Let’s talk about sluggish bowels and constipation, and my natural constipation protocol. If you have problems with being “regular” in your bowel movements, this post is for you. Especially if you have a hard time when you travel, there are things you can take with you. Many natural health teachers say that if you eat three times a day, you should have a bowel movement up to three times a day. Doctors consider anywhere from three times a day to three times a week normal, but I believe more often is better. Not many are regular like this and so this post is really for everyone. We all have work we can do for our digestive system.
Why Digestion Matters
It is often said that the average American:
Stores anywhere from 10 to 12 pounds of waste in their colon. (This is debated, but either way, waste that sits too long is not good for you.) That means you are holding onto pounds you do not need, but even worse, is that it is just sitting in your gut rotting and making you toxic.
Our digestion is SO important. I believe so many of our physical health problems stem from our digestion, so this is the first step with healing. If you have not had a bowel movement for a day; that is when you should start something and give your system some help. Do not wait for a week or a month and be in pain.
Transit Time: How Long Food Should Take
In natural health, it is taught that food should move through in about 18-24 hours. This is called transit time. (Doctors consider 24-72 hours normal.)
If it is any shorter then your small intestine does not have enough time to break the food down with enzymes. Then your large intestine does not have the time to then absorb the nutrition and your body is left deficient. Any longer transit time will make you toxic and constipated.
Now, a person can be having a bowel movement several times a day, but sometimes your system can be running behind. If you want to test and see if your system is running on time you can eat a “marker food” and see how long it takes to get through your system. This way you can see if you are in this window of 18-24 hours. There is more specifics on this test and cleansing your bowels on this post: Body Restore- Intestines .
I prefer to avoid Miralax and other laxatives for regular use, because I do not want our systems to become dependent on them, and I would rather support the body naturally. All of the suggestions below will support your system in doing its job and will not make your system dependent on them.
My Natural Constipation Protocol
So besides doing a bowel cleanse, here is the protocol I would do if my kids or I am having a hard time:
Protocol For Babies
- Buy and have on hand: Dr. Schulze intestinal formula number 3. This is specifically made for kids and babies. It is made in a liquid, and the strength is more mild for smaller bodies. It has added fig to cover the taste. I give this to my babies when their systems are transitioning to food or different milks etc. constipation is a common thing with babies, and this is an easy solution.
- Pears and molasses. Pears get those bowels moving, and you can make a molasses solution with 2 oz. warm water and a spoonful of molasses and put it in baby’s bottle and that will get them going as well.
- Essential oils you can also use safely on baby’s belly to get things moving. I use a gentle blend called digestzen that has the oils for the digestive tract. There is a roller bottle that has been pre-diluted for babies and kids. You simply roll it on and do a little infant massage. If you would like to learn how to do the infant massage, check out the video here: infant massage for constipation.
Protocol For Kids
- Buy and have on hand: Dr. Schulze intestinal formula number 3. This is the same gentle liquid formula, and it works great for kids too.
- Pears and molasses. Pears get those bowels moving, and you can make a molasses solution with 2 oz. warm water and a spoonful of molasses and put it in baby’s bottle and that will get them going as well.
- Probiotics are essential for gut health. These also help keep their immune systems up and regular. You can get pill forms if they can swallow pills or you can get a powder form that tastes like a pixie stick.
- Enzymes are huge to help your body break down your food and make it easier to digest. Sometimes this is all someone needs. Take one enzyme with each meal and see how that changes things. But this would be in a pill form. You can always open the capsule and stir it into applesauce or just put it in juice and have them drink it.
- Take a daily fiber. This is easy to add into kids’ diets, as you can add it to juice and have them drink it. This will help keep them regular.
- Water, water, water. It is so hard when kids start school because they never get enough water. A good rule of thumb is about half their body weight in ounces of water a day. Increase their water intake, and this will be good all around.
- Digestzen essential oil or capsules. This one is great if they are feeling sick, queasy, and to get their gut to get moving. You can get a pre-diluted one or a neat one for kids or have it capsulated for you if they can swallow pills.
Protocol For Adults
Morning cereal! This will get you going in a couple of hours. You do have to soak it overnight so make it at night if you have not gone all day. You can have this all bought and store the seed mixture in a container, to have on hand and it will keep for a long time. When you need it: simply scoop out 1/4 to 1/2 cup and cover it with 1 cup of water and let it soak overnight- DO NOT skip the soaking. The seeds are hard when dry but soaking them makes them all soft, and sprouts them to deliver water to the gut. In the morning, rinse it off well with fresh water. Then put the soaked nuts into a bowl and add dried fruit, honey, cinnamon and milk. You can add whatever you like!
Morning Cereal Recipe
- 1/2 c pumpkin seeds
- 1 c buckwheat
- 1/2 c sunflower seeds
- 1/2 c walnuts
Store in an airtight container till you need it!
To simply purchase the Morning Cereal already done for you- Take a look at the Morning Cereal in the store.
Other things to do for sluggish bowels and constipation:
- Intestinal number 1 pill. I get this from Dr. Schulze, it is capsules made from all herbs and totally natural. This is the one to take with you on trips if you have a hard time when you travel. You take one at night if you have not gone all day, and if you do not go the next day you take two the next night. Increase slowly, one capsule at a time, and do not go past the label’s directions. And make sure to add these things below as well. Usually one pill should get you going the next day, depending on how long.
- Enzymes are huge to help your body break down your food and make it easier to digest. Sometimes this is all someone needs. Take one enzyme with each meal and see how that changes things.
- Take a daily fiber. This is easy to add to juice or a smoothie. It will help keep you regular.
- Water, water, water. A good rule of thumb is to drink about half your body weight in ounces of water a day. Increase your water intake, and this will be good all around for your health. If you would like to see a chart for your water intake check out the protocol here: Daily Maintenance and Water.
- Digestzen essential oil or capsules. This is great if you are queasy, food poisoning, car sick, and your digestion needs a kick. You simply rub the oil on your stomach or take one capsule or do both. This is a great oil to have on hand.
- Probiotics are essential for your gut health and immune system. They are essential to heal your gut lining and help your digestion and absorption of nutrients. I take my probiotics at night, if they make you bloated, lower your dosage and take at night. Your body needs to build the good flora back up in your gut, especially if you have ever been on an antibiotic before. Since antibiotics wipe your system of good flora this lowers and wipes your immune system. You DO NOT want a probiotic that has to be refrigerated.
I hope this helps, if your problem is the other direction and you have diarrhea and loose bowels you might want to look into this post: IBS
When to See a Doctor
Natural support works great for everyday sluggishness, but please call your doctor if you have not had a bowel movement in more than three days with pain, if you have severe belly pain, vomiting, blood in your stool, unexplained weight loss, or if constipation is new and does not go away. For babies, call your pediatrician if they are straining with hard stools for more than a few days or seem to be in pain. You can learn more from the NIH.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
