Causes, Symptions, Remedies and Preventions |
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Constipation is defined as having a bowel movement fewer than three times per week. With constipation stools are usually hard, dry, small in size, and difficult to eliminate. Some people who are constipated find it painful to have a bowel movement and often experience straining, bloating, and the sensation of a full bowel. |
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Some people think they are constipated if they do not have a bowel movement every day. However, normal stool elimination may be three times a day or three times a week, depending on the person.
Constipation is a symptom, not a disease. Almost everyone experiences constipation at some point in their life, and a poor diet typically is the cause. Most constipation is temporary and not serious. Understanding its causes, prevention, and treatment will help most people find relief.
To understand constipation, it helps to know how the colon, or large intestine, works. As food moves through the colon, the colon absorbs water from the food while it forms waste products, or stool. Muscle contractions in the colon then push the stool toward the rectum. By the time stool reaches the rectum it is solid, because most of the water has been absorbed.
Constipation occurs when the colon absorbs too much water or if the colon's muscle contractions are slow or sluggish, causing the stool to move through the colon too slowly. As a result, stools can become hard and dry. Common causes of constipation are
- not enough fiber in the diet
- lack of physical activity (especially in the elderly)
- medications
- milk
- irritable bowel syndrome
- changes in life or routine such as pregnancy, aging, and travel
- abuse of laxatives
- ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement
- dehydration
- specific diseases or conditions, such as stroke (most common)
- problems with the colon and rectum
- problems with intestinal function (chronic idiopathic constipation)
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Constipation Symptoms |
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Coughing is a symptom, not a disease. It is the underlying cause of the cough that needs to be treated. coughing up phlegm that is green, rusty brown, yellow, blood-stained or foul smelling.
chest pain.
shortness of breath or wheezing.
pain and swelling in the calf.
recurrent night-time cough.
whooping cough or croup.
worsening smoker’s cough.
sudden weight loss.
fever and sweating. |
Constipation Home remedies |
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Drink a glass of warm water with 1 tsp honey and juice of 1/2 a lemon/lime in the morning before you eat or drink anything.
Drink 1 liter of water in the morning before you eat or drink anything.
Liquorice (mulathi) is a natural laxative. Chew a few sticks daily.
Take 3 tsp of psyllium husk (Sat Isabgol) in milk or warm water at bed time.
Soak one date overnight in half a cup of water. Next morning mash the date and drain the water. Drink 1 teaspoon of this water four times a day.
Drink a solution of 1/2 tsp honey in 1/2 cup warm water 2-3 times a day to cure constipation.
Mix 1/2 cup olive oil with 1/2 cup orange juice and drink to cure constipation.
Put some curry leaves (curry patta) in hot water for a few minutes and then take out. Mix them with honey and drink.
Eat at least 350 g of grapes daily. The combination of the properties of cellulose, sugar and organic acid in grapes makes it a laxative food. Eating grapes tones up the stomach and intestines and relieves the most chronic constipation. When fresh grapes are not available, raisins soaked in water can be used. Overweight and diabetic people should not use grape therapy.
Put Senna pods (6 to 12 for adults and 3 to 6 for children) in water and drink this tea.
Bale fruit is the best natural laxative.
Drink 1 Tbsp of corn syrup added to 4 glasses of water.
Mixed castor oil (about half a tsp) with equal quantity of honey and drink daily.
Juice Laxative:
Mix 1 cup tomato juice, 1/4 cup carrot juice, and 1/2 cup sauerkraut juice and drink.
Triphla is a very good herbal remedy for constipation as it is both a purgative laxative and a lubricating bulk laxative. Triphala is composed of Harada (haritaki), Amla (amalaki, Indian gooseberries) and Behada (bibhitaki). You can try triphla capsules form health stores. Chebulic myrobalan (Haritaki, Harida, Harar, Chebulic myroblan, Black myroblan, Harada) has been used in India for the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, heart-burn, piles, hemorrhoids, dyspepsia, and liver disorders
Eat fruits such as bababa, pear, guava, orange, papaya, plum and fig which are effective laxatives
Honey is very mild laxative. Take one tablespoon three times a day either plain or mixed into warm water. |
Constipation Prevention |
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- Drink lots of water, at least 8 glasses of water daily.
- Eat foods with dietary fibers such as prunes, figs, cereals, fruits, and nuts.
- Eat an apple daily with its skin.
- Guava when eaten with seeds provides roughage to diet can give relief from constipation.
- Avoid starchy foods.
- Reduce intake of foods with sugar and white breads and foods prepared with white flour (maida).
- Do some regular physical activity, otherwise you have a chance of irregular bowel movements.
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