Prevention and Home Remedy of Constipation

Constipation is irregular bowel movement. It can be caused by low fluid intake or a poor diet consisting of mainly refined foods and high fat. Constipation may be either as weak colon muscles or no regularity in bowel movements. You should not take any laxatives to treat your constipation as this forms a habit.

Prevention of Constipation
Constipation in Infants and Children

1. Drink lots of water, at least 8 glasses of water daily.
2. Eat foods with dietary fibers such as prunes, figs, cereals, fruits, and nuts to prevent constipation.
3. Eat an apple daily with its skin.
4. Guava when eaten with seeds provides roughage to diet can give relief from constipation.
5. Avoid starchy foods.
6. Reduce intake of foods with sugar and white breads and foods prepared with white flour (maida).
7. Do some regular physical activity, otherwise you have a chance of irregular bowel movements.

You may use the following remedies for constipation, one at a time for a week or so and see its result. If it does not treat your condition, you may try another one.

1. Drink 1 liter of water in the morning before you eat or drink anything.
2. Drink a glass of warm water with 1 tsp honey and juice of 1/2 a lemon/lime in the morning before you eat or drink anything.
3. Drink 1/2 tsp honey in 1/2 cup warm water 2-3 times a day to cure constipation.
4. Liquorice (mulathi) is a natural laxative. Chew a few sticks daily.
5. Take 3 tsp of psyllium husk (Sat Isabgol) in milk or warm water at bed time. This will give you great relief and over a period of time, it will cure your constipation. Metamucil is nothing but psyllium husk, finely powdered and flavored.
6. Soak one date overnight in half a cup of water. Next morning mash the date and drain the water. Drink 1 teaspoon of this water four times a day.
7. Mix 1/2 cup olive oil with 1/2 cup orange juice and drink to cure constipation.
8. Put some curry leaves (curry patta) in hot water for a few minutes and then take out. Mix them with honey and eat.
9. Eat at least 350 g of grapes daily. The combination of the properties of cellulose, sugar and organic acid in grapes makes it a laxative food. Eating grapes tones up the stomach and intestines and relieves the most chronic constipation. When fresh grapes are not available, raisins soaked in water can be used. Diabetic people should not use grape therapy.
10. Put Senna pods (6 to 12 for adults and 3 to 6 for children) in water and drink this tea.
11. Bale fruit is the best natural laxative.
12. Drink 1 Tbsp of corn syrup added to 4 glasses of water.
13. Mixed castor oil (about half a tsp) with equal quantity of honey and drink daily.

    Juice Laxative:

14. Mix 1 cup tomato juice, 1/4 cup carrot juice, and 1/2 cup sauerkraut juice and drink.
15. Triphla is a very good herbal remedy for constipation as it is both a purgative laxative and a lubricating bulk laxative. Triphala is composed of Harada (haritaki), Amla (amalaki, Indian gooseberries) and Behada (bibhitaki). You can try triphla capsules from health stores. Chebulic myrobalan (Haritaki, Harida, Harar, Chebulic myroblan, Black myroblan, Harada) has been used in India for the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, heart-burn, piles, hemorrhoids, dyspepsia, and liver disorders. There are other herbs for constipation herbal remedy.
    
    

It is common in infants that they do not do poo for 4-5 days. You should not worry if the infant is not uncomfortable.

If the baby is purely on mother's milk, then it is highly unlikely that the baby will be constipated, unless the mother has changed her diet or taken any medicine. If the mother is constipated, then the baby may also show the signs of constipation. So mother should try to treat her constipation.

1. New Born Babies or Infants:
   Stimulates the sphinctors (muscles) in the rectum of the baby by inserting the tip of a thermometer into the babies rectum and slide it back and forth. It really works, but do it very carefully after you take mthe nadvise of your doctor.
2. Dip a small piece of cotton in glyderine and insert it in rectum.
3. Mix few drops of castor oil with a tsp of mother's milk or lukewarm water. Give this once a day to the child, adjust the dose according to the age of the child.
4. For Babies:
   Give 2 tsp once a day of homemade ghee (clarified butter) with 1/8 tsp of sugar and juice of black currents soaked overnight in water.
5. Soak 6-8 raisins in hot water. When cool, crush well and strain and give the child to eat. It helps to regulate bowel movement.