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.
Walnuts
Posted by elizabeth (FL) on 12/30/2022
★★★★★
I have been eating walnuts for the past few months. I have discovered a cure for my constipation. I have tried EVERYTHING. I have seen the Dr.I have taken so much advice from friends on organic juices, this and that. But I love walnuts and bought a bag in bulk at Sams Club. I work from my car so I literally eat handfuls of them. I am cured of constipation. But I also find if you eat too many in one day, you will almost live on the toilet.
Raw Rice
Posted by beverly (Texas) on 12/25/2022
I have read that rice contains a lot of arsenic. I find it alarming because it is in so much dog food.
Castor Oil
Posted by beverly (Texas) on 12/25/2022
Castor oil has been around for a very long time but use with caution and do not overuse. Castor beans and the leaves are very toxic and poisonous to animals.
Bay Leaf Tea
Posted by sara (the beaches) on 11/29/2022
★★★★★
I have recently started drinking a tea...for lack of a better word, of boiling water and bay leaves with lemon juice, I keep it on warm all day in a teapot and sip it all day, I was doing it as an immune boost and wonders never cease. It has relieved my chronic lazy bowel and I now have perfect BMs.
Baking Soda
Posted by winful (Alberta, Canada) on 11/26/2022
★★★★★
I'm using 1/2-1 tsp baking soda every morning on an empty stomach and wait about an hour before eating. Now, after a lifetime of constipation, I finally have quick relief... Baking soda doesn't raise blood pressure as some believe and it's ok to take every day, in fact, it's beneficial to do so!
Cream of Tartar
Posted by Nat (Brooklyn, NY) on 11/22/2022
★★★★★
Cream of Tartar helps against constipation. Taking a small amount, about a third or a half teaspoon together with a small amount, about a half teaspoon of Milk of Magnesia, might be enough to help. Since taking magnesium as a laxative
regularly, will eventually stop working and even make the original problem worse, it is recommended that the Milk of Magnesia should only be used not more than around once a week. Whether the same applies to Cream of Tartar is not known.
In any case, taking even a teaspoon of Cream of Tartar every day seems to cause weight gain for some people. And taking large amounts can cause heart issues. This is because of Cream of Tartar's high potassium content. (It is reported that someone who took several tablespoons to help constipation ended up in the hospital.)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3570668/
In the above mentioned link, Cream of Tartar is also mentioned as being used in a suppository combined with Bicarbonate of Soda and polyethylene glycol.
Senna Leaf Tea
Posted by Juan (PHILIPPINES ) on 11/16/2022
★★★★★
Senna leaves tea for immediate relief from constipation. It is so strong that if you overdose on it, it could turn constipation into diarhhea. Here, in the Philippines senna tea is available from pharmacies and supermarkets (brands: kankunis, biguerlai).
Herbs
Posted by Bill (Philippines) on 08/19/2022
Hi Nat...I take senna leaf tea every once and a while, been doing that for many years. For me, if I drink senna tea in the evening then I will definitely have a substantial poop the next morning. My poop urgency isn't that huge and the poop itself comes out soft and quick but not explosively.
On the other hand when my wife drinks the senna tea then she will have a stronger poop urgency then me (yup, she runs to the toilet! ) and will have between 3 to 5 poops the next morning and they can be rather explosive. So my wife is quite sensitive to senna's effects in the intestines, whereas I seem to have few problems using the senna tea. Horses for courses, I guess.
I've also read that you must never take senna everyday because doing so will harm the liver. But once in a while is OK. I also like using senna because -- from all the research -- it also kills a wide variety of bad bacteria and parasites in the intestines.
I must also disagree with what you said about magnesium supplements in general in this thread. I've been taking magnesium chloride -- at a higher dosage -- twice a day for about 15 yrs. I also use mag chloride combined with DMSO for tired or aching muscles and I can confirm that it works a treat!
Ted is also quite correct when he says that we eat far too much calcium in our supermarket diets. All the grains, bread, corn flakes, sports drinks etc that you buy in the supermarket are all over-fortified with too much calcium and no magnesium. That's why I take magnesium chloride regularly, which helps to balance and regulate any excess calcium in the body.
And for sure you better be very careful what you are led to believe about RDA dosages from the FDA. About 50 years ago the advised dosage for magnesium supplements was only about 200 mgs per day. The RDA dosage that the FDA now recommend is between 350 mgs and 420 mgs per day, which I think is still way too low -- it's just a clueless guessing game for the FDA because they really don't give a single hoot about proper mineral nutrition for the body. That's also why, on some days, I take much higher dosages of magnesium. And if you take too much magnesium the worst that can happen to you is that you get loose stools or diarrhea. And the intestines and kidneys will always act to self regulate proper electrolyte levels(including magnesium) in the blood.
I'm 72 y.o. and I've been taking high dose magnesium chloride(and Borax) regularly for about 15 years. And that's probably why I have no arthritis, rheumatism or any other aches and pains in my body right now. And there are more than a few days when my combined magnesium intake is probably above 1000mgs per day. That gives me soft stools with no other noticeable side-effects. But I'm not you. So it's like I said, horses for courses. That means that you should always find the best dose for yourself. Call it your own, personalized, orthomolecular dose if you like...that's the way to do it because your body always knows best.
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.
Acupressure
Posted by David (Utah) on 05/11/2022
If anyone needs more help finding the area, the acupressure point is called 'Large Intestine 11' or 'LI 11'. Do a search for either of those terms and you can find images and/or videos showing where it is located.
Miso
Posted by Nat (Brooklyn, NY) on 05/05/2022
★★★★★
Miso for constipation
Miso (white miso is easier to take) a half teaspoon mixed into hot or boiling water helps for improving peristaltic action.
Dietary Changes
Posted by denise (Vermont USA) on 04/29/2022 25 posts
It's amazing that women give birth laying down on their back. That is quite ridiculous and I think a legacy of male doctors who didn't know any better. Delivering on your feet in a vertical position allows the baby's weight to push on the pelvis and this makes the bones soften to allow the baby to glide through the birth canal. The bone goes back to hard after the birth. All that straining lying down to deliver is unnecessarily painful. I wish women would stop laying down to give birth, it just adds so much strain for nothing. It also causes more trauma to the birthing baby.
Dark Chocolate
Posted by Michael (New Zealand) on 04/22/2022
★★★★★
High-content Cocoa chocolate alleviates Bowel and Constipation problems.
A friend of mine, who has had bowel and constipation problems for years, has started taking just ONE square of high-content Cocoa chocolate (72% Cocoa content) per day with her morning coffee and has experienced remarkable relief in just two to three weeks.
No palm oil in this particular brand either and it is made from Ghana cocoa with the chocolate being manufactured in New Zealand.
This is quite exciting news.
Cheers from Down Under
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.
Epsom Salt
Posted by Science (Cyprus) on 03/07/2022 21 posts
★★★★★
I am a researcher. Epsom salts for constipation. Simply the best curement. Ask Epsom Salts for human consumption AND NEVER BUY EPSOM SALTS THAT IS NOT MADE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. Two to three times a week one tablespoon per day, will work excellently. Do not take 7 days per week, since we do not know yet the long term effects on the body.
Baked Apples
Posted by Nat (Brooklyn, NY) on 01/18/2022
★★★★★
For several days in a row, eating a diet of mostly, or only, baked apples can help for cleansing the body and for relieving constipation.
The apples should be eaten with the peel. (Before baking, they can be scrubbed a bit with a food wash or even dish soap, and then rinsed well, to lessen preservatives on the peel, since the peel should be eaten.) The apples, Cortland cooking apples, can be baked with olive oil drizzled onto the apples and also some spices such as nutmeg and a bit of cinnamon, but without added sugar. Since cinnamon can be constipating for some people only a pinch or so should be added per apple.
The apples can be baked at around 425 degrees Fahrenheit, for about an hour and a half or more. If the apples are baked until the inside starts to caramelize and turn brown, the apples will be sweet even though no sugar was added. (Even regular apple sauce can be simmered very slowly for several hours without added water or sugar. If the apples are good quality cooking apples, such as Cortland apples, the applesauce will be sweet.)
In the writings of the psychic, Edgar Cayce, we find reference to an apple diet. That is, eating only apples for three days, prepared any which way, after which one is to sip a quarter of a half cup of (hot) olive oil for body cleansing.
For many people, the Cayce apple diet is a hard program to follow.
A modified, mostly apple diet is easy to follow and satisfying. While such a program may not be as effective as a total apple diet, it is easy to try out.
One should start eating the baked apples in the morning and if in the evening one feels the need for other food one can eat a small amount of light food such as a few spoonful's of small curd cottage cheese and maybe some hot water with blackstrap molasses with some spices, and a bit of milk (a small amount, such as an eighth or a quarter teaspoon, of salt, added to the molasses drink makes it taste better), or one can drink a tea with some honey in it. Throughout the day, if one feels the need, one can also drink molasses with hot water, or coffee, or tea.
Popcorn
Posted by Katzie (Canada) on 01/02/2022
★★★★★
I have found that one big bowl of buttery popcorn (w/salt & vinegar shaker seasoning, ! ), and a big bottle of water at night works every single time the next day. Happy munching!
Baking Soda
Posted by Nat (Brooklyn, NY) on 12/30/2021
★★★★★
It was mentioned somewhere that taking a little (maybe a teaspoon or a bit more) of baking soda (Bicarbonate of Soda) in about an ounce of water (others recommend in a little lemon juice) on an empty stomach, and not eating for a short while after, helps for emptying the bowels.
The baking soda/water remedy should probably not be used regularly, but rather only on an occasional basis.
It is important, generally, to wait for some urge to go before using a laxative or suppository, in order to prevent the natural urge, a vital body function, from disappearing.
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!
Flaxseed
Posted by Nancy (Albemarle, NC) on 08/25/2021
★★★★★
The best thing for constipation is flaxseed. I tried otc drugs, supplements, magnesium, nothing worked. One teaspoon of flax seed ground works put in coffee or tea or Sprinkle on food.
Cranberry
Posted by Tony (Michigan) on 04/15/2021
★★★★★
An overdose of cranberry juice will clean your pipes out. I found that out the hard way after I drank a gallon of it during the course of a day.
Acupressure
Posted by Natural in NY (NY) on 03/30/2021
★★★★★
I did not really Susan's post about acupressure on the arm from 2008 would work for me, but decided to give it a try. When I first pressed on the spot on my left arm, I could feel something in my stomach area. That was encouraging and so I kept switching back and forth for a bit. I still did not think it would actually work. However, within about 10 to 15 minutes from starting, I had the result I was looking for! I highly doubt this was by chance. To be fair, I did lightly massage my abdomen just below my belly button once. However, I really think it was the points on the arms described by Susan. I also was not sure I had the spots right and just kept rubbing in the general area, trying to cover enough ground to get it to work. I guess you don't have to be perfect. Thank you Susan and earthclinic!
Ginger
Posted by RRR (Virginia) on 02/19/2021
★★★★★
I've been eating 2 or so slices of pickled ginger a day the last few days and have had constipation disappear. I can't say for sure that ginger is the cause, but maybe.
