Are you experiencing difficulty in emptying your bowels? Well, it is because of the solidification of waste material in your body that has made the process of evacuation very painful. This condition is known as constipation and can affect anyone regardless of their age. When the muscles of the digestive tract become dry, they contract and stop the passage of waste. Constipation could be chronic and there are other reasons that are equally responsible such as stress, pregnancy, irregular eating habits, hypothyroidism, colon cancer, multiple sclerosis and excessive intake of strong medications.
The first sign of constipation is difficulty in passing stool. Other symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain and swelling, hard faces, and loss of appetite. While a serious case of constipation will need some medical attention. There are ways of preventing and treating it at home using natural laxatives.
1. Castor Oil
Castor oil is the best laxative for constipation in adults as well as kids.
What to do:
- Mix 1 tablespoon of castor oil with warm milk and have it at night before you hit the sack.
- Alternatively, you can warm 1 tablespoon of castor oil and mix it with 1 tablespoon of honey.
- Take this every morning.
2. Olive Oil
Olive oil helps improve the digestive system and bowel movement.
What to do:
- Mix olive oil with lemon juice and drink it at least once a week.
3. Lemon Juice
Lemons are of great help when it comes to cleansing of the intestines.
What to do:
- Squeeze a lemon in one glass of water and drink it every day in the morning.
4. Warm/Hot Water
Water is the best way to treat constipation.
What to do:
Drink a glass of warm water every morning before brushing your teeth.
5. Indian Gooseberry Powder
Indian gooseberries are very effective in improving the digestive system.
What to do:
- Mix 1 tablespoon of Indian gooseberry powder in a glass of warm water and have it on an empty stomach in the morning or you can drink it at night before dinner.
6. Coffee
Caffeine found in coffee is a natural stimulant. However, it does not necessarily work for everyone. Hence, one must try other laxatives before trying coffee.
What to do:
- Drink a cup of coffee in the morning.
7. Raisins
Pregnant women who suffer from constipation should eat raisins everyday as they are a good source of fiber.
What to do:
- Soak raisins in a bowl of water over night and have them the following day on an empty stomach.
8. Figs
If none of the natural laxatives above worked, you can also try figs.
What to do:
- Add a few figs to a cup of milk and boil them. Drink this warm milk with figs before you hit the hay.
9. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera can have a reverse action, if used excessively.
What to do:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel in any fruit juice, and drink it on a regular basis.
10. Blackstrap Molasses
Blackstrap molasses is rich in vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, which provides instant relief from constipation.
What to do:
- Mix 2 teaspoons in a glass of warm water and drink.
11. Guavas
The seeds of guavas are rich in fiber; therefore they provide immense respite from constipation.
What to do:
- Eat guavas as often as you can.
12. Bananas
Bananas are high in potassium and fiber. This quality makes them the best laxative as they help keep our body’s electrolytes in balance. They encourage the growth of good bacteria which triggers bowel movement.
What to do:
- Include more bananas in your diet.
13. Milk and Ghee
This remedy has been used for ages. It is very efficient if you use it constantly.
What to do:
- Mix 1 teaspoon of ghee to a glass of warm milk and drink every night just before you sack out.
14. Spinach
Spinach is ideal for cleaning up the intestines. In fact, it acts like a cleanser to eliminate out all the waste produced in our bodies.
What to do:
- You can have it in the liquid form or as a juice mixed with water or cooked or raw.
15. Prune Juice
Prunes are high in vitamin A and potassium. Apart from curing constipation, they also lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cancer and heart diseases.
What to do:
- Adults must eat 5 prunes in a day, and for children, make some juice by mixing it with a bit of water.
16. Cabbage
Cabbage helps to soften the stool and also in cleaning the intestines as it is rich in fiber.
What to do:
- Include raw cabbage in your meal as coleslaw or salad.
- You can eat cooked cabbage in the form of soup.
17. Oranges
Oranges aids in flushing out the toxins from your body. They are rich in fiber and a good source of vitamin C.
What to do:
- Eat at least two oranges in a day.
18. Isabgol/Psyllium Husk
This whitish husk has fibers that are both soluble and insoluble. The insoluble husk expands in the stomach making bowel movement easier.
What to do:
- Mix two tablespoons of Isabgol with any fruit juice, milk or water and drink at night.
19. Yogurt
Yogurt improves the digestive system. That’s a good reason to try out this home remedy.
What to do:
- Have 1 cup of yogurt every day. You can also have buttermilk which is made from yogurt.
20. Beans
Beans are a good source of fiber and help greatly in curing constipation.
What to do:
- Cook beans and eat them 2 – 3 times a week.
21. Dandelion Tea
Dandelion is known as a detoxifying agent and a natural laxative.
What to do:
- Drink a cup of dandelion tea once in a day to keep constipation away.
22. Ginger Tea
This kills any bad bacteria present in the stomach, which helps with constipation.
What to do:
- Grate some ginger and add to your regular tea.
23. Sesame Seeds
Sesame helps in bowel movement.
What to do:
- Have 3 teaspoons everyday in the morning or sprinkle it on your salad.
- Do not use more than the stated amount.
24. Senna
The only drawback of using Senna is that it causes cramps. However, it is a good remedy for constipation.
What to do:
- Consume Senna each day.
25. Coconut
Coconut is a good laxative whether taken as milk, powder, oil or water.
What to do:
- One should have it every day, in any form.
26. Papaya
Eating papaya every day is very healthy for stomach, as it is a natural laxative. However, pregnant women should avoid this remedy.
What to do:
- Eat papaya daily.
27. Linseed
If you like this idea more, you can try taking linseed to help you with constipation.
What to do:
- Gulp down a few linseeds with water before every meal.
28. Flaxseed
Flaxseeds are rich in fiber; therefore, help in the process of digestion.
What to do:
- Have flaxseeds in the morning with a glass of warm water.
29. Bael Fruit
Adults should only have 60 grams of Bael fruit in a week. It cleans up the intestines.
What to do:
- Include it weekly in your diet.
30. Apple
Apples contain pectin, a natural laxative that stimulates bowel movement.
What to do:
- Eat apples in the morning.
- You can also have apple cider vinegar with warm water every morning.
31. Fenugreek
Another good idea if you’re looking for a natural laxative is to use fenugreek.
What to do:
- Soak fenugreek seeds in warm water at night. The following morning, drink some water and swallow those seeds.
32. Cascara Bark
Although an unusual remedy, it’s a good idea to use dried cascara bark as a natural laxative.
What to do:
- Take 150ml of water in a pan, add a few sticks of dried cascara bark and bring to a boil.
- Lower the flame and simmer for a few minutes.
- Drink this water once in a day.
33. Herbal Mixture
It’s a good idea to mix various herbs and seeds that help with constipation for a stronger effect.
What to do:
- Grind together a few seeds of sunflower, almonds, flaxseeds and sesame seeds to form a powder.
- Have this powder every day.
34. Pear
Pears are packed with fibers and assist bowel movement. That’s why it’s a good idea to use them as a natural laxative.
What to do:
- Eat 2 pears every day.
35. Beets
Beets are the best remedy for quick relief from constipation.
What to do:
- Eat raw beets every day for lunch.
36. Nuts
Nuts are high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. This makes them a good laxative.
What to do:
- Include nuts in your diet as often as possible. Consume them as snacks, add them to salads or keep them in the oven for a couple of minutes.
37. Whole Grains
Grains such as brown rice, oatmeal, and wheat are rich in fiber and are excellent natural laxatives.
What to do:
- Add whole grains to salads, replace cereals with them, or consume them in milk or yogurt.
38. Melons
Melons have lots of water in them, so they get easily digested. They are also very helpful in loosening the stool.
What to do:
- Eat melons as often as you can.
39. Berries
Berries of all sorts serve as good antioxidants; therefore, help in cleaning out the colon.
What to do:
- Instead of deserts, eat berries. Try including them in your breakfast as well.
40. Avocado
Avocados are high in vitamin A and E, potassium, healthy fats, magnesium and are rich in fiber. They assist the body to absorb the nutrition and fight constipation.
What to do:
- There are plenty of recipes you can cook with avocado. Whether it’s the classic guacamole, avocado toast or salads that contain it, try to include more of it in your diet.
41. Carrots
Carrots possess natural antioxidants. They detoxify your body and stimulate the bowel movement.
What to do:
- Cook more with carrots or eat them raw as a snack.
42. Onions
Onions have many benefits like they flush out toxins, provide good bowel movement, reduce cholesterol and fight against cancer.
What to do:
- Generally, if you cook them they will lose their properties, so try to include them raw in your dishes. Add raw onion to salads, for example. If not, you can add them to your steak in the oven, to soups or other dishes.
43. Cauliflower and Broccoli
Since cauliflower and broccoli are abundant in fiber, they remove carcinogens and toxins from the body.
What to do:
- Look up recipes that include cauliflower and broccoli. Many people avoid them because of their taste, but you can mask it with spices.
44. Garlic
Garlic is affluent in allicin and selenium which helps cleanse the liver by eliminating out the toxic products.
What to do:
- Swallow a piece of raw garlic in the morning. Alternatively, include it in your dishes, sauces, or as a side spice.
45. Omega-3 Oils
These oils lubricate the walls of the intestines for a smoother bowel movement and also aid in removing harmful substances from the body.
What to do:
- Replace your regular vegetable oil with special oils that contain Omega-3. Include it in your salads or when you’re frying something.
46. Epsom Salt
You may know that the Epsom salt is good for baths, for example. But did you know you can also take it as a natural laxative?
What to do:
- Mix 2 teaspoons of Epsom salt with 1 cup of water or any fruit juice of your choice and drink. If there is no bowel movement after 4 hours, repeat again.
47. Baking Soda
Bicarbonate present in soda helps reduce any pain in the stomach due to constipation.
What to do:
- In ¼ cup of lukewarm water, add 1 teaspoon of baking soda; mix and drink immediately.
- Alternatively, add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to a tub of warm water and soak your body in it for 10 minutes. This is an excellent remedy for babies.
48. Milk of Magnesia
Infants suffer from constipation a lot and milk of magnesia can make them feel better.
What to do:
- You can add 1 teaspoon of milk of magnesia to a bottle of formula milk.
- Give it to your child two times a day.
49. Glycerin Suppositories
People who suffer from acute constipation should put glycerin suppositories in their anus. It will provide a smooth passage to the stool.
What to do:
- Ask at the pharmacy for glycerin suppositories. Follow the instructions on the prospect.
50. Sugar-free Chewing Gum
Sorbitol found in chewing gum is a good laxative, but remember to not go overboard with this laxative, as chewing too much gum can cause stomach pain.
What to do:
- Buy a pack of sugar-free chewing gum. Look on the package to see how much you can chew in one day and follow this rule.
What to Do, What Not to Do: Tips for Avoiding Constipation
Do’s:
- Drink plenty of water. There is nothing that will flush you out like water. This keeps everything moving along nice and smoothly and it has endless other benefits, as well.
- Eat food that is rich in fiber. High fiber foods are delicious as well as necessary for you to produce stool in a healthy way. Fiber foods can be found in things like beans, nuts, and leafy greens. Incorporate these into your diet and you will avoid constipation like the plague.
- Form an exercise routine. Exercising also gets things moving and flowing in your body, and it is a great way to keep yourself healthy and mobile.
- Do not overeat.The pull to overeat is a strong one. We have all done it from time to time. But when this becomes a consistent habit, it is easier to overwhelm your body and create constipation for days. Avoid this type of bodily abuse and learn portion control and how to pace yourself.
- Try meditation and Yoga. Stress is one of the surest ways to become constipated. Meditation and yoga combat this by helping you to loosen up.
Don’ts:
- Use over the counter drugs. If you must, and none of these 50 natural laxatives do the trick, natural drugs may be the best option. But it should not come to this. If you do your research beforehand to make sure you’re making the best decision for your body, you will easily see that natural is best, so always try all you can in the natural realm when it comes to issues like constipation.
- Eat processed foods like fried chicken, ice-cream, candy. Processed foods take longer to process through.
- Take too many dairy products. Nothing clogs you up like dairy! Stay away.