Constipation, a response from nature

Constipation, constipation, constipation: three words to indicate not a disease but the symptom of something wrong in the intestine. Let’s see how to help him.

Constipation , constipation, constipation : three words to indicate not a disease but the symptom of something wrong in the intestine. Let’s see how to help him.

The difficulty in evacuating stools regularly is not a pathology, but the indicator of the presence of another disorder, even if in some cases the root cause is not identifiable.

Constipation can be occasional or prolonged over time and is a frequent problem that affects women (about three times more affected than men) and also affects many children.

In many cases, those affected choose a “do-it-yourself” treatment to solve the problem: it is no coincidence that laxatives are among the most used medicines.

However, when constipation is chronic, self-medication is not a good choice. Acting correctly is important to counteract the aggravation of the situation, the chronicity and the onset of any complications, such as hemorrhoids and anal fissures.

False alarms and passing causes

The so-called constipation (or propulsion constipation) is due to a slowdown in intestinal transit, but there are also forms of expulsion constipation, in which evacuation is rare or totally absent.

There are even imaginary forms: in fact, as many as 10 percent of people who have normal intestinal function believe they are constipated only because they do not evacuate every day.

A sign of a real condition of constipation is, on the contrary, a number of bowel movements less than three per week. To this can be added the need to push during defecation, slow digestion, bloating and feeling of abdominal encumbrance, easy fatigue, general malaise and mood irritability.

All of this is associated with infrequent bowel movements and a reduction in stool volume and weight.

Even when it comes to actual constipation, the causes and extent of the problem can be very different. For occasional forms, the reasons are generally to be found in situations involving changes in diet, climate, habits.

In these cases the constipation disappears by itself when the usual living conditions resume.

The secondary and primary forms

Quite different is the case of secondary constipation, which is a symptom of the presence of another disease. It can also occur during pregnancy, when changes in hormone levels and the presence of a bulky uterus that compresses the intestines can hinder bowel regularity.

In all these cases it is not possible to cure the disorder using laxatives alone and the treatment will strictly depend on the pathology of which constipation is only a symptom.

Not always, then, the cause is clearly identifiable. In this case we speak of primary constipation.

In any case it is important, for the purposes of treatment, to distinguish occasional phenomena from chronic problems in order to be able to choose the most appropriate treatment.

Fiber and water

The first measure to take in case of difficulty in evacuating is to increase the intake of fiber and water. Together they increase the amount of fluid in the colon and the bulk of the stools. This stimulates bowel movements which aid in the propulsion of waste material, aiding its passage. Green light then to water, juices, herbal teas and vegetables, fruit and whole grains, legumes in order to take at least 1.5-2 liters of fluids and 30 grams of fiber every day.

Fruit and movement

This intervention, combined with increased physical activity, is often sufficient to restore good intestinal functioning. Sport is also good for relieving stress, sometimes a contributing cause of constipation, and for toning the abdominal muscles .

As for fruit, it should be remembered that it should not be eaten after a meal, but on its own, perhaps as a snack. Prefer kiwis and grapes, and also the classic stewed apples and stewed or dried plums.

The green remedies

However, if these measures are not enough, nature helps us with various remedies, from the most delicate to the most powerful.

The following table shows some examples, with the respective indications for use.

Natural remedies Indication
Fucus , Cascara , Frangula Stubborn constipation
Mallow , marshmallow , psyllium and flax seeds , glucomannan Light and occasional constipation, in case of pregnancy, in children

Let’s see them now in detail.

As anticipated in the table, in cases where the constipation is more stubborn, remedies based on Fucus, Cascara or Frangula can be used, which contain active ingredients that act mainly at the level of the large intestine (colon) by stimulating the contractions of its muscles and thus favoring their emptying.

These laxatives are very effective, and should be used occasionally and never if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or in children under 12 years of age. Furthermore, they are not indicated if there are acute inflammatory diseases of the intestine (ulcerative colitis, enterocolitis, appendicitis , Crohn’s disease ) or abdominal pain of unknown origin.

When you need a more delicate stimulus, you can turn to plants rich in mucilage, such as mallow, marshmallow, psyllium and flax seeds and glucomannan, capable of increasing the volume of stools just like dietary fibers do. They recall and retain water by increasing faecal volume.

They are ideal laxatives in all cases of light and occasional constipation, in the case of pregnancy and in children or, in any case, in all those cases in which more energetic laxatives are contraindicated.

On the market there are ready-made products in tablets, which combine different plants for greater effectiveness.

One last piece of advice: never postpone evacuation when the stimulus appears. In addition to predisposing to constipation, this attitude can also cause other ailments in the long run, such as headache , water retention and even cellulite !

 

Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.

The blog covers a wide range of topics related to health and wellness, with articles organized into several categories.

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