Home Remedies for Constipation
WARNING: This home remedies site is intended to be archival in nature. The natural remedies here are submitted by numerous people from around the world, and we have no way to test or verify every remedy. As such these home remedies should be used for academic purposes only. Never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.
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Constipation Home Remedies:
Submitted at 2006-04-16 20:15:19
Drink a glass of metamucil at night.
Drink 2-3 glasses hot water in the morning.
1. Lie flat on the ground on your back. While inhaling, lift your left foot towards your chest very slowly.
2. Hold your foot to your chest with your hands for 10 seconds (hold your breath).
3. Slowly release the foot while exhaling.
4. Repeat steps 1-2 with the other foot.
You will keep passing gas while doing the above. Keep doing steps 1-4 until the pressure builds up.
rating: 6 (83 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Take fenugreek, psyllium, or slippery elm to lubricate, cleanse, and heal the colon.
rating: 6 (17 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Eat guava with seeds to add roughage to the diet.
rating: 6 (12 votes)
Submitted by Heather at 2007-07-15 23:46:22
It's as easy as it sounds - eat fresh blueberries. It works within only hours.
rating: 6 (23 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Drink aloe vera juice to balance intestinal flora and to alleviate constipation.
rating: 6 (35 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Relieve constipation in small children by having the child eat bran cereal.
rating: 6 (20 votes)
Submitted at 2004-10-28 15:14:28
For constipation to stay regular or to clean your system take glass of water and squeeze a half of a lemon or lime and half of a teaspoon of sugar and mix it then drink it before any breakfast or drink in the morning and you will see the results. And if you are not regular then slice a whole tomatoe put some salt and eat it in the morning before any meal or drink. guarranteed.
rating: 6 (39 votes)
Submitted by Cheyenne at 2006-02-15 18:26:38
Take a hot shower when affected. Also drink cranberry and prune juice, lots of fruit and for some, avoid bananas. Apple juice may also work.
rating: 6 (29 votes)
Submitted at 2007-09-15 00:42:24
Nurses in nursing homes have nic-name for this remedy. 'The Bomb' MIx a cup of prune juice an a cup of coffee and add 30cc of MIlk of Magnesia warm it up. YOu should go by morning if taken at bedtime.
rating: 5 (11 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Take acidophilus in capsule form for spastic colons and to balance intestinal flora.
rating: 5 (20 votes)
Submitted by June at 2004-05-17 19:09:37
Take a teaspoon of lemon juice and a teaspoon of olive oil mixed together every morning. If you are not used to olive oil just pop a mint in your mouth straight after, but you get used to this very quickly.
I have been able to stop taking laxatives using this remedy. It helps to oil the bowel.
If the problem is severe do it morning and night.
rating: 5 (51 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Eat more fruit such as prunes, pears, grapes, orange juice, and papaya.
rating: 5 (26 votes)
Submitted by Blessings by Birth at 2007-11-25 12:56:24
Drink a glass of prune juice 1st thing on an empty stomach to ease or rid any constipation. Prune juice containing fiber is highly recommended.
(Drinking at bedtime, can disturb much needed rest).
rating: 5 (26 votes)
Submitted at 2005-08-03 11:08:33
Whenever I'm constipated I eat ripe kiwis. It never fails!
rating: 5 (16 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Maintain a daily exercise regimen.
rating: 5 (29 votes)
Submitted at 2007-04-27 10:34:47
Mix two teaspoons apple sauce, two teaspoons prune juice, and two teaspoons bran. Take each morning to treat constipation. Depending on severity it could take a week or more to work completely.
rating: 5 (15 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
For babies, give a teaspoon of butter with a pinch of sugar or the juice of raisins soaked for eight hours in water once a day.
rating: 5 (18 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Drink a glass of prune juice to aid bowel movement.
rating: 5 (39 votes)
Submitted at 2004-10-13 13:33:58
Drink a warm cup of coffe to help with constipation.
rating: 5 (61 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Drink a tablespoon of corn syrup in a cup of water.
rating: 5 (55 votes)
Submitted at 2006-09-18 06:39:48
Take two or three dry dates and some raisins. Boil them in a cup of milk (keep boiling for a minute on slow fire. Leave to cool. Drink half hour before sleeping. Excellent remedy for constipation.
rating: 5 (14 votes)
Submitted by AJ at 2008-08-12 21:37:03
Hamburger meat is WRONG WRONG WRONG! Meat takes a very long time to digest and yes, you may eat one burger and poop an hour later but I gurantee that if you keep doing this you will eventually mess up your digestive tract.
rating: 5 (21 votes)
Submitted by FRIEND at 2006-05-24 15:54:45
Constipated person should have:
--> Spinach in meals
or
--> Have medium quantities of papaya(fruit) twice a day.
-->honey in warm water eases the bowel
--> 1spn castor oil in hot milk - helps!
Do NOT have:
---> Banana
---> or any hard to digest food.
rating: 5 (23 votes)
Submitted at 2007-01-02 04:26:50
Natural things for helping constipation.
Simmer one half cup of raisins, or a half cup mixture of raisins, figs, and prunes with water and olive oil for a few minutes. Or, pour boiling water and olive oil to just cover the raisins, or the raisins, prunes and figs mixture. Or soak over night with tap water and some olive oil. (Check the figs to see that they have no bugs on or in them.) Then add some toasted wheat germ and toasted bran to this mixture. (Krechmer's (the company that makes toasted wheat germ also makes toasted bran. For some people it may, help more than raw bran.) Add one, two or three tablespoons bran and one or two tablespoon wheat germ to the mixture. Add some organic Wheatabix (a cereal from England). (The Wheatabix may help more than Fiber One or Uncle Sam's or Good Friends High fiber cereal. May be because it is organic.) Then add a little bit hot milk and maybe some sucanet. Eat this every morning. It may take some time to heal the system but after a few days or a week there should be improvement.
One can simmer, at one time, olive oil and water with a whole box of raisins or the raisin/prune/fig combination and store it in the refrigerator, taking out a half cup of the mixture every day.
(Till the body begins to normalize itself and for emergency usage one can use polyethelen glycol (golightely) by doctor's prescription. It is not habit forming and will even help for a few days after its use is stopped, but if one uses it for more than two weeks it can cause electrolite imbalance. It can then bring about some hyperactivity, jumpiness or wakefulness. Nevertheless, until the body normalizes itself, it is less harmful than other laxatives.
In an old Prevention magazine a reader once recommended, as a powerful remedy for constipation, drinking, twice a day, hot coffee with two tablespoons wheat germ and two tablespoons unprocessed (raw) bran in it. This can be taken first thing in the morning and then again in the afternoon. One can add some sucanet or xylitol sweetner, or molasses. Even a bit of milk to make it palatable is all right for most people.
One can take the hot coffee drink and then the raisin/olive oil/hot water/bran/wheatgerm/wheatabix mixture afterward as a morning cereal.
Hot fiber liquids (example – hot oily bean soup, hot pumpkin squash soup – blend the soup with the seeds) and hot sweet drinks (not chocolate) are very helpful.
Raw fruits and vegetables. Papaya has helped some people when other things did not.
Avoid low fiber foods such as starchy bakery foods, rice, pasta. Avoid chocolates, and too much protein.
It seems once that for a time a mixture of an eighth of a tsp each of carnitine powder, TMG powder and calcium pyruvate helped, all bought from Beyond a Century - a company that has very reasonable prices on supplement powders. At this time it may not be really helping as it was before.
Chewing dry a tablespoon of toasted or raw bran. Follow a little while later with a hot drink.
Fruit Eze is a commercial mixture of dates, raisins, prunes and prune juice that is made for use in nursing homes. One might try using it with the olive oil and the toasted wheat germ/bran/ Wheatabix mixture. It is certified vegetarian and kosher.
rating: 5 (26 votes)
Submitted by MONICA at 2005-03-17 09:17:23
HAVE HONEY IN HOT WATER TO GET RID OF CONSTIPATION
rating: 5 (32 votes)
Submitted at 2006-04-09 07:38:43
Don't eat hard to digest foods in the morning and at noon. Save it for Dinner. Like meat or potatoes..etc...
Nature's natural remedy: prune. Or drink prune juice! One cup should do. If it is urgent, maybe 2-4 cups. Be ready for when it cleans you out...
Garlic cloves. Eat 3-6 cloves. It will get rid of parasites too if done on a continual basis.
rating: 5 (5 votes)
Submitted by Dada Veda. at 2006-04-05 11:56:07
A good way to flush out your bowels and relieve constipation is to fast for 24 hours, taking no liquid or solid. Do it from sunrise to sunrise.
Then to break this fast do the following. Take one lemon and cut it in half. Press the juice of one half lemon in one glass of water. Mix this with one half teaspoon of salt. Take the other half lemon and make another drink in the same way with a half teaspoon of salt (you can use a bit less than one half teaspoon of salt).
Then take a breakfast of fruit, yogurt and other food to your taste. This will start the peristaltic action, and then the lemon water will kick in a flush everything out.
Fasting helps to bring the solid matter to the point of elimination and the salty lemon water gives it the final push.
rating: 5 (30 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Take liquid chlorophyll for general bowel health and maintenance.
rating: 5 (4 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Give licorice or dandelion tea to young children for constipation.
rating: 5 (4 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Red clover, turkey rhubarb, comfrey, and don quai are all mild laxatives.
rating: 5 (9 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Cayenne pepper in capsule form will help relieve bleeding hemorrhoids.
rating: 5 (8 votes)
Submitted at 2005-09-23 00:50:12
Creamy peanut butter mixed with about an equal amount of white corn syrup. Try it. I think you'll be glad you did.
rating: 5 (18 votes)
Submitted by meera at 2006-06-02 00:58:09
Take some dry grapes on night, and put in to the warm water, on the next morning squeeze the dry grapes in to the water very well. Drink it . when you got relief from your problem , you can take your breakfast , tea etc….
Note : - And also eat fiber foods, drink lots of water daily at least (12 glass) , include variety of fruits in your daily food. Avoid the food that creating constipation.
rating: 5 (6 votes)
Submitted by Danielle at 2006-09-01 11:26:49
Eat pineapple at least every day because it helps break down your food quicker. It's used in Asia alot for that soul purpose.
rating: 5 (6 votes)
Submitted at 2006-12-30 23:15:38
drink apple juice for constipation. works VERY gently, shouldn't give you the runs.
rating: 5 (7 votes)
Submitted by SweetPea at 2007-03-08 13:46:46
Little did I know at the time but I got addicted to Peppermint Candies ( you know the little round ones) during my second pregnancy.. and sure enough it got rid of my constipation and helped my IBS. Apparently Peppermint is a laxative
rating: 5 (5 votes)
Submitted by Amy at 2008-04-28 03:23:14
For long term relief eat yogurt daily and drink plenty of water. Don't cook the yogurt because heat destroys the beneficial bacteria in it. I use it as salad dressing or mix it half and half with jello for dessert. I had constipation for years, but this really did the trick.
rating: 5 (2 votes)
Submitted at 2008-09-03 21:44:38
Cranberry juice 1c., orange juice 1c., add cinn. 1/4 tsp. and ginger 1/8th tsp. heat then and little fresh squeezed lemon drink while it's warm should have relief soon !!!!
rating: 5 (5 votes)
Submitted at 2009-05-14 10:30:44
Before eating anything in the Morning, on an Empty Stomach take one cup full of Milk Of Magnesia, I am talking about the plastic Cup that comes on top of the Bottle of Milk of Magnesia, drink one and 1/2 Glasses of water, more if you can hold it, and within one Hour you have results, if no results Walk around a little. If I haven't stopped by 4 or 5 Oclock in the Evening I take 2 Immodium AD and it stops.
rating: 5 (9 votes)
Submitted by Daisy at 2009-08-28 06:49:09
THIS WORKS! After days of feeling constipated and trying several laxative meds i came upon Epsom Salt. If you read the directions and uses well enough you'll see it has a variety of uses including the use as a saline laxative. Wow who knew? Most will give directions on how much to take but if not mix 2 Tea spoons into an 8 oz. glass of water be patient and wait about 30min to 4.hrs depending and ahhh relief! Best of all it does not give you stomach cramps. Do not exceed 2 doses per day Read and Follow the directions and all should be well.
rating: 5 (2 votes)
Submitted by Cassidy at 2009-09-13 13:40:59
This remedy does not give immeidiate relief,but,it is very effective.Eat plenty of apples and drink 2+ cups of orange juice,(pulp for better results.)
I hope this remedy helps you!
rating: 5 (2 votes)
Submitted by Ron S. at 2009-11-01 21:56:41
For mild constipation, use a small stool (4” to 6” high) to elevate the legs while on the toilet. Place the stool as close as possible to the toilet bowl, and shift your body forward toward the front of the toilet seat. For more leverage, try coughing or sneezing (inhale some pepper if unable to sneeze on demand). You will also need to push at the exact moment the cough or sneeze occurs. CAUTION: This method is probably not recommended for more severe constipation.
The following can also help ease the strain of going potty, but you pretty much need a hole in the ground for it to work. Squat low to the ground so the back of the thighs are resting on the calves, lean forward slightly, and rest your triceps on your knees. (Subtle rocking sometimes helps.) If you’ve ever been constipated while in the woods without proper facilities, you know that the pipes will clear much easier when you're crouching!
Cheers.
rating: 5 (2 votes)
Submitted at 2009-11-02 22:43:22
Go Juice always works for me. Go Juice is equal parts orange, apple and prune juice. 8oz. for adults.
rating: 5 (2 votes)
Submitted by marielis at 2009-09-01 05:11:13
Take a regular spoon of baking powder and put it in a glass of water and drink it as fast as possible. In less than 25 mins you would be going to the bathroom in no time.
rating: 4 (11 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Eat prunes, raisins, or dates for constipation.
rating: 4 (21 votes)
Submitted by TAN at 2008-08-16 21:18:43
FOR CONSTIPATION TAKE 2 TO 4 TBSP OF COCONUT OIL, IT REALLY WORKS.
rating: 4 (10 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Take cascara sagrada to improve bowel well being.
rating: 4 (12 votes)
Submitted by John-Michael at 2009-03-25 17:05:50
PLEASE READ THIS FIRST!
If you have ever suffered as much as I did with constipation and the horrific abdominal pain I went through, A friend of mine who had also suffered form this once before, and who also is in the medical field offered the ONLY cure possible that WORKED!. Buy a box of Dulcolax FIRST. Take 1 suppository. It immediately flushes out the lower intestinal track 8-10 minutes. Wait about 1 hour after the flushing because the upper intestinal track will also cause discomfort especially if you are impacted as I was.
SECOND:Purchase a bottle of SUPER CLEANSE by natures secret, at your health food store. Take 3 of the tablets immediately! Drink plenty of water and in about 6 hours, you will thank me! Remember to also eat plenty of colon healthy food (Colon healthy Yogurt etc). Drinks lots of water after you have taken the SUPER CLEANSE. Slowly get back to your diet (healhty hopefully!) and OMG!!!! this really works. It's cheaper than a trip to the hospital and less embarassing! This WORKS!!!! I promise! Forget the hassle of having to feel like a witch doctor mixing up potions of exotic extracts! Besides, where can you get frogs toe nails anyway?
Do this and be happy that your read this!
rating: 4 (4 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Drink a glass of milk with some sugar or honey twice a day.
rating: 4 (11 votes)
Submitted at 2004-12-30 22:10:14
Eat graham crackers. I generous amount.
rating: 4 (6 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Get plenty of fiber and whole wheat in your diet, and drink plenty of water.
rating: 4 (15 votes)
Submitted at 2003-11-07 17:47:18
Eat bael fruit as a natural laxative.
rating: 3 (4 votes)
Submitted by Tina from Tipton Co. TN at 2004-12-27 15:54:58
Hamburger meat works better than the full strength medicine hospitals prescribe. I was severely constipated for two straight weeks while in the hospital. The doctors tried everything. My grandfather told me to go buy a hamburger. I did It.It worked the same day. Now I make sure hamburger meat is in my families diet weekly. Nobody in my family has been consstipated in 7 years.
rating: 3 (42 votes)
Submitted at 2007-12-21 20:11:16
The person that mentioned ham burger meat was spot on.
It might sound stupid, but if im constipated I go to a well known fast food chain get a burger meal and with in about an hour im on the toilet. It works everytime.
Im not saying the burger makes me feel ill, just it really does relieve constipation for me.
rating: 1 (2 votes)
Submitted at 2008-04-05 23:05:34
mix one rounded teaspoon of vitaman C crystals with a glass of juice and drink right away. Guarantee it will work
My constipation was so bad even my doctors were confused but after drinking that for a few days i was good
Crystals can be bough at any drug store
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted by GordonPears at 2008-10-22 08:06:31
Fruits and fruit juices are helpful in preventing and relieving constipation. When it comes to fruit juice, it is important to get the ones that are fresh rather than from concentrate. Drinking prune juice is a very popular method to relieve constipation.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2009-06-29 18:40:35
What works for me is: Espresso from starbucks, or McDonalds iced coffee.
My newest discovery: lemon juice. I used to drink 5-6 packets of lemon juice in my water (mixed with splenda) in a 24 oz cup (Venti sized 'iced drink cup' from Starbucks) and I drank this ALL DAY. Keep in mind, I was also refilling my drink as the day went by. By afternoon, I was running to the bathroom!
What also works is SORBITOL, found in sugarfree gum, sugarfree candies, and sugarfree cough drops. These must be taken in excess for the laxative effect. (There will be a warning on the package that says just that. haha)
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted by TASHA at 2009-07-15 01:28:53
I HAVE USED DARK CORN SYRUP, MY CHILDREN WERE BOTH CONSTIPATED AS INFANTS DUE TO THE IRON IN THE FORMULA. NOW MY SON IS HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH TOILET RESISTING AS THEY THINK HE HAS AUTISM. THEY HAD PRESCRIBED HIM MIRALX, IT DID NOT WORK SO WELL SO I WENT AND BOUGHT SOME DARK CORN SYRUP AS I DID WHEN HE WAS AN INFANT. I PUT A FEW TEASPOONS IN ANY LIQUID 1-2X A DAY AND IT IS HELPING HIM WONDERFULLY, IF YOU ARE USING THIS REMEDY FOR INFANTS PUT JUST A LITTLE BIT IN A FEW BOTTLES A DAY YOU WILL NOTICE A DIFFERENCE IN JUST A FEW DAYS!!
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted by Amy at 2009-08-25 14:23:51
Black licorice is the fastest thing that works for me. Try a few sticks or a handful of Good & Plenty's. Just be careful if you use Hairbo Licorice Wheels--very potent. Just try one of those. I ate 2 and wound up with stomach cramps and diarrhea all night. Cleaned me out!! This works faster than fruit or laxatives and seems to be gentle in moderation. If you don't like black licorice I suggest finding a candy with real licorice in it. Sometimes you can find them with a fruity flavor but it has to have real licorice in it.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2009-11-20 12:47:44
Unripe bananas every time (greener the better) to keep you regular. Ripe for diarrhoea.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted by Tracey at 2009-12-02 16:24:05
After reading all the other posts, mine may seem a bit simple... but it's very easy to apply. I got this advice from someone working in a pharmacy. I was looking for weight loss remedies and after a bit of discussion, the woman said that it sounded like I had an 'elimination' problem. I told her that I tend to retain fluids, so I don't want to be pounding down lots of water all day. She explained that I should be drinking small amounts of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. To improve elimination, she advised me to drink about 250 ml of water at room temperature as soon as I get up in the morning. She said that your digestive system is working through the night, and it's at its 'readiest' to be emptied in the morning when you get up and get vertical. Constipation is simply a lack of sufficient fluid in the lower intestine. So, if you give your lower intestines that fluid when it's most useful, it will help your natural rhythm. It's been a great success. I just keep a bottle of water by the bed or in the livingroom and start sipping as soon as I get up. It's been very effective and constipation is a thing of the past. I also try to eat fiber when possible. But the water in the morning has been amazing.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted by Vegetable lover at 2010-02-17 07:28:55
Basically what all these home remedies are suggesting is that you are trying to basically give yourself dhirea. All you have to do is eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Anything with lots of fiber will clear your system well. This is coming from a person who has a lot of experience with it. As a child, let's just say I really liked vegetables. Feel free to try any of the other remedies and good luck with your problems.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
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