The One-Minute
(or so)
Healer
by Dana Ullman
Constipation
"There is no disease but stagnation,
no remedy but
circulation." -- Chinese proverb
When you consider that your large intestine is approximately
5 feet long, and your small intestine is 20 feet long, it's amazing that
anything finds its way out of your body at all.
So many people in Western civilization experience
constipation that many doctors dismiss it and consider it unworthy of their
attention. Although constipation itself is not an illness, it is a symptom of
something wrong. Is your diet adequate? Is there too much stress in your life?
Were you exposed to certain toxic substances? Is it a side effect from a
medication?
Constipation itself is not a disease, but it can certainly
lead to disease. Of particular concern is that it can lead to bad breath, body
odor, and hemorrhoids. If that ain't scary, how about the fact that it can cause
varicose veins, headaches, and insomnia. Well, okay, if you really want to be
scared, you should know that it can also lead to depression,
diverticulitis (it even sounds painful), and bowel cancer.
The most common cause of constipation is our processed,
low-fiber, high-fat and high-sugar diet. Food companies have, for better or
worse, come to the aid of people with constipation and are adding fiber to
everything. Ironically, in order to create white bread, food companies commonly
denature the whole wheat grain and then add fiber back into the bread. Some food
companies add "powdered cellulose" to their bread recipes. Although
this certainly adds fiber to the diet, powdered cellulose, also known as
sawdust, isn't the ideal way to get your fiber.
Older people are five times more likely to suffer from
constipation than younger people are. While this may be partly due to poor diet,
inadequate fluid consumption, or lack of exercise, it is also because of past
laxative use. Millions of people today, especially older folks, are addicted to
laxatives. Although these drugs provide temporary relief, they
do nothing to remedy the cause of the constipation. Worse yet, whenever you get
something done for you easily, you're not able to do it for yourself as well,
leading to chronic constipation problems.
Most people don't realize that coffee has strong laxative
properties. People sometimes become addicted to it, not simply for the taste or
the caffeine, but because of coffee's effects on their bowels. People who
sharply reduce their coffee intake tend to become constipated temporarily.
However, there are safer ways to regulate your bowels than drinking coffee.
Here are some strategies that you can use for yourself. They
will be helpful in navigating the 25 feet or more of intestines so that whatever
you put into your body will be able to easily find its way out.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The remedies
presented here have taken from the book: "The One Minute (or so)
Healer" by Dan Ullman, MPH. While we present 7 suggestions here, the book
contains 14 one-minute strategies for constipation.)
Lubricate yourself
Drink six to eight glasses of water a day.
Olive oil and lemon
Take one tablespoon of olive oil and the
juice of one lemon just before bedtime and upon rising in the morning (don't eat
any food for at least 30 minutes afterwards). Commonly called "a liver
flush", this combination is thought to stimulate liver function and improve
overall digestion and elimination of food. Another effective strategy is to mix
one lemon with one cup of warm water and drink it before bedtime and upon
getting up in the morning.
Supplements to consider
Acidophilus provides friendly
bacteria to help improve digestion and elimination. Apple pectin gives useful
fiber. Vitamin C in high doses (5-0 grams per day) can loosen stools. Alfalfa or
chlorophyll can help detoxify the body.
Avoid the drug plugs
If you are taking any medications, check
to see if they promote constipation. Painkillers and antidepressants are two
common types of drugs that usually cause constipation. Over-the-counter antacids that contain
aluminum can also constipate.
Avoid the food and vitamin plugs,
too
Certain foods such as
milk, cheese, and white flour products; and certain vitamins such as iron and
calcium supplements can cause constipation.
Bounce in a squatting position
Flexing anal muscles by
squatting and bouncing helps build up anal muscle tone.
Get in touch with your inner
plumber
When your intestines are
not pushing things along as they should, perhaps a visualization exercise that
simulates Roto-rooter action moving thing down the drain will help. This
strategy may not be adequate if used without other methods. Just like the
Islamic saying, "Trust in God, but tie your camel to a palm tree," you
should trust your inner plumber, but keep eating your fiber!
This
article was
excerpted from
"The One Minute
(or so) Healer"
by
Dan Ullman, MPH
Info/Order this book
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