Best herbs for constipation

Safe Effective Common home remedies for constipation

Following is a list, description, dosages & cautions of the top herbs for constipation.
First, a few words on constipation. Constipation is a very common affliction in Western societies as can be guessed from the number of laxatives on drug shelves.

Fewer than 3 bowel movements per week should be considered constipation. But, ideally, you should have 1 - 2 bowel movements a day.

There are 2 strategies to stop constipation.

1) Add bulk & fiber to soften and expand stools which speeds elimination - a good long term solution

2) Eat products containing ingredients that force elimination in a few hours - a good short term solution for constipation used occasionally

The biggest cause of constipation in the developed world is lack of fiber in the diet. So the addition of high fiber foods in your diet is an excellent long term solution to constipation.

It should be easy to introduce more fiber into your diet. Simply eat more whole grain products, beans & many fruits & vegetables contain good amounts of fiber. Other great herbal remedies for constipation include fruits & vegetables which contain many other healthy ingredients so you will receive a 2-fer by eating them.

It should also be easy to find herbs that stop constipation by forcing rapid elimination. Senna tea, aloe juice or, my favorite, coffee, are examples.

However, try to treat constipation with simple home remedies that bulk up stools. Simply increase fiber intake. Use remedies that work through other actions, like senna & aloe, as a last resort & only use occasionally to avoid dependency on them.

Click for our page on high fiber foods & herbal remedies for constipation.

Three notes on constipation

Note 1: Black tea contains tannins which may worsen constipation so avoiding it for a few days may be helpful

Note 2: If you increase fiber to prevent or treat constipation, make sure you drink lots of water throughout the day or your problems & pains can actually worsen. Strive for at least 8 glasses of water a day. Click for our sister site’s discussion on the importance of water for treating constipation:
Click for more on dehydration constipation link

Note 3: Exercise, especially aerobic exercise & yoga or Pilates routines, can be especially helpful for constipation. Visit our site on for more information on using exercise to enhance your health:

Click for using exercise for various ills

Best herbs for constipation

* Prunes & prune juice are excellent laxatives. Many people already swear by prune juice which tastes pleasant & is quite cheap. In fact, it was a home remedy for constipation in my household growing up and I KNOW it worked great! Eat a few prunes for the fiber that also quickens stool transportation.

* Flax (linseed), one of the bulking herbs for constipation, crushed up & included in various dishes, breads, salads is very helpful. Take 2 - 10 tsps daily in divided doses.

* Taraxacum officinalis (Dandelion) has a tonic effect on the liver and digestive system. Dandelion is classified as a weed so it’s rather hearty & common. You can buy dandelion supplements or you can simply use its leaves in salads or cooked veggie dishes. This herbal remedy for constipation is best eaten as young leaves as older leaves taste bitter.

* Psyllium, like flax, also increase bulk which speeds elimination of stool & stops constipation in the short & long term. Ingest 3 - 10 tsps in divided doses until you fell “regular.”

* Coffee stimulates elimination, sometimes too much, so be careful. Coffee may be a rather controversial home remedy for constipation but it works, is convenient, common & cheap, so qualifies as one of the better herbs for constipation. It is often used in an enema to cleanse the colon. A couple of cups usually does the trick for me.

* Passiflora incarnata (Passion Flower) is well known as a constipation remedy. Use as directed or look for passion flower in the various formulations for constipation.

* Senna has a powerful laxative effect so be careful with this home remedy for constipation. I’ve used it as a tea with great success. Many “Chinese Slimming” teas include senna in addition to other leaves in their formulations. The “Slimming” is nothing more than the loss of a few ponds of feces. You can also buy tablets or capsules. Use as directed.

* Cascara sagrada (bearberry) is one of the laxative herbs for constipation, can also be purchased as tablets or capsules for relief of constipation.

* Papaya & pineapple are natural digestive aids & the most delicious herbal remedies for constipation. Take several tablets containing active enzymes from both. Better yet, eat papaya or pineapple on an empty stomach for the numerous benefits each mouth watering fruit imparts.

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