10 Home Remedies for Quick Relief from Constipation

What is Constipation?

Constipation is a very common condition that affects people of all age groups. It mostly means that you’re not passing stools regularly or you’re not able to completely empty your bowel. Constipation is often defined as having less than one bowel movement in a 24 hour period which means that you might have a bowel movement one day but then not have one for the next two or more days. Often,constipation causes bowel movements that are not only infrequent, but also very dry, hard and difficult to pass out. This leads to excessive straining and discomfort.

What are the Symptoms of Constipation?

When you have constipation, the stools are typically dark in color; small round balls in shape and usually quite dry in texture. Oddly enough, it can take a lot of straining to pass these stools. There may be accompanying gas, abdominal pain, and bloating of the abdomen. For some people it might take longer for the food and fecal matter to move through the small and large intestines. It takes a long time for the food to be digested and passed out.

What Causes Constipation?

Your exercise and eating habits, gender, age and health status all affect the number of bowel movements you experience in a given day. While there is no set number of bowel movements a person should have, it’s abnormal and possibly dangerous to go three or fewer times per week.
It’s difficult to identify the exact cause of constipation. Some of the common causes of constipation include the following:

Not drinking enough fluids
Some change in your lifestyle or eating habits
Ignoring the urge to pass stools
Anxiety or depression
Side effects of certain medications
Not eating enough fibre in diet
A diet low in fiber
Lack of exercise
Travel or another change in routine
Eating large amounts of milk or cheese
Stress or resisting the urge to have a bowel movement
Strong pain medicines such as narcotics
Antidepressants
Antacids containing calcium or aluminum
Iron pills
Certain blood pressure medicines
Psychiatric medications

In children, poor diet, fear about using the toilet and problems toilet training can all lead to constipation too.

10 Home Remedies to get Relief from Constipation :

The following easy home remedies can help induce a bowel movement quickly.

1. Fiber
Eat a serving of high-fiber food. Food that is high in insoluble fiber includes whole grains, fruit, and vegetables. Try eating bran, brown rice, or whole-grain bread. Vegetables such as brussels sprouts, carrots, and asparagus are good options too.

2. Prunes
Start eating Prunes. Drink one glass of prune juice in the morning and one glass at night time. These fibre-rich fruits are a great home remedy for improving your digestion. Three prunes have 3 grams of fibre, and they also contain a compound that triggers the intestinal contraction that makes you want to go.

3. Flax seeds
Flax seeds are loaded with fiber. Add flax seeds to your cereal every morning or just take a handful of them with warm water early in the morning. Flax seeds are known to have a demulcent effect, they contain noticeable amounts of mucilage which cools, moistens, decreases inflammation, and often stimulates local immune response.

4. Mint and ginger tea
Mint and ginger are both proven home remedies to help alleviate a lot of digestive problems. Mint and ginger have good enzymes which are very useful for the digestive system. Ginger is considered a warm food and it helps to calms down an upset stomach. Drink a concoction of ginger or mint tea before or after meals to detoxify the body and ease up tummy problems.

5. Raisins

Raisins are packed with fiber and work well as a natural laxative (as it contains tartaric acid). Soak a handful of raisins in water overnight and take them first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. This remedy is very effective.

6. Coffee
Coffee might contain small amounts of soluble fibers that helps with constipation. Caffeine can help to stimulate the muscles in your digestive system to contract, causing a bowel movement. Try drinking decaffeinated coffee for quick relief from constipation.

7. Lemon juice/Lemon water

Citrus foods like lemon contain a good amount of vitamins and nutrients which helps in maintaining the body’s balance. Lemon juice can be used as a simple and quick remedy for treating constipation. Vitamin C rich water adds to proper digestion which further helps with constipation. The citric acid in lemon juice acts as a stimulant to your digestive system and can help flush toxins from the body. A warm glass of water with the juice of half a freshly-squeezed lemon plus a pinch of salt mixed in it taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach acts as a great cleansing agent for the body.

8. Sesame seeds
Full of nutrients, sesame seeds contain essential oils which are actually very good for your body. The oils in the seeds help loosen up the body and helps in regulating the bowel movements.

9. Apples

Apples provide a large amount of fiber. Eating warm applesauce (maybe with some cinnamon, which is a demulcent herb) or drinking apple juice is an easy and enjoyable way to cure constipation.

10. Figs
Figs are packed with fiber and act as a great natural laxative. To relieve constipation, boil a few figs in a half-cup of milk. Allow this mixture to cool down till warm and then drink it just before bedtime.

Try some of these natural home remedies and get quick relief from constipation troubles. If you’ve tried a lot of different things and still having stomach issues, see your doctor as soon as possible and get yourself checked up for a medical problem.