What is the best way to treat constipation?

My child is mentally challenged and always had a problem with constipation to the point of impaction on several occasions. It was eventually resolved while in a nursing home. Now that he is at home, the meds, colace and dulcolax?, aren't working. I hate to do it, but I think I may need to resort to giving him an enema. This was always traumatic for him, but I don't know what else to do. I can't let this go on it only gets worse. What is the best enema to give and how do I do this now that he's an adult?

One of the biggest causes of conspitation in the mentally impaired or elderly is dehydration. They may not realize or remember to drink constantly. The feces gets stuck because there is not enough lubrication so it makes it difficult to pass the stool. Encourage him to drink a glass of water or juice at least every hour. Avoid drinks with caffeine. Grapes, raisins, prunes, flax and bran are great to add to a diet to help promote regular, soft bowel movements.

To rid the bowel movement that may be lodged inside, it is much less invasive to give a suppository (instead of an enema). This is a small pill that you insert in the anus (make SURE you lubricate your fingers and that you are gloved). The enema is more invasive and causes more discomfort. As a personal support worker in a nursing home, we always try to give suppositories before an enema.

I really don't think there is a particular enema I would recommend, they are pretty much all the same. Same goes for suppositories.

I definetely recommend increasing his fluid intake, and try hard to give flax and bran with cereal. You can even bake all sorts of goods (cookies, muffins, bread) with flax seed and bran. Best wishes!

How should i get rid of my constipation and bloating after i just finished a diet?

I have recently gotten off of my diet, just a low calorie diet, and now i am starting on a new eating plan which is 5 small meals a day to help speed up my metabolism and i have been eating the daily intake of fiber and having a healthy balanced diet and i exercise a lot and i've been drinking water and i've even tried a gentle over night laxative. What should i do to get rid of my bloating and constipation?

Prune juice and cranberry juice. Not the cocktail kind. Continue drinking water. You may also try adding flax seed meal to your diet. You can buy it a health food store. A few sprinkles a day keeps the doctor away.

Flax Seeds, Seeds, and Nuts for Constipation Relief

Here are a variety of home remedies for constipation using flax seeds with other seeds and nuts. They provide the fiber and oils that you need to relieve constipation. Drinking plenty of water with these home remedies will make them more effective.

Mix equal parts of flax seeds, almonds, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds. It is o.k. to mix only three of these seeds, if that is all you have.

Grind them in a coffee grinder to a power. You can eat the power or add it to a nondairy smoothie, a juice, or morning cereal. You can also sprinkle it on your evening salad. Use up to 3 tablespoons twice a day.

This mixture will provide you with extra fiber and a batch of minerals.

Drink plenty of water when using ground up seeds.

Flax seeds are astringent and have laxative action. They are good for mild or moderate symptoms of constipation.

Using an excess of flax seed can contribute to the back up in your colon. Flax seeds also have small traces of prussic acid, which is toxic in large amounts. But it would take a lot of flax seeds to reach the toxic level.

Place between 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of flax seed in 8 oz of warm water and let it sit for one hour. Then just before going to bed, drink the 8 oz. After drinking this glass of flax seed drink another 4-8oz of water.

Flax Seed and Apple Cider Vinegar

Boil 1 ½ cup of distilled water.

Add 1 tablespoon of flax seed and continue boiling the water for 10 minutes – tea will become jelly like.

After this cools down add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.

Drink cup of this combination in the morning and until you get good daily bowel movement.

Flax seed contains the essential oil omega 3. If you lack this oil in your diet you will be prone to disease.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is another extremely important food you should include in your daily eating. ACV is high in various minerals and in particular potassium

Flax seeds and oat bran

To get your bowels moving again, prepare the following mixture.

Mix 1 tablespoon of flax seed and 1 tablespoon of oat bran into a glass of distilled water. Let it sit overnight. First thing in the morning, take 2 tablespoons. Wait half an hour before eating anything. Do this every morning until your bowels start moving

Flax Seed Oil

Our body does not make omega 3 oil and we need to get it in our diet.

For constipation, mix one tablespoon of flax seed oil with goat or cow yogurt. Add a little honey if you like. Take this mixture right about ½ hours before bedtime.

Do not heat flax seed oil and keep it refrigerated. Heating it may cause some cancer causing compounds.

There you have it, a variety of home remedies for constipation. Use these home remedies every day and you will see the difference in your regularity.