The purgatives and laxatives give only temporary relief. They unnecessarily irritate the stomach and intestines, weakening the colon. Laxative abuse may also lead to low blood potassium and long term chronic ill-health. The natural way to treat constipation is to re-educate the bowels and give up all artificial aids. The observance of regular hours for meals, elimination and sleep, a balanced diet, sufficient exercise, and a high standard of general health with good muscular tone are essential in the treatment of constipation. The most important factor in curing constipation is natural and simple diet. This should consist of unrefined foods such as whole grain cereals, bran, honey, molasses and lentils; green and leafy vegetables, especially spinach, french beans, tomatoes, lettuce, onion, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, celery, turnip, pumpkin, peas, beets, asparagus, carrot, fresh fruits, especially pears, grapes, figs, papaya, mangoes, guava and oranges; dry fruits such as figs, raisins, apricots and dates; milk products in the form of butter, ghee and cream. The diet alone is not enough. Food should be properly chewed - each morsel for at least 15 times. Hurried meals and meals at odd times should be avoided. Sugar and sugary foods should be strictly avoided because sugar steals B Vitamins from the body, without which the intestines cannot function normally. Foods which constipate are all products made of white flour, pastries, biscuits, cheese, fresh foods, preserves, white sugar and hard boiled eggs. Regular drinking of water is beneficial not only for constipation but also for cleaning the system, diluting the blood, and washing out poisons, Normally about eight glasses of water should be taken daily as it is essential for digesting and dissolving food nutrients so that they can be absorbed and utilised by the body. Water should, however, not be taken with meals as it dilutes the gastric juices essential for proper digestion. Water should be taken either half an hour before or an hour after meals. Generally, all fruits, except banana and jack fruit, are beneficial in the treatment of constipation. Certain fruits are, however, more effective. Pears are regarded as one of the best laxative fruits. Those suffering from chronic constipation should adopt an exclusive diet of this fruit or its juice for a few days, but in ordinary cases, a medium sized pear taken after the dinner or with breakfast will have the desired effect The same is true of guava which, when eaten with seeds, gives roughage to the diet and helps in the normal evacuation of the bowels. Grapes have proved highly beneficial in overcoming constipation. The combination of the properties of the cellulose, sugar and organic acid in grapes make them a laxative food. Their field of action is not limited to clearing the bowels only. They also tone up the stomach and intestines and relieve the most chronic constipation. One should take at least 350 grams of grapes daily to achieve the desired results. When fresh grapes are not available, raisins soaked in water can be used. Raisins should be soaked in a tumblerful of drinking water for 24 to 48 hours. This would swell them to the original size of the grapes. The raisins should be eaten early in the morning. The water in which raisins are soaked should also be drunk along with the soaked raisins. Drinking hot water with sour lime juice and half a tea spoon of salt is also an effective remedy for constipation. Drinking water which has been kept overnight in copper vessel, first thing in the morning will bring good results. Linseed is extremely useful in difficult cases of constipation. A teaspoon of linseeds, swallowed with water before each meal, provides both bulk and lubrication. In all ordinary cases of constipation, an exclusive fruit diet for about seven days would be the best way to begin the treatment. For long-standing and stubborn cases, it would be advisable to have a short fast 'for four or five days. This will drive out the packed contents of the bowels, eliminate toxins and purify the blood stream. The weak patients may take orange juice during the period of fasting. After the allfruit diet or the short fast, as the case may be, the patient should gradually embark upon a balanced diet comprising adequate raw foods, ripe fruits and whole grain cereals. In some cases, further short periods or short fasts may be necessary at intervals of two months or so depending on the progress being made. The bowels should be cleansed daily through a warm-water enema for a few days at the commencement of the treatment. A cold friction bath taken daily in the morning can help cure constipation. An alternate hot and cold hip bath, taken before retiring to bed, is also beneficial. Fresh air, outdoor games, walking, swimming, gardening and other exercises play an important role in strengthening and activating the muscles, and thereby prevent constipation.
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