Constipation Remedies
Disclaimer: I am not a certified health care provider. Consult your doctor with any health questions and concerns.
When a handful of clients experience the same discomfort, it’s time to write an article about it!
Recently, both youth and adults have shared that they suffer from constipation. The common remedies, such as eating more fiber, taking magnesium, drinking prune juice, using laxatives, and changing their diets have not helped, leaving these clients frustrated and desperate.
It’s not a topic that people talk about in polite company, yet the health of the large intestine is of significant importance to discuss.
The large intestine is responsible for the final stages of digestion. It absorbs water and electrolytes from the remnants of our food before eliminating solid waste. The large intestine helps the body to release what is no longer needed. When working properly, this organ detoxifies the body and brings us into a state of balance.
The large intestine is about letting go. We don’t need to hold onto the things that don’t serve us. When we let go, there is space to receive Joy and nourishment with ease.
I have experienced many treatments over the years, and want to share them with you. This list includes remedies that add moisture to the bowel, softening the contents. Others remove inflammation, improve the microbiome, or manually massage the organ. I share movement forms and sound vibrations that support healing.
If just one option resonates with you, it is worth sharing.
Disclaimer: I am not a trained medical professional. Contact your doctor or health care provider with any concerns about your health.
Add moisture to the Large Intestine: This will soften stool, support the health of the mucosal lining, and aid in nutrient absorption.
Chia Seed Pudding: This is a fabulous go-to for naturally rehydrating the large intestine. Mix 2 Tbsp of chia seeds with 8 oz of water, and stir periodically in the first 5 minutes to avoid clumping. Wait at least 2 hours (or overnight) for the chia seeds to fully hydrate. Drink plain or flavor with cinnamon & vanilla or cocoa powder & maple syrup. Within 24 hours, you can expect the chia seeds to take effect.
Warm Water: Drink 20-30 ounces of warm/hot water upon waking each morning. Water of this temperature is easily absorbed into the body, and stimulates the bowel as quickly as 20 minutes after drinking. Make this part of your daily pre-breakfast routine!
Psyllium husks: This soluble fiber absorbs water, hydrates the digestive track, and relieves constipation. Purchase this as a powder or in capsules, and drink a lot of water with it.
Physical Massage:
Webbing of the Thumb: The large intestine meridian runs through the pointer finger. You may feel discomfort in the webbing of your thumb or elbow when you are constipated. Massaging the webbing of your thumb can stimulate the energy flow in the large intestine meridian. Specifically, press against the bones of the pointer finger at the thumb webbing, and release. Repeat 100 times on one or both hands.
Self-Massage: When the bowel is sluggish, massaging the abdomen can loosen the contents so that movement can return. Lay on your back. Always massage from right to left, following the flow of the colon. The large intestine begins at the right side of the pubic bone, rises up the right side of the abdomen, crosses the body near the navel, and descends down the left side of the body to the pubic bone. Don’t be afraid to massage deeply. If you feel a knot or tenderness, spend extra time massaging that area. This can be a great support. You will find that the large intestine becomes less tender, more pliable, and can support same-day elimination.
Modify your diet:
In my experience, sugar is a large contributor to constipation. Sugar affects the microbiome of the gut, feeding bacteria and parasites. Candida growth in the intestines obstructs movement, and digestion slows.
Dairy consumption can cause issues in several ways. Undigested lactose (sugars) in the intestines will ferment causing bloating and stagnation. The casein (protein) from dairy can cause inflammation and slow digestion. I found this study from PubMed interesting; it shares a significant reduction in constipation after removing dairy from the diet of children.
Highly processed foods, salty foods, and greasy foods can play a role.
If you are taking binders (often part of a detox regimen), those binders cause constipation. You may need to reduce or eliminate these from your diet.
Try eliminating one of these food groups for 30 days to see if you can find a new balance.
Vibrational healing: In Chinese medicine, the vibrations of sounds affect our physical expression.
The sound vibration that activates the Large Intestine (and Lungs) is Szzzzzz. Use your vocal chords to chant this sound, like a bee buzzing, while focusing attention on your large intestine. Feel the vibration shaking through your intestines.
After activation, make the sound Ssssssss. This sound is made without using the vocal chords; it is more of a whisper that sounds like a bike tire deflating. This vibration is said to detox and calm the large intestine to let go.
Chant these two sounds several times each day while focusing on your large intestine, and witness a shift.
Movement form:
Chan: The Wuji Hundun Qigong form is a series of 18 movements that supports the physical and energetic body. Specifically the “Chan” form includes physical twisting movements, which energetically remind the large intestine to unwind. This is combined with holding the breath and squeezing the abdominal muscles, which massages the internal organs before you release. Perform the Chan movement for 5 minutes several times each day to return functionality to your large intestine.
I recorded this instructional video of Chan to explain and guide the process.
Calm your nervous system:
After trying many diets and approaches to improve my own digestive health, I'm learning that it is not just the food.
The nervous system is a critical, and often forgotten, link. When we are in fight or flight mode, our body is not able to rest and digest or relax and let go. We can't expect digestion to be easeful when our nervous system is busy surviving.
There are a broad range of causes and solutions to nervous system dysregulation. Some ways to find relief include:
Consistently reduce stress in your life
Deepen your breath
Connect with nature (feel the earth under your feet, hear the birds, smell the flowers, feel the breeze)
Reduce usage of substances such as caffeine
Reduce the number of electronic devices in your vicinity
Choose to live in a state of Joy! Be fully present and look for enjoyment in all that you do
When the large intestine is in a state of health, everything in your body will operate with more ease. I hope this article gives you additional remedies to try.
Let me know what works for you!
