The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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.
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 559 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 559 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!
Ginger, Coconut Oil, Baking Soda
Posted by Anna (Vienna, Va) on 10/23/2015
★★★★★
Thank you all for your posts.
I read from Bill somewhere this web site about fat + baking soda = soap. I had this stomach pain very early in the morning together with my recent problem of constipation. So with empty stomach, I got up making 1/2 glass of ginger tea warm plus 1tbs of coconut oil, then immediate half glass of water with 1/4 tsp of baking soda (I feel all my nutrients were washed out of my body from baking soda).
Amazingly, the pain is gone. I have been taking these two glasses for about a week now. I plan to stop at 7th or 10th day. I also learned from the same section to take 1 tsp of blackstrap molasses which also seemed to help with my constipation.
I am thankful for the posts and this web site. God bless.
Glycerin
Posted by Marcia (Utah) on 10/15/2015
★★★★★
Glycerin suppositories are the best remedy for constipation. They work within minutes. I can eat constipating foods like dairy or meat and still have a good bowel movement with the glycerin suppositories. I do one in the mornings if I have been eating constipating foods. Otherwise I don't need one. My friend who is 60 has been using them for 30 years with no negative side effects.
Herbs
Posted by Nat (Brooklyn NY) on 08/18/2022
Senna leaf is only for very short-term use, or for use from time to time.
To a lesser extent, the same applies to Magnesium Citrate and other supplements that have a stimulant action on the body.
When people use senna leaf over a long period of time, they will keep needing more and more of it. And then it will stop working. (This could take even a year. First, they won't notice how they keep needing more and more of it. and then they will suddenly notice that it is no longer effective.) And when they stop using it, their constipation will be worse than ever. For natural peristaltic action will no longer work. The same thing happens with long-term use of magnesium citrate and other supplements that have a stimulant action on the body.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Sophia (Cork, Ireland) on 08/16/2014
★★★★★
Squeeze two oranges, add a spoonful of honey and warm water to make a glassful, approximately 8 ozs. This will relieve constipation.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Margaret Alice (Jacksonville, Fl) on 07/28/2014
★★★★★
Cabbage is the best thing to use for constipation. Oatmeal is good too.
Herbs
Posted by Man (Sojournor In America) on 01/03/2014
★★★★★
If speeding up your bowels is the issue then I know what to tell you here. You will need Cayenne pepper, distilled water. Take a small amount of cayenne pepper and put it in a bottle of distilled water. Drink it all day long. Shake up the bottle each time you take a swig. And by the end of the week of doing that you should be running well. I would also consider Extra virgin Olive oil with turmeric to take once in a while too as necessary.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Nat (Brooklyn, Ny) on 09/10/2013
★★★★★
Avoid High Animal Protein Diet-especially Milk Protein And Red Meat For Constipation Relief:
High protein weight loss diets often cause constipation. In reverse, lowering animal protein, especially milk protein (including yogurt) and red meat may help constipation. In children intolerance to milk protein is a major cause of constipation. Also, avoid flour kneaded in fat, such as crackers and cookies.
Castor Oil
Posted by beverly (Texas) on 12/25/2022
Castor oil has been around for a very long time but use with caution and do not overuse. Castor beans and the leaves are very toxic and poisonous to animals.
Chia Seeds
Posted by Loiz (Ireland) on 04/03/2014
Yes chia seeds also cause low blood pressure for me
Chia Seeds
Posted by Jillybeans (somewhere in the south) on 02/07/2021 83 posts
I like seeing that you noted a general improvement and documented it. We all work differently and we must keep this in mind for how our bodies react to remedies.
Herbs
Posted by Sweet Pea (Somewhere, USA) on 01/27/2013
★★★★★
You may really want to try Cascara Sagrada for your constipation. It's an aged bark that the Indians used. I couldn't believe my relults when I first used it. It worked overnight with no cramping at all. In fact, when I headed to the bathroom I didn't even know I was going to "go"! You can get it on the internet or at a health food store and it's not expensive. Make sure you read the whole label. Hope this helps you!
EC: Cascara Sagrada, sacred bark, is evidently a species of buckthorn, Rhamnus purshiana, from the Western US and Canada.
Herbs
Posted by Sweet Pea (Somewhere, Usa) on 03/03/2013
I should have mentioned that I only use Cascara Sagrada for severe constipation. Other than that I would probably just drink good old prune juice. I wonder if you have tried coconut oil, iodine, and yogurt and other fermented foods for your issues? I always felt my gut was calmer with organic yogurt.
Position
Posted by Olivia (Minnesota) on 02/27/2016
★★★★★
Proper positioning has helped me in combination with taking enzymes. It looks like I was not digesting fats very well. I sit in this kneeling position in the mornings and it helps get things going...
Glucomannan Root
Posted by Pamm (Birmingham, Alabama) on 08/31/2011
★★★★★
I have had several stomach surgeries that has caused me to have Chronic Constipation, and I have been a big fan of Earth Clinic since 2007 and I have tried all your remedies, the only one that helped me a few times were Apple Cider vinegar with Baking Soda and that isn't a guarantee each time. I have spent so much money getting colonics. I was watching Dr. Oz Show and found a natural Fiber that you can buy & I was so skeptical, however after buying it and trying it, I can honestly say it works if you take it before you eat & drink lots of water.
Glucomannan Root Is The Awesome & I highly Recommend it, Its a Natural Fiber you can find it anywhere and its inexpensive! I was so surprised how fast it worked and how gently it worked. You must follow directions for it to work. But I am now a believer.
Ginger
Posted by Morganism (Granite Bay, California) on 06/21/2011
★★★★★
For constipation I would suggest 1) yoga 2) Ginger tea I like the yogi brand because it has a great flavore and other stimulating herbs that help the digestive tract. I've delt with constipation my whole life and I accidentally bought the Ginger teas and found that within an hour of drinking I'm ready to no longer be constipated. Try a few different organic brands from health food stores until you find one you like, they aren't all the same. Also if you like raw Ginger you can try eating it but be careful if your pregnant or intend to be because too much Ginger can cause miscarriage.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Denise (Tampa, Fl) on 03/11/2011
★★★★★
I have suffered chronic constipation for most of my life, but it became extreme about 4 years ago. My gastro Dr just gave me meds that kept me hovering around the toilet all morning. I used Mg capsules, which was better, but again, it was still not normal elimination. All I was doing was coping with the problem. Then I heard that my granddaughter (no blood relation) was diagnosed with celiac disease. Her main symptom was severe constipation. I decided to go gluten-free to see if it made a difference for me.
Within 2 days, my system started to work. It's been 3 wonderful weeks now, and I am trying hard not to shout it from the roof tops. But on here I know folks are desperate for an answer and a cure. So see if if works for you. The good thing is that the health food stores have a great variety of gluten-free products. I hope to learn to cook gluten-free when I have the time.
For the folks that find their answer in avoiding gluten - congrads! And to all the others still looking, I would also tell you to check out "upper cervical chiropractic" as that adjustment is supposed to help many with constipation (among a myriad of other problems. ) Good luck!
