Having regular bowel
movements is extremely important to
your overall health. If you find yourself going number two less than
three
times a week, then you probably can call yourself constipated.
Constipation is
one of the most common digestive problems out there and it is usually a
symptom
of a poor diet that is lacking fiber and fluid. People who are
constipated can
often times experience painful, straining bowel movements, bloating and
a
feeling of having a full bowel. Constipation happens when your colon
absorbs
too much water, or if its muscle contractions are slow and sluggish.
The stools
end up moving through the colon at too slow a pace, becoming hard and
dry in
the process.
Most
cases of
constipation are not considered medical emergencies, however if rectal
bleeding, abdominal pain, cramps, nausea and vomiting, or involuntary
weight
loss accompanies it, it is probably wise to seek professional medical
advice.
Common constipation, however, can easily be taken care at home with a
few simple
home remedies. Constipation
in children
can lead to soiling.
Infrequency,
irregularity, or hard fecal matter are the most
typical symptoms of constipation.
More
than four million Americans suffer from frequent constipation, with
most of the
sufferers being seniors and children. Women are also more likely to
suffer from
constipation than men. Medical conditions such as a bowel disease,
pregnancy,
mental health problems, neurological diseases, medications, and, in
more
serious cases, colon cancer can lead to constipation.
The best way to treat
constipation is to make changes in you
and your family’s diet making sure you are taking in enough
roughage and
fluids. Guava is one great remedy for relieving constipation. When
eaten with
seeds intact, it will help provide you with enough roughage to help
clear out
the bowels. Grapes are another great fruit that will help remedy your
condition. The cellulose, sugar and organic acids found within the
grape, make
them a natural laxative. A
few teaspoons
of Spiegel seeds in a glass of warm milk taken at night is another
great way to
end a bout of constipation. If you do not have any Spiegel seeds lying
around,
try a quarter teaspoon of Epsom salt mixed in a half a glass of water,
or a
tablespoon of corn syrup added to a glass of water.
Here are a few more tips to help
relieve constipation:
- A warm glass of milk taken before beddy bye,
will not only help you sleep, but also help you in performing your
morning evacuation ritual.
- Upon waking, drink a full liter of warm water
and walk around for a few minutes. Coffee or tea might also do the trip.
- Lemon juice mixed with water taken several
times a day will help
- .Aloe has been used for centuries as a natural
remedy for constipation. One
ore teaspoons of the gel will help get the bowels moving and drinking
Aloe Juice will help keep your intestinal flora balanced.
- Triphala Churna is a blend of three different
herbs that can be used as a powerful laxative.
- Switch your families cereal to a bran cereal
- Acidophilus, the active enzyme in yogurt will
help with spastic colons and imbalanced intestinal flora. It is also
available in capsule form.