If you are constipated, you are probably also dealing with fatigue. Constipation and fatigue can go hand in hand. Constipation is a symptom of a digestive problem; yet constipation has its own hosts of symptoms. Many people know the symptoms of constipation—bloating, straining, irregular bowel movements, passing small hard stools and even hemorrhoids. Fatigue is one of the lesser discussed symptoms of constipation.

Many people simply do not relate their fatigue back to their constipation. They think they are just leading a life that’s too busy, or they are not resting adequately at night, or they are under too much stress. Many people are surprised to find discover when they take steps to detoxify their bodies, and cleanse it of sludge, mucous, and accumulated fecal matter, their energy levels return.

The truth is when we are fatigued, everything becomes a chore. Simple things like getting up in the morning can seem like a monumental task. Everything from a demanding career, to pursuing higher education, to running after little ones in the home can seem like overwhelming obstacles. When you are fatigued and do not have the zest for life that you once did, it can easily lead to depression. If this sounds familiar, and you are constipated, you should get on the offensive and cleanse your system.

The colon is not supposed to be a holding tank for toxins and fecal matter. Many people have cleansed out their systems and were shocked at the quantity of waste matter they were carrying around inside their bodies. If you truly think about it, why wouldn’t you feel tired, sluggish and drained with all this garbage in you? Many people are carrying around literally pounds of toxins inside their bodies. It is no wonder many people report they lose weight after they have performed a complete colon cleansing.

To put it simply, constipation is not good. You must get the buildup of garbage out of your system before it results in a major health problem requiring surgery. Once your body is free of this debris, your energy levels can return and you can begin to develop a new outlook on life.

So, how do you cleanse the body? After all, it’s not like pouring some injector cleaner into your car’s gas tank . . . or is it? First, you should forget about laxatives and enemas. These just treat the present constipation and do nothing to get to the root of the problem. To thoroughly cleanse your body and rid it of mucous, fecal matter, and sludge, you need a product like Oxy-Powder®. This is an all-natural product in a capsule form. It doesn’t work harshly like an enema or strong laxative. As the name implies, Oxy-Powder® oxidizes away the years of waste in your system with natural ingredients released over a 12-hour period.

It is important to note the solid matter in your system will be pretty much liquefied; but this should not be misconstrued for diarrhea, which is caused by viral infection. Yes, you will go to the bathroom frequently. The only way to get rid of the buildup is to get it out. You will pass stools that are liquid in composition and you will also experience extra gas.

This is all part of the oxidation process and it is much easier on the system than using a laxative or enema. So, you should make sure you are near a bathroom during the first few days of the cleansing. Unlike laxatives and enemas, Oxy-Powder® truly cleanses the digestive system. It is not a one-time process. The product label details the dosage recommendations for the first seven days of your cleanse. There is also a maintenance dosage recommendation to help you keep your digestive system working at its best thereafter. Oxy-Powder® is also non-addictive and safe for your body.

It’s amazing how negatively something like constipation can affect your energy levels. It is also quite surprising how many people do not connect their constipation with their fatigue. Yet, it is easy to understand why these people feel tired. Their bodies, already polluted by the high levels of toxins, are fighting stress as a by-product of the natural, defensive process. Ironically, the colon may even attempt to absorb the waste to eliminate it, but that just puts even more poison into your system!

If you are suffering from fatigue and constipation, you should take steps necessary to thoroughly cleanse your system. Once you rid your body of the waste that it has stored over time, you will probably feel like the weight of the world has been lifted from your shoulders – or at least from your stomach!

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A person, who suffers from irritable bowel syndrome, primarily suffers from one of three symptoms.

1. Diarrhea
2. Alteration of diarrhea and constipation
3. Constipation

Although, it is less common for a person with IBS to suffer from predominant constipation than diarrhea, for those who do, there are ways to find relief from constipation, abdominal pain and bloating.

There are different treatment options - both medicinal and alternative remedies -for those who suffer from constipation. The following is information regarding diverse treatments and what you need to know about each.

Diet
Constipation symptoms may be caused by specific foods that are being ingested. Therefore, try keeping a food diary to find out what foods may not only be making constipation worse, but may help to relieve your symptoms.

For instance, gluten is recognized as one of the leading causes of constipation in IBS sufferers. Therefore, a gluten-free diet may help alleviate symptoms. In order to eliminate gluten from your diet ensure you read food labels to see if gluten is among listed ingredients. However, keep in mind that gluten-free foods tend to be low in fiber. Therefore, you may require other sources of fiber such as eating more fruits and vegetables.

If you are considering a gluten-free diet it's a good idea to consult a dietitian to find out how effective this diet control is for constipation.

Fiber supplements
Fiber supplements are designed to add bulk to the stool so that waste can travel faster through the intestines. That being said fiber supplements need to be taken with great care, as problems can occur.

For instance, inundating the boy with fiber without sufficient water intake, can cause bloating, gas and make constipation worse. It is imperative to drink plenty of water when taking fiber supplements because fiber absorbs water.

Furthermore, natural fiber sources, such as bran, can aggravate the stomach of an IBS sufferer. This is because bran contains high amounts of wheat and gluten which are not tolerated well by an IBS stomach.

Nonetheless, the right fiber supplement taken as recommended may be helpful in relieving constipation in some sufferers. Fiber supplements such as Metamucil, Konsyl or Citrucel can be found in pharmacies, but it is a good idea to talk to your doctor first and learn more about supplements before starting treatment.

Laxatives
Laxatives are an effective short-term solution for relieving constipation. However, there are different types of laxatives and some are stronger than others. Although laxatives may work in the body differently, depending on the type, each is designed to soften stool so it can slide easier through the intestines. One such laxative that is often recommended to IBS sufferers is milk of magnesia. This is a gentle laxative that is known as a hydrating agent and causes the intestines to retain more water to soften stool.

Laxatives are not recommended for long-term use and can be habit forming. If laxatives are taken for long periods of time, the body will eventually develop immunity and require stronger laxative methods. Prolonged used of laxatives can also make constipation worse and make the body laxative-dependent. Furthermore, be advised that stimulant laxatives such as Ex-lax are powerful and very hard on the system.

Make sure you investigate different over-the-counter laxative products, and speak to your doctor about laxative treatment before using this remedy.

Prescription drugs
Consider talking to you doctor about prescription medication for relief of constipation. Zelnorm is one of the newer drug treatments for IBS constipation and works by increasing stool movement in the bowels. Zelnorm has been found to effectively alleviate abdominal pain, bloating and constipation, and is only prescribed for short-term use.

Finally, regular exercise and drinking plenty of water helps to relieve constipation, and are natural remedies that can be used with any form of constipation treatment.

Constipation is the name given to the condition in which a person finds difficulty in passing stools. Ideally, a person must void the wastes of the digestive tract one or two times a day. But in people suffering from constipation, this elimination of wastes becomes highly reduced, or may even be absent for several days together.

Constipation can be the reduction of the normal volume of feces voided, the complete absence of discharge or sticky discharge that the person has difficulty in passing out. In all cases, there is Ayurvedic treatment. Constipation is not a very dangerous ailment if treated properly in time. But if let be, then constipation can become chronic. Especially in elderly people, constipation for a prolonged period can be fatal.

From an Ayurvedic point of view, constipation is a disease caused particularly by the vitiation of the vata dosha. It is called as Anaha in Ayurveda. But the other two doshas can also be responsible for constipation. Constipation caused due to a high pitta dosha is characterized by dry stools. It is felt mostly in the hot months. Constipation caused due to a high kapha dosha is accompanied by pains in passing out the feces, which are sticky. In people with kapha vitiation, the excessive mucus may block the rectal passage which will obstruct the elimination of the wastes.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Constipation

- Bael fruit (Aegle marmelos) The fruit of the bael is an effective laxative. The ripe fruit is better at this than the raw one. It has to be used for two to three months. It can be taken in the form of a sherbet. This will dissolve the wastes of the intestines and flush them out of the body.

- Belleric Myroblan (Terminalia belerica) The half ripe fruit of the belleric myroblan is a purgative. It is used in treatment of chronic constipation. However the fully ripe fruit may be disadvantageous to the treatment.

- Cassia (Cassia fistula) The pulp of the ripe fruit of the cassia tree is an effective laxative in the treatment of constipation. This remedy is popular because it has no side effects even when taken by children and pregnant women.

- Castor (Ricinus communis) Castor oil is effective as a purgative. This treatment also has no side effects. It can be taken safely, irrespective of the physiology of the patient and the climatic conditions.

- Chebulic Myroblan (Terminalia chebula) Chebulic myroblan is a mild laxative. Its pulp is taken with rock salt, or flavored with cloves and cinnamon. Regular use of this decoction relieves the person of constipation.

- Chicory (Chichorium intybus) Chicory has natural laxative powers. It can be used in the treatment of chronic constipation problems.

- Isphagula (Plantago ovata) This is the traditionally used remedy in the treatment of constipation. The seeds of this plant have a soothing effect on the mucus lining of the alimentary canal. The seeds must be soaked in water and then taken. Isphagula seeds act by binding the wastes in the alimentary canal and bringing them to a consistency in which they can be eliminated from the body.

- Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) Licorice is a laxative. In order to get better benefits, licorice powder is taken with water and jaggery.

- Rhubarb (Rheum emodi) Rhubarb is also commonly used in allopathic medicine for its purgative properties. Rhubarb contains several tannins that are beneficial in voiding the wastes from the alimentary canal. But rhubarb can be used only in simple cases of constipation, and it has no effect in chronic constipation.

(2) Dietary Treatments for Constipation

There are many dietary guidelines for people suffering from constipation. The following are some of them:-

- Water is very important to keep the intestines working well. Drink a glass of water early in the morning. For better results, keep the water overnight in a copper vessel and drink it when you wake up in the morning.

- The food that you consume should not be too dry. It should be vata pacifying. Hence it must contain adequate amounts of oil or ghee in it.

- Take a glassful of warm milk with a teaspoonful of ghee in it when going to bed.

- Avoid rice. Take wheat instead.

- Fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables must be an integral part of the diet. Papaya and sugarcane are especially beneficial. Tomato and beetroot salads are also very beneficial.

- Avoid beans, legumes, grams, cabbages, mushrooms and such foods which are difficult to digest.

(3) Ayurvedic Treatment for Constipation

- The Triphala Choorna is commonly prescribed. It contains a mixture of the three important fruits of amalaki, belleric myroblan and chebulic myroblan.

- Medicines such as Agastya Rasayana, Pancha Sakara Choorna, Abhayadi Modaka, Madhu Yashthayadi Choorna, can strengthen the intestinal valves and hence improve their functions. These treatments are even prescribed in cases of chronic constipation.

- There are some special therapies Ayurveda uses in order to treat the condition of constipation. These therapies are:- a) Vashthi Karma (enema therapy) b) Virechana Karma (purgation therapy)

- In addition, a massage of the abdominal muscles, known as the Udavartana, is also employed if the constipation is chronic. This makes the intestinal muscles stronger and work better in dispelling the wastes.

(4) Home Medications

- Every morning when you wake up, eat two apples. Bite them with the teeth instead of using a knife to cut them into slices.

- Drink a glass of water with a teaspoonful of honey in it at night before going to bed.

- The best and simplest medicine is to drink a glass of lemon juice in water with a pinch of salt in it. This will treat any kind of constipation that may be present.

In this article we will look at infant constipation treatment and how best to deal with constipation when an infant is suffering from it.

The best way in which any parent could treat an infant who is suffering from constipation is by changing the child's diet. The constipation will not improve without a change of diet and they will also probably be using stool softeners as well.

The goal of any infant constipation treatment is so that the child has 1 or 2 soft stools each day. So why not give them 2 to 4 ounces of water or diluted fruit juice once or twice a day. Or you may want to swap the formula they are drinking at the moment for a soy formula instead.

If however your infant is older than 4 months and suffering from constipation then you may want to try feeding them lots of fiber which are contained in cereals, strained prunes, apricots or spinach.

A great way of helping an infant suffering from constipation is by massaging their stomach. Begin at the belly button and then massage outwards in circles in a clockwise direction. Put some baby oil or cream on your fingers as this will help with the massage. However if your child becomes upset or uncomfortable with the massage then stop it.

Or you try moving your infant's legs in a cycling motion whilst they are laid on their backs. Just hold their legs and then gently move them in a quick cycling motion. This will cause the stomach muscles to move and this in turn will put gentle pressure on the infant's intestines and make them move.

Another great way of helping an infant suffering from constipation is to give them a warm bath which will help them to relax and thus their stools will be passed more easily. After the bath and when your infant is more relaxed you could try massaging their stomach again. Also after a bath apply some cream or Vaseline to the area around the infant's anus. It is important that you do not put a thermometer or anything inside your infant's anus to stimulate bowel movement as this will only cause damage to your child.

There are a number of different ways as shown above which can be used for infant constipation treatment and as long as you watch what they eat and ensure that they have plenty of fluids they should not suffer with this problem too much.

Even though it is not something that a lot of people like to talk about, we all have to deal with constipation on occasion. As a child I was told that I had a problem with this, but I never felt any sort of pain. When I would get sick, someone would always inevitably ask me when was the last time I used the bathroom. At that time in my life it was only once every two or three days, and they were always concerned that something was wrong with me. One particular babysitter was very concerned about my problem even though it wasn't bothering me. She often talked about natural cures for constipation to make things better for me.

My mother wasn't concerned because she had talked to my doctor about it and he wasn't concerned. As long as I was not in any sort of pain, or is not affecting my health, he saw nothing wrong with the frequency of my trips to the bathroom. He did however say that natural cures for constipation may help me become more regular as I got older. When you think of natural cures for constipation you may be thinking of some sort of medicine, but you should know that there are simpler ways to go about this.

Some of the best natural cures for constipation are things that you eat every day. In many cases, there are no medications needed. If you were to eat, for example, raisin bran on a daily basis, you will find that you are more regular thing you ever were before. Other natural cures for constipation might be eating prunes, though they are not very pleasant, or any other type of fruit that aids in digestion. You may also want to try cereals that are high in fiber each morning for breakfast.

For some people though, these natural cures for constipation don't work. When you are constipated, there is not enough liquid in your system. You may want to concentrate on drinking more water, and staying away from foods that are known to cause constipation. If you have a thing for cheese, you may want to cut back on how much you eat. If you find that you are still having problems, you may want to talk to your doctor about other natural cures for constipation that you have not considered yet. If these don't work, your doctor may have to give you a prescription or do some additional testing to find out what is going on with your body.