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Home | About MNT | Article Index | Special Reports | Blog | Contact | Sitemap |Constipation: severe (habitual, obstipation) or occasional
You have no doubt have heard of the great argument that occurred between the organs of the body as to who was the most important amongst them.“I am the most important,” said the brain, “because I run all the body's systems, so without me nothing would happen.”
“I am the most important," said the blood, “because I circulate oxygen all over so without me you'd all waste away.”
The stomach said: “I am the most important, because I process food and give all of you energy.”
“I am the most important,” said the legs, “because I carry the body wherever it needs to go.”
“Because I allow the body to see where it goes, I am the most important," said the eyes.
After all these interchanges of importance, the anus said: “I am the most important organ because I'm responsible for waste removal.” All the organs laughed and laughed and insulted him, so in a huff, he shut down tight. Within a few days the brain had a terrible headache, the stomach was bloated, the legs got wobbly, the eyes got watery, and the blood was toxic. They all decided that the anus was the most important!
The mental origin of constipation
Without doubt the main cause of the debilitating condition of constipation, that which is the root of many or if not all diseases, is mental in origin. That meaning, one needs to look at the stress and tension in one’s life. For example, constipation is commonly experienced when on holidays or travelling, because it is all so stressful holidaying! Yet others who are habitually constipated organising their everyday lives have normal bowel movements when on holidays because they are relaxing! Anyway, these things must be seriously looked at – relax, look within.Go to the toilet between the hours of 5.00 am and 7.00 am – make this a habit. Not in the evening but in the morning, preferably before breakfast – this is the ideal. It is the natural time for defecation and when the bowel is successfully and completely evacuated the mind will be clear and sharp for the ensuing day’s activities. Constipated people are slow, grumpy, and disorientated.
Some quick suggestions to get the bowel moving:
1. Prunes, dried apricots or figs, eat morning and/or night2. Water – dehydration as a prime cause = water, drink it
3. Hot water in morning – a glass of
4. Foods – change diet and if a specific food responsible e.g. milk, find offending food and eliminate it post haste.
5. Change to whole foods diet – simple and natural foods, whole grains (brown rice especially)
6. Brown rice and mung dhal, (mung beans, ginger, garlic and onions). In India this is called food for the gods. Or as another said – just eat brown rice and the nightmare of constipation will be over.
7. Nettles – as tea, soup, or finely chopped in salad
8. Chewing food – chewing each mouthful 30-200 times will cure any ailment.
9. Sauerkraut, bitter herbs as in dandelion and chicory.
Drink a lemon juice in the morning, every morning, first thing: squeeze one or two lemons and add the same amount of water. Alternatively take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a little honey if necessary in a glass of water. A full dose is 2 tablespoons in 250 ml of water. Start with a lower dose (teaspoon or so) and see if you like it. It is one of the old folk remedies that cures all! Over the long term these two little health secrets will show their worth, in happiness and longevity.
Chew food, every mouthful at least 30 times. When people had little they chewed and chewed what they had. Chewing is essential for proper and complete digestion of food, especially grains and breads. Chewing rhythm aids the peristaltic rhythm of the intestines, which in constipation is non functioning. The stomach has no teeth; people forget this. Digestion is mostly in the mouth, so chew and chew. One eats less, too.
The suggestions above are to get the bowel moving. In extreme cases one can resort to enemas, or mechanically remove ‘it’. An old trick was to sit on a pot of steaming water to soften the dried up stool in the rectum for easier removal.
Diet must always be changed and simplified. Steam or lightly boil vegetables; soak and cook grains in the correct amount of water so none is thrown away. Eat plenty of greens. Diet is a hard nut to teach anyone. There are no real diets as such; only people eating correctly for their position in life and so have health and peace as a result. Whatever one does with respect of diet do it with intent and with change for health in mind. Stay out of supermarkets if at al possible – shop in the street markets or farmer’s markets – make friends with the greengrocer and whole food shops.
A simple start is also herbs and nutrients. Bowel Build is key. Try it.
© Cornelis van Dalen 2008
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