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Constipation Constipation (difficulty passing stools, infrequent elimination, or lacking the need to have a bowel movement) is usually a symptom of an underlying problem. Other symptoms which tend to be associated with constipation are hemorrhoids, indigestion, loss of appetite, nausea, reflux, heartburn, hiatal hernia, bad breath, acne, headaches, high cholesterol, liver pain and weight gain. Constipation increases the workload of the body. Metabolic waste, excreted toxins and fermentation products accumulate in the intestines with constipation. These byproducts of digestion (toxins) are absorbed back into the blood stream, causing the liver to increase its workload. Eventually, the extra metabolic waste in your bloodstream can cause symptoms and illness. For example, estrogen is broken down in the liver. The "detoxified" estrogen is then passed into the intestines from liver processing and through the bile. Bacteria in the intestines can remove the estrogen from the bile, which is then absorbed through the intestinal lining. Your liver then has to process that same estrogen again, as well as new estrogen. This can lead to PMS, menopausal symptoms, and hormone imbalance. This same viscous cycle also applies to pesticides, herbicides, environmental chemicals, bacterial byproducts and processed physiologic waste. Constipation can be treated acutely with laxatives, but the cause of the constipation must be found and treated.
Laxatives: There are 3 classes of laxatives. I) The least aggressive laxative is FIBER: Fiber adds bulk to the stool. This is useful when stools are small or hard. Fiber can be eaten in food or supplemented. Fiber is non-addictive and safe for most people. People with diverticular disease have to be careful of fiber because the fiber can lodge in the pockets of the intestines. In this case, soluble fiber such as apple or citrus pectin is safer choices. Choices of fiber include:
II) A stronger form of laxative is an OSTMOTIC LAXATIVE. Osmotic laxatives "pull" water into the intestines. Bringing more water into the stool increases volume of stool and makes it softer.
Do not exceed the dose of 300mg 3X/day (total 900-1000mg/day). Magnesium citrate is an excellent choice as a laxative because magnesium is also muscle relaxing and magnesium is necessary for nerve function and bone density. Magnesium does not cause urgency or spasms, unless you take too much. That is why you start off slowly. Remember using magnesium is safe, but should be used to give you the opportunity to find and resolve the cause of the constipation. Magnesium Citrate Caps Calcium/Magnesium Citrate effervescent
Stimulating laxatives (including Senna, ExLax® or Casgara sagrada) irritate the lining of the intestines. This irritation in the intestines causes spasms, forcing the stool out. These intestinal spasms create urgency. Irritant laxatives are addictive and dangerous. Your intestine loses the ability to contract and propel stool normally when irritant laxatives are used long term. I do not recommend irritant laxatives; I also do not sell them. Naturopaths prefer to determine the REASON for the constipation so that we can treat the cause, rather than using addictive dangerous treatments.
Intestinal Bacteria: Probiotics: "Gut Bugs" Certain bacteria including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria live in the intestines, and they should be there. These good bacterial create up to 1/4 of the entire stool volume. If the volume of stool is low, it may be a lack of these healthy intestinal bacteria. If this population of healthy bacteria gets out of balance and dies off, other organisms will colonize the intestines. These organisms include: Candida albacans, other fungus and harmful bacteria. Fungus and harmful bacteria secrete toxins, which slow gut movement and cause a tremendous number of symptoms. Food sources of Probiotics include: live (refrigerated) miso, live culture yogurt, live (refrigerated) sauerkraut, live kim chee, and kefir. All of these foods should not be boiled, because it kills the bacteria. Probiotic supplements are pills or powders that deliver healthy friendly bacteria to the intestines. Not all Probiotics are created equal. Some must be kept cold so the living bacteria don't die. Other Probiotics are suspended in a "bacterial food", so they can survive at room temperature. Some companies use bacteria that are isolated from soil. I do not recommend soil based organisms, because they don't inhabit the intestines, they just pass through. I recommend products that will eventually take over the intestines and maintain healthy populations.
Please see the section on dysbiosis to further understand correcting gut intestinal bacteria population. Causes of constipation include
Drink enough water. A general recommendation is 2 quarts a day or more. Colon cleanses can help gently clean the intestines. They must be done carefully or with a doctor's supervision. |
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