A laxative at home helps to quickly empty the intestines and relieve discomfort. Homemade preparations can be prepared with your own hands from the simplest natural ingredients, such as herbs, vegetables, oils, soda.
Homemade laxatives sometimes work no worse than pharmaceutical drugs. Which method of therapy to choose is decided based on what the prescription is used for - treating short-term or chronic constipation.
Types of drugs
Laxatives for constipation can help:
- mechanical impact;
- softening effect;
- irritating property.
Laxatives based on senna and rhubarb leaves have a chemical effect on intestinal receptors. Due to irritation of the nerve endings, peristalsis begins, that is, a wave-like contraction of the intestinal walls. Thanks to such movements, feces move better towards the exit.
For chronic constipation and hardening of feces, you can additionally drink vegetable oil instead of a laxative. Sunflower and olive oil help soften the stool.
Additionally, in severe cases, home remedies are used for mechanical irritation of the intestine. Agar-agar and Epsom salts make bowel movements easier.
Diet for constipation
With prolonged constipation, feces stagnate in the intestines. Over time, they lose water and become dense and hard. For this reason, emptying becomes problematic and painful. Another problem that constipation causes is intoxication of the body.
Homemade meals made from products with a laxative effect can help the patient. Laxative foods for constipation:
- steamed, baked and raw pumpkin;
- raw beets in salads, beet juice;
- oats and bran boiled in boiling water;
- prunes – 20 pieces per day;
- green peas and pea puree;
- plums;
- potato juice;
- steamed flax seeds;
- kefir;
- black currant;
- green tea with milk;
- seaweed;
- white cabbage juice;
- fresh herbs, a laxative cocktail of beet juice and spinach.
These laxative products help cleanse the body of feces at home and also promote weight loss. If you are constipated, you need to eat homemade food that is high in fiber.
Cellulose, also known as fiber, is not digested by the body. But it has another useful property - it increases the volume of feces, as a result of which defecation occurs much faster. Also, if you have constipation, you should avoid dehydration and drink as much fluid as possible.
Folk laxatives
The means at hand, which are found in almost every home, will help induce a laxative effect. Homemade laxatives are used with caution: first, the body’s reaction is monitored, and only then the laxative is taken in courses.
An effective folk homemade laxative is prepared from freshly squeezed aloe juice. The leaf is cut off, washed thoroughly and the juice is squeezed out. Drink a laxative in small quantities - a teaspoon a day before meals. Treatment period is from 2 weeks to 1 month.
Related article: How to cleanse the intestines without an enema at home?
Homemade cucumber pickle or sauerkraut juice works. It is enough to drink 2-3 glasses of juice daily to achieve a laxative effect.
Does honey make you weak? Not many people know that this natural product has a mild laxative effect on the intestines. It is used in liquid form. A spoonful of honey is dissolved in a glass of warm water and drunk at home throughout the day.
Oils for constipation
Essential oils are not used in home treatment for constipation. What can replace them? Of course, with base oils that are allowed to be taken orally. They have a laxative effect, and at home this is the most affordable method of treatment.
Homemade oil recipes:
- Vaseline oil as a laxative is taken orally 2-4 teaspoons 2 hours after meals. Children under 3 years of age are prescribed half a teaspoon orally. When to drink oil? Since the effect occurs after 5-6 hours, use a laxative in the morning. Women who have given birth take it for 5 days. If the laxative effect does not occur, consult a doctor.
- has a beneficial effect . It is drunk under the following conditions: strictly on an empty stomach, 1-2 tablespoons, without washing down with water. To speed up the laxative effect, a glass of the product is mixed with a teaspoon of lemon juice. You can also mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil with a glass of orange juice. Three times a day you can resort to this homemade recipe: finely chop a banana, add a spoonful of oil, mix thoroughly. This laxative is suitable for pregnant women.
- Mineral oil, or liquid paraffin, improves the sliding of stool, relaxes and protects the intestinal walls from the absorption of liquid. Don't expect an immediate laxative effect from the product. The laxative effect occurs only after 8 hours, so it is taken at night.
- Castor oil does not have a very pleasant taste, so it can be mixed with orange, ginger or plum juice. Take a spoonful of butter for a glass of juice. During pregnancy, castor oil is contraindicated. Under no circumstances should oil be given to children.
- has a laxative effect . 1 spoon of flaxseed oil can be mixed with any juice or added to homemade yogurt, kefir or porridge. This mild laxative helps quickly cure constipation, but should not be given to pregnant or breastfeeding women under any circumstances.
Vaseline oil Olive oil Mineral oil Castor oil
Linseed oil
Oil remedies for constipation should be used with caution to avoid allergies. In addition, with constant use of oils, their laxative effectiveness decreases.
Herbal collections
Liquid tinctures at home are prepared from several herbs. Herbs can be drunk individually or combined in one recipe. Dry raw materials are mixed in equal proportions. For folk homemade recipes, both self-prepared herbal infusions and pharmaceutical raw materials are suitable.
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All homemade laxatives are prepared according to the same scheme: pour 250 ml of boiling water into a saucepan and add 2 tablespoons of herbs. Heat in a water bath for 10-20 minutes. Then the laxative is infused under the lid. After the drink has cooled to room temperature, it is filtered and the raw materials are squeezed out. Add water to 200 ml. Drink herbs three times a day.
Homemade herbal remedies for easy constipation relief:
- burdock root, elecampane, oregano, lemon balm, licorice root;
- buckthorn bark and senna grass;
- nettle, dandelion and licorice;
- fresh or dried yarrow, dandelion;
- chamomile, mint, tansy, fennel;
- horse sorrel;
- plantain, burdock;
- calamus, tansy, St. John's wort, valerian;
- flaxseed, rue, buckthorn, centaury.
Herbs, like oils, can cause allergies. Therefore, to begin with, it is better to use one type of herb as a laxative and monitor the body’s reaction. If none of the herbs cause side effects, the raw materials can be mixed and homemade infusions can be prepared from the collections.
Oils and herbs with laxative effects
Traditional medicine has used medicinal herbs for healing for thousands of years. They have a fairly mild effect. Herbal preparations do not have as many contraindications and side effects as pharmaceutical drugs.
The most effective herbs with a laxative effect are:
- senna;
- flax-seed;
- kelp;
- buckthorn bark;
- liquorice root;
- dill;
- aloe;
- horse sorrel;
- marshmallow;
- rhubarb;
- field steelhead.
When using the listed plants, it should be remembered that the result of treating constipation will be almost immediate. Medicinal herbs are used in different ways. There are ready-made herbal infusions and teas that are sold in pharmacies.
The easiest way is to drink a decoction from one plant. The herb is brewed, cooled, strained, and consumed. Any decoction can be kept in the refrigerator for no longer than 2 days.
Oil is one of the most effective remedies for treating constipation. It helps in difficult situations when there is stagnation in the intestines for several days. One of the most famous remedies is castor oil. It softens the masses that have stagnated in the intestines, thus saving from cracks in the anus.
Read: How to cleanse the intestines of feces using an enema, medications, and diet
Methods of using castor oil:
- capsules;
- liquid oil;
- enema with oil solution.
When using castor oil, you should be aware of contraindications and it is better to consult your doctor.
Vaseline oil is a safe remedy for relieving constipation. For oral use only. This oil is not absorbed into the intestinal walls and does not affect its microflora. It softens stagnant feces and comes out with it. Please note that when treating children for constipation, you should consult a doctor.
Pumpkin oil
Pumpkin oil is an excellent product that has a laxative effect, especially good if there are parasites in the intestines. In addition, it is a good preventive measure. It is enough to consume 1 teaspoon per day. The effect occurs after seven hours, so it is best to use pumpkin oil before bed.
Flaxseed oil – suitable for relieving constipation at any age. It strengthens the immune system and helps intestinal function. It has quite a pleasant taste. Can be taken in the morning or before bed.
Sea buckthorn oil is used internally and as part of an enema solution.
Any vegetable oil has a laxative effect. Therefore, it can be used separately or added to dishes.
Fast-acting laxatives
Laxatives made from herbs and oils are effective in treating constipation, but relief occurs after 5-8 hours. When it is impossible to endure pain and discomfort, they resort to quick-acting constipation remedies at home:
- Fast-acting laxatives include castor oil taken on an empty stomach. Kefir mixed with apple juice also gives an immediate effect.
- At home, you can make a carrier remedy from elderberry, buckthorn and senna leaves. This is an affordable laxative at home.
- This homemade laxative is used once: juice is squeezed out of lemon and mixed with water. Drink on an empty stomach.
- A mixture of fish oil and castor oil has a quick laxative effect at home. Therefore, the time to drink the composition is in the morning, but not in the evening.
- Prunes steamed in boiling water have a beneficial effect. They brew the fruits in the evening, eat them in the morning and wait for the results. To make it work faster, drink warm milk with sugar or honey every day.
Kefir with apple juice Elderberry black flowers
Buckthorn bark Senna leaves Water with lemon juice
Fish fat
Prunes
Fast-acting laxatives are needed for emergency relief; they are not suitable for the treatment of chronic constipation. The exception is prunes. The fruits are suitable for pregnant women and children.
It is worth knowing that laxative herbs are not prescribed to children and nursing mothers. Lactulose syrup is used instead of homemade recipes. This is the best and safest pharmaceutical remedy for constipation in children.
When should you not take a laxative?
You need to be careful with laxatives. Instead of the necessary relief, they can worsen the condition. Before you start taking it, you should check if there are any restrictions for your body.
Contraindications:
- any internal bleeding;
- stomach ulcer;
- intestinal obstruction;
- intestinal diseases that are in the acute stage;
- ulcerative lesions of the stomach;
- There are restrictions for use by pregnant women.
If there are any of the above reasons for limiting your laxative intake, you should consult your doctor so as not to cause harm to the body.
Pregnant women should be careful when taking laxatives. Even if this recipe is made from natural ingredients. This does not mean that it is not capable of causing a threat to the life and health of the mother and fetus.
Absolute contraindications during any period of pregnancy:
- Castor oil;
- aloe;
- senna;
- rhubarb root.
In addition, all products containing these plants are prohibited. These plants contain substances that can cause miscarriage.
In the second half of pregnancy, you should avoid laxatives, which retain water in the body. During this period, expectant mothers begin to experience swelling; they should not be aggravated.
Vaseline oil for constipation in pregnant women does not need to be taken for a long time. It is only suitable for one-time use because during the digestion process it removes fat-soluble vitamins from the body. As a result, vitamin deficiency will increase. It is contraindicated to use castor oil as a laxative during breastfeeding.
Women during menstruation should avoid castor oil. Because castor oil causes contractions of the uterus, which is bad both during pregnancy and menstruation.
There are a large number of laxatives in the arsenal of modern man. These include foods, oils, herbs and more. It’s easy to prepare your own remedy at home. If constipation occurs regularly, you should consult a doctor. Laxatives help alleviate the condition, but do not treat the cause.
What to do with constipation, more details in the video.
Read along with this article:
- Flax seed for constipation - effective methods of treatment
- Laxative medicine: tablets, drops, irritating suppositories
- Fast acting laxative at home. Cheap and cheerful?
- How to effectively cleanse your colon at home
- Herbs for constipation, effective ways to deal with delicate problems
- Rules for cleansing the body with buckwheat and kefir
- The benefits and harms of osmotic laxatives
- What are the medicinal properties of red beets?
- Vegetable dishes for weight loss: what to cook for breakfast, lunch, dinner
Laxative enemas
Enemas at home are not used as a permanent laxative. They are necessary for quick relief from constipation. Enemas are done at home in the evening.
A laxative enema is not used for anal fissures or bleeding from the rectum. The procedure is not used often to avoid disturbing the natural microflora.
Water enemas are the most powerful home remedy for colon cleansing. Whether or not to do a laxative enema depends on many conditions, for example, the state of the body and gastrointestinal diseases. A cleansing enema is necessary if constipation lasts more than 2 weeks. For other conditions, it is better to treat with homemade laxatives taken by mouth.
How to do a laxative enema:
- For a cleansing procedure at home, you can take a laxative decoction of dill, calendula, oregano, birch leaves, and sage.
- Esmarch's mug can also be filled with ordinary purified water at a temperature of 37 degrees. You can add a teaspoon of baking soda to increase the laxative effect.
- An oil enema is performed using one type of oil using a rubber bulb. 50-100 ml of laxative is injected into the anus.
- A hypertonic (salt) enema is made from a mixture of 100 liters of water and two tablespoons of table salt. Instead of salt, you can take magnesia powder.
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Cleansing and salt enemas give the fastest results. The effect of the home procedure occurs within 15 minutes. But this does not apply to an oil enema, which gives a laxative effect after 10-11 hours.
Pregnant women should consult their doctor before using enemas and laxatives at home. Using enemas can do more harm than good. Patients with a history of miscarriages and uterine hypertonicity should avoid self-medication with laxatives.
What can replace medications? Firstly, plant foods help cope with the problem; secondly, special exercises for flexion-extension of the legs and massage of the abdomen in a clockwise direction. Only a doctor can decide whether or not to do an enema during pregnancy.
When and how should a laxative be used?
Constipation can cause toxicity in the body
Think about the fact that you are constipated when more than two days have passed between bowel movements. The process itself is uncomfortable. If the picture repeats itself over several months, then we are talking about chronic constipation.
Causes of constipation:
- violation of diet;
- drinking small amounts of liquid;
- dysbacteriosis;
- drug exposure;
- diseases of the endocrine system;
- haemorrhoids;
- injuries to the coccyx, intestines;
- stressful situations;
- physical inactivity;
- long trips.
This is not the entire list of causes of constipation. If you regularly experience problems with bowel cleansing, you should seek advice from a specialist, because laxatives alleviate the condition, but do not treat the cause.
Laxatives must be used in conjunction with changes in diet and lifestyle.
Each laxative has its own specific effect on the human body, which is why they are used differently.
There are quick-acting remedies, for example, prunes with yogurt. Milder formulations are best used before bedtime. Consuming castor oil gives effect within 5-6 hours.
Before starting to take a laxative, even one based on natural ingredients, you should look at the contraindications. A doctor’s recommendation will make it possible to alleviate the condition without causing harm.
Salad for constipation
“Broom” salad has become a popular instant remedy for cleansing the intestines at home. It gives a strong laxative result and is safe for health. Helps remove toxins. The composition includes raw vegetables with a laxative effect, which makes the salad an excellent assistant in treating constipation at home.
To prepare the salad you will need a simple set of ingredients:
- grated beets;
- carrot;
- cabbage;
- celery.
All vegetables must be fresh. The products are thoroughly chopped, not seasoned with oil and eaten without adding salt.
Foods with laxative effect
Vegetables have laxative properties
A number of foods also have a laxative effect—cereals, vegetables, fruits, cereals, vegetable oils, and dairy products. Most of them do not require heat treatment, which is especially valuable.
Dairy and fermented milk products are excellent for constipation. Fermented ones prepared at home help a lot. Homemade kefir is best. It is recommended to use fermented milk products without preservatives as a laxative. For these purposes, curdled milk, kumiss, and yogurt are best suited.
Almost all vegetable oils are effective in combating severe constipation.
Vegetables in different dishes are good for constipation, this is due to their high fiber content. Vegetables differ from each other in the degree of impact on the body in order to obtain a laxative effect.
The most powerful laxatives:
- beet;
- carrot;
- cabbage;
- cucumbers;
- pumpkin;
- onion.
Vegetable dishes enhance intestinal motility.
Cereals are an excellent laxative. Whole grains and coarse grinding are considered the healthiest.
The most effective laxatives:
- oats;
- barley;
- buckwheat;
- wheat.
The diet should include dishes made from grains. Kissels, which are strong laxatives, are prepared from cereals.
Porridge also helps in the fight against constipation. At the same time, buckwheat, oatmeal, pearl barley, and millet porridge give the strongest effect. At the same time, they must be cooked in water using vegetable oil.
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Fruits, due to their large amount of fiber, make it possible to overcome constipation. The leaders are: plum, banana, apples, pears. It is better to use fresh fruits or juices in your diet.
You should adhere to the following nutritional rules:
- There should be five meals a day.
- Salads should be seasoned with vegetable oil.
- Drink vegetable and fruit juices throughout the day.
- Drink herbal teas.
- Eat more fresh fruit.
- Drink more clean water.
- Choose bread with bran or whole grain.
Eating right and using these tips will solve your constipation problem.