Constipation
The absence of daily bowel movements indicates a lack of tone in
the lower GI tract, and leads to congestive conditions which can
harm the whole physiology. Occasional constipation can usually be
treated with extra fiber and bulking laxatives, which stimulate
bowel movements by simply increasing the volume, and therefore the
pressure, of the stool. Having less than 4 bowel movements in a
week for any length of time is a more serious form of constipation
which requires more attention.
Treatment
Goal(s):
· Relieve constipation, tonify lower GI tract.
Primary
Treatment:
· Use bulking laxatives such as Plantago (Psyllium seed hull)
and Linum (ground Flax seed).
· Administer bitters to strengthen digestion, balanced to
the person’s constitution (see below).
· Administer aperient herbs such as Rumex crispus (Yellowdock).
· Administer stimulant laxative herbs such as a weak infusion
of Cassia senna (Senna) on a limited basis.
Supportive
Treatment:
· Add an antispasmodic herb such as Viburnum opulus (Crampbark)
and Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomille) to reduce the spasmodic ‘griping’
that sometimes accompanies constipation and laxative use. Depending
on the person’s constitution, adding more warming carminatives
like Foeniculum (Fennel) can also relieve some of the ‘griping’
pain.
· Reduce the presence of refined starches, sugars, and dairy
in the diet, while increasing the amount of whole vegetables.
· Supplement with a probiotic such as Lactobacillus acidophilus.
Differential
diagnoses, cautions, and other considerations:
· All laxatives are contraindicated in cases of an impacted
colon. This can be recognized when nothing can be passed for many
days, not even a small piece of stool. This condition will require
hospitalization.
· Bitters encompass a variety of herbs and herbal actions.
Choose bitter(s) which also have a positive effect in other areas
of the patient’s physiology, but always anchored in Gentiana
lutea (Gentian) for neutral to cool / dry constitutions, and Artemisia
species (Wormwood, Mugwort) for neutral to warm / moist constitutions.
