It seems like just about everyone in Western Society has suffered from occasional mild constipation. Some experience constipation on a regular basis. And it can usually be easily remedied with an enema or laxative.
But not everyone wants to rely on enemas, prescription drugs or taste the chalkiness of Milk of Magnesia in order to induce bowel movements.
Natural and organic fast home remedies for constipation are much more desirable and usually better tolerated.
Aside from the hot lemon water, the following remedies are for occasional use for immediate relief of constipation only, and not to be used for extended periods of time. The lemon water can be consumed on a daily basis, if desired, as it’s an excellent stimulant for the liver and the digestive system.
Hot lemon water – drink the juice from ½ freshly squeezed lemon in 6-8 oz of hot water. This is usually enough to induce a bowel movement in a majority of individuals, but if it doesn’t, the following methods are sure to work.
Vitamin C – this vitamin is an excellent antioxidant that helps to boost immune system, but in high quantities, it works as a natural laxative. Unlike many other vitamins and minerals that may be dangerous in high dosages, excessive dosages of vitamin C is safe—whatever your body doesn’t need is excreted through the urine.
To use as a laxative, purchase powdered vitamin C, if possible. ¼ teaspoon is equivalent to 1000 mg. Take ¼ teaspoonful dissolved in water every half hour until bowels become loose.
Laxative teas – Local health food and grocery stores sell numerous types of laxative teas that can be used for occasional constipation. Smooth Move from Traditional Medicinals and Yogi Tea’s Get Regular are two popular examples.
Sea salt water – this method is quite simple, but you need to make sure that the salt you use is unrefined sea salt, such as Himalayan, Celtic, or Lima salt. Dissolve 2 teaspoons of this raw sea salt into 1 quart of lukewarm (not boiling) water. Drink the entire container of water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
Within an hour or so, you will have to visit the bathroom, which will be one of many visits. Your entire colon will be cleared out, bringing instant relief from the pain and agony of constipation.
Aloe vera juice – drinking 4 ounces of 100% aloe juice will be enough to act as a laxative for most people. Aloe is also very healing for the mucous membranes of the gut.
Look for pure juice. There’s a weird labeling law that only applies to aloe vera juice – as long as it contains at least 10% juice (which means 90% added water) it can legally be labeled aloe vera juice. So what looks like a bargain may not be.
If you have an aloe vera plant, you can make your own “aloe water” by cutting open the leaves and scraping the inner gel into a pitcher of water. Leave it in the frig overnight, then drink throughout the day.
Obviously, the best thing is to avoid constipation in the first place, or at least, in the future.
After things have cleared up – and cleared out – you may want to start adding more fiber to your diet. The fiber (cellulose from plant-based foods) acts much like a broom in your intestines, “sweeping” the fecal material through, and out in a reasonable amount of time.
When you think of a high fiber diet, you might imagine a bland, tasteless diet full of inedible foods. This is a total misconception, because high fiber foods include delicious fruits and vegetables, grains, beans, nuts and seeds. So much variety! Add herbs for even more flavor.
And please make sure you’re getting enough water. Dehydration will really slow things down, and also makes it hard on all your organs.
How much water is enough?
Take your weight in pounds and divide by two. This is how many ounces of water you should be drinking daily under normal conditions. If you’re exercising heavily and the weather is hot, you’ll need more water to stay hydrated.
If you incorporate fiber-rich foods and sufficient water into your diet, and moderate exercise in your lifestyle, you can help prevent future occurrences of constipation, and eliminate the need for any constipation home remedies.
Photo credit: Zoltán Horlik
Excellent post. I’ve recently become enthusiastic about alternative medicine/home treatments after getting misdiagnosed by my GP for a potentially life-threatening condition. I believe more and mor folks are beginning to wake up and recognize that the healthcare establishment doesn’t have our best interests at heart, and they need to take responsibility for their own overall health, since no one else is going to. Regrettably, mainstream media continues to label anyone who talks about natural therapy/alternative medicine as a “quack” or even a “charlatan”. We need some truthful reporting concerning the success rate of alternative medicine, it really is about time.
Unfortunately, it’s true that there ARE many charlatans out there. Some of them are even doctors.
It’s important to do your research, then use your brain and your gut to figure out what’s best for you.