Constipation occurs when the feces become difficult or infrequent to pass because the peristalsis (the involuntary contraction that moves waste through the intestines) become weak or non-existent. The time it takes waste to pass through the bowels with this condition is unpredictable. Vegetarians and people who eat predominantly a plant-based diet can completely evacuate a day’s amount of food within 18 to 24 hours. The time it takes the average American or someone from a modernized country varies from 48 to 72 hours. Partial passage of ingested food and stools that are hard are also referred to as constipation.

Hard stools, the nonexistence of defecation for more than 3 days or more, a small amount of feces compared with the food ingested over the previous 3 days, and straining are all ubiquitous symptoms of constipation. In addition, cramping, abdominal fullness, excessive gas, a desire to defecate with the lack of ability to discharge a stool, no desire to defecate, and watery diarrhea around the impacted fecal mass are all other symptoms that might be present. Other complications might also include headaches, bad breath, coated tongue, mental sluggishness, paleness, and dizziness.

Natural Cures For Constipation

Treating the fundamental cause is the key to curing constipation forever. If your constipation is due to poor diet and lifestyle, here are a few tips that will help you on your way to regular bowel movements.

1. Start eating a regular supply of fiber rich foods including bran, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and seeds. Water should always be within reach – drink eight glasses of purified water, 100 percent fruit juice, or herbal teas (caffeine free) daily. Foods you should avoid include refined carbohydrates especially sugar, salted meats, and fried fatty foods. Eat plenty of foods that helps the body eliminate naturally like prunes, fig, tomatoes, rhubarb, buttermilk, flaxseed, bee pollen, honey, wheat and oat bran, apples, whey powder, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds, yogurt, apricots, lemons, and comfrey root mucilage. If you are an adult and healthy – you should consume eight or more grams of fiber per day. If you are not accustomed to a lot of fiber in your diet, add these items gradually to avoid gas and bloating.

2. Walking for at least one hour daily is also very beneficial. The motion of walking helps to massage the food down the bowels. Try to do exercises that strengthen the abdominals. A great exercise is to hop on one foot while lifting the other knee to the chest; keep this up for as long as you can, switching between right and left foot.

3. Always go the toilet when nature calls. Some people do not like to go in public restrooms, so they hold it, doing this is not good, and could cause constipation.

4. Establish a regular time for going to the bathroom.

5. Keep sleeping, eating, and relaxation habits consistent, try deep breathing as a way to help relax and massage the insides.

6. Avoid stress and harmful practices. Eliminate as much as the bad habits as you can.

7. I do not promote the use of enemas or colonics, but there are times when these practices might be needed to get the ball rolling. Long-term use can cause dependency. Herbal laxatives that are good for constipation include psyllium seed, fennel seed, fenugreek seed, carbo pods, senna, cascara sagrada, buckthorn bar, and rhubarb.

Remember, constipation can be the result of many health related problems. If you know that your constipation is due to poor diet, then these tips will help. If you are not sure, I suggest you see a doctor before trying any of these methods.