Natural Laxatives as a Cure for Relieving Constipation

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal ailment that affects everyone at least once in their lifetime. It is a condition characterized by incomplete excretion of the bowel or passage of hard and dry feces.

Most alternative forms of medicine emphasize on proper functioning of intestine as a foundation for good health. A clogged intestine is home to various toxins that cause nutritional deficiency and many other diseases like arthritis, hemorrhoids, appendicitis etc. Natural laxatives create a peristaltic effect on the large intestine to get rid of the digested residue. Thus, regular cleansing can not only help improve digestion and absorption of nutrients but also raise your energy levels.

Benefits of Natural Laxatives Over Others

• In addition to relieving constipation, it helps strengthen the colon
• They do not cause physical dependency
• Safe to use over a period of time
• No side effects like stomach cramps or diarrhea
• Do not cause weight gain even if used for a longer time
• Dosage doesn't increase gradually like medicinal purgatives
• Holistic way to colon cleansing
• Natural remedies cause no irritation to the intestine, whereas chemical laxatives may lead to 'cathartic colon.'

Natural Laxatives as Constipation Remedies

Evaluation of causes of reduced bowel movements can help us choose the ideal laxative. Roughage diet, exercise, drinking lots of water can help cure constipation on a large scale. Let's have a look at the various options available.

Lifestyle changes as Natural Laxatives

• Do not eat unless hungry
• Drink lots of water, warm water is more helpful
• Exercise helps proper supply of nutrition and blood circulation to the bowels
• Sleeping during the day or immediately after food consumption should be avoided
• Do not ignore the normal urge of the body to defecate. Suppression of eliminative urge can lead to chronic constipation
• Relaxing the body by ways of meditation, music or humor can help eliminate undue stress and in turn serves proper digestion
• Use of warm water and salt enema as natural homemade laxative

Essential Foods That Act as Natural Laxatives

• High Fiber Diet - Roughage diet constituting green salads, veggies and fruits.
• Whole grain bread and unpolished rice
• Cooking foods with spices like ginger, black pepper, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cayenne pepper, fennel, asafetida aid digestion.
• A glass of warm milk before bed acts as a mild laxative. Adding castor oil or ghee to it gives a better effect.

Fresh Juices

The juices are effective as natural colon cleansers and should be used either before bedtime and/or early morning.

• Combination of fresh pear and apple juice
• Combination of orange juice and olive oil
• Prune juice
• Apple cider vinegar juice
• Carrot juice
• Spinach juice
• Grapefruit juice
• Asparagus juice
• Lemon juice and hot water

Fruits and Nuts	Vegetables and Other Foods	Foods to Avoid or Eat in Moderation
Almonds Apples Apricots Avocados Bael fruit Bananas Coconut Dates Figs Grapes Mango Papaya Pineapple Raisins Strawberries Walnuts	Beets Bran Endive Flaxseed Flaxseed oil Garlic Honey Licorice Molasses Olive oil Parsley Persimmon Soybeans Sunflower seeds Turnips Watercress	Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Cheese Coffee Fatty meats Fried foods Ice cream Pastries Processed foods Sugar Tea White flour Whole milk

Herbs as Natural Laxatives

Triphala, an Ayurvedic herb is the most common herb used for intestinal cleansing. It consists of three herbs as Amalaki, Haritaki and Bhibitaka.

Alfalfa, Aloe gel, Buckthorn Bark, Cassia pulp, Cascara Sagrada, Castor Oil, Dandelion leaves, Guar Gum, Psyllium husks and seeds, Senna Pods, Turkey Rhubarb, are examples of herbs that speeds the elimination of wastes and toxins.

Short-term use of chemical laxatives is advocated when the symptoms are intense. Use of natural laxatives earlier can help in the prevention and cure of gastro-intestinal symptoms. Stop enduring the discomfort quietly when natural laxatives can help you answer nature's call!!