Gentle Healing: Herbal Medicine Strategies for Chronic Constipation

Constipation occurs when the large colon doesn't function optimally, often caused by diet, lack of fluid intake and stress.

Make a point of visiting the bathroom on a regular schedule, particularly before bedtime and first thing in the morning. Exercise may also help stimulate bowel movements.

Bulking Herbs

Constipation herbal medicine formulas aim to gently and effectively stimulate bowel activity while providing bulk to stool. Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum), for instance, works as a powerful stimulant and may be taken either in powder form, whole seeds form, or mixed into juice or water for tea making purposes.

Probiotic supplements (bifidobacteria or lactobacillus) may also help relieve chronic constipation. Probiotics contain naturally-occurring bacteria in your gut that help break down food, improve digestive health and relieve chronic constipation symptoms.

Another method is drinking plenty of fluids - particularly warm liquids - and eating high-fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains to prevent constipation. Although this approach can also help, the best way to treat constipation is addressing its root cause - such as physical inactivity or certain medications; constipation may be caused by many different things including diet choices, medications and medical conditions like diabetes or hypothyroidism.

Bitter Herbs                                  

Medicinal bitters have been used safely, effectively and for centuries to improve digestion and overall health since antiquity. Sometimes called bitter tonics, aromatic bitters or digestive bitters they play an integral part in herbal strategies for improving digestion and overall wellbeing.

Bitter flavors stimulate nerves in the mouth that lead to an array of digestion-related events in the body that increase digestive juices, gastrin, pepsin and pancreatic enzymes; they also detoxify livers while feeding healthy intestinal flora.

Bitter tastes activate our parasympathetic nervous system and trigger our vagus nerve, an important component of which is to "rest and digest". The parasympathetic system promotes digestion by controlling heart rate and blood pressure, increasing immune function, relieving stress and depression and improving overall mood.

An intake of just a few drops or teaspoon of bitter herb tea each day will have an astoundingly positive impact on your digestive health. Best herbal medicine for constipation like dandelion root can be taken either in liquid form (tincture) or created into decoction by simmering them with water to form a decoction (decoction).

Stronger Herbs

People prone to constipation may benefit from taking herbal medicines that serve both as stimulants and laxatives, like Senna. Senna stimulates nerves in the gut to speed up bowel movements; it is available over-the-counter as pill form and typically works within 8-12 hours.

Dried cascara bark is both stimulating and laxative, containing chemicals known as anthraquinones that stimulate muscle contractions in the bowel to facilitate urination and stool production. Cascara should only be taken under guidance from a qualified herbalist due to the potential danger it poses if taken in large doses.

Those suffering from constipation should try starting by drinking one cup of stewed apple every day (green apples work best) as its fructose can draw water into your colon to stimulate bowel movement. If that does not help, stewed rhubarb can also act as an excellent bowel-moving herb.

Other Strategies

If you suffer from chronic constipation, it is essential that you increase the fiber and fluids in your diet. Aim for at least 30 grams of dietary fiber daily while drinking plenty of water; prune juice contains sorbitol which promotes regular bowel movements while there are commercially available herbal constipation supplements like psyllium husks and guar gum which could also be effective solutions.

Alternately, drinking hot liquids like apple juice will also help stimulate digestion and open up the intestines. Be sure to follow a regular schedule - the longer stool sits in your colon, the harder and more difficult it becomes to pass. Always consult with medical professionals or any best lahore hakeem in case of chronic constipation.

Acupuncture (electroacupuncture, massage and moxibustion), massage therapy and moxibustion may also help treat constipation effectively. A recent randomized placebo-controlled trial demonstrated its efficacy against functional constipation patients. Ma Zi Ren Wan significantly increased bowel movement frequency while decreasing symptoms compared to herbal laxative Senna or placebo treatment for this population of patients.