The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Red Yeast Rice
Posted by Zander (Anytown, USA) on 11/05/2024
★★★★★
I learned about red yeast rice as an aid for high cholesterol. But the potential downsides of the substance I learned on this site made me decide not to take it, regularly. (Not to mention the "high cholesterol" criteria as per alopathic medical standards is suspect to begin with, at best.)
Still, I had a bottle of it and I kept it. I had noticed the few times I had taken it before I decided to discontinue its use, it had relieved constipation. I thought I would try it again as I was having this issue that had persisted for almost three days. And it did work! I'm not sure why, but it seems to work for me.
Celery Ginger Juice
Posted by Mary Anne Haskins (Marengo IL) on 11/01/2024
What's the combination ratio of celery stalks (juiced) and add to it what amount of ginger root?
Prune or Celery Juice
Posted by Danica (Boston, MA) on 10/12/2024
★★★★★
My mom always had prune juice in the house for those occasional bouts of constipation. I would image 1/4 to 1/3 of a cup would be plenty as it is very sweet.
The other thing that works like a charm is celery juice, but I find it less gentle than prune juice. You will be cleaned out, but the need to go can come on somewhat abruptly and with a vengeance.
I love this site and look for natural remedies for everything. Thank you, Earth Clinic!
Yellow Dock Tea
Posted by Amnon (California) on 10/03/2024
Did you use yellow dock flower, leaves or roots?
Probiotics
Posted by noel (merced) on 08/29/2024
yes, I am trying probiotics now, sometimes you need to get the correct strain for your gut. Probiotics also helps people with diarrhea cause by gut dysbiosis. Just a tip for readers - it can take up to 2 months or longer to repair gut biome so be patient and try different strains. You can also try kombucha, sourkraut, etc. Make sure to eat apples so you have some prebiotics for the probiotics to eat. Probiotics may work for IBS & crohns too.
Dandelion Root
Posted by Ashley (Santa Clarita, CA) on 08/01/2024
★★★★★
Constipation remedy:
Dandelion root and leaf tea works wonders.
Kvass
Posted by Nat (Brooklyn, NY) on 06/06/2024
★★★★★
Kvass, or fermented rye bread or beet water, helps lessen constipation.
A simple way to make this is just to place in a jar some dried out rye sourdough bread slices, (slices can be dried in the oven or even just on the counter). Add boiling water to fill the jar. One slice of the bread can be added later when the water not that hot. A teaspoon of salt can also be added to the mixture. Put a lid on the jar. (Maybe mix it every day.) After 3-5 days the water will have a pleasant tangy taste. (The bread can be removed after a day or two or earlier.)
This is not a professional kvass, which also has sugar or honey and some yeast added to it.
There is also beet kvass that is also helpful for many.
Resistant Starch + Wheat Bran
Posted by Nat (Brooklyn, NY) on 06/06/2024
Update.
The raw starch is not easy on the intestines.
Maybe, just using one fourth teaspoon (or a bit more) starch several times a week is enough. This together with some wheat or other bran.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Dena L. (New Orleans, Louisiana ) on 05/21/2024
★★★★★
I suffer from constipation so I started drinking more water, eating Raisin Bran cereal, taking calm magnesium powder, and making smoothies on my off days with strawberries and bananas with pitted dates and peanut butter. I make three cups to last me for three days. I have them with a chicken or tuna salad and cucumbers. I also drink kumbucha drinks twice a week. This eliminated my constipation.
Vitamin C
Posted by Chris (Binghamton NY) on 04/04/2024
★★★★★
If you have a stubborn case of constipation there is nothing like Vitamin C in a larger quantity.Something like a good teaspoon to however many it takes of powdered sodium ascorbate stirred into orange juice or another beverage will do the trick.I think it is less sour than plain powdered ascorbic acid, but you can use it as well.This is usually the bowel tolerance level when you cut back on how much you take for other ailments, but it works for constipation very well.You May feel a bit of rumbling inside and I advise staying close to the bathroom because it really works.
MSM
Posted by Marilyn (Kearney, NE) on 04/01/2024
Thank you so much Cindy for posting your results with MSM! I found it searching for a "mineral water" recipe thinking that my city tap water is probably "dead" of minerals. And that maybe I would feel better if I made my own mineral water. I just bought a little MSM last week, and thought maybe that was helping. But I only took about 1 tsp a day. Now I know I can take more! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Resistant Starch + Wheat Bran
Posted by Nat (Brooklyn, NY) on 03/20/2024
★★★★★
Resistant Starch such as Potato or Corn Starch w/Wheat Bran in Water for Constipation
Taking a little (start with a quarter teaspoon, then gradually increase the amount) potato or corn starch in water once or twice a day helps to increase good bacteria in the colon. This should be taken with some other fiber, such as wheat bran.
Studies have shown that taking this starch/water mixture increased the good bacteria in the colon. Still, the good bacteria weren't propagating throughout the whole colon. Adding a little (wheat) bran together with the starch effected that the good bacteria spread throughout the whole colon.
Senna Leaf Tea
Posted by Glen (Denver, CO) on 03/13/2024
★★★★★
Senna works for chronic constipation. I use a senna compound in table form. There are many to choose from (I use prunelax). One and half tablets a night along with 3 capsules of magnesium oxide works reliably. I also bought one of those "squatty potties."
All of these inexpensive remedies together work work wonders. I feel so much better now and don't worry as much about my diet.
Castor Oil and Triphala
Posted by koyal (Portland, OR) on 02/17/2024
★★★★★
I recently had a bad episode of constipation and trapped gas. It was really painful.
I first got a colonic which got a lot out. I highly recommend them, perhaps even every few months if you have digestive issues. They clear the junk out from years and decades ago along with shedding the related emotional baggage. I always feel incredibly lighter. Honestly, I think they should be an addendum to therapy!
After the colonic, I still had some trapped gas which hurt. I drank triphala tea along with herbal teas for a couple of days without eating much food.
But what did the trick for me was a tbsp of castor oil with the triphala tea at night. Early the next morning I was able to release everything.
Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories. This site is super useful!
Castor Oil
Posted by noel (california) on 01/16/2024
★★★★★
I started experimenting with 1/2 Tablespoon castor oil, working my way up to 1 Tablespoon. it works when nothing else does, but takes 2-3 hours. It is a stimulant laxitive -i also like to take it with coffee to get things moving. Only caution is if you take too much it may cause slight tummy ache. I found the following info online (not sure if it applies to ingested castor oil, but I assume it should):
"Oftentimes, the gut contains pathogenic bacteria wrapped in biofilm. Biofilm is the gross, slimy protective layer bad bacteria can produce. Harmful bacteria produce biofilm to protect themselves from being eliminated or destroyed, making it hard to achieve balance in the microbiome.
However, castor oil can break down the biofilm barrier, allowing harmful bacteria to be eradicated from the gut and beneficial bacteria to survive. Since 70% of the immune system is housed in the gut, a balanced gut microbiome is key to a healthy, regulated immune system. This makes gut health the most important factor in healing and reversing autoimmunity."
Kiwi
Posted by Amelia (Westheimer) on 12/09/2023
★★★★★
I have had success with 1 kiwi and 1 or 2 tablespoons of yogurt right before I go to bed. It is the last thing I eat. When I wake up in the morning, I feel relief.
Grapefruit
Posted by Mimi (Texas) on 09/29/2023
★★★★★
Grapefruit for Constipation
I eat a few slices of grapefruit and some grapefruit juice with my breakfast in the morning.
Hope this helps.
Baking Soda
Posted by Kelly (Seattle) on 09/06/2023
Just a quick comment regarding baking soda and aluminum: There's no aluminum in baking soda. It can be found in baking POWDER, but not baking soda. :)
Dietary Changes
Posted by Kelly (Seatatle) on 08/31/2023
I have a feeling the reason lemon might work for you is because sour taste stimulates the liver, and a congested liver or liver stagnation is a key cause of constipation.
In others however, lemon might make things worse, as it's sour/astringent nature could cause constipation.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Rene (Idaho USA) on 08/12/2023
"Die off" refers to when a "pathogen" (the broad word to describe any microbe, worm, candida, mold, etc.) is killed. often that pathogen will be a host to other pathogens, so when the host is killed, the pathogens that it supported will die and all these dead pathogens have to be removed by our body. Sometimes this can make us feel sick, flu like. Our kidneys and liver have to work hard to cleanse our body of all this yucky waste. It helps ALOT if we drink extra water and remain "regular" in the bathroom by whatever means necessary (enema, fiber pills, even laxatives for a short time). as always, try to "put the good stuff in (healthy food) and get the bad stuff out". Thank you E.C.!! This sight is refreshing and helpful.
Flaxseed
Posted by Katrina (Massachusetts) on 08/09/2023
★★★★★
I have been suffering from chronic, severe constipation and hemorrhoids lately as a result from eating too many sugary foods all at once, a switch in thyroid med/dose, and stress, as well as (possibly) a lack of fiber (I've been afraid it will make me more constipated)...After a miserable morning where I finally did go, but it was so hard and dry and I thought I had a blockage and was going to need to go to the hospital! After I finally cleared out, I was terrified of that happening again, as I've been struggling with constipation for the past almost 2 weeks! I tried ground flaxseed (which I ground myself and keep refrigerated in a glass jar) mixed into water yesterday. (I used 4 tsps in about 16-20 ounces of water.) I let it sit for a while to let that gel-like substance come into the water and I drank that throughout the day. I like the taste of flaxseeds (nutty) and had a soft, painless bowel movement for the first time in many days yesterday afternoon! Then had to go again in the evening (mostly diarrhea, but welcome that right now over constipation and further hemorrhoid irritation)! I also had a smooth poo this morning.
Grapefruit Seed Extract +
Posted by Nat (Brooklyn, NY) on 07/11/2023
★★★★★
Grapefruit Seed Extract, Ume Plum Vinegar, Coconut water for Constipation
Taking around 20 drops of Grapefruit Seed in about two or three ounces of water in the morning (and sometimes again in the afternoon) helps for Constipation.
Also, it is beneficial to take it with about a half tsp of Ume Plum Vinegar. (ingredients: ume plum, sea salt, beefsteak leaf-shiso. Both an America and a Japanese company sell the vinegar. Using presently the plum vinegar from the American company.)
Sometimes it is beneficial to take a mixture of around a tsp of ume plum vinegar in a cup of water or coconut water 10-20 minutes later and another tsp of ume plum vinegar in another cup of water or coconut water another 20 minutes later. The very salty vinegar and the coconut water both give benefit. A few shakes of cream of tartar powder can also be added to the water.
Toilet Stool
Posted by Mimi (Texas) on 05/16/2023
★★★★★
I've had a terrible time with constipation. A friend suggested to use a
7” toilet stool. I was amazed at how fast it worked for elimination. Proper posture is the key.
It also helps to take a single 200mg magnesium citrate gummy last thing at night and use the toilet stool in the morning. I also make sure I walk at least 30 minutes a day. I drink plenty of liquids like water, tea, and coffee.
Metamucil powder 1x a day in 12 oz. of water, stirred well, also helps me. If I decide not to take the magnesium gummy, I fix the Metamucil in the morning to drink.
Good Luck.
Acupressure
Posted by Asif (London) on 04/17/2023
★★★★★
I found that spot and I had instant relief from the pain of constipation as well as bloating. I think the two pressure points from the crease of elbow which is easy to find is all you need to massage and it stops pain.
