Energy Medicine for Constipation Relief
Top Factors Causing Constipation
Sleeping habits: not getting enough sleep and traveling can cause your bowels to back up.
Stress: Is one of the most common factors. It increases inflammation in the body, changes hormone and neurotransmitter production, and alters sleep patterns, which can all have an impact on your digestive system.
Prescription Medications: Constipation is one of those side-effects that are listed on certain medication bottles that you MIGHT get but you don’t usually think you will. The medications that are more likely to cause constipation are: anti-depressants, anticholinergics, narcotics, diuretics and antacids. Both chemotherapy and radiation are heat producing in the body and can cause the bowels to stop moving as well. Beware that calcium and iron supplements can also contribute to constipation too.
Now that we know what contributes to our constipation, let’s find out how to prevent or relieve it. Amazingly, nature has provided many natural prevention and relief remedies to keep you going regularly in both food and herb form. See our top picks below.
Water: Hydration is crucial in preventing and relieving constipation. Water is the best source of hydration. It’s important to drink a high-quality filtered water. A good formula to use for proper hydration is to take your body weight and divide it in half. That equals the amount in ounces of water your body needs per day. Not fluids, like juice, coffee, tea, alcohol, which can all be dehydrating, just water. Keep in mind that you will need even more water if you are increasing the fiber in your diet or consuming caffeine or alcohol.
Food: Use your diet to maintain a healthy digestive tract by eating fiber-rich foods such as raw fruit (prunes, apples, pears, kiwi, figs and citrus fruits) and vegetables (specifically green leafy spinach, Brussels sprouts and broccoli). Some less commonly thought of foods include artichoke, rhubarb, sweet potato, chia seeds, flaxseeds and legumes. Enjoy healthy fats like coconut oil, olive oil, and avocado oil. Eating prebiotic foods like garlic, onions, and bananas can make your stools softer. And probiotic rich foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, hormone-free yogurt with live cultures, and drinking kombucha can also be beneficial. Remember to avoid those foods we mentioned earlier that contribute to constipation. It’s also beneficial to have all of your foods and supplements Energy Tested by an Energy Medicine Practitioner to insure they support good gut health.
Herbal Supplementation: Flaxseed oil, magnesium, probiotics, psyllium husk, pectin, cod liver oil, omega 3’s, and aloe vera juice can help prevent or relieve constipation.
Herbal Laxatives: There are several herbal laxatives that help stools to soften and move through the digestive tract. Some of these include Senna (and Senna Tea), Aloe, Cascara Sagrada and buckthorn. Use caution with these herbal laxatives so you do not become dependent on their use.
Drink Coffee: While caffeine can be dehydrating requiring an increase in water consumption, caffeinated coffee has been known to stimulate the muscles in your digestive system increasing the urge to go to the bathroom thus relieving constipation. Without energy testing I would not drink more than one cup per day as coffee can cause other potential health problems.
Essential Oils: High-quality essential Peppermint oil is great for easing an upset digestive tract. If your constipation is caused from stress, you may also use lavender and rosemary essential oils to help promote relaxation and stress reduction.
Ginger: This natural remedy can be ingested or used topically. Add a bit of ginger to a smoothie to give yourself some antioxidant power that can aid in digestion. If you prefer to use ginger topically, add ginger to a bit of carrier oil and then massage it into your stomach. This will help the muscles relax and to move your stool through your digestive tract.
Energy Medicine: There are many self-care energy medicine techniques for moving the bowels. Please refer to our Energy Medicine Quick Tip Video for Relieving Constipation. However, if you do suffer from chronic, long-term constipation, we recommend a private Energy Medicine Consultation to gather more information about your digestive health.
No matter the cause, constipation can be a disruptive issue in many ways. Following the dietary guidelines we have covered, you can successfully prevent constipation. If you are already having infrequent bowel movements, try some healthy changes to your diet and practice Energy Medicine and see how things get moving again!