What helps me with constipation:
Water - helps me most if I drink it with a meal to moisten the food
Flaxseed meal
Exercise - walking, deep breathing, etc....gentle exercise massages the bowel and encourages parastalsis
Burdock Root - I get the Nature's Way capsules and take 1-2 per meal until things start moving again, then drop down to 1-2/day to prevent constipation
Eating tomatoes, lots of fruits & veggies
Magnesium supplements - I usually find I need to take more magnesium than calcium to get the bowel benefits...and I need to take the magnesium with lots of water...it helps retain moisture in the stool and also relaxes smooth muscle spasms (which can lead to constipation or diarrhea).
Avoiding wheat and foods without fiber
Glycerine suppositories can be helpful for stimulating bowel activity if the stool is near the rectum and "ready to come"
Liquid diet for a few days, when things are really severely backed up.
Avoid soda pop - somehow, the bubbles mess up the pressure in the digestive system and cause spasms.
Peppermint tea can encourage parastalsis in the colon
Making sure you have time to go to the bathroom after each meal can help re-train the body to take advantage of the natural stimulation of parastalsis that happens from eating.
Edited: Forgot to include Interferential (IF) Electrostimulation treatments on my abdomen...these have helped to normalize parastalsis. The IF machine is an FDA-approved device, and research has shown benefit of IF stimulation in IBS and other "functional" gastrointestinal disorders.
Post Edited (Razzle) : 9/5/2010 6:26:29 PM (GMT-6)