NATURAL LAXATIVES

Are you experiencing difficulty in emptying your bowel? Well, it is because of the solidification of waste material in your body that has made the process of evacuation very painful. This condition is known as constipation and can affect anyone regardless of their age. When the muscles of the digestive tract become dry, they contract and stop the passage of waste. Constipation could be chronic and there are other reasons that are equally responsible such as stress, pregnancy, irregular eating habits, hypothyroidism, colon cancer, multiple sclerosis and excessive intake of strong medications.

The first sign of constipation is difficulty in passing stool. Other symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain and swelling, hard faces, and loss of appetite. While a serious case of constipation will need some medical attention. There are ways of preventing and treating it at home using natural laxatives.

Natural and handy laxatives

1. Castor Oil

Castor oil is the best laxative for constipation in adults as well as kids. Mix 1 tablespoon of castor oil with warm milk and have it at night before you hit the sack. Alternatively, you can warm 1 tablespoon of castor oil and mix it with 1 tablespoon of honey. Take this every morning.

2. Olive Oil

Olive oil helps improve the digestive system and bowel movement. Mix olive oil with lemon juice and drink it at least once a week.

3. Lemon Juice

Lemons are of great help when it comes to cleansing of the intestines. Squeeze a lemon in one glass of water and drink it every day in the morning.

4. Warm/Hot Water

Water is the best way to treat constipation. Drink a glass of warm water every morning before brushing your teeth.

5. Indian Gooseberry Powder

Indian gooseberries are very effective in improving the digestive system. Mix 1 tablespoon of Indian gooseberry powder in a glass of warm water and have it on an empty stomach in the morning or you can drink it at night before dinner.

6. Coffee

Caffeine found in coffee is a natural stimulant. However, it does not necessarily work for everyone. Hence, one must try other laxatives before trying coffee.

7. Raisins

Pregnant women who suffer from constipation should eat raisins everyday as they are a good source of fiber. Soak raisins in a bowl of water over night and have them the following day on an empty stomach.

8. Figs

Add a few figs to a cup of milk and boil them. Drink this warm milk with figs before you hit the hay.

9. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera can have a reverse action, if used excessively. Mix 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel in any fruit juice, and drink it on a regular basis.

10. Blackstrap Molasses

Blackstrap molasses is rich in vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, which provides instant relief from constipation. Mix 2 teaspoons in a glass of warm water and drink.

11. Guavas

The seeds of guavas are rich in fiber; therefore, provide immense respite from constipation.

12. Bananas

Bananas are high in potassium and fiber. This quality makes them the best laxative as they help keep our body’s electrolytes in balance. They encourage the growth of good bacteria which triggers bowel movement.

13. Milk and Ghee

This remedy has been used since ages. Mix 1 teaspoon of ghee to a glass of warm milk and drink every night just before you sack out.

14. Spinach

Spinach is ideal for cleaning up the intestines. In fact, it acts like a cleanser to eliminate out all the waste produced in our bodies. You can have it in the liquid form or as a juice mixed with water or cooked or raw.

15. Prune Juice

Prunes are high in vitamin A and potassium. Apart from curing constipation, they also lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cancer and heart diseases. Adults must eat 5 prunes in a day, and for children, make some juice by mixing it with a bit of water.

16. Cabbage

Cabbage helps to soften the stool and also in cleaning the intestines as it is rich in fiber. Include raw cabbage in your meal as coleslaw or salad. You can eat cooked cabbage in the form of soup.

17. Oranges

Oranges aids in flushing out the toxins from your body. They are rich in fiber and a good source of vitamin C. Eat at least two oranges in a day.

18. Isabgol/Psyllium Husk

This whitish husk has fibers that are both soluble and insoluble. The insoluble husk expands in the stomach making bowel movement easier. Mix two tablespoons of Isabgol with any fruit juice, milk or water and drink at night.

19. Yogurt

Yogurt improves the digestive system. That’s a good reason to have 1 cup of yogurt every day. You can also have buttermilk which is made from yogurt.

20. Beans

Beans are a good source of fiber and help greatly in curing constipation.

21. Dandelion Tea

Dandelion is a detoxifying agent and a natural laxative. Drink a cup of dandelion tea once in a day to keep constipation away.

22. Ginger Tea

Grate some ginger and add to your regular tea. It kills any bad bacteria present in the stomach.

23. Sesame Seeds

Sesame helps in bowel movement. Have 3 teaspoons everyday in the morning or sprinkle it on your salad. Do not use more than the stated amount.

24. Senna

The only drawback of using Senna is that it causes cramps. However, it is a good remedy for constipation.

25. Coconut

Coconut is a good laxative whether taken as milk, powder, oil or water. One should have it every day, in any form.

26. Papaya

Eating papaya everyday is very healthy for stomach, as it is a natural laxative. However, pregnant women should avoid this remedy.

27. Linseed

Gulp down a few linseeds with water before your meals.

28. Flaxseed

Flaxseeds are rich in fiber; therefore, help in the process of digestion. Have flaxseeds in the morning with a glass of warm water.

29. Bael Fruit

Adults should only have 60gms of Bael fruit in a week. It cleans up the intestines.

30. Apple

Apples contain pectin, a natural laxative that stimulates bowel movement. You can also have apple cider vinegar with warm water every morning.

31. Fenugreek

Soak fenugreek seeds in warm water at night. The following morning, drink some water and swallow those seeds.

32. Cascara Bark

Take 150ml of water in a pan, add a few sticks of dried cascara bark and bring to a boil. Lower the flame and simmer for a few minutes. Drink this water once in a day.

33. Herbal Mixture

Grind together a few seeds of sunflower, almonds, flaxseeds and sesame seeds to form a powder. Have this powder every day.

34. Pear

Pears are packed with fibers and assist bowel movement.

35. Beets

Beets are the best remedy for quick relief from constipation. Eat raw beets everyday in lunch.

36. Nuts

Nuts are high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. This makes them a good laxative.

37. Whole Grains

Grains such as brown rice, oatmeal and wheat are rich in fiber and are excellent natural laxatives.

38. Melons

Melons have lots of water in them, so they get easily digested. They are also very helpful in loosening the stool.

39. Berries

Berries of all sorts serve as good antioxidants; therefore, help in cleaning out the colon.

40. Avocado

Avocados are high in vitamin A and E, potassium, healthy fats, magnesium and are rich in fiber. They assist the body absorb the nutrition and fight constipation.

41. Carrots

Carrots possess natural antioxidants. They detoxify your body and stimulate the bowel movement.

42. Onions

Onions have many benefits like they flush out toxins, provide good bowel movement, reduce cholesterol and fight against cancer.

43. Cauliflower and Broccoli

Since cauliflower and broccoli are abundant in fiber, they remove carcinogens and toxins from the body.

44. Garlic

Garlic is affluent in allicin and selenium which helps cleanse the liver by eliminating out the toxic products.

45. Omega-3 Oils

These oils lubricate the walls of the intestines for smoother bowel movement and also aid in removing harmful substances from the body.

46. Epsom Salt

Mix 2 teaspoons of Epsom salt with 1 cup of water or any fruit juice of your choice and drink. If there is no bowel movement after 4 hours, repeat again.

47. Baking Soda

Bicarbonate present in soda helps reduce any pain in the stomach due to constipation. In ¼ cup of lukewarm water, add 1 teaspoon of baking soda; mix and drink immediately.

Alternatively, add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to a tub of warm water and soak your body in it for 10 minutes. This is an excellent remedy for babies.

48. Milk of Magnesia

Infants suffer from constipation a lot and to make them feel better, you can add 1 teaspoon of milk of magnesia to a bottle of formula milk. Give it to your child two times a day.

49. Glycerin Suppositories

People who suffer from acute constipation should put glycerin suppositories in their anus. It will provide smooth passage to stool.

50. Sugar-free Chewing Gum

Sorbitol found in chewing gum is a good laxative, but remember to not go overboard with this laxative, as chewing too much gum can cause stomach pain.

Do’s