Chronic constipation: 7 natural treatments to activate intestinal transit

The constipation has long been regarded as a great evil or a disease, in many cases overdiagnosed. It came to be called “constipated” to anyone who did not make three daily bowel movements. Due many people were overwhelmed with enemas and purgatives.

Nowadays the medical point of view has changed and constipation is considered more of a symptom within an intestine that must be regulated and cared for.

Socially it continues to be a problem: it is said that between 2 and 27% of the population can suffer from itdepending on the criteria with which it is diagnosed.

Going to the bathroom every day and doing it without effort or worries is a sign of good health. But it is not convenient to obsess when that does not happen.

It is important to consider that certain clinical circumstances may have a negative effect on chronic constipation: urinary infections, which are more frequent in these cases; pudendal nerve injuries and fecal incontinence; rectal prolapse; hemorrhoids and unnecessary surgeries in young women, for example.

In older patients, distended bowel loops with fecal content may lead to the development of sigmoid volvulus or ischemic colitis. Finally, the fecal impactionInfrequently, it can predispose to the appearance of rectal ulcers and rectal perforation.

Other minor but more common problems are also related to constipation: increased cholesterol reabsorption, venous retention, or biliary disorders. It is also a potential source of toxins.. It has also been linked to increases in migraine attacks or skin disorders.

When is chronic constipation treated?

The constipated patient almost always feels uncomfortable and ask doctors for solutions. From the surveys carried out among the physicians, one has the feeling that need new treatment options of chronic constipation (90%) and also that they do not have effective medications for these patients (60%).

One of the most important aspects in the initial evaluation of people with this condition is to rule out an organic cause. However, extensive and complicated diagnostic studies are not always justified, since most patients respond adequately to conservative medical treatment and lifestyle changes.

Although it is important for a bowel to work regularly, it is not yet clear what the exact goal of constipation treatment is, since there is no agreement on the frequency of evacuations.

Doctors specialized in nutrition issues recommend having two or three bowel movements a day, as is the case with healthy people who eat diets rich in fiber and carry out adequate exercise.

Some naturopaths even suggest that more frequent bowel movements are appropriate, since each time food is ingested, a peristaltic action is initiated, as in the case of babies. These considerations have led to diagnose too many constipations.

On the other hand, there are doctors who allow the intestine to be freer in the rhythm of evacuations while the defecation is maintained in good condition and it is pleasant for the person, without producing pathology.

can be considered normalespecially in babies fed only breast milk, bowel movements once a week.

General treatment measures for chronic constipation (specifically fluids, exercise, food intake against constipation and conditioned reflex), are the most elementary, but so effective and without side effects that no studies have been necessary to prove their value.

Symptoms of chronic constipation

It is considered that someone suffers from chronic constipation when, during the last three months, they have two or more of the following Rome III criteria:

Less than 3 bowel movements per week.hardly any loose bowel movements without using laxatives.effort required to carry out at least a quarter of the evacuations.hard stools or in the form of escíbalos (balls) in at least a quarter of the evacuations.Sensation of incomplete evacuation in at least a quarter of the evacuations.sensation of obstruction or anal blockage in at least a quarter of bowel movements.Need to apply manual maneuvers to facilitate more than a quarter of evacuations.

Movement helps fight constipation

Some epidemiological studies indicate a higher prevalence of constipation in sedentary populations when compared to individuals who engage in regular physical activity.

The physiological mechanisms that might explain an increase in colonic transit associated with exercise are not entirely clear and include a increased motility, changes in intestinal blood flow, and the release of gastrointestinal hormones and peptides.

It is not clear what level of physical activity is necessary to achieve this possible beneficial effect, both in physiology and in clinical response, but it is known that exercise usually activates intestinal transit.

Creating reflex habits prevents constipation

To combat constipation it is equally useful acquire bowel habits with a regular pattern.

This is a traditional recommendation, based on physiological concepts and observational studies, in which it has been found that the onset of evacuation can be triggered by a conditioned reflex.

Taking into account that the motor activity of the colon is greater upon waking up and after meals, it is considered effective. establish a regular time for evacuation upon waking and after eating breakfast, for periods not exceeding five minutes and with moderate pushing activity.

use natural laxatives

Some people resort to strong laxatives to relieve constipation but should not be used systematically.

When diet and exercise are not enough, natural remedies can be used, such as apple and plum compoteconsumed regularly:

It is prepared by cutting several apples into thick pieces and boiling them until the fruit is tender together with a little water, honey and lemon rind, plus an equal part of dried plums. If desired, they can also be include dried figs.You can keep several days in the fridge.Provides a good amount of pectin (soluble fiber) from the apple and laxative elements from plums and figs. In addition, it is a magnificent food and Tastes good.

To help the intestine are also recommended gallbladder stimulantssuch as first-pressure olive oil (one or two teaspoons on an empty stomach), well-cured ripe olives or carabaña water (also one or two teaspoons on an empty stomach).

In general, to treat and prevent constipation it is advisable to consume plenty of dietary fiberpresent in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes and nuts, especially.

On the other hand, it is appropriate reduce the consumption of foods that promote constipation, such as meat, fish, milk, eggs, fat, sugar and refined flour.

Osmotic laxatives can be used

osmotic laxatives they irritate the digestive mucosa and cause a secretion of intestinal juices It softens the stool and thus stimulates defecation. It is a process similar to that which occurs in inflammatory diarrhea.

These laxatives include non-absorbable sugars (lactulose), the saline agents (magnesium hydroxide) and PEG (polyethylene glycol).

Paradoxically, the most recommended by the studies would be PEG, followed by lactulose and then magnesium hydroxide. The latter is the least studied but sulphated waters and magnesium salts have been used for many years to regulate constipation. I would recommend the salts first and lactulose second.

It must be remembered, however, that any strong laxative, if taken permanently, accustoms the intestine to that stimulus and therefore makes it lazy and dependent.

The gut flora It is always delicate and more so in seriously ill patients undergoing antibiotics or treatments that attack the immune system. To recover it, it is important to take beneficial bacteria of the lactobacilli type, or fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut, dried fruits, foods rich in non-pathogenic bacterial groups, etc.

Water is also a source of bacterial recovery, as long as it is not treated or sterilized. Natural mineral waters are good, those from a source or stream (clean and uncontaminated). The mineral-medicinal waters (chlorinated, sulphated, sulphured, ferruginous…) contain beneficial bacteria and microscopic algae for the intestinal flora.

It can also be effective against constipation. seawater. To drink it, it is better to reduce its salt concentration by mixing it with natural mineral water, in equal parts. Another good drink is meadwhich is water mixed with a portion of honey.

Biofeedback to treat constipation

The biofeedback was recommended as a treatment for patients with paradoxical contraction of the pelvic floor.

It is a learning method by which patients receive visual and auditory feedback of a function that they are usually unaware of (pelvic floor dyssynergia), in this case to facilitate relaxation with abdominal maneuvers and allow the passage of fecal matter. It can be done through electromyography or with manometry.

To achieve a satisfactory treatment, a correct explanation of the instructions by the therapist, an adequate level of patient education and a certain ability to understand the technique are essential. Besides, the patient must be willing to cooperate and improveand must maintain a good relationship with the therapist.

Other therapies to consider

massage therapy It can be a promising treatment for chronic constipation, although the types of massage need to be well defined. The classic and those of the Mayr cure have demonstrated their effectiveness.Colon enemas and hydrotherapy. The current medical literature on these cleansing procedures of the intestine and the body is contradictory. On the one hand, there are studies and surveys that record the general satisfaction of patients and doctors who undergo these treatments or practice them. But on the other hand, the side effects produced by an excess of treatment or by having practiced it badly. My recommendation is that only an enema or washing be carried out in a timely manner: the enema to treat constipation, in a case of fever or renal colic, and colon hydrotherapy in cases of obstruction and with well-trained staff to carry it out. At present, colon washings and hydrotherapy are abused, especially in patients with cancer or serious chronic diseases, who seek a definitive cure without being aware that, in excess, these techniques have side effects. The imbalances produced by these large washes sometimes…