Natural Constipation Relief

The digestive system is a marvel of engineering with up to 25 feet of small and large intestines coiled in our abdomen. In order to function properly it requires three things: water, fiber and exercise. If these essentials are not provided, the result is stagnation. The intestines can become compacted with dry waste matter, and moving the bowels becomes a strain. If the condition continues, bowel movements become infrequent or don't occur at all. Abdominal pain and gas often occur, caused by waste trapped in the system.

Defining constipation can be difficult, because everyone's definition varies according to what she feels is normal for her. It's generally considered that having five movements a week is normal. Having fewer than two movements per week or experiencing a change in bowel habits is considered abnormal.

Causes and natural relief

Several factors lead to constipation, and poor eating habits are the most obvious cause. Cutting down on high-fat, over processed foods, and substituting foods that are high in fiber can help create soft, bulky stools that move through the intestines quickly. Grains, fruit, vegetables, brown rice, bran cereals and beans help promote regularity. Eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day is highly recommended. (If, for example, you consumer three half-cup servings of vegetables, eat an apple and drink a glass of orange juice, you've fullfilled the day's fruit-and-vegetable requirement.) Eat white flour, white rice and cheese in moderation and in balance with high-fiber foods.

Too much stress can also affect bowel habits. Constipation tends to occur in people who lead a high-stress lifestyle. Stressed-out overachievers may literally be holding in too much. A pressing job, moving, emotional turmoil and similar stress-inducing situations can trigger constipation. Travel and the on-the-run eating habits that go with it can also cause bowel problems.

A problem called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which causes erratic bowel habits, cramps, gassiness and bloating. People with IBS have an overly sensitive gastrointestinal tract and, under stress or in response to certain foods, can have spasms, disrupting digestion. Learning to cope with stress and to eat properly can help control this problem.

Breathing exercises can help keep stress at bay. In her book Heal Thyself With Health and Longevity (Heal Thyself Press, Brooklyn, $ 14.95), holistic practitioner Queen Afua recommends an exercise called "full body breath." Start by inhaling deeply on a count of four. Exhale on a count of eight. On the inhalation, extend the abdomen out as the chest expands while relaxing the shoulders and the rest of the body. With each breath, relax the body and the mind deeper and deeper. Do this several times a day for quick stress breaks.

Getting moving can also get your bowels moving. The digestive tract depends on the muscular activity of the intestine to facilitate the passing of stool.

Participating in some kind of aerobic activity at least three times a week for 20 minutes per session may help. Walking is one of the best ways to activate the whole nervous system and bloodstream. When you're constipated, it means material is stuck. Walking will change that immediately.

More tips for beating constipation:

1. Drink the juice of half a lemon in a glass of warm water or four to six ounces of prune or apple juice in the morning to stimulate bowel activity.

2. Eat dried fruits such as raisins, prunes and apricots.

3. Drink more water throughout the day, at least six to eight glasses, since when the body gets dehydrated, the waste matter in the colon becomes hard and almost impossible to eliminate without strain.

4. Eat a large salad with avocado and lemon juice as dressing every day

Here's one of Rita's favorite natural elimination recommendations: Natural Constipation Relief

How to Massage Your Colon for Constipation Relief

Massage of the abdominal area is a great way to tone the muscles in your colon area. If done regularly, this massage will strengthen your colon walls and help to loosen stagnant chime that is causing constipation. If you are trying to relieve constipation, then you can massage for a week or two until you get past your constipation. Regular massaging can be of great benefit to your colon and to your surrounding organs.

You can do this colon massage with oil as you lie in your bed or, as I do, in the shower where I use a soap solution to slide my hand over my abdomen with relative easy.

Start on the right side down near your appendix. Start with small circular or short movements, in one direction, and move upward toward your rib cage. This is the direction your fecal matter travels in your colon. If you have long fingernails, you may have a problem doing this massage.

You can apply pressure in your massages. You may want to start gently and increase your pressure in subsequent days.

When you start your circular massage near your appendix, you are also strengthening your ileocecal valve. In the shower, everyday, I massage this spot to strengthen and tone my ileocecal valve. This one way valve is the gateway between your small intestine and your colon. You want a strong ileocecal valve so fecal matter moves into your colon it does not move backward into the small intestine.

Massaging near the appendix also helps to move any stagnant fecal matter that is stuck there. Stagnant fecal matter in the appendix can lead to bacteria build up and inflammation.

So, massage your ileocecal value every day in the shower or with oil just before getting out of bed for 1-minute or so.

Now, once you?ve reached the rib cage, move to the left to the outer point of the left rib cage. Now move downward a good length toward your groin.

Take 2-3 minutes to do this massage and you will get constipation relief and you will start to improve your overall feeling of well being.

As you massage your colon area, notice if you find areas that have a slight pain or a lot of pain. With areas that have a slight pain, you can work these areas and probably reduce the pain with daily massages.

With areas of deep pain, in the colon area, do not continue the massage. Consider consulting with a doctor, if the pain persists.

Remember to move your hands in one direction in short strokes, upward, then to the left, then downward. Massage your ileocecal valve everyday and this will stimulate you appendix area.

These massages will help to loosen and move fecal matter that is stagnant in your colon. Combine this massage with other constipation remedies and this should help you get constipation relief.

Rudy Silva is a Natural Nutritionist. For more excellent tips and information on constipation go to: http://www.stop-constipation.com or at http://www.constipationcured.info

How to use senna for constipation relief

It is known that Egyptians used senna tea to relieve constipation. This tea is used for medium conditions of constipation. It is the chemicals anthraquinones that provide its strong action on your colon walls. It is readily available in health food stores or on the Internet.

Only use senna for a short time, 1- 1 week. It is not healthy to use it for a long time, since its action moves fecal matter through your colon quickly. This quick action prevents absorption of nutrients by your colon depriving you of necessary minerals and vitamins.

Use senna only in amounts that produce the required bowel movement and stool softness to relieve your constipation. Start with small amounts and increase your amount slowly.

Senna is sold Over-the-Counter under the name Correctol, ExLax, Senokot, and Smooth Move. Senokot also contain docusate sodium - a stool softener - an added benefit when hard, dry stools may cause discomfort.

Senna Tea with Potato peels

You can also prepare senna tea as follows:

Buy some senna tea at a health food. Place a tea bag into 1 cups of distilled water and steep. Then, add the peel of a whole red potato. Also, add a couple slices of potato meat. Add to this, a teaspoon of wheat or oat bran and flax seed.

Simmer this combination, strain it and drink the liquid. This will give constipation relief for some of the more difficult cases of constipation. Remember the longer you simmer this combination the stronger the tea will be. Start with a 5-10 minutes and then work up to 15-20 minutes but you need to experiment with the time.

When you drink senna tea, drink only 2-3 oz. at a time and drink it only after it has cooled down. It has less of a cramping action when you drink it cool.

Senna Tea with Peppermint

Here is another senna tea you can prepare.

1 teaspoon of senna tea leaves teaspoon of peppermint leaves.

Boil 8 oz of distilled water, turn the heat off, stir in the herbs. Turn the heat off and cover the glass container. Let tea simmer for 3-10 minutes.

Add honey to improve taste and some powered vitamin C if you have it.

Look for formulas that have a small amount, 1/10 of a part, of fennel, anise, or ginger to reduce any cramping that might occur with senna.

Do not drink seena tea or capsule if you have any type of colon disease, stomach pain, diarrhea, or are pregnant.

Senna Pod Tea with Prunes.

Senna Pods are milder than the leaves since the do not contain the resin. It is the resin in the senna leaves that causes griping in your colon.

If available, use around 8 pods. Heat some distilled water. Place the pods into the water for 5-10 minutes. Strain the tea and add 3-4 dried prunes or chopped prunes. Let cool and eat the prunes during the day or drink and eat a few prunes just before you go to bed. Drink only a couple ounces of the senna liquid at one time. If cramping or griping occurs, reduce the amount of tea you drink.

There you have it. You can get constipation relief with senna herb by using it in different ways.


Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid e-books. He writes a newsletter called natural-remedies-thatwork.com and his information on other topics can be seen at http://www.stop-constipation.comor at http://www.constipation-remedies.for--you.info

Constipation remedy using apples and other juices

Here are two constipation remedies that you can use for a mild case of constipation and for a chronic case of constipation.



Apple and Pear Juice

If you have a mild case of constipation, you can use this remedy to get results.

Prepare equal amounts of fresh apple and pear juice. Drink this combination when you first wake up and one hour before bedtime.

Juice the pears that are slightly hard. If the pear is ripe, it is best to blend it whole with apple juice to create a thick drink. Using the whole pear will give you additional fiber. Just remove the seeds but do not peel the organic type.

Pears have minerals, vitamins, and chemicals that help to clean out your colon, kidney and to regenerate your blood cells.

Apple Juice and Prune Juice

Heres a constipation remedy that you can use if you have chronic constipation. In addition to just drinking apple juice, you can accelerate your peristaltic action with prune juice.

Heres how to do it.

If you have a juicer you can make fresh apple juice and drink 3-4 glasses a day. You can also drink store-bought apple juice but try to get fresh squeezed and not the type that has been flash pasteurized or pasteurized. If you can find fresh apple juice then use flash pasteurized.

Buy your juice in glass containers if possible.

Plastic containers are processed using solvents that stay in the container walls and gradually outgas into the apple juice. This out gassing is more severe when plastic containers are stored in hot places.

To speed up the laxative effects of apple juice, take the following combination first thing in the morning before you have breakfast,

Drink 2-3 cups of prune juice.
After hour, drink one cup of apple juice
Then, 1-hour later drink another cup of apple juice.

I usually buy my prune juice in a bottle and fresh squeeze my apple juice.

Be prepared to head for the bathroom after you drink your prune juice and your first glass of apple juice. You may need to head to the bathroom soon after you drink prune juice, everyone is different. I have used this combination and have recommended it to my clients and have had good results.

Prune juice by itself is good for constipation. It is a safe, gentle and an effective laxative. Drink a cup in the morning and a cup in the evening. Prune juice contain the substance dihydrophenylisatin, which is responsible for the laxative action. Prunes are also high in iron and are a great supplement if you are anemic or low on iron.

If you add prune juice to your diet, do not drink as much of it as you would when you have constipation. Drink glass in the morning and perhaps glass in the evening.



About the author:
Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. For information on constipation and other remedy ebooks go to: http://www.stop-constipation.comSee some of his newsletters at: http://www.natural-remedies-thatwork.com/archive.html