A daily dose of bran may be all you need to prevent constipation. Its said that eating 3 to 6 pieces of fiber rich bread made from whole rye meal and wheat bran does the trick.
Agar-Agar is a special form of seaweed that grows off the East Indian coast. It is the most common smoothing agent in ice cream. You can recognize it by its brownish white color. The people of India also recognize it as a laxative. To use agar-agar as a laxative, boil it down to a jelly and flavor it with lemon or orange juice. If this doesn't appeal to you, try eating the seaweed as a cereal, adding milk and honey to improve the taste. It can also be added to cereals, soups, or cakes without altering its effectiveness. Allow three to seven days for results
A German remedy for mild constipation is dandelion tea, which the Germans also use for upset stomachs.
Here's another traditional Chinese remedy for constipation. Boil pork, skim off excess fat, and then drink the soup for relief.
Barley is a good source of soluble fiber. Israelis eat three or four muffins or biscuits made of barley flour each day to clear up constipation. The French prefer muffins and biscuits made of oat bran meal.
Because prunes are so commonly used as a laxative, any time we see someone buying them, we assume they are constipated. The fact is that prunes really work. They are high in fiber, a natural laxative, and are nutritious as well.
The inner bark of butternut and black walnut trees provides one of the mildest and most efficient natural laxatives known. The cure is administered by drinking water in which the bark has been boiled.This cure was popular during the Revolutionary War because it was effective without causing nausea, irritation, pain, or impaired digestion.
The bark of the cascara sagrada tree (also called
the sacred tree) is used as a remedy for
constipation. The bark is aged for a year (newly
stripped bark can cause severe nausea). The aged bark is soaked overnight in cold water, and then either crushed into a powder, or bioled for 30
minutes in water. To treat constipation, drink 1
tablespoon of the cold solution per day as needed. Warning. Since cascara is a strong laxative that increases movement in the large intestine, it may cause pinching and painful spasms. To lessen the discomfort, combine the cascara with mint or ginger.
Natives of West Indies often drink aloe as a
laxative. It is so strong that the purgative
action can be painful. So, in order to temper the
effects, the aloe is often mixed with powdered
fennel seeds. Warning: Even mixed with fennel,
aloe should never be used as a laxative by
pregnant or menstruating women.
When early American pioneers trekked westward, they often carried along a piece of rhubarb root. The dried, powdered root has several medicinal uses - as a laxative, for one. The ancient Chinese variety of rhubarb (tahuang) has the strongest laxative properties. Tahuang is dried, cut, and pulverized into a yellow powder.
Ethiopians use pumpkin seeds (which contain fiber) as a natural laxative.
The sap of the flowering ash is dried and used as a laxative in Italy. Once dried, the sap is referred to as manna, an especially gentle laxative.
Here are some other remedies for constipation:
Drink a cup of salt water first thing in the morning
on an empty stomach. Chew 90g of walnuts slowly. Drink a glass of grapefruit juice or milk. Cow's milk is often used to lubricate the intestines. You can also try eating a very ripe banana or some dry figs first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
Licorice (A Greek word meaning "sweet root") comes from a tall, spiky plant that has small blue
flowers. The ancient Greeks used licorice as a
laxative and as an aid ti digestion.
People in England eat raw asparagus before a meal to ease bloating. Steamed asparagus, and the water that's left in the pot, will also do the trick. Watermelon is another good diuretic. And in Czechoslovakia, tea made from juniper berries is popular. (The berries have a rich, ripe flavor that's used to flavor gin.) The advantage of natural diuretics is that because they contain lots of minerals, they replace many of the nutrients lost through urination.
Senna is a legume, related to beans, that grows in
Egypt. It is one of the world's safest and most
thorough laxatives. Senna not only clranses the bowel, it also tones it. And because bad breath is sometimes caused by digestive problems, a senna mouthwash can do double duty. The senna pods are more effective than the leaves. A tea cup of senna infusion at night on an empty stomach will make the bowls work by morning. Use 6 to 10 pods to make an infusion for adults. Use 3 to 5 pods for children. Senna pods are available in whole, cut, or powdered form through most mail order herb companies.
Some people get relief from constipation by eating fresh coconut meat (possibly because it is so rich in natural oils) in the morning and evening. Others shell 30g of sunflower seeds, crush them, add 1 cup of boiling water, and stir in some honey. They drink this combination in the morning and evening.
Its been said that a cup of strong coffee on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning works as a quick treatment for occasional constipation. Decaffeinated coffee works as well as regular.
The Chinese use honey to treat constipation. An effective laxative, honey is also used in Egypt and India.
The French eat whole mustard seeds to treat
indigestion and nausea. The seeds are also an effective laxative.
To cure constipation, the French use basil, with its
spicy, clove like flavor, prepared as follows:
Find a clear glass container that has a tightly fitting screw top. Fill the container with roughly chopped basil leaves and flowering tips. Cover with olive oil, and let the jar stand in bright sunlight for three weeks. After three weeks, strain the oil into another jar full of chopped basil. After six weeks, the oil is ready to be used. Take one teaspoon to calm stomach cramps after a meal,
or to ease constipation.
Traditional Chinese healers recommend eating boiled sweet potatoes seasoned with salt or sugar before bedtime to cure chronic constipation.
The bark of peach limb is scraped UP. Make a brew of this. Begin with one teaspoonful and increase if necessary.
The power of love to change bodies is legendary, built into folklore, common sense, and everyday experience. Love moves the flesh, it pushes matter around..Throughout history, "tender loving care" has uniformly been recognized as a valuable element in healing.
~Larry Dossey
Cascara sagrada is used to help the body relieve constipation. However, it is reputed not to be habit-forming and also nutritionally supports the
stomach, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. It is cleansing, as well as nourishing, to the colon. It is also known to assist with digestion, and help the body to eliminate worms and parasites.
PSYLLIUM SEED: Chiefly an aid to constipation and other disorders due to colon blockage.
CASCARA SAGRADA
Stimulates the secretions of the entire digestive system; helps prevent nervous disorders, colon & constipation problems..
Guava & Papaya: Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber which helps prevent constipation.
Triphala: An Ayurvedic Indian herbal mixture, triphala is a remedy for constipation and poor bowel tone. Take only the capsules and avoid triphala in powdered form.
CHICKWEED: Because of its high Vitamin C content, this herb is used most often to treat scurvy. Also used in the treatment of constipation, hemorrhoids, rheumatism and some respiratory disorders.
BUCKTHORN BARK: Used to remedy appendicitis, constipation, liver disorders, and as a bowel regulator. It is also effective for gout and rheumatism and will produce flowing perspiration when taken hot.
LICORICE: Expels mucous from the respiratory tract aids in healing hoarseness, hypoglycemia, coughs & constipation; promotes healthy adrenal glands; acts as a sexual stimulant; helps increase endurance & vitality; helps in reducing skin blemishes (age spots).
DANDELION ROOT: The leaves and root of this herb are useful as a blood purifier. High in essential vitamins and minerals, it has been used for liver and kidney trouble as a blood builder. Also effective for fatigue, skin disorders including age spots, cramps,
constipation, diabetes and hypoglycemia.
CONSTIPATION: Often simple constipation is the result of not drinking enough water. Drink four to eight glasses daily. Another cause is insufficient roughage: BRAN with PAPAYA LEAVES to promote regularity. However, the best aid in cleansing the upper bowel in more stubborn cases is: CASSIA ACUTIFOLIA, BUCKTHORN BARK, LICORICE ROOT, ALFALFA, FENNEL SEED, ANISE SEED, BLUE MALVA FLOWER, CULVER ROOT, JALAP ROOT and RHUBARB ROOT.
HEADACHES: Here is a good combination of herbs to relieve headache pain: WILD LETTUCE, VALERIAN and CAYENNE. Remember also that many headaches come from constipation and stress.
