Constipation
Foods to Eat More Of: 
  • Fruits: apples, apricots, bilberries, figs, grapes, pears, prunes, rhubarb
  • Vegetables: arugula, beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, collard greens, kale,  leeks, onions, romaine lettuce, spinach, watercress
  • Whole grains, olives, beans, molasses, yogurt
  • Garlic, ginger, cinnamon, olive oil
  • Seeds (especially flax, psyllium, pumpkin, sesame) & nuts (especially walnuts)
  • Fluids (at least 8 glasses a day).

Foods to Avoid or Minimize: 
  • Alcohol, sugar and refined starchy foods
  • Dairy products (except yogurt)

Essential Oils:
*If additional information or precautions are available, the links below will direct you that information.  If not, you will be directed to Amazon for purchasing options.
Natural/Herbal:  
*If additional information or precautions are available, the links below will direct you that information.  If not, you will be directed to Amazon for purchasing options.
  • Burdock root, German chamomile, golden seal, cinnamon, dandelion root, fennel seeds, garlic, ginger, lavender, lemon balm, licorice, peppermint, yellow dock
  • For constipation associated with nervous tension, bowel relaxants such as chamomile and lemon balm can be worth adding.  Avoid conventional "roughage" for this type (such as bran) and anthraquinone herbs including aloes, rhubarb root, yellow dock, senna, buckthorn (rhamnus frangula) and cascara sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana). Relaxation and a general reduction in stress are also important. 
  • Take 1 Tablespoon olive oil on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. (For Babies, decrease to 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil and take in the evening). If the olive oil doesn't work, you can substitute castor oil, but only for adults (do not give to children) and only for a couple of days at a time (extended use can cause damage). 
  • Psyllium: 1-3 Tablespoons powder dissolved in water or juice daily (or take 1-3 Tablespoons ground flaxseeds or 2 teaspoons ground fenugreek seeds.  Drink 8 glasses of water daily for these remedies). 
  • Prunes: drink 1/2 cup juice or eat 3-4 prunes each morning.
  • Mix equal parts crushed aloe vera plant and honey.  Add a little lemon juice.  Take a teaspoon every morning and evening.
  • 1 pint hot water, 2 Tablespoons Epsom salts, 1/2 Tablespoon cream of tartar; drink first thing in the morning. 
  • Light exercise/Yoga.
  • Abdominal Massage.
  • Strong Herbal Laxative like senna pods (senna alexandrina).
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Yoga Therapy:
Supplements & Homeopathic:
  • ​Vitamin C: 1,000 mg 3 times daily (dose can be increased by 1,000 mg daily up to a total of 5,000 mg daily until poop becomes regular).
  • Magnesium: 400-800 mg daily as needed (take with food; reduce if it causes diarrhea).
  • Cascara Sagrada: 100 mg at bedtime (should contain 25% hydroxyanthracene derivatives).

Mind-Body Connection:​​
  • Can represent an imbalance between your rational mind and your emotions.
  • Can also represent a refusal to release old ideas that are no longer serving you.

Recipes - Food Medicine:

*Note: Not all recipes are nutritionally perfect, but the options below are a great way to start incorporating beneficial foods into your diet in delicious ways.  Always try to buy organic, and feel free to make substitutions to accommodate gluten-free, vegan, etc diets.  Recipes naturally Vegan and Gluten-Free are marked as such (V=Vegan; GF=Gluten-Free).

Smoothies/Beverages: Meals: Sides & Salads:
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