Tips and advice on achieving natural constipation relief

Many people suffering from constipation will have used tradition constipation treatments or laxatives at some point. These types of treatments only treat the cause of the problem and do not look at the underlying causes. Some of these products also contain potentially harmful chemicals especially when used over a long period of time.

There are a number of natural constipation relief treatments that will provide relief from your symptoms and start to treat the problems in your stomach, colon and bowel that are causing your constipation.

Constipation itself can be unfortunately or often very painful but it can also cause further health problems if it is not dealt with sufficiently. Constipation is a sign of problems with the colon or digestive system and may mean nutrients are not being absorbed efficiently from food. This leads to a number of problems including parasites, poor skin, lack of energy, feeling ‘off colour’ or even more serious illnesses such as cancer.

Natural constipation relief advice

If you make some easy changes to your daily lifestyle and look at your diet carefully most people can get relief from their symptoms without using laxatives or other drugs.

Try to ensure your diet contains adequate amounts of both soluble and insoluble fibre by eating plenty of wholemeal grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. A lack of fibre in the diet is very common in developed countries and is probably the most common causes of constipation.  If you feel you can’t get the recommended level of fibre in your diet consider taking a fibre supplement.

Start the day by drinking a glass of warm water with a squeeze of fresh lemon.  If you do this regularly you’ll find your digestive system starts gently and effectively. Try to drink plenty of good, clean water during the day – be careful of coffee, tea or sugary soft drinks.

Take part in regular exercise, it doesn’t have to be strenuous just regular! Keeping active helps your bodies systems work effectively.

Finally try to relax! Stress has been shown to cause constipation and other digestive problems. By relaxing your mind you will also relax the stomach and colon, this will improve digestion which will help with your constipation problems.

Natural constipation relief treatments

People suffering from long-term of chronic constipation may find they need a supplement to fully cure their problems. There are a number of herbs, such as those shown below, that have been shown to help relieve the symptoms of constipation.

• Black Walnut seed husk: Improves bowel movements and reduces intestinal parasites
• Hibiscus flower: Lubricates the intestinal tract
• Cascara sagrada: Works as a completely natural laxative, stimulating evacuation from the bowel. It also promotes muscular contractions in the digestive system (peristaltic action)
• Yucca root: Acts as a laxative and stimulates evacuation from the bowel
• Slippery Elm Bark powder: Provides relief from a range of bowel/stomach problems
• Passionflower leaf: Soothes an irritable bowel and calms the digestive system
• Marshmallow root: Acts as a mucilage, a sticky substance with adhesive qualities

Herbal constipation products

There are a number of these products available, try to find a completely natural product (with no fillers, preservatives or additives) that contains a range of herbs, including those listed above. Also look for a product that aims to treat both the symptoms of constipation and the underlying causes without using any strong laxatives or drugs.  Try to choose a herbal product that tried, test and professionally formulated.

You may also want to consider taking a fibre supplement that contains both soluble and insoluble fibre.