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.
Yellow Dock Tea
Posted by Sis Morgan (Monterey, Ca) on 11/15/2012
★★★★★
Yellow dock has worked for a chronic constipation problem where all other remedies failed. I had tried magnesium, and although this at first worked, it failed to work with repeated use. Likewise, a concerted try of psyllium powder did not produce the intended result. I had read about yellow dock in a Chinese herbal book and its wonderful, reliable effects for constipation, and read many testimonials in the book about the herb. I began to drink a tea of yellow dock at night. Results in the morning were immediate. The best part is that it has continued to work! I can now drink this tea every evening and go to bed knowing with certainty that I will have a bowel movement the next morning. It doesn't matter what I have eaten or even the amount of water I have drank during the day, the results are always reliable.
I have suffered from constipation for many years and this is a godsend remedy. You can buy yellow dock tea online for steeping or make your own tea from the dried root. I put about two teaspoons of yellow dock root in a metal tea strainer and pour boiling water over it and allow it to steep until the tea is a rich yellow tan. Begin with small doses for best results and work up to the dose that gives you results. Some people have to drink more than a cup a day for chronic problems. If you take too much yellow dock you can have intestinal cramps, so begin slowly for best results.
If you have had chronic constipation for many years with no help from the usual remedies, I highly recommend yellow dock tea. It has been a miracle herb for me. If the flavor is too bitter, mix some molasses with the hot tea. It's delicious!
Daikon
Posted by Alena (Praha, Czech Republic) on 10/24/2012
★★★★★
Best for constipation, that work for me and my mom, is daikon( chinese or japanese radish).. Before you go sleep, try chew very well daikon, that you have a lot juices in your mouth. I read somewhere, that this stimulates bile, or liver. Try it.. You have nothing lose. This helps me also make my skin clear... Sorry for my english. I speak much better, than write.
Bentonite Clay
Posted by Nursecaitlin (Boston, Massachusetts Usa) on 10/23/2012
WARNING!
People Who Use Bentonite Clay for Constipation:
I've worked with dialysis patients for years, and bentonite clay has come up many times. It destroys your kidneys over a few years. The clay sticks to the inside of your nephrons. As the kidney disease advances (slowly), the nephrologist will ask you to allow them to perform a kidney biopsy. It is then discovered that clay, actual clay, is stuck inside the millions of tiny nephrons in each kidney. Although you may see positive results, kidney disease, and eventually dialysis, is the end result.
Pineapples
Posted by Winston (Sf, Ca) on 10/14/2012
★★★★★
Don't know about the juice but a good sized portion on fresh, not frozen pineapple is a very effective natural acting laxative.
Lemon Juice and Olive Oil
Posted by Fitnessgal (Fort Worth, Tx) on 09/03/2012
★★★★★
So very thankful to have found this solution as I am 8 months pregnant and there are not a lot of things I can try for constipation. It had been over a week since I've been able to go with no avail. I took 1 tsp olive oil, 1 tsp lemon juice, & a pinch of salt. It took 5 hours and finally had a small movement. Then in another hour had another small movement. The next day I was able to go again. I'm so much more comfortable now! Will skip a day and then take the solution again at bedtime as another user suggested. Thanks for posting this!!!!!!!
Olive Oil and Orange Juice
Posted by Idow (Miami, Fl) on 07/11/2012
★★★★★
YEA. I can't thank Ted enough for this website and whoever first posted the olive oil/OJ cure for constipation. After 46 yrs of babying my colon w/tons of fiber in order to have a BM everyday, now I'm totally cured. I continue to eat a healthy organic, high fiber diet b/c I have hereditary high cholesterol, but my colon behaves perfectly everyday now, like clockwork, without any prodding or waiting!
I followed the inxs from the original poster 1 teaspoon organic extra virgin olive oil and 1 teaspoon OJ, first thing in the morning, with an empty stomach. Proceed to have your breakfast as usual. By the time you're done with your tea, or coffee (highly recommend either as caffeine is a stimulant & further helps to move the colon) you're ready to take care of business and go on with your day.
I can only thank God and Ted for this website! Many blessings to you Ted!
Dietary Changes
Posted by Elaine (Edmond, Oklahoma, Usa) on 06/21/2012
★★★★★
I have been constipated for years. I either take Metamucil or take magnesium. I cut back on the mag because it is hard on the kidneys. I haven't really eaten watermelon in years. I bought a melon two weeks ago and oh my gosh. As long as I eat some watermelon every morning a goose has nothing on me. It worked for me.
Molasses
Posted by Candy (San Francisco, Ca) on 04/24/2012
★★★★★
I have found that taking molasses regularly really helps with constipation. It also gives me increased energy, and my hair gray is darkening. I take it in almond milk smoothies. Basically, I mix almond milk, some raw almonds, and molasses in the blender, and perhaps add a date or a prune to the mix. its' just delicious.Thanks!
Fish Oil
Posted by Myoho (NYC, NY) on 03/04/2012
★★★★★
3 in am and 3 in pm fish oils high dha combined with 200 mg of mag citrate 3 in the am and 3 in the pm.
this has knock on wood been helping my infinite constipation due to my eating disorder on my GI Doctor's sound advice. I was on amitiza and it did not help, so we switched.
Lemons
Posted by Lis11 (Richmond, Va) on 01/31/2012
★★★★★
This works for me and I do it everyday.
Hot water, squeeze lemon/lime water into it, add about 1tb molasses or less, olive oil, 3-4 prunes. Mix and let it stand for 5 mins so the prunes can absorb some water. This works like a charm every single time. Sometimes I run out of lemons or I forget to add olive oil.. It's okay if you do. Exact measurements are not important. It still works!! I will also occasionally add other things to my tonic.. Like a small pinch of turmeric/ cinnamon etc.. you can experiment with what works for you.
Additional note: mind over matter.. Be kind to yourself. Take time to breath and relax. It really helps to be aware of your internal dialogue to see how you talk to yourself.
Peace, L
Castor Oil
Posted by Karen (Los Angeles, California) on 01/23/2012
★★★★★
What works for me for severe constipation is Castor oil. One tablespoon. But if you try it, take it only on a weekend you have off. Stay home because you don't know when it's going to work.Works on me like drain-O on a drain.
Epsom Salt
Posted by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia ) on 01/22/2012
★★★★★
For severe constipation,
the best remedy is epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) because magnesium in high doses is a natural laxative. If you don't get relief from the constipation it merely means that you have not taken enough epsom salts. I would not take sea salt as something to relieve constipation.
As I said, if the epsom salts are not working just keep increasing the dosage (in not too large increments) to see the amount needed to induce a bowel movement.
Water
Posted by Renee (Bergen Co., Nj) on 01/06/2012
★★★★★
I also drink several glasses of water on an empty stomach in the morning with much success. (32-48 ounces usually). It's a great daily habit. Water on an empty stomach causes the colon to spasm and move the contents, as I understand it. You're also rehydrating your body after sleeping all night. I usually have a successful bathroom visit in 30 minutes or less. I eat breakfast about 30 minutes to an hour later. To resolve a more severe case of constipation, I have had success by adding several other remedies listed here to the water remedy (e.g., sea salt cleanse, eating a cucumber, magnesium oxide).
Dietary Changes
Posted by Laura (Houston, Texas) on 12/17/2011
★★★★★
I have had terrible constipation for as long as I can remember (I am 42). I always thought myself lucky to go a maximum of 4 times per week. I have tried eating more fiber, drank gallons of water, followed blood type diet for a year, exercised, used ACV & EVCO, all with limited success. Well, my "cure" as it turns out was to drastically increase the amount of raw fruits and veggies in my diet. Now you can set your watch by me! I still fully cook ground beef, poultry & fish (except sushi), but I eat a minimum of 3-4 whole fruits and 4-5 raw veggies a day. I've also begun drinking kefir. Give it a try!
Over the Counter
Posted by Nat (Brooklyn, Ny) on 10/26/2011
★★★★★
Speaking to a nephrologist about a member of the family who is on dialysis, I asked about Magnesium Citrate as a supplement. He said that Citrate products are not used on dialysis patients because it was seen that Calcium Citrate increases aluminum in the bodies of dialysis patients. (In kidney failure, the kidneys cannot filter out aluminum, and dialysis does not either. Normal kidneys filter out aluminum. ) But what about all the people who have partial kidney failure and don't even know it. So we stopped using the Magnesium Citrate, just as a precaution.
Instead experimentation was made using one to two tablespoons Benefiber from the pharmacy (one can use up to six tablespoons Benefiber a day) in one or two glasses of water, in combination with one or two (or three) tablespoons Milk of Magnesia - sometimes also with some Magnesium Bicarbonate (made by pouring two or three full measuring tablespoons of Milk of Magnesia - a half to three fourths of the enclosed cap - into a bottle of seltzer/club soda and shaking the contents - as recommended on Earthclinic by Bill from San Fernando, Philippines - but sometimes using a bit less Milk of Magnesia than recommended).
Glucomannan, a fiber supplement recommended by Pam from Alabama, might also be used with the water and Milk of Magnesia.
Milk of Magnesia, starting at five Tbsp. and going down gradually, is recommended, in the name of an older doctor, by Redclary from Oklahoma .
Some extra seltzer/club soda, recommended by Carol from Cumberland, MD, is also helpful (used in the mixture).
This simple combination of Benefiber and Milk of Magnesia in water is much better than many other things used to help the intestines.
After a few days one can often use smaller amounts of the Milk of Magnesia while increasing slightly the Benefiber.
Benefiber is a fiber supplement that helps increase good bacteria in the body. It is made from Hydrolyzed guar gum. For some reason it is better than plain Guar Gum. Also, it is mostly tasteless and does not thicken.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Catrina (Waldorf, Maryland/usa) on 10/22/2011
★★★★★
Four weeks ago, I cut out all dairy substituting almond milk instead of cows milk and began eating a vegan diet. I have been having a bowel movement everyday with no straining! For 47 years, I suffered from chronic constipation, IBS, chronic pain and bloating. I've tried conventional and non-conventional remedies. I am writing to say I have found something that works. Try cutting out all milk products or items that contain diary and see if it makes a difference. In the beginning, as my body adjusted to my new diet, I had gas pains for about one and a half weeks. Three weeks ago, I began acupuncture treatments and after two sessions, my gas pains are gone and I am not as bloated. I have four more acupuncture sessions to go to complete the series, but I attribute the bowel movements to the lack of dairy in my diet.
