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.
Fiber
Posted by Traveler (Houston, Texas) on 01/12/2013
★★★★★
I am a 29 year old female who's had issues with constipation since I was a teenager. In the past 8 or so years I've gotten into alternative health and have tried a bunch of different things. I found that blackstrap molasses was really great for the constipation right before my period, and also eased my bleeding a bit and my cramps. When I'm desperate, I've happily chugged from the bottle though it tastes very nasty to me.
Lately, I've been dumpster diving a lot. I started for other reasons and only after seeing how much food was wasted, that was wrapped up in plastic and put in boxes not even touching anything I considered "dirty" have I started "rescuing" food. Anyway, because of this, I have two freezers and a fridge full of vegetables and fruit that were ripe enough to have at home but I guess too ripe to keep in the store with fresh stock coming in. Or, vegetables with the mildest blemish on it. I've noticed that because I'm eating so much in the way of vegetables and fruits, that constipation is no longer an issue. Even last year when I was going to the store and relying on foods that had a longer shelf life, like beans or lentils, I found that if I got 25-30 grams of fiber, mostly from "real" foods, it was actually a joy to go to the bathroom. Plus, I find that I get cranky if I'm not going regularly and this effects different parts of my life negatively.
I highly recommend finding delicious ways to get fiber into your diet. Currently my three favorite recipes are mashed cauliflower, mushrooms madera, and each morning I make myself a big bowl of bananas, blueberries, and sometimes grapes (all rescued and delicious) with a tiny bit of fiber cereal (also rescued unopened) and either some milk, or yogurt mixed in.
I'm currently experimenting with trying to hit 60grams of fiber per day to see how (or if) that affects weight loss when not really focusing on calories. In any event, people need 25-35 grams of fiber PER DAY. Don't rely on over the counter fiber supplements-- go to foods even if you have to buy them, that have vitamins, minerals and a high water content so you don't have to have the worry of the fiber supplements working against you and making your constipation worse.
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.
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.
Position
Posted by Angela (Bloomfield,, New Jersey) on 10/05/2011
★★★★★
I have suffered from constipation in a very bad way for a very long time. I don't know what this exercise is called but a friend of mine recently told me to kneel down then sit on the back of my legs as though I was sitting on a chair and wait for the sensation that I want to go comes. It works like a charm. The first few times took about 15 minutes. After that, it happened in about 5 minutes. Works every time. If the floor is too hard, sit on the bed or sofa. Can't wait to hear your experiences.
Chia Seeds
Posted by Tina (Princeton, N J ) on 09/25/2011
★★★★★
Chia seeds are very good in curing constipation, since they are full of fiber. It is also the richest and only unprocessed whole food source of pure Omega 3. Chia seeds 'scrubbing' action also help remove toxins from the small intestine. Plus they are high in protein, so they keep you feeling full longer and make you feel so energetic! Best of all, they are quite inexpensive and can be found in health food stores. Remember to drink lots of water when you eat chia seeds, as they absorb ten times their weight in water.
I soak about two scoops (from the scoop provided in the container) in water overnight and the next morning it is almost a jelly consistency. Eaten with some organic raw honey and fresh lemon juice, it makes a delicious and filling breakfast. Best of luck!
Dietary Changes
Posted by Anne (Dallas , Pa) on 01/23/2011
★★★★★
I have suffered from chronic constipation all of my life (47years), however my constipation was elevated to a whole new level of difficulty after a difficult child birth that required a surgical repair of my rectal wall - no pushing power. I tried everything: stool softeners, psyllium fiber, M---lax and a prescribtion medication for IBS. I eat a high fiber diet and stay hydrated But nothing worked. If you are reading this I don't have to tell you that this is really bad for the female self image. Constipation is not sexy!
This past summer I stumbled on what has been a "miracle" for me: oat bran. 100% oat bran is prepared as a hot cereal that I eat daily for breakfast (not to be confused w/ oat bran). It took a week or so, but for the most part I have been constipation free for the better part of 6 months. I have a normal BM almost daily and sometimes 2 times daily. Sometimes I might get a touch of constipation and to my amazement a single stool softener will now Do the trick, if I stick w/ my Oat bran regime. And best of all it is delicious w/ a little Spoon of sugar and some butter, Raisins and a few walnuts-yummy. I Love it! And it good for Controlling cholesterol as a bonus.
May be hard to find in a conventional grocery store, but most health food sections Of a store will have it. Some stores carry it in the loose bulk section. Any good health food store will have it. It's usually pretty cheap, but shop around if price is a consideration. Should be less than 3.50 for a small box that will last me at least 2 weeks.
I was able to rid myself of constipation. Now I will try the ACV for my Interrmitant abd pain. Good luck friends.
Water
Posted by Msg (Somewhere, Europe) on 07/27/2010
★★★★★
For severe constipation,
Sit down by the sink with a glass and down 3 - 4 glasses of water in a row. Sip slowly.
Triphala Churna
Posted by Jennifer (Sunrise, Florida) on 02/28/2011
★★★★★
I've had terrible constipation since I was young... I would have a bowel movement maybe every 2 weeks. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism a few years ago, which made the problem much worse. Typical remedies like laxatives, prunes, and fiber have absolutely no effect on me. Triphala has been a miracle for me. It's not a laxative, but it encourages regular bowel movements because it acts like a tonic for your colon and digestive system. It's extremely gentle but very powerful. I have a bowel movement almost every day, without any pain or discomfort. It completely regulates my digestive system and makes me feel great. As an added bonus, it has a ton of antioxidants, which is great for your body! I use a very good-quality brand, because some lower quality brands have little to no effect on me. Look for brands that have guaranteed potency.
Raw Rice
Posted by beverly (Texas) on 12/25/2022
I have read that rice contains a lot of arsenic. I find it alarming because it is in so much dog food.
Kiwi
Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 03/23/2010
★★★★★
I used to constipation till a doctor gave me this piece of advice: eat kiwis first thing in the morning (maybe better start with just one...). It worked wonders. After a while any fruit worked, even bananas and my intestines became so regular that I didn't even need to do a thing anymore. Now I started to use coconut oil things have changed but they will go back to normal I hope!
Honey With Olive Oil, Oranges
Posted by Leo (Atlanta, Ga.) on 12/21/2012
★★★★★
I tried this tonight. I took 1 tablespoon olive oil and mixed with 1 tablespoon RAW honey. Then put the mixture in a water bottle with about 8-9oz water. Less than 15 mins later, I was in the bathroom! Thank you!
Dietary Changes
Posted by Jenny (Memphis, Tn, USA) on 08/23/2009
★★★★★
I always tend to forget about this easy remedy... but I swear a regular serving of fresh cut watermelon does the trick every single time... in less than an hour or so. I have had chronic constipation and GERD for years. I'll have to remember to eat my watermelon a few times a week!
Flax Seeds, Apple Cider Vinegar, Dates
Posted by Ali (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada) on 06/17/2009
★★★★★
I found the following mixture worked well for my constipation problem,hope it will help others. Bring two cups of water to a boil and add two tablespoons of flax seeds, continue to boil for fifteen minutes, then strain off the flax seeds and discard seeds ,allow mixture to cool somewhat, it will be jelly like, add one teaspoon of apple cider vineger and stir. Drink one cup of this on an empty stomach one to two times a day depending on severity of constipation. If very constipated, be sure to also drink three cups of hot water through out the day. I have found a more pleasent remedy for mild constipation or just to stay regular try the following: Boil one cup of water and add six dates, allow to soak, when cool, drink the liquid and eat the dates. Take at bedtime for best results. Good health to all and A HUGE THANK YOU TO EARTH CLINIC.
Bentonite Clay
Posted by Ken (Cendtnnial, Co.) on 05/22/2008
★★★★★
I used the Psyllium and Bentonite shakes With Paragone at the same time for colon cleanse for 3 mo. It was quite amazing. Although You must take Vitamins and Liquid minerals with it because it sucks everything out. Bentonite absorbs 90x it's weight in toxins. 2Tbs of Psy. and 1 Tbs of Bent. in 12oz. of water at bed time. No other medication or Vitamins within 2 hrs. before or after, since they won't be absorbed with the shake. Also you must take Acidophilus to replace the healthy bacteria in youe colon or you may have major problems. Neem oil may help the Rosacea.
Molasses
Posted by Karen (Kingsland, Georgia) on 10/11/2007
★★★★★
I have been taking the blackstrap molasses for two weeks now. I have super energy now with in days of using it. i,ve also been having regular bowel movements daily. don't want to stop taking this am sold out.
Olive Oil and Orange Juice
Posted by Nicki (Ontario, Canada) on 12/23/2006
★★★★★
It's not on this site, I don't think. For severe constipation (I had no movement for 5 days), I tried equal amounts of olive oil and orange juice. I had 1 cup of this in total, you may be able to get away with less. Within 15 minutes, there was movement. I was able to have many soft bowel movements after that. It was incredible. I also find eating 1/3 cup of Bran with Psyillium every day will help in getting back on track, going forward.
Cabbage
Posted by Carol (Southern NJ) on 10/29/2006
★★★★★
I eat about 1 cup of raw Savoy Cabbage a day with a meal. It relieved my roller coaster episodes of diarrhea in one day...and constipation for the next week. Also it helped with PMS. I can think more clearly, I have a higher energy level, my mood is improved, and I feel really healthy.
Psyllium
Posted by KC (Columbia, South Carolina) on 07/02/2006
★★★★★
I have tried and am still using this for constipation and bloating. This only cost me $6 for 1 lb. and it has been a miracle for me. I had tried Colonix for colon cleansing and it was a very dramatic experience for me. I believe it was more or less a laxative with additives to get you addicted and it gave you close to diarrhea. I felt like had to go to the bathroom all of the time. So I had developed even more anxiety which lead to IBS I believe. Anyways- It has been a few months and I tried this cheap natural remedy and it works! I've been using it a little more than a week and I've seen greater results than Colonix had ever promised. I just followed the recipe on this site which had led me to the road of happiness. Thanks!
Probiotics
Posted by coril (Sweden) on 11/28/2025
★★★★★
About a month ago I switched to a new probiotic brand...I never had any issues with the old one but I came across this product that had 20 strains of bacteria instead of the 5 strains of the brand I was taking for the same price, so I thought ohhhh let's do an upgrade...well what I got was the worst constipation of my life. I never had any constipation issues before. After two weeks of taking it I was HORRIBLY plugged up. Just pure misery. I suspected the probiotics since nothing else had really changed in my diet and stopped them...it took a while after resuming to my old brand of probiotics but now, two more weeks later it seems my digestion is coming back to where it used to be. Just effortless daily bowel movements. So thankful! What also seemed to help me during the worst times was coffee with some baking soda in it and spoonful of olive oil beforehand...apple cider vinegar, sauerkraut and kombucha (be super careful with your teeth though...they can mess up your enamel for good...I am speaking from experience...), plenty of fiber - in terms of veggies, okra seemed to be a very good choice.
Also in terms of the probiotics, I just wanted to add that I did a bit of research and it seems my old brand specifically had strains that are actually known to help with constipation...so if you suffer from this condition, don't just take any brand, do you research and find a brand that has lots of the types of bacteria that are known to be particularly good for constipation.
I hope this helps someone out there, I now know how truly miserable it can be to be constipated!
Senna Leaf Tea
Posted by Vera (Colorado) on 11/09/2025
Hi Luke. I too found that cascara was not effective with serious constipation. Aloe ferox is. I take it in capsule form, with a cup of water. If I have mild consipation, I take 1 capsule (340 mg mixed with fennel, Nature's Way Aloelax). I used to take pure aloe ferox, but have not been able to find it these days. Plus 1 capsule of slippery elm. Works great, overnight.
If more serious, I take 2 caps. Adding psyllium also helps, as needed. Many years ago, I had very serious constipation, so bad I finally went for a series of colonics just to get the hardened stuff out. And the lady recommended aloe ferox. The stuff is amazing. I've never suffered like that again.
