Natural techniques for resolving constipation without added fiber that can damage the colon and contribute to inflammatory conditions.
Constipation is a dangerous condition that slowly poisons and ages the body with toxin overload. It is especially dangerous for babies and children.
The diet of most Americans is composed primarily of processed junk and loads of sugar. Eating these types of foods regularly contributes greatly to the problem by unbalancing the gut environment.
It is no wonder that over-the-counter constipation remedies are some of the best-selling at pharmacies and grocery stores.
As many as 15-20% of Americans suffer from chronic constipation. Millions more have intermittent issues.
Some folks have little hope of going to the bathroom on any given day without their morning dose of Metamucil or a bowl of high-fiber bran cereals. This is a very unhealthy situation indeed!
Why Fiber is NOT the Best Constipation Remedy
Eating more fiber as suggested in conventional circles as a remedy for constipation is not a wise move. Fiber eaten in the quantities recommended can seriously damage the colon over the long term.
Think of using fiber to resolve constipation as the “roto-rooter” approach to solving the problem.
OUCH.
The book Fiber Menace warns that high-fiber diets produce large stools that stretch and damage the intestinal tract. In addition, too much fiber upsets the natural balance of beneficial bacteria.
The end result of years of eating a high-fiber diet as a band-aid approach to constipation is more severe constipation. This can contribute to the development of Crohn’s disease, IBS, hernias, colitis, and ironically, even hemorrhoids.
Incidentally, getting a colonoscopy has a similar effect doing more harm than good!
It is simply unnecessary to consume fiber such as psyllium seed husks (the main ingredient in Metamucil) in order to have normal stools.
In fact, many healthy traditional cultures ate diets that included little fiber.
Fiber from grains is the most difficult to digest of all. Consider yourself warned.
The result of the USDA-endorsed high fiber, grain-heavy diet is long-term digestive distress far and beyond the annoyance of constipation!
Natural Remedies for Regular Bowel Movements
As one gradually transitions from high fiber to a low-fiber traditional diet, care must be taken to eat plenty of whole animal fats and bone broths that strengthen the intestinal environment.
In addition, any temporary issues with constipation can easily be handled with the no fiber strategies outlined below.
Tip: As you are working to resolve slow-moving bowels, witch hazel on a cotton pad will soothe and shrink the tissues to help heal rectal irritation, swelling, or hemorrhoids.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Many people do not realize that spinal subluxations can cause infrequent bowel movements which are a form of energy blockage.
Hence, a simple chiropractic adjustment can resolve constipation issues very quickly!
This method is particularly helpful as a baby constipation remedy, where the trauma of the birth process can sometimes result in an imbalanced skeletal system.
On a related note, an inexpensive stool called a squatty potty (I recommend this one) can help align the spine and hips properly while going to the bathroom so that elimination is much easier and more complete.
Exercise (rebounding)
Exercise has long been known to relieve constipation and promote regular bathroom habits. If jogging or being a gym rat is not your thing, however, it is easy to exercise in the comfort of your own living room with a simple rebounder or exercise ball.
Rebounding stimulates lymphatic activity extremely well and gets things moving very quickly.
Even better, if your kids have a trampoline in the backyard, spend some quality family time with them and tone up your colon at the same time by spending a few minutes bouncing with them each day!
Cleansing Herbs
There are many herbs that assist with elimination problems. Triphala and Slippery Elm are probably my two personal favorites. In lieu of becoming an herbal expert, it is easier to use blended detox tea from the healthfood store.
If you don’t enjoy tea or need more convenience, these herbal constipation capsules that include stool softening magnesium are very effective, convenient, safe, and inexpensive.
Taking a non-fiber constipation supplement or a few nontoxic detox teabags when you travel is a good idea.
It helps keep things moving when the stress of travel, changing time zones, and sitting for long periods on airplanes or in cars can throw bathroom habits off schedule.
Probiotics
A good balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut is essential to a healthy colon. A sign that things are in good shape is regular elimination, well-formed stools, and no straining.
Probiotics are best consumed on a daily basis in frequent, small doses in the form of lacto-fermented foods and raw, grassfed dairy. When this is not possible, a probiotic supplement can be used instead.
Not all probiotics are created equal, however, so be sure to always go for quality.
Check out my Resources page for an up-to-date list of the best probiotic brands I have personally vetted.
Note that besides probiotic supplements, homemade 24-hour kefir cultured with live grains is the most potent fermented food for rebalancing the gut.
Vegetable Juicing
A glass or two of fresh pressed veggie juice can work wonders with softening up the stools and making elimination a breeze. Be aware that V-8 juice or any other type of vegetable juice in bottles is not helpful at all.
The juice must be fresh, ideally made no more than 20 minutes before consumption. As a result, vegetable juicing and refrigerating to drink later (a la the “cold pressed juice trend“) is not a good idea either.
Also use caution when drinking plain veggie juice on an empty stomach particularly if it is heavy on carrot juice which is high in sugars.
Adding a bit of cream as traditionally done in France will significantly reduce the blood sugar effects of drinking fresh juice. It also assists with the absorption of the bioactive colloidal minerals from the vegetables.
Enemas (NOT Colon Hydrotherapy)
When all else fails to relieve constipation, the tried and true enema works fantastically well.
I don’t recommend colon hydrotherapy because it is expensive and people can become dependent on them. They also potentially wash out beneficial probiotics from deep within the large intestine, something an enema does not do.
The enema has been used since Biblical times. The Essene Gospel of Peace (from the Vatican library) mentions it specifically.
Used to flush the colon of impurities and assist with regularity, this safe home remedy has been all but abandoned in recent decades in favor of over-the-counter drugs.
Many alternative cancer treatments make liberal use of the coffee enema to detoxify and cleanse the colon. However, a plain water enema is simple, fast, and highly effective at treating an occasional bout with constipation.
Enema bags can be purchased at the drug store for about $10.
Even easier, ready-to-use, saline enemas are available for about the same price. Be sure to get one without chemical additives, however!
Nothing literally illustrates the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” better than the old-fashioned enema!
Five Strategies to Combat Constipation – The Healthy Home Economist
http://ow.ly/5PySo
I’m surprised to see that you didn’t mention taking supplemental magnesium…
I totally agree with adding more fats but what if you are allergic to dairy. I haven’t tried ghee yet and I do use coconut oil. Also what can you suggest to do if you have hemorrhoids?
The one thing that always did the trick for me, back when I was very constipated post-partum, was lacto-fermented beets. Also anything with magnesium — I guess I became deficient after pregnancy.
Also, sometimes it’s just a matter of position. Sitting on a toilet is one of the worst ways to go. Squatting opens everything up … so you go right away instead of sitting around with a newspaper or injuring yourself straining. I squat right on the rim of the toilet bowl if I need to, and it always works.
Hi Sarah – good topic, constipation seems to be a big problem for so many people! Thankfully I’ve not had much trouble with constipation, even in my years when I ate processed foods most of the time. My biggest challenge has been with the opposite problem – diarrhea. Now things are under control, but for years I thought diarrhea was normal, even though I was drinking a lot of alcohol and eating a terrible diet.
Then I became pregnant with my son, and low and behold, my appendix ruptured during pregnancy. When I was in the hospital recovering from surgery, the nurse told me to watch out for gallbladder trouble. I’d had an ultrasound which revealed gallstones, but never had any “gallbladder trouble” to speak of (that I knew). Sure enough, the night I came home from the hospital, I had my first gallbladder attack. The surgeon said it would have to come out, but I’d have to wait since I’d just had surgery. I spent the next 7 months trying to avoid more of those episodes, as they were some of the most painful and unpleasant I’d ever had in my life. I had surgery in July of 2001 because I didn’t know any better. My doctor told me to eat low-fat foods. I had been trying to avoid fatty foods prior to my surgery as I had been told as well, and ironically, things didn’t get any better.
Some years later I learned more about gallbladder health and found out that yes, we really do need good, healthy fats. I started eating better and taking bile salts and digestive enzymes. And low and behold, my diarrhea stopped and my bowel movements became regular for probably the first time in my life.
Currently I’m on the GAPS diet, and I am making great progress. I’ve spent the last 6 years eating traditional foods, learning, and detoxing. I am a big fan of coffee enemas, as you know. I wouldn’t be without them. I always feel great after doing them, and I think they are an indispensable part of detox and health, especially if you are like me and spent a lifetime destroying your body with processed foods. I also take probiotics and eat cultured foods every day. I probably could get more exercise, but I try to go walking, hiking, or bike riding several times a week, and I also horseback ride as well. I think it’s really all about finding something you enjoy and can engage in regularly. I also have a small (personal size) trampoline which I love to use. I haven’t used herbs as much, that is something I want to learn more about and become more proficient in their use.
Great post addressing a common problem!
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Home : Cleansing-Detoxification : Coffee Enemas For Cleansing
Coffee Enemas For Cleansing
by Dr_Wilson
Why in the world would someone use coffee in an enema? That is the question I asked when my health practitioner suggested I do coffee enemas. Yet when I got over my initial resistance, I quickly saw the benefits of coffee enemas.
I have since recommended them to over a thousand patients. Many have told me how wonderful they are. Several said coffee enemas saved their lives. Indeed, they are most helpful for many types of conditions. The procedure is also inexpensive and can be done at home without special equipment.
Enemas are an ancient form of hydrotherapy. They have been used for hundreds of years for mechanically cleansing the colon. Enemas and colonic irrigation used to be routine procedures in hospitals. There are many types of enemas used for varying purposes.
Coffee enemas were first popularized by Max Gerson, MD, author of
A Cancer Therapy – Results of 50 Cases. Dr. Gerson pioneered nutritional therapy for cancer and other diseases with excellent results. His therapy combined coffee enemas with a special diet, juices and other supplements. The enemas were an integral part of the therapy.
The major benefit of the coffee enema, he said, is to enhance elimination of toxins through the liver. Indeed, endoscopic studies confirm they increase bile output. A patient was given a coffee enema while an endoscope monitored the entrance to the common bile duct. Within minutes of administering the enema, bile flow increased.
Increased bile flow also alkalinizes the small intestine and promotes improved digestion. Coffee also acts as an astringent in the large intestine, helping clean the colon walls.
A common contributor to ill health is the production and absorption of toxins within the small and large intestines. If food is not digested properly, sugars ferment and protein putrefies or rots. Both processes generate toxic chemicals which are then absorbed into the liver. The coffee enema enhances digestion by increasing bile flow and removes toxins in the large intestine so they will not be absorbed. Most people with health complaints suffer from impaired digestion and production of toxic substances in the intestines.
Coffee enemas are particularly helpful for slow oxidizers. Their liver activity is more sluggish and digestion is usually impaired. Fast oxidizers may have more difficulty retaining the enema. The procedure described below is really a coffee implant rather than an enema, because it involves only two to three cups of water. Using a quart of water may be more difficult to retain for some individuals.
However, the use of a quart of water, and making sure the water reaches most of the large intestine, is more helpful for cleansing the colon of accumulated waste material. If one suspects severe bowel toxicity or in cases of serious illness, quart enemas are preferable, at least to start with.
Dr. Gerson recommended the coffee enema up to 6 times daily for severely ill cancer patients. His patients continued them for up to several years with no ill effects. I usually suggest one enema per day to assist detoxification or to enhance liver activity. Two enemas daily may be taken during a healing reaction if needed. For those who are very ill, several a day may are best for at least several months. For best results, a program of coffee enemas should be carried on for at least a month. They should not be needed for more than two or three years, although many people have continued to take them for a number of years without problems.
The best time to take the enema is after a normal movement. One will get a slight rush from the caffeine, but it is not like drinking coffee, which I do not recommend. Coffee enemas taken in the evening may interfere with sleep.
If performed properly, coffee implants do not cause habituation, constipation or any rectal problems. In over 23 years of practice, I have not seen important negative effects of coffee enemas in those who need them. Difficulties occasionally arise if one has hemorrhoids. In these cases, extra care is needed in inserting the enema tip. Some people with hemorrhoids find the enemas irritating.
A small number of people are unable to retain even a cup of water for the required 15 minutes. One can start with less coffee or less water in these cases. There seems to be no harm if one wishes to retain the enema longer than 15 minutes. While enemas may seem uncomfortable, many clients report the procedure is so helpful they soon forget the inconvenience.
Step 1. Materials
* Buy a 2-quart enema bag with a clamp. This is sold at drug stores. The enema/douche bag combination is easier to use.
* Buy any brand of regular coffee – regular grind or flaked, non-instant and not decaffeinated, or grind your own coffee. Organically grown coffee is best, though any coffee will do. Organic coffee is available at natural food stores. Store opened coffee containers in the freezer for maximum freshness.
Step 2. Preparation of coffee
There are two methods. The first is best.
* Place 2 to 3 cups of purified water and two to three tablespoons of coffee in a saucepan and bring to a boil (or use a coffee maker).
* Let it boil 5 minutes, then turn off the heat and allow it to cool. One or two ice cubes may be added to speed the cooling process. You may make a larger quantity and use it for several enemas.
* Wait until the water is comfortable to the touch. If the water is too hot or too cold, retaining the enema will be more difficult. Strain the liquid through a fine strainer or coffee filter paper into a clean enema bag. Screw on the top of the enema bag. The enema is now ready.
The alternative non-boil method:
* Place 1 cup of ground coffee in a container with 2 cups of water. Stir the mixture thoroughly and allow it to soak overnight. (You may make a larger quantity if desired.)
* In the morning, filter the liquid through coffee filter paper or a fine strainer. Place in a jar for storage in the refrigerator.
* To prepare an enema, pour 2 cups of purified water into the enema bag. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of the coffee liquid from the jar.
Step 3. Preparing to take the enema
* Be sure the plastic hose is pushed or fastened well onto the enema bag and the thin enema tip is attached to the other end.
* Remove any air from the enema tube the following way. Grasp but do not close the clamp on the hose. Place the tip in the sink. Hold up the enema bag above the tip until the water begins to flow out. Then close the clamp. This expels any air in the tube.
* Lubricate the enema tip with a small amount of soap or oil. (Too much lubrication will cause the tip to fall out of the rectum, creating a mess!).
Step 4. Taking the enema
* The position preferred by most people is lying on one’s back on a towel, on the bathroom floor or in the bath tub.
* With the clamp closed, place the enema bag on the floor next to you, or hang the bag about one foot above your abdomen.
* Insert the tip gently and slowly. Move it around until it goes all the way in.
* Open the clamp and hold the enema bag about one foot above the abdomen. The water may take a few seconds to begin flowing. If the water does not flow, you may gently squeeze the bag. If you develop a cramp, close the hose clamp, turn from side to side and take a few deep breaths. The cramp will usually pass quickly.
* When all the liquid is inside, the bag will become flat. Close the clamp. You can leave the tube inserted, or remove it slowly.
* RETAIN THE ENEMA FOR 15 MINUTES. See below if you have difficulties with this. You may remain lying on the floor. Use the time to read a book, meditate, etc. Some people are able to get up and go lie on a towel in bed, instead of on the floor. Walking around the house with the coffee inside is not recommended.
Step 5. Finishing up
* After 15 minutes or so, go to the toilet and empty out the water. It is okay if some water remains inside. If water remains inside often, you are dehydrated.
* Wash the enema bag and tube thoroughly with soap and water.
Hints regarding enemas:
* If possible, do the enema after a bowel movement to make it easier to retain the coffee. If this is not possible, take a plain water enema first if needed, to clean out the colon.
* If intestinal gas is a problem, some exercise before the enema may eliminate the gas.
* It is not essential but is helpful if the water fills the entire colon. You can assist by first lying on your right side for 5 minutes, then on your back for 5 minutes, and then on your left side for 5 minutes.
* If water will not flow around the entire colon, you may gently massage your abdomen. Some people attach a 30-inch colon tube to the tip of the enema tube, and insert the tube so the water will reach the right side of the colon.
* If the enema makes you jittery, reduce the amount of coffee.
* The enema may lower your blood sugar. If so, eat something just before or after taking the enema.
* If you have trouble holding the enema, here are suggestions.
1) Be patient. Practice makes perfect.
2) The water may be too hot or too cold. Be sure the water temperature is comfortable.
3) It may help to place a small pillow or rolled up towel under your buttocks so the water flows down hill into your colon.
4) If trouble continues, try reducing the amount of coffee or add 2 tablespoons of blackstrap molasses to the water.
Dr. Lawrence Wilson
P.O. Box 54
Prescott, AZ 86302-0054
(928) 445-7690
Visit http://www.drlwilson.com/ for books, and audio tapes from Dr. Wilson
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The coffee used in an enema should be a low-acid coffee, because the acids in coffee can damage the sensitive tissues of the colon.
Learn more about our made-for-enema coffee
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**The Liver is the Major Detoxifying Organ**
– The liver utilizes a two-phase system in detoxifying the body of harmful substances:
– 1 st : Transforms toxins into more water-soluble compounds that are then carried through the blood to the liver for further processing, or to the kidney for elimination.
– 2 nd: Completing the detoxification in the liver and sending the toxins back to the kidney for elimination, or into the bile for elimination via the GI tract.
– Namaste’ – Bill
Clearly the problem is she hasn’t dropped her shorts!
Going traditional has been the trick for us too. My eldest had constipation issues before we started eating traditionally and he’s also the only one of our 4 kids who’s had cavities. And he got them all before the age of 4, eating his peanut butter and whole wheat, which his doc and the pediatrition both gave the thumbs up for adequate nutrition. Boy, we were dumb back then!!! We always felt uncomfortable about his limited diet, but really didn’t know what to do (first time parents coupled with a child with a strong gag reflex that he used to his advantage). We figured since he drank lots of milk (pasteurized) we figured that he was doing ok. I know, I just shuddered too.
Boy, oh boy, were we wrong!!!! Now we eat traditionally, lots of butter, coconut oil and Raw milk. No toilet issues for any of us, none of the kids have cavities and they’re all super healthy too! Wonderful 😀 Raw milk gives you such peace of mind – I LOVE it!!!
the woman in the photo must not have much hope that her remedy is going to work……