The human body is a wonderful mechanism created by God. All the organs have vital roles to play in maintaining the good health of this body. If any organ fails to perform it causes a lot of discomforts as well. And one such function of the body is to defecate. Defecation is a crucial function of the body to keep it healthy for a long time. Bodies inability to defecate is known as constipation. Constipation is one of the most common problems faced by people across ages. Not just old but even young population suffer from it. Almost everyone suffers from constipation more than once in their lifetime and this is one problem that can be dealt with at home. So here we are with a detailed list of home remedies for constipation and gas issues.

Did you know? As per the recent survey done in 2018, 22% of Indian adults suffer from constipation. 

Causes of Constipation

Constipation usually occurs when the faecal matter hardens and the body finds it hard to bowel movement. There are other reasons that contribute to constipation as well. Such as:

• Dehydration
• Stress
• Lack of body movement and exercise
• Lack of fibre in the body
• Overeating and consumption of Junk food
• At times constipation is caused due to some prescribed medicines as well

Top 20 Home remedies for constipation problem

1. Drink more water- Staying hydrated is one of the first steps to get relief from constipation. When the body doesn’t get enough water, it starts withdrawing water from other parts of the body leading to constipation. Having around 6-8 glasses of water daily helps keep the stool soft making bowel movement easy.
2. Add food rich in fibre- In order to treat constipation most of the times, even doctors suggest increasing dietary fibre intake. Fibre helps with the consistency of bowel movements making it easier to pass through the digestive system.
3. Increase intake of probiotic-rich food- Probiotics is a blessing for chronic constipation. They are beneficial bacteria that naturally occur in the gut. People suffering from constipation usually have an imbalance of probiotics in the gut. Increasing the intake of yoghurt, sauerkraut and kimchi will really help.
4. Anjeer- Anjeer is great to help with constipation. All you need to do is soak Anjeer (Fig) in warm water and consume that. The high fibre content in Anjeer helps with bowel movement immediately. In fact, it’s quite a safe and good home remedy to be used for kids as well. It’s a great source of fibre that you should include in your daily diet.
5. Milk and Ghee- Milk and ghee individually have great benefits for the human body. But when combined together they are even better for people suffering from constipation. You can take 1 or 2 teaspoons of ghee in a hot cup of milk and have it during bedtime. They act as one of the most effective and natural ways to get rid of constipation. Trust me it’s one of the great home remedies for constipation.
6. Lemon water- Citric acid present in lemon juice helps stimulate the digestive system and flush out the toxins from the body as well. It proves to be very helpful and acts as a natural laxative. Just squeeze lemon juice in warm water and have it every morning. You could also add lemon to your tea for constipation and may even improve long-term digestion.
7. Ginger Tea- Ginger is an ideal home remedy for most of the problem in the house. When added with tea it also helps to cure constipation. The hot water in your ginger tea also helps stimulate digestion and it may offer instant constipation relief as well.
8. Coffee- Yes! That’s easy peasy right. A hot cup of coffee might act as a quick remedy for constipation. It may stimulate your colon and might even speed up your trip to the bathroom.
9. Dalia (broken wheat)- This one my favourite for daily breakfast too. It’s a superfood and is a rich source of plant protein and contains important vitamins that might help get rid of constipation. It is also a great source of magnesium as well. Magnesium helps relieve constipation naturally.
10. Sesame seeds- Sesame is a wonderful natural ingredient that works on the intestines and helps moisturize them. This proves to be extremely helpful as it may ease the passing of dry stools. You can add this for tempering in vegetables and salads as well. They work as an ideal constipation treatment at home and can be added to cereals or salads as well.
11. Mulethi (Liquorice root) – Mulethi or is one of the most effective ayurvedic foods that might help improve digestion. Take a teaspoon of liquorice root (powdered) and add a teaspoon of jaggery to it. Now, you can just drink it with a cup of warm water. It is known to promote bowel activity and is widely considered to be one of the best herbs for constipation.
12. Raisins- Raisins are rich in fibre content. They have a laxative effect and might act as a quick remedy for constipation. You can add this to salads and yoghurt as well in your daily diet for added benefit.
13. Rhubarb- When we talk about herbal remedies for constipation, this vegetable proves to be an effective one. It is known for its sour taste and is usually cooked with sugar. Rhubarb is also known to have a laxative effect and proves to be a natural treatment for constipation.
14. Bananas- Bananas have a high amount of fibre content that is known to give immediate relief to constipation. It’s one of the most ideal solutions to constipation. Ripe bananas are very helpful and are the go-to solution when it comes to immediate constipation relief. You can easily give this to kids as well for constipation relief.
15. Abdominal Massage- Abdominal massage also helps in relieving the constipation problem. Just lie down on your back and press the abdomen in a clockwise motion for about 10 mins. This helps in pushing the stool downwards. For better effect have hot water or tea before the abdominal massage.
16. Castor Oil- Castor oil is a natural laxative and when consumed orally stimulate the bowel movement immediately. It lubricates the intestine and helps contract too. Take 2 tsp of castor oil on an empty stomach. Allow a gap of 8 hrs. before taking it again. Usually, you will notice bowel changes soon enough.
17. Coconut water- Coconut water is also enriched with natural magnesium thus it helps in stimulating the digestive tract and helps remove the stool out of the body easily.
18. Aloe Vera- Aloe vera is known for the benefits it provides for skin and overall health. When consumed in the form of juice it also helps in relieving the constipation symptoms.
19. Fennel- Fennel is a natural and mild laxative. Roast fennel seeds and add them to warm water. Drink this in the evening and it will help in relieving the constipation problem.
20. Suppositories- Last but not least in adamant constipation issues you can go for suppositories prescribed by the doctor and under his medical guidance. These suppositories are to be inserted directly into the rectum. They typically work faster than the laxatives you take by mouth.

These are some of the tried and tested home remedies for constipation shared by my family and friends. If you have mild symptoms, you can try this for chronic and prolonged issues consulting a doctor helps better.

Regardless of the treatment, you take for constipation problem. Give yourself enough time in the washroom to sit on the toilet. Do not hold when you get the urge to go to the washroom as it can worsen the constipation problem. It really helps to have a routine every day. Have regular wake up time as it helps in regulating bowel movements.

Also, read home remedies for the day to day ailments. 

If in case you are not getting any kind of relief from Home remedies for constipation it’s advisable to consult a doctor. If left untreated it causes various other issues.

This post is part of the Blogchatter half marathon.

Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.

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