Easy Home Remedies for Constipation Relief

Dietary Changes

Posted by saab (vancouver, canada) on 04/28/2008
★★★★★

Using sea salt/acv for constipation has worked better for me than following remedies: psyllium husk, extra fibre every night(wheat bran), water+b.soda+acv etc. I use 250 ml warm water, few sprinkles of sea salt (pinch)+1 tbsp organic ACV. This has also cleared up stubborn adult acne on the throat.I am just not sure of the long term use of salt every in the morning,if it would corrode the organs. Many heartfelt thanks, nevertheless for the site and its info.

Bentonite Clay

Posted by Vladimir (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) on 12/31/2007
★★★★★

Hi. I started taking Bentonite Clay after reading about it on the internet and especially on http://www.eytonsearth.org/ I don't know whether it is because of it or because of the other supplements I take but I am less constipated and sleep better. I also believe it contains many minerals and they're natural (not processed). I am taking a table spoon of a very dense Bentonite Clay and water solution every night before going to bed. I would recommend it. It would be also interesting to hear other people's experiences with Bentonite Clay.

Seltzer Water

Posted by Carol (Cumberland, MD) on 11/19/2006
★★★★★

The first time my sister was pregnant she tried every product she could find for constipation. During her second pregnancy I suggested she drink seltzer water. I had read about it in a magazine. I also had cravings for seltzer water during my last 2 pregnancies and never had any problems with constipation. She told me she didn't like the taste and couldn't drink it. A few weeks later she let slip she was mixing it with juice and was actually regular for once.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Desire (Chicago, IL) on 10/30/2006
★★★★★

5HTP, Omega3, Chlorophyll, ACV, Lemon and H2O everyday, Yoga 4 days a week. This combination has cured plenty; depression, regularity, appetite suppressant, etc. I'm just one happy camper

Prune Juice

Posted by John (Baltimore, Maryland) on 09/21/2006
★★★★★

Ever since my wife and I were married she would drink a glass of prune juice 2 times per week. This resulted in not only a cleansing but an end to constipation after trying it myself. It is also good to drink a glass of water as well to wash it down.

Honey

Posted by Gail (Powell, Wyoming) on 11/15/2005
★★★★★

I struggled with severe constipation for years, and it was getting worse. I tried many natural products and had always tried to stay away from harsh laxatives. I had a colonoscopy several months ago just to see if there was anything wrong. I did have 2 pre-cancerous polyps but no blockage. I had resorted to taking Golytely twice a day per my physician's recommendations, with poor results. (Golytely is used as a bowel prep!) My chiropractor said I should try honey, 2 teaspoons, three times a day. I thought, yeah, right! It works! (Do not give honey to babies, it can cause botulism in infants).

Acupressure

Posted by Donna (Aspen, CO)
★★★★★

Every morning, before you get out of bed -- rub your tummy with your fist, not too hard, gently, but make an impression, only for about 10 seconds. It may take two mornings of rubbing, but you'll never be constipated again.

Bran, Guar Gum, Molasses

Posted by Nat (Brooklyn, NY) on 02/25/2025
★★★★★

A third tsp unprocessed coarse bran, with around a quarter tsp or so of guar gum/or other such fiber in a cup of warm water, with an added pinch (or occasionally two) of Epsom salt, a little MCT or coconut or olive oil, and a tsp honey/molasses taken several times a day is helpful.

Small amounts of magnesium, even taking a larger dosage from time to time, but not every day, might be helpful.

Herbal remedies for constipation containing senna or other stimulant herbs stop working eventually. First, there is a need for higher and higher dosages and then even the higher dosages hardly work. Even taking high amounts of magnesium products like magnesium citrate over a long time (a year or so) will end up hardly working. And the body's natural peristalsis is damaged. Miralax is less habit forming, but it can cause nervousness (or anxiety or sleeplessness) in some people.

Fiber foods taken with a lot of water are helpful.

(There is an antibiotic - Erythromycin that has been shown to help severe constipation in children. https://www.scielo.br/j/bjmbr/a/NGMt3N7mkbn49xnzYB8mYYS/)

Avoiding/minimizing fried foods, too much protein, and refined and processed foods is important.

Coffee

Posted by SUNNY (Ca) on 02/03/2025
★★★★★

A poop Dr. on YouTube said that bloating is due to constipation. I agree. Coffee makes me go right away. I had major bloating and remembered I hadn't pooped regularly. I took one cup of coffee and cleaned my house to move around and like 20 minutes later has so much relief and pooped. Don't eat stuff that makes you stuck or gives you gas. But if you need it coffee is the best!!

Lemon Juice and Olive Oil

Posted by A.M.S. (New York) on 01/02/2025

UPDATE: Stopped working as well when I had even a tiny amount of bread, such as on vacation. Hoping it still works when eating clean again. Read that ground flaxseed can also be a huge help, will add that to the mix.

Dandelion Root

Posted by Ashley (Santa Clarita, CA) on 08/01/2024
★★★★★

Constipation remedy:

Dandelion root and leaf tea works wonders.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Dena L. (New Orleans, Louisiana ) on 05/21/2024
★★★★★

I suffer from constipation so I started drinking more water, eating Raisin Bran cereal, taking calm magnesium powder, and making smoothies on my off days with strawberries and bananas with pitted dates and peanut butter. I make three cups to last me for three days. I have them with a chicken or tuna salad and cucumbers. I also drink kumbucha drinks twice a week. This eliminated my constipation.

Senna Leaf Tea

Posted by Glen (Denver, CO) on 03/13/2024
★★★★★

Senna works for chronic constipation. I use a senna compound in table form. There are many to choose from (I use prunelax). One and half tablets a night along with 3 capsules of magnesium oxide works reliably. I also bought one of those "squatty potties."

All of these inexpensive remedies together work work wonders. I feel so much better now and don't worry as much about my diet.

Grapefruit Seed Extract +

Posted by Nat (Brooklyn, NY) on 07/11/2023
★★★★★

Grapefruit Seed Extract, Ume Plum Vinegar, Coconut water for Constipation

Taking around 20 drops of Grapefruit Seed in about two or three ounces of water in the morning (and sometimes again in the afternoon) helps for Constipation.

Also, it is beneficial to take it with about a half tsp of Ume Plum Vinegar. (ingredients: ume plum, sea salt, beefsteak leaf-shiso. Both an America and a Japanese company sell the vinegar. Using presently the plum vinegar from the American company.)

Sometimes it is beneficial to take a mixture of around a tsp of ume plum vinegar in a cup of water or coconut water 10-20 minutes later and another tsp of ume plum vinegar in another cup of water or coconut water another 20 minutes later. The very salty vinegar and the coconut water both give benefit. A few shakes of cream of tartar powder can also be added to the water.

Toilet Stool

Posted by Mimi (Texas) on 05/16/2023
★★★★★

I've had a terrible time with constipation. A friend suggested to use a 7” toilet stool. I was amazed at how fast it worked for elimination. Proper posture is the key.

It also helps to take a single 200mg magnesium citrate gummy last thing at night and use the toilet stool in the morning. I also make sure I walk at least 30 minutes a day. I drink plenty of liquids like water, tea, and coffee.

Metamucil powder 1x a day in 12 oz. of water, stirred well, also helps me. If I decide not to take the magnesium gummy, I fix the Metamucil in the morning to drink.

Good Luck.

Epsom Salt

Posted by mike m. (Kent Lakes, N.Y.) on 03/13/2022

How about just drinking prune juice as needed or eating stewed prunes (I love it with heavy cream). Worked for me whenever I needed it over the years.

Probiotics

Posted by Rituparn (India, Delhi) on 09/25/2020

Thank you for helping people with your insights.

MSM

Posted by Marilyn (Kearney, NE) on 04/01/2024

Thank you so much Cindy for posting your results with MSM! I found it searching for a "mineral water" recipe thinking that my city tap water is probably "dead" of minerals. And that maybe I would feel better if I made my own mineral water. I just bought a little MSM last week, and thought maybe that was helping. But I only took about 1 tsp a day. Now I know I can take more! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Ted's Remedies

Posted by Gord235 (Vancouver, Canada) on 08/31/2019

Awesome Robert! I notice that your typical meal has only two eggs, no bread and no dairy.

Plum Juice

Posted by Leigh Ann F. (Abilene, Tx) on 05/13/2017
★★★★★

I've learned from 94 yrs old lady to drink plum juice. I drank whole container from grocery store. Wait a while n true enough it flush bowel movement. More importantly, make sure to eat enough fiber foods to keep your stomach digest well. If not enough fiber then it constipated like flour, meat, sugar, n anything junkie.

MSM

Posted by Cindy (Illinois, Usa) on 07/16/2016 554 posts

My friend also reminded me that you have to snip the end of the nozzle off so that the stream is a bit bigger - otherwise it's just tiny.

MSM

Posted by Cindy (Illinois, Usa) on 07/16/2016 554 posts

A friend purchased a "set" of wash bottles and uses the largest for plain water and puts a stronger, soap/water/ACV mixture in the next smaller size.

She is using Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap because she read something about using cold sitz baths and since I have some peppermint, I tried it with her stronger peppermint/acv mixture and WOW! THAT would be refreshing on a hot day!! It's like a big dose of air conditioning, all OVER!! I'm going to have to put on a sweater!! ROFL! AWESOME!! That is SO cool!! Literally! Holy moly!