Holistic Management of Occasional Constipation

Warning: Please consult your health care provider before starting any new herbal alternative treatments or medications or supplements.

Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal symptoms in all age groups. Its prevalence is increasing in all age groups in the recent times. This is being attributed to sedentary lifestyle, food choices like eating more fast food, increasing use of narcotics and many others. Certain home remedies can be of help in managing occasional constipation in some patients.

1. Eating 2 apples or peaches or pears or prunes a day can provide soluble fiber to help improve bowel function.

2. Increasing water consumption to more than 8-10 glasses per day amounting to more than 64 oz per day (if there are no water restrictions like congestive heart failure, renal failure patients or liver cirrhosis patients or others)

3. Steamed broccoli amounting to 8-10 individual florets twice a day for 1 week can be of great help in some patients.

4. A week trial of probiotics like yoghurt can be tried.

5. Drinking luke warm water with 1 tbsp of honey and one half of freshly squeezed lemon juice empty stomach first thing in the morning can be helpful in some others.

6. Trying to reduce the amount and frequency of bowel slowing medications like narcotics, muscle relaxants if possible.

7. In diabetic patients, keeping a good control of diabetes can help improve bowel motility.

8. Constipation can be a symptom of serious problems like colon cancer or bowel blockage; Always consult your doctor if your symptoms persists more than 1 week or you start experiencing worsening symptoms or start passing blood in stools or experiencing weight loss or other new or persistent symptoms.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Warning: Please consult your health care provider before starting any new herbal alternative treatments or medications or supplements.