Natural Remedies In The Treatment Of Constipation
Constipation is a bowel disorder that affects many, up to 15% of the general population. A large majority don’t even try to treat the condition, and a great fraction of those who do do not ask for advice from health professionals. The reluctance to seek advice is understandable, given that constipation involves embarrassing biological functions.
Due to the embarrassing nature of this condition, many of the people who look for treatment try out home-based and natural therapies. An informed understanding of these remedies is needed to obviate potential dangers. In particular, it’s remarked here that natural constipation treatments aren’t automatically safe.
The most commonly used herb is the senna plant. The senna plant has powerful laxative properties due to high concentrations of anthraquinones. Anthraquinones have been found to increase intestinal activity and speed up movement of stool. It can be obtained as either tablets or in bags of leaves to be prepared as a tea. The cascara plant also has a history of being a natural laxative but has since been banned by the FDA.
While senna is a chemical agent that stimulates the colon to move its contents more quickly, mineral oil is an entirely different kind of agent used as a natural constipation treatment. When taken by mouth, it enters the intestine where it coats the stool. Since oil is a water repellent, the stool becomes protected against loss of fluid. This enables it to remain bulky and therefore move more quickly. Doctor and scientists call this a lubricant laxative which is a bit of a misnomer.
Most people don’t know about senna and mineral oil, but almost everyone knows that fiber is a great remedy for constipation. The psyllium plant is one of the best sources of fiber. The husks of its seeds are turned into powdered form and sold at nutrient and supplement stores. Metamucil is but one of the many companies who manufacture products made from psyllium.
The flaxseed is another source of high fiber. These can be crushed like psyllium or taken whole. An additional benefit that some have reported is that consumption of flaxseed can lower cholesterol. However, such results need more confirmation and research. The oils that are extracted from flaxseed are not as palatable to most people.
As with any form of natural treatment, it’s advised that the subject seek the help of a health professional. A doctor would be best informed in knowing whether a home-based constipation treatment is good for you or not. Of particular concern is that some of these home-based agents have associated contraindications for people with certain conditions. Learning more about these warnings from the physician would be a wise task.
The writings provided for constipation treatments will be informative to many. Uncover the newest information and writings in regards to constipation home remedies.
