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.
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.
Acupressure
Posted by Lisa (West Plains MO) on 04/24/2006
★★★★★
I tried Donna's suggestion on acupressure and it works!!! I rub not only my stomach but where my colon is. Also I found taking 2 tbsp. of molasses morning and night followed by acv in tea and then the acupressure works every time for me. I don't have to sit on the crapper for 15 minutes anymore.
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.
---------------------
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 Rita (Sedona) on 09/22/2021
Hi Andrea, I have been focusing on his diet and have found I am getting constipated when I have not in fifteen years. I don't eat raw eggs and have not been able to find raw milk but have been taking the most organic kefir I can find. Doing meats more which used to be a rarity - only grass fed and I have been veggies in beef bone broth - I have taken raw cheese which I normally don't take .. what in this diet gives you the regularity with your stool?
I am going to have to do something tomorrow bc I know it is not healthy to not have at least one bowel movement a day. Or that is what feels best for me.
Thanks!
Castor Oil
Posted by Mari (Florida) on 12/08/2016
1-how long you were on 4tbsp?
2-did you do 4tbsp daily in the morning?
3-how did you manage the taste? how you were able to swallow it?
Thank you.
Dry Mustard in Water
Posted by Shal (Noida India) on 01/03/2025
Can you please tell which mustard seeds yellow or black and how much quantity and should I grind or not?
Yellow Dock Tea
Posted by Amnon (California) on 10/03/2024
Did you use yellow dock flower, leaves or roots?
Over the Counter
Posted by Nat (Brooklyn, Ny) on 10/26/2011
★★★★★
Speaking to a nephrologist about a member of the family who is on dialysis, I asked about Magnesium Citrate as a supplement. He said that Citrate products are not used on dialysis patients because it was seen that Calcium Citrate increases aluminum in the bodies of dialysis patients. (In kidney failure, the kidneys cannot filter out aluminum, and dialysis does not either. Normal kidneys filter out aluminum. ) But what about all the people who have partial kidney failure and don't even know it. So we stopped using the Magnesium Citrate, just as a precaution.
Instead experimentation was made using one to two tablespoons Benefiber from the pharmacy (one can use up to six tablespoons Benefiber a day) in one or two glasses of water, in combination with one or two (or three) tablespoons Milk of Magnesia - sometimes also with some Magnesium Bicarbonate (made by pouring two or three full measuring tablespoons of Milk of Magnesia - a half to three fourths of the enclosed cap - into a bottle of seltzer/club soda and shaking the contents - as recommended on Earthclinic by Bill from San Fernando, Philippines - but sometimes using a bit less Milk of Magnesia than recommended).
Glucomannan, a fiber supplement recommended by Pam from Alabama, might also be used with the water and Milk of Magnesia.
Milk of Magnesia, starting at five Tbsp. and going down gradually, is recommended, in the name of an older doctor, by Redclary from Oklahoma .
Some extra seltzer/club soda, recommended by Carol from Cumberland, MD, is also helpful (used in the mixture).
This simple combination of Benefiber and Milk of Magnesia in water is much better than many other things used to help the intestines.
After a few days one can often use smaller amounts of the Milk of Magnesia while increasing slightly the Benefiber.
Benefiber is a fiber supplement that helps increase good bacteria in the body. It is made from Hydrolyzed guar gum. For some reason it is better than plain Guar Gum. Also, it is mostly tasteless and does not thicken.
Juice
Posted by Warren (Costa Mesa, Ca) on 05/26/2011
★★★★★
Great suggestions here. I make a smoothie every morning and have always used Rice Dream or Almond breeze but now use Papaya Juice instead. It helps to move things along along with whatever else you're doing.
Triphala Churna
Posted by Roane (Los Angeles, Ca) on 04/28/2011
★★★★★
Maybe you should try upon rising drinking a glass of water with probiotics and one half lemon or line. Next prepare the morning flex drink:
TRIPHALA-prevents aging, imparts immunity and improves mental faculties. It helps to detoxify the liver, restore digestion and purify blood. It is also a laxative that rejuvenates the membrane lining the digestive tract and contributes to effective cleansing of the colon.
PSYLLIUM HUSK: Is a Fiber Psyllium appears to increase stool mass more effectively than do other common laxative fibre sources
Flaxseed and Prune Juice
Posted by Keith (Richmond, Virginia) on 10/17/2010
★★★★★
I wanted to add to my review of the Ground Flaxseed & Prune Juice remedy. First, I had SEVERE constipation because of the antibiotics I was taking 2x day. I found the Flaxseed/Prune Juice only worked 1/3 to 1/2 the time and just a small 1-2 bowel movements from it. At first, it worked great, but after 2-3 times not. What I did find that worked was a suggestion from my Grandma that the Hospital gave her. This has worked *every* time for me and usually within 4-5 hours (sometimes 2 hours). 2 ounces Apple juice, 2 ounces Prune Juice, 2 ounces Milk of Magnesia (I used a generic brand at a well known chain store - much cheaper). Mix together and drink and the taste is OK.
Triphala Churna
Posted by Sue M. (Worden, Il, Usa) on 05/23/2010
I ran across this Ayurveda herb called triphala churna that claims to help eliminate constipation problems. I was wondering if anyone had any information that they could share about it.
Molasses
Posted by Rosemaryandsage (Ashland, Wi) on 04/11/2010
★☆☆☆☆
Blackstrap Molasses for constipation definitely did not work for me. If you are sensitive to sugar, this may not be best. I took a tablespoon of molasses in the morning, and the rest of the day was ruined by extreme bloating and gas, rumbling sensation and pain.I should have known this would happen because even one tablespoon of honey and too much fruit results in the same for me. I love molasses (in food, mixed), but this is too intense for me, and it did not result in a bm.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Rosemaryandsage (Ashland, Wi) on 03/30/2010
★★★★★
Yes, seaweed definitely works for constipation. Eating it during the day not only helps me have a daily bowel movement, but also helps with the bloating and uncomfortable fullness. A tablespoonful before bed works well in helping me have a bowel movement in the morning. Especially if I have it in a warm cup of miso broth. It's all the minerals and enzymes, I'm sure.
Acupressure
Posted by Lee (Durban, South Africa) on 03/12/2013
Hi! Could you please explain a bit more clearly where this acupressure point on the arm is?
