Adults, youth, infants, older children and the elderly - everyone faces bowel problems. For some, this is a short-term problem, while for others, they cannot empty their bowels normally for a long time. There is a large selection of laxative medications on the pharmaceutical market, but many still prefer natural home remedies. And constipation soap is one of them. If you decide to try it, you should first understand how soap works. It is also useful to clarify the methods of use and possible complications from such treatment of constipation.
Danger of constipation
One-time constipation in an adult or child is not dangerous. Stagnation of feces can be caused by poor nutrition or water balance. If the problem is systematic and stool is often absent for more than 3-4 days, then you should seek help from a doctor.
Stagnation of feces in the body leads to the proliferation of pathogenic microbes in the intestines.
They provoke intoxication of the body. In a newborn, this process manifests itself in moodiness, lethargy, fever and vomiting. Due to stagnation of feces in the intestines, gases accumulate, which subsequently cause severe abdominal pain in the baby. Long-term constipation in a newborn and an adult increases the risk of developing gastrointestinal diseases, and also leads to fissures in the anus and rectum.
Let's turn to soap for help
One of the effective home remedies for bowel congestion is constipation soap. It is actively used in children and adults even today, when pharmacies have many different modern laxatives. There is still controversy surrounding the treatment of constipation with soap.
For the procedure, preference should be given to baby soap.
In household products, the concentration of alkali is too high, so it is easy to get irritation and burn the mucous membrane. You need to cut a small piece of soap from a whole bar and form a thin candle using a knife and water. Then you need to insert it into the rectum; for convenience, you should lie on your side. If a piece breaks off, don't worry - it will come out during a bowel movement.
Operating principle
The effect of a soap candle is simple - it irritates the walls of the rectum and helps to “wake up” the intestines. Its walls actively contract, allowing feces to move through. Previously, this method of relieving constipation was considered safe, but over time, experts came to the conclusion that it could only be used once.
Soap suppositories are safer than many medicated laxatives, since most of them have side effects, including addiction. Even if some of the soap remains in the anus, after a while it will come out along with the feces.
On the other hand, soap contains alkali, which can cause burns to the mucous membrane and the formation of ulcers.
Therefore, you should use an enema and a soap suppository carefully. All preparation features, contraindications and possible complications should be taken into account.
Therapy rules
A soap suppository is effective for mild constipation in adults. If you are worried about heaviness and pain in the abdomen, there is nausea, high fever and increased gas formation, this condition may indicate the development of certain diseases, including intestinal obstruction, for which the use of home remedies is unacceptable. Soap is used for minor problems with stool, when an intestinal irritant is required to stimulate the passage of feces.
What soap to use
For constipation in an adult, use baby soap. It is completely natural and does not contain impurities that can cause intestinal problems.
You should avoid using cosmetic and tar soaps. These cosmetic products dehydrate the mucous membrane, provoke the formation of cracks and false urges to defecate. In infants, candles made from laundry soap can cause complications due to the high concentration of alkali; this type is not suitable even for adults.
Soap for newborns
Many on the forums like to advise using soap for constipation in a newborn, which causes a lot of controversy. But since most medications for constipation are contraindicated for babies, some mothers still use soap as a less dangerous remedy.
This method should be used only if other methods of relieving constipation have not given the desired result. In this case, you can give preference to baby soap and use it as a last resort.
It is necessary to insert soap candles into a newborn according to the rules.
- For the procedure, use baby or hypoallergenic soap no thicker than a match.
- Smooth out the corners using water and your fingers.
- Place the child on his side and insert the prepared suppository into the intestine.
- The soap should be injected shallowly, but there is no need to leave it in the anus. To facilitate defecation, it is necessary to lubricate the mucous membrane with oil or Vaseline.
Soap should be used rarely in infants and only when necessary. Regular treatment with such home remedies disrupts the natural bowel movement process.
Use during pregnancy
A separate item in the system of using this folk remedy is soap for constipation during pregnancy. As you know, constipation often accompanies a woman during this period of life. Gynecologists do not share a common opinion on the use of laundry soap in such a case. But it is a well-established fact that upon contact with the mucous membrane, soap significantly increases blood circulation and tone of the uterus. In some circumstances this can be very dangerous for the fetus. Therefore, women can use soap against constipation during pregnancy only if there is no threat of miscarriage and no more than twice during the entire period.
Laundry soap for constipation is a simple, affordable and quite effective remedy, which has no equal in folk medicine yet. When used correctly, you can significantly “make it easier” for your body and your life.
Soap for constipation has been used for quite a long time: since Soviet times it has been used to restore stool, since the choice of laxatives was very limited then. Many speak of it as a universal, effective method of treating fecal stagnation. However, soap for constipation is not as safe as it seems. If used incorrectly, it can cause a chemical burn, so before such therapy you should study the characteristics of the composition and action of the soap.
When should you not use soap for constipation?
The use of soap for constipation is contraindicated in the following conditions:
- gastrointestinal ulcer;
- increased gas formation;
- irritable bowel syndrome;
- abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, high fever;
- prolonged absence of bowel movements;
- chronic constipation.
Soap is contraindicated for anal fissures and hemorrhoids; you should also not get carried away with it during pregnancy.
It is worth remembering that soap is only an emergency measure. Regular use can lead to ulcers, burns, irritation and intestinal upset.
To avoid such risks, you should familiarize yourself with the composition of the soap before use. High alkali and fat content may cause side effects.
Why is this method considered dangerous for newborns?
Many doctors consider the use of soap suppositories for constipation in one-month-old infants unacceptable and dangerous to health, based on arguments about the negative impact of traditional medicine:
- Risk of burns to the mucous membrane and exposure to toxins from the soap bar. The thoughtless use of suppositories for constipation, especially the use of cheap substrates or laundry soap, can have disastrous consequences.
- Stress due to the inconvenient and painful procedure for administering a traditional medicine - parents may not calculate the volume of the candle, or not fully process the sharp edges of the soap, which will cause harm to the baby.
- Constant stimulation with the drug does not solve the problem of constipation, but only temporarily causes loosening of the stool. The process of nervous regulation is disrupted when using a soap candle and the risk of developing lazy bowel syndrome is several times greater.
- Suppositories can provoke false urges in infants, characterized by pain - tenesmus. Traditional medicine will harm the baby.
- Soap has different acidity with the intestinal environment, causes disruption of normal microflora and corrodes the mucous membrane.
The baby's body is susceptible to the effects of external manipulation. There is a risk of disrupting the natural processes of defecation by using soap suppositories.
Constant use of a folk laxative poses the risk of long-term recovery and treatment for chronic constipation in children in the future.
How to make a candle
Making a candle from soap is simple - you need to cut off a piece, use water and your fingers to smooth out the sharp corners. After this, insert the product into the anus and wait for a bowel movement. It usually occurs within 15-20 minutes.
Simple candle
To make a simple candle, you need a wool thread and soap shavings. It needs to be warmed up in your hands and a rounded cylinder no more than 0.5 cm wide is formed around the thread. The thread should extend beyond the end of the cylinder. The candle looks like a sanitary tampon. It is necessary to insert the candle in the usual way and wait for relief.
Laxative candles made from homemade soap
To avoid complications, you can make your own soap. To do this, mix a liter of water, 1 teaspoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of grated laundry soap.
The resulting composition is placed in a water bath and waited for several hours.
After this, pour the mixture into molds and put them in the cold. The product must be used as usual laxative suppositories. But in comparison with them, homemade soap does not cause irritation and does not expose the mucous membrane to damage.
Is it possible to do a soap enema?
No less effective, but safer than candles, a way to get rid of constipation are soap enemas. Alkali dissolved in water does not come into contact with the intestinal walls. For the solution, use laundry or baby soap for adults, baby soap for children.
Microenemas for long-term constipation
Microclysters are indicated for prolonged constipation. Compared to conventional ones, they do not cause pain or discomfort due to the small volume of infused liquid.
In order to soften the stool, a soap base will be used. You need to mix 50 ml of warm water and 20 g of grated baby soap. The composition is drawn into a syringe, the tip is lubricated with Vaseline and, in a supine position, it is inserted into the anus. No later than a quarter of an hour after infusion of the composition, the action of the microenema will begin.
Cleansing enema based on herbs and soap shavings
The product requires the following components:
- 10 ml linseed oil;
- 20 g of soap without additives;
- 15 g dried mint;
- 30 g nettle;
- 60 g chamomile flowers.
You need to fill the collection and soap shavings with ½ liter of water and let it simmer over the fire for about an hour. After this, the solution should be cooled to room temperature. Since a large volume of liquid is used, you should use an Esmarch enema to avoid discomfort.
The ingredients used help heal damaged mucous membranes and relieve inflammation. In addition, they protect and cleanse the intestines from stagnation. The method should be used no more than 2-4 times a year.
Operating principle
The effect of soap against constipation is explained quite simply - it irritates the rectum, due to which it begins to work, and stagnant feces come out.
Previously, this method was considered absolutely harmless, but today doctors talk about it as a dubious treatment for constipation:
- On the one hand, soap is actually safer than laxatives, which have side effects and are addictive. Even if the soap suppository remains in the anus, after a while it will dissolve on its own and come out with the stool.
- But there is also a downside - the soap contains alkali, which can cause ulcers and burns on the intestinal mucosa.
Accordingly, a soap enema or soap for constipation should be used very carefully, taking into account all contraindications.
Previously, the use of soap for problematic bowel movements was considered a completely safe and harmless method of treatment. It was enough to insert a piece of soap into the anus for constipation, and emptying did not take long to occur. However, today doctors have questioned such traditional medicine.
The essence of soap therapy is direct contact with the walls and mucous membrane of the lower intestines. Its action is similar to that of irritant laxatives. Once inside, soap stimulates the smooth muscles of the rectum and peristalsis, after which it is excreted from the body along with feces, making them softer and more slippery.
You should not use cream soap and tar to restore bowel movements. These cosmetics can cause the mucous membrane to dry out and cause anal fissures.
Recipes, menus and diet products
