Top 10 Highly Effective Remedies for Constipation Based on Folk Medicine

When you exercise, your muscles require more energy to perform. This demand stimulates the digestive organs to work harder, breaking down nutrients and converting them into energy for the body. At this time, bile and digestive enzymes are also secreted more abundantly by the stomach and liver, and the smooth muscles of the intestines contract more forcefully, helping the food move quickly to the colon, ensuring more regular bowel movements.

Due to these effects, medicine considers exercise as a therapeutic remedy for constipation. Many patients who engage in daily exercise while also adjusting their lifestyle have seen quite promising results.

To alleviate the discomfort caused by constipation and prevent it from recurring, it's essential to drink plenty of water. Water helps cleanse the intestines and plays a crucial role in aiding the small intestine to digest food. Additionally, water contributes up to 80% of the waste elimination process in the colon.

On average, a person should drink between 6 – 8 glasses of water daily (however, the specific amount varies depending on individual characteristics, temperature, etc.). Plain water is the best choice.

Best times to drink water:

• Early morning upon waking up: Drink a large glass of water to cleanse the intestines
• Mid-morning: Drinking water helps you feel refreshed and curb hunger
• After meals: Drinking water after eating is great for digestion.
• After each urination: Drink water to replenish the fluids lost from your body.
  
  

A helpful tip for drinking enough water throughout the day: if you tend to forget, keep a bottle of water near you – on your office desk, in the kitchen, or beside your bed... You can also replace plain water with mineral water, which contains magnesium that aids in bowel regularity.

Certain plant-based oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, or flaxseed oil can be used to treat constipation in adults quite effectively. These oils work similarly to a laxative, lubricating the digestive tract and allowing food and waste to move smoothly through the system.

Additionally, these oils provide a variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and Omega-3 fatty acids to the body. They also stimulate the gallbladder to release bile, which helps digest food and break down difficult-to-digest fats. This method is not only safe for pregnant women but is also effective for everyone.

How to Use:

• Start by taking 1-2 teaspoons of oil once or twice a day. Increase the dosage if the initial amount does not show results. Take the oil on an empty stomach for optimal effectiveness.
• Alternatively, you can mix the oil with water, coffee, smoothies, fruit juice, or add it to salads. Continuous use over a few days will yield results.

Molasses has long been used as a remedy for constipation. It contains a low sugar content but is rich in magnesium and potassium, two powerful agents in the battle against constipation. These substances work by drawing fluid into the intestines and softening hardened stool.

Other nutrients found in molasses include manganese (which helps regulate the nervous system), iron (beneficial for those experiencing constipation with blood in the stool), calcium (aids in eliminating waste and toxins from the colon), copper (prevents the progression of cancer-causing free radicals), and vitamin B6 (which regulates blood sugar levels, nerves, and brain function).

How to Quickly Treat Constipation with Molasses:

• Mix 1-2 tablespoons of molasses with warm water, organic apple cider vinegar, or fruit juice and drink
• Alternatively, use it as a sweetener for food
• Consistently apply this method once a day for a few weeks to completely resolve even severe constipation.

Lemon juice is renowned for providing high levels of vitamin C, boosting the immune system and enhancing skin health. However, few people are aware that it is also an excellent remedy for constipation. The citric acid found in lemons aids in food digestion and helps cleanse waste and toxins from the intestines.

Based on traditional wisdom, here's how you can use lemon juice to relieve constipation:

• Mix one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice with 200ml of warm water and a pinch of salt
• Drink this mixture every morning on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before eating, for effective bowel movement.
• In addition to lemon honey water, other drinks like celery smoothies or cantaloupe juice can also help ease constipation faster.

For many centuries, traditional medicine in India and the Middle Eastern region has used fennel seeds as a remedy for various digestive disorders, including constipation. Ancient healers believed that fennel seeds had the ability to stimulate digestion, relieve constipation, reduce bloating, and aid in indigestion – common symptoms associated with constipation.

Animal studies have also shown that fennel seeds significantly improve stomach contractions. They help reduce the time food takes to move through the intestines by up to 12%. This makes fennel seeds a safe and effective option for those looking for natural remedies for constipation.

Here’s how you can prepare this traditional home remedy:

• Take one teaspoon of fennel seeds and crush or grind them into a fine powder.
• Add them to a teapot, and pour boiling water over them.
• Cover the teapot and let it steep for 15 minutes before serving the tea.

According to research by many scientists, figs are rich in valuable nutrients such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and various vitamins. Additionally, figs are high in fiber, making them an excellent remedy for constipation.

You can follow these steps to use figs effectively:

• Take a few fresh figs, wash them thoroughly, and add a bit of fresh milk before heating them up.
• Consume regularly every day, and after some time, you will notice positive results.

For a long time, pennywort has been known as a valuable herb that can treat many ailments, including constipation. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, pennywort has a bitter taste and cold nature, with properties that help clear heat, reduce dampness, reduce swelling, detoxify, and support the digestive system's function. When suffering from constipation, simply take a handful of pennywort, wash it well, then crush it and squeeze out the juice to drink.

Consistently drink it twice a day, and you'll notice improvement. Additionally, when treating constipation with pennywort juice, avoid spicy foods like ginger, chili, cinnamon, alcohol, and tobacco, as they may put additional stress on your liver and cause digestive issues, making it harder for your body to expel waste.

For generations, our ancestors have considered sesame (ginger) as a folk remedy capable of treating various ailments. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, sesame is a sweet, cool, non-toxic seed that moisturizes the intestines, has antibacterial effects, and is highly effective for treating constipation.

If you're suffering from this condition, you can cook sesame porridge to reduce digestive strain and help with smoother bowel movements.

Ingredients you need: 500 grams of glutinous rice, 100 grams of sesame.

Instructions: Wash the sesame, then dry it and roast it lightly until it cracks. Cook the rice in a pot until it becomes porridge, then add the sesame and stir well until it's fully cooked. Eating regularly will yield positive results.

There are two types of radish: white and red. In Vietnam, white radish is more commonly grown. According to scientific studies, radishes are very rich in Vitamin C, which can help treat various conditions such as improving digestion, fighting cancer, combating harmful bacteria, preventing gallstones, lowering cholesterol, and helping to prevent high blood pressure.

To improve colon function, simply consume about 500 grams of radish daily, and you will notice significant improvement in your condition. You can boil, make soup, or stew it according to your preference. However, be cautious not to over-season with too much pepper, chili, or cooking oil to avoid adverse effects!