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.
Seltzer Water
Posted by Carol (Cumberland, MD) on 11/19/2006
★★★★★
The first time my sister was pregnant she tried every product she could find for constipation. During her second pregnancy I suggested she drink seltzer water. I had read about it in a magazine. I also had cravings for seltzer water during my last 2 pregnancies and never had any problems with constipation. She told me she didn't like the taste and couldn't drink it. A few weeks later she let slip she was mixing it with juice and was actually regular for once.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Desire (Chicago, IL) on 10/30/2006
★★★★★
5HTP, Omega3, Chlorophyll, ACV, Lemon and H2O everyday, Yoga 4 days a week. This combination has cured plenty; depression, regularity, appetite suppressant, etc. I'm just one happy camper
Honey
Posted by Gail (Powell, Wyoming) on 11/15/2005
★★★★★
I struggled with severe constipation for years, and it was getting worse. I tried many natural products and had always tried to stay away from harsh laxatives. I had a colonoscopy several months ago just to see if there was anything wrong. I did have 2 pre-cancerous polyps but no blockage. I had resorted to taking Golytely twice a day per my physician's recommendations, with poor results. (Golytely is used as a bowel prep!) My chiropractor said I should try honey, 2 teaspoons, three times a day. I thought, yeah, right! It works! (Do not give honey to babies, it can cause botulism in infants).
Acupressure
Posted by Donna (Aspen, CO)
★★★★★
Every morning, before you get out of bed -- rub your tummy with your fist, not too hard, gently, but make an impression, only for about 10 seconds. It may take two mornings of rubbing, but you'll never be constipated again.
Bran, Guar Gum, Molasses
Posted by Nat (Brooklyn, NY) on 02/25/2025
★★★★★
A third tsp unprocessed coarse bran, with around a quarter tsp or so of guar gum/or other such fiber in a cup of warm water, with an added pinch (or occasionally two) of Epsom salt, a little MCT or coconut or olive oil, and a tsp honey/molasses taken several times a day is helpful.
Small amounts of magnesium, even taking a larger dosage from time to time, but not every day, might be helpful.
Herbal remedies for constipation containing senna or other stimulant herbs stop working eventually. First, there is a need for higher and higher dosages and then even the higher dosages hardly work. Even taking high amounts of magnesium products like magnesium citrate over a long time (a year or so) will end up hardly working. And the body's natural peristalsis is damaged. Miralax is less habit forming, but it can cause nervousness (or anxiety or sleeplessness) in some people.
Fiber foods taken with a lot of water are helpful.
(There is an antibiotic - Erythromycin that has been shown to help severe constipation in children. https://www.scielo.br/j/bjmbr/a/NGMt3N7mkbn49xnzYB8mYYS/)
Avoiding/minimizing fried foods, too much protein, and refined and processed foods is important.
Coffee
Posted by SUNNY (Ca) on 02/03/2025
★★★★★
A poop Dr. on YouTube said that bloating is due to constipation. I agree. Coffee makes me go right away. I had major bloating and remembered I hadn't pooped regularly. I took one cup of coffee and cleaned my house to move around and like 20 minutes later has so much relief and pooped. Don't eat stuff that makes you stuck or gives you gas. But if you need it coffee is the best!!
Lemon Juice and Olive Oil
Posted by A.M.S. (New York) on 01/02/2025
UPDATE: Stopped working as well when I had even a tiny amount of bread, such as on vacation. Hoping it still works when eating clean again. Read that ground flaxseed can also be a huge help, will add that to the mix.
Dandelion Root
Posted by Ashley (Santa Clarita, CA) on 08/01/2024
★★★★★
Constipation remedy:
Dandelion root and leaf tea works wonders.
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.
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.
Epsom Salt
Posted by mike m. (Kent Lakes, N.Y.) on 03/13/2022
How about just drinking prune juice as needed or eating stewed prunes (I love it with heavy cream). Worked for me whenever I needed it over the years.
Probiotics
Posted by Rituparn (India, Delhi) on 09/25/2020
Thank you for helping people with your insights.
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!!!
Ted's Remedies
Posted by Gord235 (Vancouver, Canada) on 08/31/2019
Awesome Robert! I notice that your typical meal has only two eggs, no bread and no dairy.
Plum Juice
Posted by Leigh Ann F. (Abilene, Tx) on 05/13/2017
★★★★★
I've learned from 94 yrs old lady to drink plum juice. I drank whole container from grocery store. Wait a while n true enough it flush bowel movement. More importantly, make sure to eat enough fiber foods to keep your stomach digest well. If not enough fiber then it constipated like flour, meat, sugar, n anything junkie.
MSM
Posted by Cindy (Illinois, Usa) on 07/16/2016 533 posts
My friend also reminded me that you have to snip the end of the nozzle off so that the stream is a bit bigger - otherwise it's just tiny.
MSM
Posted by Cindy (Illinois, Usa) on 07/16/2016 533 posts
A friend purchased a "set" of wash bottles and uses the largest for plain water and puts a stronger, soap/water/ACV mixture in the next smaller size.
She is using Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap because she read something about using cold sitz baths and since I have some peppermint, I tried it with her stronger peppermint/acv mixture and WOW! THAT would be refreshing on a hot day!! It's like a big dose of air conditioning, all OVER!! I'm going to have to put on a sweater!! ROFL! AWESOME!! That is SO cool!! Literally! Holy moly!
Ginger, Coconut Oil, Baking Soda
Posted by Anna (Vienna, Va) on 10/23/2015
★★★★★
Thank you all for your posts.
I read from Bill somewhere this web site about fat + baking soda = soap. I had this stomach pain very early in the morning together with my recent problem of constipation. So with empty stomach, I got up making 1/2 glass of ginger tea warm plus 1tbs of coconut oil, then immediate half glass of water with 1/4 tsp of baking soda (I feel all my nutrients were washed out of my body from baking soda).
Amazingly, the pain is gone. I have been taking these two glasses for about a week now. I plan to stop at 7th or 10th day. I also learned from the same section to take 1 tsp of blackstrap molasses which also seemed to help with my constipation.
I am thankful for the posts and this web site. God bless.
Glycerin
Posted by Marcia (Utah) on 10/15/2015
★★★★★
Glycerin suppositories are the best remedy for constipation. They work within minutes. I can eat constipating foods like dairy or meat and still have a good bowel movement with the glycerin suppositories. I do one in the mornings if I have been eating constipating foods. Otherwise I don't need one. My friend who is 60 has been using them for 30 years with no negative side effects.
Glycerin
Posted by Jillybeans (somewhere in the south) on 02/07/2021 84 posts
I have gotten dependent on glycerine suppositories... like I cannot use the bathroom hardly at all even after using them. I think they might be fine here and there for me but every day might be too much for some ppl.
Herbs
Posted by Nat (Brooklyn NY) on 08/18/2022
Senna leaf is only for very short-term use, or for use from time to time.
To a lesser extent, the same applies to Magnesium Citrate and other supplements that have a stimulant action on the body.
When people use senna leaf over a long period of time, they will keep needing more and more of it. And then it will stop working. (This could take even a year. First, they won't notice how they keep needing more and more of it. and then they will suddenly notice that it is no longer effective.) And when they stop using it, their constipation will be worse than ever. For natural peristaltic action will no longer work. The same thing happens with long-term use of magnesium citrate and other supplements that have a stimulant action on the body.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Sophia (Cork, Ireland) on 08/16/2014
★★★★★
Squeeze two oranges, add a spoonful of honey and warm water to make a glassful, approximately 8 ozs. This will relieve constipation.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Margaret Alice (Jacksonville, Fl) on 07/28/2014
★★★★★
Cabbage is the best thing to use for constipation. Oatmeal is good too.
