Why are people so interested in their bowels? Most folks don’t obsess about their livers, lungs or kidneys. But ask any gastroenterologist and you will learn that people are fascinated with what ends up in the toilet.
They report on whether their stool sinks or floats, whether it is brown or yellow, hard or soft, and on how often they move their bowels. This is far more detail than most physicians want to hear.
Many people have been taught that regularity ranks right up there with cleanliness and godliness. If they don’t visit the bathroom by 9:00 am every day, they fear dire consequences could result. What exactly could go wrong is not specified.
This may explain why “inner cleansing” has renewed its popularity in recent years. The notion of purging “toxins” from the system was a nineteenth century approach to healing that fell into disfavor. Now it is back, in the guise of herbal products that are supposed to reduce the risk of serious ailments as well as aid in weight loss.
In reality, laxatives can’t lead to lasting weight loss. But herbal cathartics can deplete the body of vital minerals, leading to life-threatening complications such as heart rhythm disruptions.
Regularity is individual. Some people are perfectly normal with three bowel movements a day while others have three a week with no adverse consequences.
On the other hand, constipation can be very distressing. One reader shared her agony:
“I suffer from spastic colon, have used over-the-counter harsh laxatives from childhood and have tried just about every herbal laxative known to man. I am on numerous prescription painkillers that cause constipation, so I’m in a lose-lose situation.
“I would be very grateful for information that could help. I’ve gone 14 days without relief, and when I do have a movement, it is too painful to describe. I am desperate for a cure for this problem, but nothing my doctors have recommended has worked.
“After years of abuse, the bowel lining is damaged, so even when taking laxatives I have to use suppositories or a Fleet enema to stimulate the process. The bloating and discomfort are getting to be more than I can bear.”
Laxative abuse can lead to this sort of complication, but the powerful pain relievers she is taking definitely add to her problem. One gastroenterologist has recommended sorbitol, which is a sugar that is not well absorbed and in excess may cause diarrhea. He also recommends MiraLax (polyethylene glycol).
For those who do not suffer such extreme constipation, a home remedy may be helpful. A reader shared this “Power Pudding” recipe with us: Mix one cup applesauce with one cup coarse unprocessed bran and three quarters cup prune juice. This thick paste should be refrigerated. Take a tablespoon daily, washed down with eight ounces of water. This should bring results within a week.
Of course high-fiber fruits, vegetables and whole grains are essential for good health, along with lots of water daily. For most people this is all the “inner cleansing” that is necessary.
Here are some remedies that readers of this column have recommended:
“Taking flax seed oil with 100% pure unsweetened cranberry juice daily is the only thing that has helped me after 66 years.” K.S.
Unsweetened cranberry juice is an acquired taste. We are talking TART! Lots of folks find prune juice a bit more palatable.
Greg offers a different approach:
“An effective short term cure is steamed or boiled okra. Buy a bag of frozen okra and keep it in the freezer. Whenever they are needed, take 4 or 5 pods out and put them in a cup of water. Cook several minutes in the microwave until soft. I believe this is a much safer method than many of the laxatives available today.”
“As a child and into my teens, I always had chronic constipation. My parents tried everything the doctor recommended, including every available known over the counter treatment. Then my mother heard that the cereal All Bran might help. I tried it and NEVER had any other problems again! It is filled with good nutritional ingredients, including 30% daily value of magnesium which is known to help that problem. You should have a drink of water with it.
“My husband had a serious illness this year and is on medications that cause constipation. No medication to counteract that helped him, so he tried All Bran (in his case twice a day), and it worked perfectly. — Since it is more natural than medications for this problem with no known side effects if taken with adequate fluid, then it should certainly offer a highly effective and safe solution to the problem!” R.M.M.
Share your own constipation remedy below. You may also find our Guide to Digestive Disorders of interest. It has common sense solutions to flatulence, constipation, diarrhea and heartburn. There are details on the recipe for “Power Pudding” against serious constipation. Also learn how to phase off proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole or lansoprazole. Our Guide to Constipation also has a dynamite Pumpkin-Bran muffin recipe that our friend Kit says works wonders for regularity.
