too much rich, refined food. As long as the intestine is able to react, these eating habits produce diarrhea in the early stages. Then, when the intestine and especially the colon are dilated and weakened, constipation occurs. A dry, hard stool is the result of the body's effort to neutralize the poisonous bowel content by drying it out. In this situation, there is no stimulus to defecate, or it is so painful that the need is suppressed, mostly unconsciously. The stool may be accompanied by blood from internal hemorrhoids, and often the feeling exists that the stool is incomplete. If nothing is done to correct the situation, more serious trouble such as colitis may occur.
HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES
HERBS
ALOE:
A very powerful laxative. Aloe latex contains laxative chemicals (anthraquinones) with such powerful purgative action that are called cathartics. It often causes intestinal cramps and diarrhea. Many herbalists discourage its use, but some supplement companies sell aloe laxative tablets or liquid. If you use them, never exceed the package dose recommendation and reduce your dose or stop using the product if you develop intestinal cramps.
Other laxative herbs include Senna, Rhubarb, Buckthorn, and Cascara sagrada.
SUPPLEMENTS
FEELING GOOD:
A colon cleansing and detoxifying fiber supplement. It is a plant-based fiber supplement with superior absorption and bullring properties that help clean your system, and support the function and health of your colon. Feelin' Good is powdered organic flax seed and psyllium husk base is augmented by a host of at least 12 other cleansing plant fiber powders and supporting materials, including prune, apple, and slippery elm. Feelin' Good fiber may increase your body's ability to eliminate toxins and waste from your digestive system, especially for those with insufficient fiber in their diets. Made by Neways.
HOMEOPATHY
Remedies: Try first Podophyllum l0x, Collinsonia l0x. Further: Aesculus l0x, Bryonia l0x, Graphites l0x, Lycopodium l0x, Nux vom l0x.
Treatment: Take Bryonia l0x, Nux vom l0x, Podophyllum lox daily at any time at hourly or greater intervals. If constipation is obstinate or there are hemorrhoids, add Collinsonia l0x. If venous congestion and hemorrhoids, take Aesculus l0x. If sore anus with constipation take Graphitis l0x. If hard, difficult, small or incomplete stool, take Lycopodium l0x.
Relations: Hemorrhoids, gas, colic.
DIETARY GUIDELINES
To help your intestines return to normal, avoid the following foods:
· Low-fiber foods like white flour products, white sugar; and heavily processed foods.
·Fatty foods like milk, hard cheeses, eggs, and red meats.
·Eat high-fiber; whole foods.
Grains, such as brown rice, oats, corn, and barley (especially as a stew; with vegetables) are excellent. To make them easier to digest, grains should be cooked with a little salt and should be soft and moist.
Make sure your daily diet includes fibrous vegetables like kale, broccoli, carrots, and turnips. The more raw or steamed vegetables you eat, the better your health is likely to be. Whatever you do, don't over-cook your vegetables, they lose most, if not all, of the living enzymes so necessary to health and long life.
DRINK PLENTY OF PURE WATER. Every adult needs approximately eight (8-ounce) glasses of water daily.
EAT 1 TABLESPOON OLIVE OIL OR SESAME OIL, 1 TO 2 TIMES A DAY. The body needs certain fats to conduct the usual business of everyday life, such as cellular respiration, digestion, and nerve function. If the body does not get these fats (called essential fatty acids), you will crave fatty foods. Eating the wrong kind of fats (saturated fats) will temporarily trick the body into thinking it has the fats that it needs. However, the body is smarter than we are. It soon realizes that we have eaten the wrong kind of fat, and guess what? You're craving fatty foods again. How about some more potato chips, French fries, etc. So eat the right fats and make friends with your body -- you'll both be happier and healthier. Soon you'll find that you no longer crave those fatty foods.
CHEW EVERY MOUTHFUL THOROUGHLY. Digestion begins in the mouth, and swallowing incompletely chewed foods puts a bur
den on your digestive system.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE REGULAR BOWEL MOVEMENTS. For an effective laxative, make a dish of figs, prunes, and raisins. Start with 1/3 cup of each. Cut the figs and prunes into small pieces. Place in a saucepan with raisins and cover with 2 pints of water. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. Eat a 1/2 cup in the morning.
OTHER HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES
WALK DAILY. Studies have consistently shown that exercise speeds the movement of food through the intestine and strengthens bowel function. You don't have to work up a sweat, just walk at a comfortable pace, but do it regularly, preferably after each large meal.
MASSAGE THE LOWER ABDOMEN IN A CLOCKWISE MOTION. This will promote digestion and regular bowel movements.
 
 
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