Someone asked my yoga instructor once for constipation symptom: “Is it normal to have a bowel movement 2-3 times a week?” I liked her answer: “Is it normal to eat a few times a day and clean up the table only once in a few days?”
Constipation symptom may be caused by any of the following:
– You eat a lot of low-fibre food and your digestive system cannot manage with that quantity.
– You consume the type of food that does not require much processing which makes intestines lazy.
– You do not exercise enough. You spend the whole day sitting in a chair and instead of taking a walk after work you sit in your car.
How can you possibly “repair” your organism (repair constipation symptom):
– Start by drinking a cup of senna tea. Ask your doctor for a prescription or buy some from the drugstore. Read the enclosed leaflet and follow the instructions strictly.
Preparing the tea is easy: put a spoonful of senna herb in 2 cups of boiling water and let boil for 5 minutes. Drink the tea after it cools off. Depending on how strong the tea is or how severe your case of constipation symptom is, the bowel movement can be expected in 3 to 8 hours from taking the herb drink. You will feel abdominal pain shortly before that and can expect several visits to the bathroom. You will feel more comfortable if you choose a non-working day for this practice. Or you can drink the tea before going to bed and expect the result on the next morning. Of course, the herb’s action may start at any time after the second hour from taking it and you may spend an unforgettable night in the bathroom but the cause is worth it.
Senna is a strong herb for treatment of constipation symptom and you should consult your doctor before taking it. It always produces an invariable effect on me and I use it rarely – usually when I ate too much but in any case not more than once a month.
There was a time when I took it every day for several months. Then I learned it could be harmful. I was lucky to get away with it.
– After having cleaned the stomach (first step to overcome constipation) it is now time to fill it with the type of food that will “wake it up”. Prepare a big salad of tomatoes and cucumbers and add linseed, cheese and olive oil. (For preparation details see Diet section).Choose bread that does not contain white flour. Do read the description of the ingredients. It is important that white flour is not among them.
Eat the salad with a few slices of bread. Do not eat anything in the next few hours.
Drink as much water as you can. Your next meal should also be a big salad, this time with baked meat. Give your stomach another 3 hours to digest the food. Drink water.
The idea is to eat plenty of salad, some brown bread, baked meat (not much!) and fruit.
There should be at least 3 hours between meals and you can take only water and no food.
Forget about cakes, chips, hamburgers, French fries or sauce. You may consult the pages on Diet for ideas on what to cook.
– Ask your doctor how long you can take senna tea. You will have to persevere to solve the problem with constipation symptom.
Even though you have cleansed your stomach with the help of senna tea and are eating high-fibre food (vegetables and fruit), your intestines will need time before they start functioning at full capacity.
In my case it happened as a result of taking senna over a long period of time, changing my diet and regular workout.
So let your physician tell you how long you can take senna without a risk to your health.
– Exercise regularly. All types of exercise are suitable, especially the ones that involve the abs as these will massage your abdominal organs. See the section on Female Abs. Go for walks, run, do everything that involves movement.
– Drink water, especially while taking senna tea, as it tends to dehydrate the body.
– Drink freshly squeezed juice from fruit or vegetables but take no food or drink for at least 1 hour after that.
Let us make a review of the practices that help against constipation symptom:
– Change your diet. Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit. Avoid hamburgers, French fries, chips, etc. If you have yielded to the temptation, do not consume anything for a long time (3-6 hours), in order to give your stomach a chance to manage.
– Exercise regularly and take up a sports activity that appeals to you. Substitute walking for driving (when feasible).
– Drink at least 5 glasses of water a day and as much as you can.