Do you suffer from potty problems? No, don’t be shy to talk about potty. You may avoid it as much as you want, but when it comes down to it, potty problems are real and torturous, if not addressed. Although talking about your poop is kinda embarrassing, constipation is a real problem. In fact, it can be downright debilitating.
Constipation is a digestive disorder that has the potential to affect people of any age. In essence, constipation is a difficulty to pass stools or infrequent motions, which may even lead a person to put enormous strain in an attempt to empty the excessively hard stools. The normal length of time between bowel movements varies widely from individual to individual. While some may have them twice or thrice in a day, others may have their only once or twice a week. A period of 3 or more days between motions is usually considered too long. In fact, after 3 days, the feces become harder, and therefore, more difficult to pass.
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Symptoms of constipation
Some of the other common symptoms of constipation include:
- Fewer bowel movements
- Straining to go, but nothing happens
- Abnormally large or small stools, acne, and mouth ulcers.
- A sense that your system didn’t expel everything
- Bloated abdomen
- Puking
- Bad breath
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
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Causes of constipation
But why do you get constipated in the first place? Let’s take a look at some of the common causes:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Consuming plenty of dairy products
- Eating disorders
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Overuse of laxatives
- Pregnancy
- Low water intake
- Dehydration
- Certain medications
- Certain neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis
- Aging
- Stress
- Hemorrhoids
- Irregular/erratic defecation habit
- Underactive thyroid
Home remedies for constipation
Aside from being very frustrating, it can cause you a lot of discomfort too. But thankfully, there are plenty of natural home remedies for constipation that enhance your digestive system’s functionality, thereby helping treat constipation. Let’s take a look at some of the most effective ones here:
1. Aloe vera
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Although many of you know the many benefits of aloe vera for your skin and hair, you may not know that it can help soothe your tummy too. Instead of choosing processed juice, go for freshly scooped out gel straight from the plant. This natural version is obviously more concentrated than the processed one.
Remedies
- Stir in 2 tablespoons of freshly scooped out aloe vera gel into any fruit juice and drink it in the morning.
- You can also drink one cup of commercial aloe vera juice to achieve the same results.
Pro tip: The natural gel is more concentrated than the commercial one, so consume no more than 2 tablespoons at a time.
2. Baking soda
Baking soda is a versatile ingredient that comes in handy as a home remedy for many problems. It works well for constipation too, because it’s a bicarbonate, which will help air to be expelled one way or the other, thus helping relieve pain from the pressure. Further, it re-alkalizes your stomach, by neutralizing the acid a bit, and helps things pass through your gut.
Remedy
- Stir in 1 teaspoon of baking soda with a quarter cup of warm water. Drink this solution and see the effect it has on your system.
3. Castor oil
Castor oil is a natural stimulant laxative, and therefore helps stimulate the small and large intestines, while also improving the bowel movement.
Remedy
- Swallow 1-2 teaspoons of castor oil on an empty stomach. To make it more palatable, you can take it with any fruit juice. Do not repeat this remedy for a prolonged period since it can cause adverse side effects.
4. Coffee
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Caffeine present in coffee has the potential to stimulate your colon because it’s a natural stimulant. Thus it helps speed up your trip to the loo.
Remedy
- Drink 1-2 cups of coffee day, but do not overdo it.
Pro tip: Coffee is also a diuretic (something that causes increased passing of urine), so keep yourself hydrated, or it could worsen your constipation.
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5. Dandelions
Although dandelions are considered a weed, they help relieve your constipation. Its compounds make it a gentle laxative along with it being a detoxifier.
Remedy
- Into 1 cup of hot water, stir in 1-2 teaspoons of dried dandelion leaves and let it steep for 5-10 minutes. Drink this tea at least thrice a day for best results.
6. Fennel
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Fennel seeds help ease many digestive conditions like bloating, constipation, indigestion, and irritable bowel syndrome by encouraging smooth muscle movement in the digestive tract.
Remedy
- Dry roast 1 cup of fennel seeds, grind them into a fine powder, and sieve it. Add half a teaspoon of this powder to half a glass of warm water and drink it every day for positive results.
7. Figs
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Figs are an excellent home remedy for constipation because they are rich in fiber and thus act as a natural laxative. Figs are a boon for those suffering from chronic constipation.
Remedy
- Soak 2-3 dried figs and almonds each in water for a few hours. Peel the almonds and grind them all to form a thick paste. Consume this paste with 1 tablespoon of honey at night for positive results.
Pro tip: You can use both fresh as well as dried figs for this remedy.
8. Flax seed
Flax seed is known to possess many medicinal properties along with plenty of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Also, flax seed is a natural laxative, helping cure mild to very serious cases of constipation.
Remedies
- Stir in 1 tablespoon of flax seed in a glass of water, letting it sit for 2-3 hours. Drink this water every day before hitting the bed. The next morning, your bowel movement would be much easier.
- Consume 2-3 tablespoons of ground flax seed with a glass of water to ease the symptoms of constipation.
9. Grapes
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Grapes are rich in insoluble fiber, that help stimulate regular bowel movements.
Remedies
- Drink half a glass of grape juice or consume a small bowl of grapes every day for positive results.
- Put 10-12 dry seedless grapes in milk, and bring it to a boil. Once it’s cooled down a bit, drink this solution in the evening.
Pro tip: If you can’t find fresh grapes, you can soak 8-10 raisins in water for a day or two and then eat it on an empty stomach for best results.
10. Honey
Honey, again, is another natural mild laxative that helps prevent as well as treat constipation.
Remedies
- Consume 2 teaspoons of honey thrice a day regularly.
- Mix 1 tablespoon each of honey and lemon juice in a glass of warm water and drink it every morning on an empty stomach.
11. Lemon
Lemon juice can treat constipation by stimulating the digestive system and gets things moving along.
Remedy
- Squeeze half a lemon into a glass of warm water, adding a pinch of rock salt and a splash of honey to it. Stir well and drink it every morning on an empty stomach. You can drink this in the evening too.
12. Spinach
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Spinach is a very healthy leafy vegetable, that is really good for your digestive tract. Raw spinach can help cleanse, reconstruct, and regenerate your whole intestinal tract.
Remedies
- Include spinach in your diet to get rid of constipation once and for all. Whether you eat it raw in salads, or cooked in dishes, consume it regularly.
- Mix half a glass of raw spinach juice with half a glass of water and drink it twice daily. Within a few days, you will notice the ease of your bowel movement.
13. Yogurt
Yogurt is rich in probiotics, that help clean up your gut, thus helping your digestive tract to work properly.
Remedy
- Consume 1 cup of plain yogurt with breakfast, and then another 2 cups through the day, with or without snacks.
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14. Water and fiber
One of the most common causes for constipation is insufficient water intake and/or lack of fiber in your diet. Fiber binds to water in the intestine, adding volume to the stool, while water helps soften the stool. It’s vital that you include plenty of fiber and water in your diet, every single day.
Remedies
- Consume high-fiber foods like potatoes, brown rice, prunes, broccoli, beans, fresh fruits, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, peas, green leafy vegetables, and all kinds of nuts.
- Another alternative is to ingest fiber supplements.
- Also, do not forget to drink about 8-10 glasses of water every day to keep yourself hydrated.
These are the most effective natural home remedies for constipation, that actually work. Remember that a sedentary lifestyle only exacerbates the problem. So keep yourself active, as much as possible, to get rid of problems like constipation.
Featured image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
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