Causes of constipation in adults
Most often, the problem discussed arises as a result of an incorrectly formulated diet. For example, with insufficient consumption of coarse fiber and liquid throughout the day. Irregular meals can also lead to trouble. For example, the lack of a full breakfast and lunch, but a hearty, hearty dinner after a working day.
There are other causes of constipation:
- any ailments of the rectum (including hemorrhoids);
- insufficiently developed muscles of the anterior abdominal wall, pelvic floor and others involved in the act of defecation;
- diseases of the adrenal glands and kidneys;
- therapy with antidepressants, antibiotics, frequent use of laxatives;
- lack of physical activity throughout the day;
- any intestinal diseases (especially disruption of its patency due to tumors, adhesions, polyps).
Pregnancy and constipation
During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes significant changes. Hormonal changes cause constipation.
However, when carrying a child with medications, you should be very careful, since the risk of complications for the fetus is high. Therefore, taking herbs under the supervision of a pregnancy doctor is the best solution.
For women who are pregnant, an infusion of flax seeds is recommended. To prepare it, seeds in the volume of a tablespoon are poured into 250 ml of boiling water, covered with a lid and left for four hours. The infusion is taken before bedtime.
Dill seeds are also used. In this case, you will need 2 tablespoons of the product and 250 ml of boiling water. Infusion time – 2 hours. Taken 30 minutes before meals.
Pregnant women are recommended to take dandelion infusion and a decoction of rowan flowers.
Enema for constipation
Currently, there is still active debate between doctors about whether an enema is beneficial or harmful. You definitely cannot do it too often, so as not to lead yourself to dysbiosis or muscle weakening as a result of frequent artificial stretching of the intestinal walls. But, if for some reason laxatives are contraindicated for the patient, then this is one of the most effective ways to cope with constipation.
It is best to choose an oil enema for home use. For example, from pre-refined olive or sunflower oil. Pharmacy Vaseline will also work. The liquid is heated to 38 degrees, after which it is introduced into the intestinal cavity using a special design. The procedure relaxes the walls of the organ, facilitates the movement and removal of feces, and generally stimulates spontaneous emptying.
This type of enema is recommended to be given in the evening. It will begin to act only after 12 hours.
If you need to get a quick effect, you should choose a hypertensive enema. To do this, instead of oil, a strong saline solution is used. It is prepared from 1 dessert spoon of salt and 1.5 liters of warm boiled water. For chronic constipation, the amount of bulk component can be increased to 1.5-2 dessert spoons. The resulting solution increases the flow of fluid into the intestines and irritates its mucous membrane, as a result of which the stool becomes looser and is excreted on its own.
Herbal anti-constipation tablets
Decoctions and infusions of medicinal plants are certainly effective. However, their use is not always convenient. If you don’t want to measure and dilute, but at the same time you don’t trust pharmaceutical drugs, herbal anti-constipation tablets are suitable.
Tisasen
Contains senna. The drug is effective for 6-12 hours. Helps improve intestinal motility, causing the urge to defecate.
Senade
The active ingredient is senna leaves. It has a gentle effect, due to which the intestines are emptied gently and naturally.
The most effective laxatives
The group of the most active drugs that help get rid of constipation includes drugs that stimulate intestinal motility. After them, emptying occurs once after about 7-8 hours.
Bisacodyl.
Liquefies feces, allowing the intestines to naturally empty. Can be used either orally or rectally.
Phytomucil.
In the intestines, the fibers of the drug turn into a gel, increasing several times at once. They attract liquid to themselves. As a result, the feces soften and come out painlessly.
Osmotic agents retain water in the intestines and increase its flow from blood plasma and fat cells. However, such effective drugs are not recommended for use in old age.
Fortrans.
The product is only suitable for patients over 18 years of age. Helps cope with acute constipation.
Prebiotics quickly and easily eliminate the problem. After ingestion, they enter the large intestine unchanged, where they activate the growth of beneficial microflora. Also, such medications attract additional fluid into the intestines.
Duphalac.
As a result of taking the drug, not only the intestines are naturally emptied, but also the natural microflora is restored. Suitable for children too.
Medicines for the elderly
If constipation occurs in older people, then the treatment of the disease in this case must be approached with extreme caution. This is especially true when choosing the right medicine. Today you can find several drugs on sale that are approved for elderly patients.
Vegaprat.
Even with long-term use, such a remedy does not wash away important microelements from the patient’s body. Once you get used to it, you can alternate it with other similar drugs.
Normaze.
This drug is suitable even for pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as patients of any age. It should be taken with caution by people with diabetes.
Phytolax.
This is a natural laxative containing only natural ingredients. Used for two weeks before bedtime. It has a very gentle and gentle effect on the body.
Pharmacy drugs
In the pharmacy you can find both tablets or liquid concentrates containing laxative plants, as well as their preparations.
Herbal remedies that can be used for constipation
- Proctophytol . It is an antihemorrhoidal preparation. Ingredients: senna, buckthorn, coriander, yarrow, licorice. It has hemostatic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and laxative effects. Available in filter bags containing 2 g of raw materials. Directions for use: Place 4 g of herb in a deep plate or mug, pour a glass of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. Drink 150-200 ml of infusion at night. The effect is observed closer to the morning. The duration of the course should not exceed 7 days in a row. Can be used for hemorrhoids, when stool retention is extremely undesirable.
- Gastric collection No. 3 . It copes well with constipation and intestinal spasms that may occur against their background. Ingredients: nettle, buckthorn, valerian, calamus, mint. Produced in the form of filter bags of 2 g each. Method of preparation: pour boiling water over 2 filter bags and leave for half an hour. The infusion is consumed twice a day, half a glass: morning and evening. It is recommended to shake before use to remove sediment from the bottom. The duration of the course is no more than a week.
- Laxative collection No. 1 . Ingredients: buckthorn, nettle, yarrow. Available in packages of 100 g. Method of use: place 6 g of raw materials in a bowl, pour boiling water and place in a water bath. After 30 minutes, remove and cool. Take half a glass at night. The effect occurs after 8-12 hours, the duration of action directly depends on the state of the gastrointestinal tract of a particular person. The course should not exceed 7 days.
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Herbal laxative tablets
Products related to both medicines and dietary supplements:
- Senade (Senadexin). The active ingredients of Cassia aculifolia are sennosides A and B. Take 1 tablet at night. If there is no effect, it is possible to increase the dose to 2-3 tablets at a time. Relief is observed after 8-10 hours. Allowed with caution from 6 years of age.
- Phytolax. Available in the form of chewable tablets with a pleasant taste, which do not need to be washed down with water. Ingredients: senna, apricot, dill, plantain, dietary fiber. Take 2 tablets with meals in the evening. Allowed from 14 years of age.
- Fitoslabin. Tablets based on buckthorn, senna, mint. Taken only by adults, 2 tablets before bedtime. Course – 2-3 weeks.
- Frutolax. Available in capsule form. Ingredients: beets, prunes, figs, apricot, senna, fennel, lactulose. Approved for use from 14 years of age, take 2 capsules in the evening. Adults can increase the dosage to 4 capsules. Course – 2 weeks.
Senna-based tablets are considered “hard” laxatives, and uncontrollable diarrhea very often occurs. The act of defecation may be accompanied by painful spasms. It is best to use them once to avoid addiction.
Products based on other herbs or fruits are much gentler. They can be taken daily for 2-3 weeks, but there is also a chance of addiction, although not as high.
The appearance of “naturalness” is deceptive. Almost all herbal medicines have negative consequences, therefore they are prohibited until the age of 14 (except for senna - it can be used with caution from the age of 6). Herbal infusions are dangerous because you can easily exceed the dosage if you measure the raw materials incorrectly. This is especially true for plants that are not sold in pharmacies - they can be collected by mistake and have not a laxative effect at all, but a toxic one.
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Traditional laxatives for constipation
You can make your own effective remedies to ease bowel movements from various herbs and roots.
One of the best and fastest-acting options is a decoction of buckthorn bark. To prepare it, take 1 tbsp. raw materials and 1 tbsp. water. Together, the components are boiled at the lowest heat on the stove for about 20 minutes. As time passes, the broth remains warm for the same period.
Home Recipes
Here are 8 proven home remedies that can help relieve constipation:
Lemon water
Warm water and slightly acidic lemon juice stimulate the digestive system and help move intestinal contents forward.
Lemon also helps remove toxins and undigested, heavy food stuck to the colon mucosa.
To make lemon water you will need:
- Lemon juice, fresh - from ½ lemon;
- Warm water – 200 – 250 ml.
Squeeze the juice from half a lemon into 1 glass of warm water.
Drink this warm water before going to bed and after you wake up in the morning.
Drinking warm lemon water twice a day will help regulate bowel problems.
However, this recipe is not suitable for anyone suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcers or those for whom acid is contraindicated.
Honey water
Honey is often used as a mild and safe laxative.
Honey softens hard stools and stimulates mucus production, which helps remove old feces.
The product is rich in nutrients and also protects and strengthens the digestive system. Honey and warm water can stimulate the intestinal tract to relieve constipation.
To prepare a solution in 200 ml. warm water add 1 tbsp. l. honey.
You should also drink this water 2 times a day: in the morning, when you wake up, and in the evening, before going to bed.
Before using, make sure you are not allergic to honey!
Flax-seed
In addition to containing vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseeds contain fiber. Fiber relieves constipation, helps reduce pain and reduces bloating.
The oil present in flaxseeds also helps relieve constipation. The seed lines the walls of the intestines and colon and helps move stool.
In order for flaxseed to really help, it should be consumed in ground form, since whole grains, having gone through a full digestion cycle, will come out of you intact. Flax should also be consumed with a liquid, such as orange juice or water, to help the remedy work faster.
You only need 1 tbsp. ground flaxseed in a coffee grinder or mortar and 200 ml. pure water or juice. Mix the two ingredients and let the mixture sit for 2 – 3 hours before drinking.
If it’s convenient for you, you can drink the resulting cocktail before bed.
Don't expect immediate results; flaxseed may take at least 5 hours before you feel the first urge to defecate.
In addition, you can add 2-3 tbsp. l. to your regular breakfast: porridge or soup, and also add it to milk, other drinks and food.
Feed molasses or molasses
Molasses is a byproduct of sugar production. This product contains large quantities of vitamins and nutrients.
The third boiling in the sugar production process results in the formation of molasses. It contains magnesium and other minerals and vitamins that help relieve constipation.
Molasses can have a strong flavor, so you may need to dilute it in your drink before drinking. You can consume molasses with water, green tea, cereal, porridge, baked goods, or sweet foods. Taking it with honey or prune juice can increase its effectiveness.
To prepare a laxative you will need: 1 tsp. molasses and 1 tbsp. warm water.
Drink the resulting drink three times a day to relieve constipation and normalize bowel function.
Castor oil
Castor oil is the most famous and common remedy for constipation. It stimulates intestinal contractions, which lead to the desired cleansing of stagnant stool and rids the intestines of undigested material.
You can take 1-2 teaspoons of castor oil to achieve the effect. If you find the taste unacceptable, try diluting it with juice before drinking.
Waiting for results can take from 6 to 12 hours.
Castor oil is an excellent remedy for constipation, however, the oil should always be used with caution.
Notes: Do not exceed the prescribed dosage as this may cause serious side effects.
Avoid taking castor oil continuously for more than 7 days.
If you observe any side effect, reduce the dosage. If side effects are severe, stop use immediately and consult a doctor.
Castor oil has traditionally been used to facilitate childbirth. Therefore, pregnant women should not consume castor oil to relieve constipation as it may cause the uterus to contract.
Yogurt
If you suffer from painful constipation, a product like yogurt will cure you.
Yogurt contains probiotics (a variety of gut-friendly bacteria) that aid digestion and support gut health. Yogurt keeps the intestines clean and prevents undigested material from accumulating along the intestinal walls.
Eating yogurt regularly will prevent constipation, bloating and pain.
You can include yogurt in your regular diet to keep your bowels moving like clockwork.
Remember, organic yogurt is preferable and does not contain any additives or preservatives.
Read the information on the packaging before purchasing yogurt to make sure that you are looking at a high-quality and natural product.
It would be a good idea to add fresh fruits or soaked dried fruits to yogurt; they will also help normalize stools and relieve constipation. You can use: prunes, apples, raisins, dried apricots.
Fruits such as pear, blueberry, cilantro, quince, persimmon, banana, pomegranate, on the contrary, strengthen the stool; avoid eating them during constipation.
Figs
Rich in fiber, figs are a natural laxative and can be consumed to relieve chronic constipation. While figs can be consumed either fresh or dried, the latter option is the most widely available.
One dried fig contains more fiber than a small apple or orange.
If you eat fresh fruit, eat it with the skin on because most of the fiber is found in the skin.
Figs are rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber helps break up stool, making it easier to pass.
Soluble fiber binds fatty acids and keeps food in the stomach for a longer time, ensuring proper digestion. This reduces the chance of the lower stomach becoming clogged with undigested material.
Take 4 – 6 figs and soak them in water overnight.
Consume plump figs on an empty stomach. By doing this regularly over several days, you should gradually restore normal bowel function.
Salty water
Sea salt can act as a natural laxative. Drinking salt water helps relieve constipation. Salt stimulates bowel movements, relieving symptoms of constipation.
You can do a salt water rinse. If you use salt, choose Himalayan or sea salt.
Regular table salt will not benefit your body as it lacks natural minerals.
Add 1 teaspoon of Himalayan or sea salt to a full glass of water (200 - 250 ml) and mix thoroughly.
The best time to consume this salt water is in the morning on an empty stomach. This simple remedy will prevent bloating and nausea.
Diet for illness
A special nutritional system for constipation will improve the patient’s condition, as well as prevent the problem from occurring in the future. This diet involves excluding viscous porridges (especially semolina and rice), strong coffee or teas, natural red wine, dried blueberries, pears, pomegranates, fast food, and any products based on wheat flour. As for vegetables, you should avoid onions, garlic, and radishes. You will have to remove even chocolate in any form from your menu. Red fatty meat, smoked meats, any canned food, and strong meat broths can aggravate the problem.
But it is useful to eat apricots, prunes, beets, Jerusalem artichokes, apples, porridge made from brown or gray grains in water, lightly salted fish, fresh kefir, white wine, vegetable and fruit juices.
Diet for constipation in women has its own characteristics. Representatives of the fair sex, whose bodies are prone to constipation, should also adhere to a four-fold nutritional system. Maximum portions are consumed for breakfast. Only 20% of the total daily ration is left for dinner. In the evening, salads made from cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, beets and herbs are useful. It is better to boil lean meat and fish. As for fats, use only vegetable oils.
Fruits and berries as a laxative
Constipation in adults and treatment with folk remedies. This topic worries many people who care about their health and are trying to establish a stable digestive process using safe methods.
Dried fruits, prunes, figs, dried apricots
Dried fruits are characterized by a quick laxative effect. In addition, dried fruits are safe for health and do not cause allergic reactions, therefore they are allowed for both adults and children.
During the day you can eat several prunes or dried apricots. Children can be given a decoction based on dried fruits. From the first days of life, children are given one spoon of prune decoction before meals to start the digestive process.
Based on dried fruits, you can cook compotes and prepare desserts with fermented milk products. The coarse fibers contained in dried fruits effectively cleanse the body of waste and toxins.
Plum
Plum is a laxative fruit. Children can prepare a puree based on fresh plums and give one spoon before meals to dilute hardened stool in the large intestine.
During the day, you can eat several fresh plums, prepare fruit salads or compotes. Plum does not cause allergic reactions, so it is suitable for patients of all ages.
Cherry and kiwi
These berries have a large amount of coarse fiber, which is beneficial for digestion.
In this case, you need to choose ripe kiwi fruits to get maximum benefits for digestion. Desserts with yogurt are prepared based on kiwi.
You can eat cherries fresh or make compotes with the addition of apples. Compote should be drunk throughout the day between meals.
Beet
Experts recommend using a folk remedy for constipation - beets. This vegetable is characterized by a rapid laxative effect. You can prepare fresh juice, a salad dressed with olive oil, or soup to speed up the digestive process.
In the morning before breakfast, it is recommended to drink a glass of beet juice with the addition of a spoon of vegetable oil. You can also prepare a salad with beets and carrots, seasoned with vegetable oil, for breakfast.
Exercises and massage at home
Special exercises and massage can also help improve intestinal motility at home.
It is better to start therapeutic exercises in the morning, without getting out of bed. Lying on your back, you need to stroke your stomach for a couple of minutes clockwise. The hand should move strictly clockwise.
Next, in the same position, you should raise your right leg bent at the knee and pull it towards you. The raised limb is pressed to the chest for a couple of minutes. The same movements are done with the second leg.
Then you will need to get out of bed, place your feet shoulder-width apart and squat for 10-12 minutes. At the same time, deep breaths are taken with the stomach.
Self-massage of the intestines is also included in the complex of morning exercises. It is done after all the exercises described above. In a standing position, you need to move your left hand along the stomach from its lower edge (right) up to the right hypochondrium. Further movements are carried out through the solar plexus to the left and, finally, down. In the process, the movement of digested masses through the intestines is repeated. The duration of the procedure should not exceed 10 minutes.
Rules for the use of laxative herbs
The condition for using pharmaceutical herbs is not to exceed the prescribed dosage in the instructions. List of rules to prevent consequences from occurring:
- Steam the plants in glass or enamel containers.
- Do not use medications after the expiration date. The alcohol infusion is stored at room temperature, decoctions and ointments are stored in the refrigerator for no more than 3 days.
- Strain the medicinal plants hot through a gauze cloth.
- Use a certain folk method, several remedies taken at the same time have a negative effect on the liver.
- It is forbidden to mix herbs with the same healing properties.
- Periodically stop taking medications if the duration of treatment is long.
It is necessary to choose effective plants for intestinal cleansing, taking into account the possibility of side effects.
Preventive measures
In addition to regular massage and special morning exercises, the complex of preventive measures against constipation also includes proper nutrition and regular physical activity.
Your diet should definitely include dishes made from whole grain cereals and legumes, as well as a large number of vegetable and fruit salads. Bread is another source of fiber that prevents fecal retention. It is recommended to eat slowly, chewing each product thoroughly.
It is also important to monitor the amount of water you drink. If you can’t use it in its pure form, you can add lemon juice or natural bee honey to the glass. It is believed that half a liter of warm water in the morning on an empty stomach is the surest way to prevent constipation. In the evening before going to bed, it is useful to drink a glass of warm liquid.
The best solution is to go to the toilet at the same time every day.
It is advisable to go there about 20 minutes after eating. It is the aroma of food that makes the gastrointestinal tract work actively. Share:
Symptoms
To diagnose constipation. It is recommended to pay attention to the following symptoms:
- If there is no natural bowel movement within two days, constipation may be suspected.
- Feces decrease in size, become dry and dense.
- Feeling of fullness in the intestines.
- Discomfortable sensations during the process of defecation.
- Increased body temperature.
- General weakness and pain in various parts of the abdomen.
Why does constipation occur?
Despite the fact that each person is special and everyone’s biorhythms are unique, there are general norms indicating that the frequency of bowel movements should remain in the range from several times a day to once every 2-3 days. If you have not had a bowel movement for more than a day, but you feel well and nothing worries you, it is better not to take any active actions and just wait. If the evacuation function of the intestines does not manifest itself in any way for more than 3 days, this is constipation, which cannot be ignored.
The occurrence of problems in the functioning of the intestines cannot be overlooked. The gastrointestinal tract immediately signals problems with the appearance of pain, flatulence, cramps or bloating.
To effectively solve the problem and understand how to improve the functioning of the intestines during constipation at home, you should “turn to the primary sources,” that is, understand the reason for its occurrence.
After food enters the intestines, the nerve endings in its walls are activated and stimulate muscle movements - peristalsis. The more food, the more active peristalsis will be. But sometimes the system fails. Why is this happening:
- If the amount of food digested is too small, residues can accumulate in the rectum, stretching it and causing constipation.
- In the same way, the cause of constipation can be dysbacteriosis or poor nutrition: insufficient water, fiber, abuse of sweets, caffeine-containing drinks, fast food.
- In addition, mechanical obstructions may occur in the intestines - polyps, tumors, cysts.
- Doctors also identify psychological causes of constipation: stress, overwork, sudden changes in routine.
- Sometimes pain during bowel movements can cause the development of chronic constipation. Once having experienced pain, a person subconsciously blocks the urge to prevent the unpleasant sensation from recurring.
- Constipation often occurs in pregnant women. In the early stages, the cause may be dehydration due to toxicosis and vomiting. Subsequently, the natural mechanisms of protecting the fetus come into play. The expectant mother's body produces hormones that relax the uterus and adjacent muscles, which also contributes to constipation.
The state of your gastrointestinal tract directly depends on how you eat.
