Easy Home Constipation Remedies You Can Do Now!

Constipation can be, quite literally, a pain in the butt. Constipation relates to having hard, dry, pebbly, painful or infrequent bowel movements. There are many reasons to become constipated, including but not limited to: dehydration, nervous conditions, not enough fiber in diet, too much fiber without sufficient water, or change in diet. Most people suffer from occasional constipation, but don't want to resort to chemicals to induce a bowel movement. If you battle occasional constipation and want to go a more natural route, these tips can help.

1. Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salts)

This works very quickly to induce a bowel movement. You mix the recommended dose in your drink of choice (I have heard orange juice hides the taste pretty well) and drink. It produces a bowel movement within a couple of hours in most cases.

2. Very warm bath with abdominal massage.

Lay on your belly in a very warm bath, then massage your lower abdominals in a counter-clockwise motion to stimulate the bowel. If someone else is massaging you, they need to massage your belly in a clockwise motion (opposite as when you massage yourself), as that motion stimulates the natural path of the bowel. This can bring on a bowel movement, especially if the bath and massage is done directly after eating.

3. Prune Juice and Hot Tea

Yes, your grandmother drank it for a reason. Actually, it doesn't taste that bad, but if you prefer, you can dilute it with water and 100% apple juice. It really does help to get things moving. The reason hot tea is recommended, is because alternating hot and cold beverages does wonders to stimulate the bowel.

4. Exercise After Eating

Exercising after eating acts as a laxative. It signals your body to get rid of the old waste to make way for the new food that is trying to digest. The exercising also helps ease constipation because when you move, it signals everything else to move, if you catch my drift. Moderate exercise, such as a brisk walk, is best.

5. Yogurt

No need to purchase the expensive "digestive" yogurt like Dan-Active. Any good quality yogurt with active cultures will help balance gut flora to help you produce more regular bowel movements. Be sure to purchase plain or vanilla, as fruit-flavored yogurt kills active cultures in yogurt. If you like, you can add probiotic (good bacteria) powder to increase the digestive system healing power of yogurt.

The fact is, constipation is only a symptom of a bigger problem relating to your diet, and using chemical or artificial laxatives or stool softeners to ease your digestive and bowel issues will only perpetuate the problem. The best way to treat constipation is to begin with what you put in your body. Remember to get plenty of water per day, and plenty of raw fruits and vegetables. Remember to drink enough liquids if increasing fiber. You can heal your constipation once and for all.