What is it? Constipation is when someone goes to the toilet less often than usual, or when it's difficult to pass a motion In general, constipation is when someone goes to the toilet less often than usual, or when it's difficult to pass a motion. It's a change from a person's usual pattern of bowel opening. Some people pass a motion twice a day, some three times a week; the pattern is different for all of us. Although most people believe constipation means not passing motions at all, medically speaking it just means passing motions less often than you normally do. A process called peristalsis, where the gut muscles contract, squeezes the food through the gut rather like toothpaste out of a tube. Between the mouth and the anus, the food passes through about nine metres of gut, and by the time it leaves your body all the available nutrients should have been absorbed into the body. For smooth passage, bowel motions need to be large enough to help stimulate these gut contractions and soft enough to slide easily along the bowel. Many people feel embarrassed, even guilty, when they're constipated. Millions of people suffer with constipation every year. Around one person in ten in the UK is believed to suffer regularly with constipation.
Symptoms Common symptoms of constipation include:
passing a motion less often than usual
having to strain to pass a motion
pain when passing a motion
passing motions that are dry and hard, like rabbit pellets
a feeling of incomplete bowel emptying
Sometimes straining may be ineffective and no motion is passed. People with constipation may quickly feel full when eating. Bloating, nausea, even vomiting may occur. Straining may cause piles and rectal bleeding.
Causes Common causes of constipation include:
lack of liquid
lack of dietary fibre
inactivity
stress
ignoring the urge to go to the toilet
Other causes include some medications (such as painkillers), some medical conditions (for example, irritable bowel syndrome) and changes in environment (going on holiday).
Prevention and treatment Eat more fibre, including bran cereals, wholegrain bread and rice Take regular exercise, drink at least eight glasses of water a day and eat more fibre, including bran cereals, wholegrain bread and rice, and at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Never ignore the urge to go to the toilet. Try to keep stress to a minimum. Advice about suitable laxatives is available from your pharmacist or GP. Seek medical advice if these measures don't help or if constipation is associated with severe abdominal pain, vomiting or passing blood or mucus in the motions. This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in December 2005.
Cayenne - Constipation home remedy
By: Rudy Silva Cayenne is a constipation home remedy that is effective in producing peristalsis in your colon and aids digestion. It can be used regularly at every meal and when needed for constipation. Cayenne pepper is known to help thin the blood. So, it is good for improving blood circulation.
Cayenne is available in capsules of different strengths, from 5,000 heat units (HU) to 100,000 and even higher. In addition, cayenne when used with other herbs helps to deliver these herbs more efficiently to where they are needed in the body. As a constipation home remedy, start with one capsule of 40,000 HU and always take it after you eat. You will feel a hot or slight burning feeling in the upper stomach and that's when you know its working. The feeling is like when you get heartburn. This burning sensation will pass as your body gets use to you using cayenne.
Do not use cayenne seeds, as they can be toxic. If you are pregnant or breast- feeding do not take cayenne supplements. Use cayenne only as directed on its container and only as capsules.
Cayenne has the ability to block the ulcer producing effect of NSAIDS. It also has shown to increase the body's absorption of theopylline, a drug used to treat asthma.
In his book, Left for Dead, Dick Quinn tells how Cayenne pepper saved his life after coronary bypass surgery failed to restore it. In this book, Shannon Quinn, says,
"One of the most effective stimulants, mostly, cayenne targets the digestive and the circulatory system. Cayenne regulates blood pressure, strengthens the pulse, feeds the heart, lowers cholesterol, and thins the blood. It cleanses the circulatory system, heals ulcers, stops hemorrhaging, speeds healing of wounds, rebuilds damaged tissue, eases congestion, aids digestion, regulates elimination, relieves arthritis and rheumatism, prevents the spread of infection and numbs pain."
Use the recommended dose shown on the bottle of cayenne you use.
You can also add cayenne pepper into other foods. Add cayenne to soups, salads, and other foods you like.
In soups or salads break open a cayenne capsule and mix it in. You can add 1 - 2 capsules, but first start with 1/4 or 1/2 capsule so you can get use to the hot taste.
If you are pregnant, it is considered safe to use cayenne.
Use this constipation home remedy and you will see results. It definitely has the power to eliminate constipation and keep you regular and has many other benefits, especially for your heart.
Author Bio Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid e-books. He writes a newsletter called natural-remedies-thatwork.com and his information on other topics can be seen at www.stop-constipation.com or at www.constipation-remedies.for--you.info Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com
