Constipation

picture of a man sitting on a toilet with constipation who wants a naturopath to help with constipation
Do you need help with constipation?

Constipation

What is constipation?

Normally your bowels should move at least once per day. A bowel movement should be fairly easy to pass, without straining. The stool should be well-formed. Really, after each meal, your bowels are prompted to move.  So 2-3 bowel movements per day are reflective of a truly healthy gut. Less frequent bowel movements are caused by multiple factors. Food sensitivities, overgrowth of unhealthy organisms in the gut, dehydration and even stress are some possible reasons for irregular bowel movements.

How Do Naturopathic Doctors Treat Constipation?

Our naturopathic doctor will do an in-depth initial assessment to determine the root cause of constipation for you and therefore decide on the appropriate treatment. Some common causes of constipation include:

  • Dehydration. Getting your 8 glasses of water per day is critical if you are prone to problems with constipation. Even one glass of water too little can contribute to constipation.
  • Food allergies or sensitivities. If something that you are eating inflames your gut, then your gut doesn’t function normally. Our naturopaths can test for food sensitivities to determine which foods are causing problems.
  • Dysbiosis. This means that there is an overgrowth of some type of bacteria or yeast in your gut that is not healthy. There is also a lack of beneficial bacteria that help keep your gut healthy. Our ND will either test for this or go ahead and advise you on an appropriate plan to correct the situation.
  • Stress. Stress activates your sympathetic nervous system. This is the fight or flight part of your nervous system. When this is activated, resources are directed to other areas like your running and fighting muscles and away from your digestive tract. Digestion suffers as a result. The parasympathetic nervous system kicks in when you are relaxed. This part of the nervous system helps you digest your food, relax and sleep.
  • Poor flow of bile. Bile normally empties from your gallbladder into your small intestine. Bile stimulates the movement of your digestive tract. Herbal medicines help stimulate the production and flow of bile.
  • Low fiber intake. Fiber feeds good bacteria in your gut. Fiber also absorbs water to expand your gut and trigger subsequent contraction. This propels stool along. You should aim for 30-40 grams of fiber per day.

Natural Treatment for Constipation Research

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2011 Oct;15(4):436-45. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2010.07.007. Epub 2010 Aug 25.
The use of abdominal massage to treat chronic constipation.
Sinclair M1.

Gastroenterol Nurs. 2018 Sep/Oct;41(5):396-402. doi: 10.1097/SGA.0000000000000343.
The Effect of Abdominal Massage on Constipation in the Elderly Residing in Rest Homes.
Çevik K1, Çetinkaya A, Yiğit Gökbel K, Menekşe B, Saza S, Tıkız C.

Parkinsons Dis. 2016;2016:4842090. doi: 10.1155/2016/4842090. Epub 2016 Dec 8.
Abdominal Massage for the Relief of Constipation in People with Parkinson’s: A Qualitative Study.
McClurg D1, Walker K1, Aitchison P1, Jamieson K1, Dickinson L2, Paul L3, Hagen S1, Cunnington AL4.

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