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.
Position
Posted by Brittany (Vegas, Nevada) on 03/31/2009
★★★★★
Constipation cured by Body Position while having a bm
You were not meant to have a bowel movement while sitting down on a toilet. We were meant to have one while squatting. You can achieve a better position if you bring your head down to your knees while on the toilet. It also may help if you have a stool to put your feet on. You will notice that your bm's are bigger, longer, and come out more easily.
Lemons
Posted by Angie (Astoria, NY) on 01/17/2009
★★★★★
I was having problems having bowel movements. A friend recommended 2 tbsps of lemon juice in hot water on an empty stomach. It helped so much. I do this everyday and don't have problems anymore. I tried fiber supplements and became bloated with pain.
Oat Bran
Posted by Maribel (Miami, Florida) on 12/03/2008
★★★★★
FOR CONSTIPATION:
You go to Whole Foods and in the bulk section you buy OAT BRAN, it's very unexpensive. it is like powder and you just put 1-2 spoonfuls in your cereal or in anything and it's like magic, in less than 1 hour you have a bowel movement and natural not forced like with laxatives.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Jean (Calgary Alberta, Canada) on 05/08/2008
★★★★★
Constipation Remedy: Eat your porridge! A bowl of oatmeal porridge every morning (preferably made with large old fashioned oats) will keep your body working regularly. Adding some pumpkin seeds and dried fruit is even better. Takes only 4 minutes in the microwave.
Honey and Lemon
Posted by Atisha (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) on 07/12/2007
★★★★★
Hi all, I have been drinking honey & lemon concoction in water warm on an empty stomach for the past 6 days. This is my 6th day & i had noticed my bowel movement has been regular since the duration of consuming the concoction. It's amazing. Try it!
Olive Oil and Orange Juice
Posted by Allie (New Haven, Connecticut) on 08/01/2009
★☆☆☆☆
Have been constipated for 7 days as a side effect of medicine for headaches. I tried 1/2 c. olive oil and 1/2 c of orange juice. 2 hours later, no bm but I was gagging and vomited. It takes a lot to make me vomit. I may never be able to taste olive oil again. Still coming up in burps. Sorry so graphic. Maybe this remedy would work for someone that doesn't already have a slow intestinal motility.
Prune Juice
Posted by John (Baltimore, Maryland) on 09/21/2006
★★★★★
Ever since my wife and I were married she would drink a glass of prune juice 2 times per week. This resulted in not only a cleansing but an end to constipation after trying it myself. It is also good to drink a glass of water as well to wash it down.
Pineapples
Posted by Lisa (Missouri) on 08/22/2006
★★★★★
Pineapples! Fresh pineapple juice works great. I have a juicer and have it every morning. I'm not sure about store bought seeing as they usually have additives in the juice. A juicer is the best investment you'll ever make.
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).
Oat Bran
Posted by Ami (Harlingen, TX)
★★★★★
If you want a simple way to solve your constipation problem eat a bowlful of 100% bran cereal for breakfast each day.Or you if that doesn't taste to your liking them try cutting back on dairy products especially cheese, and yogurt. Then try adding more leafy green veggies such as salads and spinach(salad). Also cut back on certain fruit products such as apple juice and apple sauce. Then and more fiber to your diet. It works!
Pomegranate Juice
Posted by Delores (Atlanta, Georgia)
★★★★★
1/4 cup of pure Pomegranate concentrate with 16 oz. water, twice daily. Adjust as needed. This works wonders for constipation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Epsom Salt
Posted by Kcc (California) on 04/04/2018
How is the epsom salt taken? Mixed in water? Used as a foot soak or in a bath? If you drink it, how much to what amount of liquid?
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?
Dietary Changes
Posted by Tom (Livingston, Tx) on 05/26/2016 64 posts
★★★★★
Probably 10 years ago, I decided to take a level half teaspoon of non-aluminum baking soda mornings and evenings as a supplement. I took it for about 2.5 years. It must have really helped my bowels because my regularity greatly improved in the years during and ever since taking the baking soda, so a person could just start with baking soda and add the flours and fibers after the bowels start moving.
I was constipated for much of my life. It's a difficult and stubborn problem to have. Now I stay regular by taking these things first thing in the morning and the triphala capsule evenings:
1/8 level cup whole rye flour. Rye decreases bowel transit time according to studies with rye bread.
1 level teaspoon dietary fiber cellulose powder. This adds about 4 grams of fiber.
1 level teaspoon inulin powder from chicory root.
Six 350 mg capsules of apple pectin. This congeals everything together in the bowels.
For the powders/flours, I just put one powder/flour in my mouth using a eighth cup measure, add some water to my mouth, let it soak in and swallow with additional water.
I discontinued/deleted the barley flour because I thought it slowed my bowel transit time, even though barley is supposed to improve bowel flora.
I did add a 500 mg capsule of triphala evenings which is a blend of 3 Indian fruits known to assist regularity.
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If neccessary, have one 12 oz glasses of bottled 100% fruit juice at lunch and in the afternoon. This supplies potassium for peristalsis and it increased regularity although it's no longer necessary.
Herbs
Posted by Ringgo (Jakarta-Indonesia) on 10/07/2015
★★★★★
Hi,
All of you are making complicated claim about constipation. All you needs is Senna Leaf or Folium Sennae, in Chinese name "FAN XIE YE" you could buy at TCM Store in the state.
Very cheap. just take 5 small leaves and boil in hot water. Just like tea. No side effect. Natural.
Good Luck!
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.
