What Is Constipation / some causes of constipation :

Constipation, also known as a 'Lazy Colon' or 'Lazy Bowels'.
It is a colonic disorder and described as a change in bowel movement habits in which...

• stool amount or volume is decreased
• the stool becomes hard
• there is a decrease in bowel movement frequency
• increase in straining during defecation

The result is waste matter remaining in the colon, becoming dry & difficult to expel.
Over time, this waste matter may also be reabsorbed by the body, thereby elevating toxicity levels – leading to an overtaxed liver which in turn could lead to other systemic problems.

Naturopathic practitioners are in the opinion that if you do not have at least 1 bowel movement per day, you are suffering from some form of constipation.
How the term 'your normal pattern' can be used when only achieving a bowel movement every 3 to 10 days (as many people do) can be used is absurd.
For optimum health, you need to expel the waste matter from your body as soon as possible after eating.

Some symptoms of constipation are ...

• Less than 1 bowel movement per day.
• Feeling as if you have not evacuated properly after a bowel movement
• 'Pellet like' motions
• Straining with bowel movements
• Feeling bloated in the gut
• Bad breath / halitosis
• Excessive Flatulence

Slow, constipated colons are not normal and can be improved quite easily via a change in food intake alone or in conjunction with various natural herbal remedies / mild herbal laxatives for constipation to improve or totally alleviate constipation ...
Faecal impaction occurs when constipation is so severe that the entire rectum is filled with a hard ball of stool.
In such cases, manual removal of the compacted stool blockage is usually required as medications do not usually work.

Some causes of constipation are ...

• Food Intolerance / allergy from a poor diet
• A very low fibre diet
• Dehydration
• Use of certain medication especially pain killers and tricyclic antidepressants
• Underactive Thyroid gland / hypothyroidism
• Dysbiosis (an imbalance in bowel flora).
• Digestive disorder (lack of stomach acids / digestive enzymes)
• The abuse of laxatives
• Lack of fats in the diet
• Colonic lesions
• Poor muscle tone in abdominal or intestinal wall.
• Anaemia

Constipation remedies :

There are many constipation remedies, from medicinal laxatives to natural constipation remedies such as high fibre diets and various herbal remedies containing psyllium husks, probiotics, senna and various vitamins and minerals.
The long term use of laxatives to achieve frequent bowel movements is not the answer but rather a short term constipation solution.
Long term use of laxatives actually damages the colonic muscles by making them lazy and therefore worsens the condition over time - this is why people that rely on laxatives need to continually increase the dosages and/or change medication as they stop working after a time.

Improving your diet and using natural herbal remedies / herbal laxatives on occasions is the method to achieve long term, regular bowel movements.

If it is not corrected, constipation can lead or aggravate many other conditions such as arthritis, diverticulitis, an overtaxed liver and lymphatic system, extreme fatigue, headaches, piles etc.

CONSTIPATION / BLOCKED BOWELS SUMMARY Alter food intake to eliminate certain foods that contribute to a slow bowel. Add fibre to your diet. Increase water intake. Improve the digestive process. Restore normal bowel flora (favourable bacteria in the colon) Provide the bowel with certain supplements to help it fight off food fermentation. Offer the Liver support in it's detoxification function. BENEFICIAL INGREDIENTS Fibre eg. Psyllium Husk Probiotics e.g. Acidophilus & Bifidophilus Digestive Enzymes Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) Senna Magnesium citrate High fibre health foods Flaxseed oil Garlic Aloe Vera Zinc

Information about blocked bowels, hard bowel movements, herbal laxatives, natural herbal remedies, causes of constipation.