|
| |
Suffering from constipation is one of the most common ailments in the modern western world, and although normal western medicine does not see it as a serious problem, but rather considers it an inconvenience, naturopath and herbal health practitioners hold an opposite view.
On this page
In natural health and healing, it is held as a major contributory factor for a range of ills and ailments visiting the young and old equally.
If the colon cannot remove wastes properly, the other waste removal organs – be that the lungs, kidneys and skin are over-taxed, and toxins build up within the system, and it is these toxins in the colon, that are believed to be the instigators of so many health problems.
In order to avoid this, the answer is fairly straightforward – make sure that you do not get constipated, and that you have regular bowel movements, to remove waste materials and toxins from your body.
It is described in the Webster’s New World Dictionary and Thesaurus, as “infrequent and difficult movements of the bowel”.
This would refer to dry, hard and knotty fecal matter that is being passed and it may also be painful when passing such stools.
Straining to pass hard stools is a major cause of internal and external hemorrhoids, and can also lead to anal bleeding caused by fissures (small tears) forming around the anus, but apart from this it can have a wide range of other side effects as well.
Other symptoms and side effects
- bloating and flatulence
- loss of appetite
- nausea,
- indigestion
- headaches and migraines
- bad breath
- skin problems and eruptions
- coated tongue
- appendicitis
- depression
- diverticulitis (pouches forming in the large intestine)
- fatigue
- cellulite
- hemorrhoids (piles)
- hernia
- insomnia
- varicose veins
- indigestion
- tinnitus
- candidiasis
It can further be involved in far more serious problems, and can be a contributory factor in major degenerative diseases, such as
- arthritis
- chronic fatigue syndrome
- diverticulitis
- various auto-immune diseases
- bowel cancer and other forms of cancer
- diabetes mellitus
- meningitis
If you look at western medicine, you will find that the medical fraternity will label you as “constipated” if you have less than three bowel movements per week.
Naturopathic and herbal health practitioners have a radically different view on this, and believe that you should have at least one bowel movement per day, as a healthy colon would eliminate solid wastes within 6 – 18 hours after eating.
There are many factors that can contribute to this problem, and to try and create a holistic view, we have listed, and briefly discussed them, point-for-point. But in summary, it can be said that if the peristaltic movements that move the waste materials become sluggish, or if too much water is absorbed from waste material (the stool) the result would be constipation.
- Not enough fiber in the diet
- A healthy individual should consume 25 – 30 grams of fiber a day to ensure sufficient fiber in the digestive system to prevent being constipated. The colon, which moves the fecal matter to the rectum, does so with peristaltic motions, and fiber bulk is needed for the colon to do its job properly.
- Following a too refined and fatty diet, and consuming a lot of sugar will cause sluggish peristaltic movements.
- Milk products
- It has been found that cow’s milk often causes constipation in children. Should this be the case consider switching to goat milk or milk made from soy.
- Too little fluids
- In order for waste material to move through the colon, it must be hydrated, otherwise it will become hard, and difficult to move. For this reason, enough water must be present in the body to be able to supply the colon with hydration.
- A good rule of thumb is to take between 8 and 10 glasses of pure water per day not counting any other drinks that you may consume.
- Too little exercise
- Although not all people may like doing vigorous exercise every day, the stomach and colon needs to have some movement of the body in order to work.
- This is very evident in bed-ridden or wheelchair-bound patients, where this problem is a regular complaint.
- The exercise required can be as little as a daily walk around the block – ever heard the term - “ taking a constitutional walk”?
- Pregnancy
- Pregnant women, due to their hormone levels, as well as the physical adaptation in their body to make space for the growing embryo, often become constipated.
- When pregnant, a woman’s diet may be supplemented with iron pills or capsules, and this could make matters worse.
- Taking a bulking agent, such as psyllium, to ensure proper bowel movements, can easily and safely rectify the problem.
- Aging
- Some older people follow a very sedentary lifestyle, and it is this lack of movement that is a large contributory factor resulting in being constipated – coupled to the fact that metabolic processes have also slowed down.
- Older people would be well advised to take regular gentle exercise – even if it means walking around the block, and also to look after their diet and fluid intake.
- Travel
- Due to a disruption in daily routine, travelers sometimes experience short-term problems, and there are also those that feel uncomfortable using a different bathroom, and this can cause a psychosomatic form of being constipated.
- Medication
- A variety of prescription, as well as over-the-counter medication, can contribute to this problem, and include
- iron pills
- antacids
- anticonvulsants
- antispasmodics
- muscle relaxants
- blood pressure medication
- diuretics
- codeine
- painkillers
- antidepressants
- Laxatives
- The continuous use of laxatives, can cause the muscles in your colon to become “lazy” and a reliance and dependency on certain types of laxatives can occur.
- The nerve endings in the rectum, that trigger the urge to defecate can be damaged and desensitized by continuous use of certain laxatives.
- Continuous disregard when getting the urge to defecate
- If a person continuously ignores the urge to defecate, the body may respond by becoming constipated.
- It is a good habit to try and regulate your bowel movements by setting aside a specific time each day for an unhurried, and unforced, attempt to have a bowel movement. The best time for this is normally about an hour after eating breakfast, but it may take your body some time to get into this routine.
- Stress
- People with a high threshold of emotional or work stress are often constipated, which can be due to a variety of factors.
- A helpful hint to try, is to lie down on the floor, and do breathing exercises, but instead of making your chest enlarge when inhaling, try and inhale with your stomach – that is push your stomach upwards when inhaling.
- This will not only exercise your diaphragm, but will also cause your stomach muscles to move, and will reduce not only the tension held in your stomach muscles, but will also help the peristaltic movements of your colon.
- Spinal injuries and neurological problems
- People with spinal injuries and certain neurological problems may have damaged the nerves that trigger the urge to have a bowel movement, and this can result in being chronically constipated.
- Metabolic imbalances
- A low level of thyroid hormone can cause this problem, as well as a too high level of calcium.
- Obstructions
- If there is any type of intestinal obstruction - be that scar tissue, diverticulosis, tumors, colorectal stricture, Hirschsprung's disease, or some forms of cancer, it can compress the intestines in such a way as to cause this problem, and intestinal obstruction needs to be referred to a medical practitioner as soon as possible.
If a diet with enough fiber is followed, together with adequate water intake and moderate exercise, you should not suffer from this problem.
The diet should include fresh raw fruit and vegetables, wholegrain cereals as well as enough water.
There are many natural dietary ways to prevent getting constipated – and they include items such as prunes, papayas, figs, gooseberries and raisins.
The easiest is to soak 8 to 10 prunes overnight in water, and then to eat the prunes at breakfast.
Taking certain laxatives and purging agents to help bowel movements must be one of the biggest mistaken believes held by people.
Although most laxative will cause a bowel movement, the long-term effect of some laxatives can be very negative and far-reaching.
Laxatives are divided into different categories, which are
- Stimulant laxatives
- These irritate the intestinal wall and it is this irritation which will stimulate peristaltic movement and cause a bowel movement. The downside of this laxative is that it can damage the bowel with constant and habitual use, and can lead to laxative dependency and should be avoided if possible.
- Stool softeners
- These are compounds such as mineral oil and docusate sodium, which can be helpful but should not be used regularly, as they can interfere with fat-soluble vitamin absorption and can also increase the toxicity of other drugs. Constant over-use may cause liver damage as well.
- Osmotic agents
- These osmotic agents include compounds such as Milk of Magnesium (Magnesia) and Epsom salts. These are salts or special carbohydrates, which promote the secretion of water into the colon thereby promoting bowel movement, but these agents, can also cause dependency if used regularly.
- Bulk-forming agents
- These bulk-forming agents on the other hand can be taken daily, without any dependency forming, and increase the bulk as well as the water content of the stools, thereby promoting regular and soft bowel movements and a well functioning digestive system.
Taking all of the above into consideration, it is easy to see why we used a "bulk-forming agent" when we developed a digestive aid, that will not only help your digestion, but will also assist in regular bowel movements.
- Herbal Healing Cream
- For wound healing and soothing skin complaints – such as eczema and psoriasis, acne and piles
- Herbal Eye Gel
- This super effective gel will help reduce puffiness and dark rings, while fighting wrinkles and lines
- Herbal Face Wash
- Containing eight herbal extract to help create perfectly clean skin, toning and balancing it
- Herbal Face bar
- This hand-made soap contains no animal fat and relies on eight active natural extracts to clean and tone the skin
- Herbal Moisturizing Day Cream
- To promote a soft and younger looking skin with aloe and eight other extracts
- Herbal Nourishing Night Cream
- Fight aging at night with vitamin E and eleven other extracts
- Herbal Mud Face Mask
- This treatment will boost the health of your skin, leaving it rejuvenated and younger looking
- Herbal After Shave Balm
- To calm shaving rash and irritation, while moisturizing the skin
- Herbal Shampoo with Rosemary and seven other herbal extracts
- For the healthiest scalp and glossy, bouncy and manageable hair
- Herbal Rosemary Conditioner Treatment
- This conditioning treatment with eight extract will leave your hair soft and manageable
- Herbal Bath Oil with Lavender, Frankincense, Calendula and Avocado
- For a luxurious soothing relaxing bath leaving your skin silky smooth
- Herbal Hand and Body Lotion
- This intensively nourishing lotion will leave your skin wonderfully soft and supple
- Herbal Stretch Mark Gel
- This extremely effective gel will help prevent stretch marks and reduce the appearance of old ones
- Herbal Cellulite Gel
- This efficient gel with a patented herbal extract will remove ugly cellulite lumps and bumps
- Herbal Muscle Balm
- More than just a cooling balm, this balm will actively fight pain and muscle spasms
- Herbal Body bar
- This luxurious hand-made soap will make your bathing experience a sensational treat
- Apple Cider Vinegar liquid with Centella
- The health benefits of apple cider vinegar is combined with the magnificent and ancient Centella herb
- Herbal Digest Capsules
- Fenugreek and psyllium will gently and safely stimulate your digestive system and bowels
- Herbal Detox Capsules
- Fennel, basil, celery and parsley are combined to create a powerful detoxifying capsule
- Herbal Urinary and Bladder Health
- Cranberry, Dandelion, Uva ursi and Vitamin C effectively and naturally fight urinary tract and bladder infections
- Herbal Mushroom Blend Capsules
- Maitake, Reishi and Shiitake are combined to create a formidable immune boosting formula
- Herbal Hoodia Slimming Capsules
- Pure certified Hoodia is combined with chromium to make slimming and losing weight easier
- Herbal Olive Leaf Extract Capsules
- Olive leaf, known to fight bacteria and viruses, will boost your health and effectively rid your body of toxins
- Herbal Sexual Supplement (previously known as Vuka Nkuzi)
- Seven natural ingredients are combined to create the best possible sexual stimulant
- Jojoba Oil
- This liquid golden ester not only moisturizes and penetrates the skin but also fights wrinkles, promoting a clear and unblemished skin
- Lavender Oil
- This magical essential oil is superb on burns and skin complaints, while having a calming and relaxing effect
- Tea Tree Oil
- This powerful essential oil can be used in various ways to fight infections and skin problems
- Almond Oil
- A light and deeply moisturizing and softening oil that can be used on the face and body
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
You are as young as your faith, as old as your fear and as long as your heart receives messages of beauty, cheer,
courage, grandeur, and power - from the earth, from man and from the Infinite - so long will you stay
Ageless. |
|
