Four safe ways to treat constipation

If intestinal motility is impaired, the formation and movement of feces may be incorrect. This causes a weakening of the signal about the need for defecation and a discrepancy between the feces and the size of the colon. Why do people need dietary fiber? And what are other safe ways to treat constipation?

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ]

How to solve the problem with defecation?

There are measures that can compensate for such disorders and increase the efficiency of the colon. These include increasing the intestinal chyme and fecal matter with an increase in the water content in them. The volume of feces and their consistency directly depend on how a person eats and how difficult these foods are to digest. And, of course, all this depends on the presence of dietary fiber in the food.

Method #1 Why is dietary fiber so good for the intestines?

Dietary fiber is very resistant to gastric juice, so its structural components hardly change. When dietary fiber moves through the intestines, its volume hardly changes and it is still able to retain water well. If there is not enough fiber in the intestinal masses, all the liquid will be absorbed in the small intestine, and dehydrated feces will become very hard and its movement through the intestine will become extremely difficult. If you introduce more products containing dietary fiber into your diet, then bowel movements will no longer be difficult.

What foods are worth eating and what are not?

Diets rich in dietary fiber are usually prescribed for a long time, and sometimes can become a permanent diet. Today, many people prefer to consume only refined products, and they, unfortunately, are not enriched with dietary fiber. Eating such products can create problems with emptying even in those people who are not predisposed to them.

To correctly compose a healthy menu, you need to study which products contain dietary fiber, and in what quantity. According to the number of cell membranes in cereals, they are divided into certain groups. The maximum number of cell membranes is contained in millet (the greatest anti-constipation effect), the average amount is in buckwheat, then in decreasing order - in pearl barley, oatmeal, rice.

"Side Effects" of Dietary Fiber Consumption

There is another point, dietary fiber can cause bloating. Therefore, with a large amount of cell membranes in food (about 9.4 g per 100 g of food), people prone to flatulence can release up to 49.5 ml of gases per hour. If you are such a person, it is better to exclude from your daily menu foods that cause gas formation in the intestines. Such products include legumes, sorrel, cabbage and spinach. Apple and grape juices can also cause gases. Note: eating legumes at the same time as pork can increase the volume of gases up to 10 times, and the content of carbon dioxide in them will be very high. TREATMENT OF CONSTIPATION Treatment of constipation in a sanatorium and resort setting

Since time immemorial, people have been going to sanatoriums to relax and improve their health. It is a pity that recently people prefer tiring trips abroad. Both abroad and in our country, there are many sanatoriums that can improve the health of a person and give him an active rest. Such sanatoriums have all the necessary facilities, and their staff consists of qualified doctors of the highest category.

Method No. 2 Balneotherapy

The most popular method of treatment at resorts is the use of mineral waters. They are especially often used for intestinal diseases. In science, such treatment is called balneotherapy. There are a lot of ways to use mineral water for medicinal purposes. Water can be used for irrigation, as a bath, as a drink or for washing the stomach, intestines, irrigation, inhalation, rinsing. During balneotherapy, natural carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, radon, nitrogen-siliceous, iodine-bromine and other waters can be used. For the treatment of gastric and intestinal diseases, mineral water is used as a drink and enemas.

How does balneotherapy work?

When water gets into the intestines, it begins to affect the receptors located in the mucous membrane. Water begins to normalize the process of mucus formation, activates the production of digestive juices, affects metabolism and improves peristalsis. If you have problems with the intestines or stomach, then first of all visit such balneological sanatoriums as Yeisk, Matsesta, Surukhany, Sernovodsk, Klyuchi and other resorts.

These resorts are geographically advantageous, so you can choose the nearest one. But never ignore local sanatoriums, although they use artificially created mineral waters, their effect and quality are not inferior to natural mineral waters. Now in all stores we are offered a huge number of different medicinal mineral waters. Therefore, you can treat your intestines with balneotherapy at home all year round.

If you decide to undergo treatment at home, do not be lazy to consult a doctor first. He will help you choose water that is suitable in composition for you, and will also suggest what method or method to use for treatment.

The process of treatment with balneotherapy

Sulfate and magnesium waters are best suited to cure constipation, because these waters are able to reach the intestines. These waters include Essentuki 34 and 17, as well as Moscow water. The water must be slightly colder than room temperature (but not more), since cool water has a more active effect on the intestines and their peristalsis. At the beginning of the treatment process, water should be drunk 3-4 times a day on an empty stomach. If a positive result is achieved, then the amount of water consumed can be reduced to one glass once a day.

If constipation treatment does not give results, then you can switch to Batalinskaya water (drink half a glass before meals). People suffering from excessive gas formation should wait until the gas from the water is completely gone, and only then take it.

Methods of treating constipation using balneotherapy

Among the methods of treating constipation, a fairly common phenomenon is treatment with the help of intestinal lavage and enemas. This method of treatment is very productive, since with the help of enemas, fecal matter is quickly removed from the body, along with toxic residues, salts of heavy elements and cholesterol. The reflex activity of the body also improves when using enemas with mineral waters. This is how the reflex of the urge to defecate, absent in patients with constipation, is restored.

In order to flush the stomach or intestines, the water should be slightly mineralized and at a temperature of 36-37 degrees. First, the intestines are cleaned using an enema at room temperature, and then, after 30-40 minutes, an enema with mineral water is administered using a siphon method. Such procedures should be carried out with caution, and do not allow pain in the intestines. A course of such treatment may include 5-6 enemas, and the frequency of treatment is every other day. You can find more detailed information on how to carry out such procedures in the following sections.

If constipation is accompanied by spasmodic pain in the intestines, then radon, iodine-bromine and sodium chloride bath waters are usually used for treatment. Such baths help to calm the nervous system, relieve pain in the intestines, and also improve blood circulation in the internal organs. A course of such treatment usually consists of 8-10 procedures, lasting 15 minutes and at room temperature. This method of treatment is usually combined with several other methods not associated with drug treatment.

Although the use of mineral waters for the treatment of constipation is very effective, maintaining a diet and other methods of treating the intestines are still necessary.

Method No. 3 Mud therapy for constipation

For centuries, mud has been used to treat various diseases. Silt, sapropel and peat mud are most often used in medicine. Due to the fact that these muds contain organic and mineral substances, they have a therapeutic effect on the body. Of great importance in treatment with mud is that mud can slowly transfer heat, they can irritate chemoreceptors on the skin, and with their help the skin can absorb hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and other substances. All these substances can activate metabolic processes in the body, the activity of the cardiovascular system, endocrine glands and digestion.

Mud therapy is usually carried out in sanatoriums located near the places of mud deposits. Mud therapy can also be carried out in hospitals and clinics, where mud is specially brought.

How is mud therapy performed?

During the treatment procedure, mud is applied to the entire body area, or to individual areas. Then the patient is placed on a couch and wrapped in a blanket or rug. After this process is completed, the patient is washed under a shower at 36-37 °C.

Since mud therapy can improve the condition of the entire body, it can be used immediately after consulting a doctor. To treat constipation, mud is applied to the abdominal area and the procedure is carried out for 15-20 minutes. For applications, silt, peat and sapropel mud with a temperature of up to 45 degrees is usually used. Such a course of treatment can consist of 8 to 10 procedures.

Mud therapy is not recommended on an empty stomach, so it is better to do it 2-3 hours after eating. After completing all procedures, you need to rest, and also avoid hypothermia and any physical activity. After completing the full course of treatment, bowel function improves, regular stool appears and the activity of the whole organism is normalized.

It is worth remembering that mud therapy is not a universal panacea for all diseases. If the treatment does not help, and the patient's health has worsened, it is better to immediately stop all procedures.

Method #4 Physiotherapy procedures

Physiotherapy procedures are very popular at resorts and sanatoriums, but they are also often carried out in outpatient clinics, during inpatient treatment. The most popular procedures for treating constipation are faradization of the abdomen, diathermy, ultraviolet irradiation, electrophoresis, paraffin applications and UHF. Depending on the problem troubling the patient, the doctor may prescribe electrophoresis of mud on the abdomen. If this procedure is carried out daily, the course can last about 12 days.

Using enemas for constipation

An enema for constipation is a useful thing, but it is used not only for constipation. Often, an enema is given to prepare a patient for examinations, and not only for intestinal X-rays in a gastroenterological institution, but also in other types of institutions. For example, to conduct the necessary heart examinations, it is necessary to cleanse the intestines of fecal matter and gases. Also, in order to prepare a patient for various operations, he is usually given enemas. Enemas can be used for several days, after which the intestines return to normal functioning.

However, such preparatory enemas are fundamentally different from therapeutic enemas. You shouldn't hope that a couple of enemas will easily relieve you of chronic constipation. First, you need to plan the treatment well, decide on its duration, the number of enemas, and their nature. Only a doctor can determine and prescribe such treatment. If you are unable to visit a doctor, below we will provide several recommendations for treating constipation with enemas. These recommendations will be useful to you, and may be an addition to the advice of a gastroenterologist.

What types of enemas can there be?

Enemas differ in the nature of treatment and mechanism of action. Therefore, they are siphon, cleansing, hypertonic and therapeutic. During examinations in inpatient institutions, siphon and cleansing enemas are usually used to cleanse the intestines. They are also used in extreme situations when it is necessary to urgently remove a "fecal blockage". Usually, 1.5 liters of water are used for such enemas, which is quite a large volume. These enemas work in the following way: the enema mechanically washes out the intestines, and also irritates its walls, and this leads to their contraction.

If a person suffers from chronic constipation, then he is usually prescribed medicinal and hypertonic enemas. For a hypertonic enema, sodium chloride or a solution of table salt is used. Salt can irritate the intestinal walls and activate peristalsis. Defecation after such a procedure occurs within 10 minutes. Enemas, the composition of the liquids of which include drugs, are called medicinal.

Depending on the nature of the medicines in the enemas, they can heal wounds, ulcers of the intestines and anus, and also reduce spastic contractions in the intestines, and therefore eliminate the causes of such a disease as constipation. Various oils, salts and herbs can be used as medicines. Only a doctor can choose which enema is right for you.

How are oil enemas used?

To make an oil enema, you can use any vegetable oil or a cosmetic such as Vaseline. Due to their composition, oils envelop fecal matter and help it move more easily through the intestines and be excreted without problems. The dose of oil for an adult can fluctuate around 5 tablespoons, and for children - 2-3 tablespoons.

The oil should be heated to body temperature and inserted very carefully. Since the oil is influenced by the intestinal microflora, it is partially converted into fatty acids, which can irritate the intestinal walls and stimulate peristalsis. Perform this procedure before bedtime so that the urge to defecate does not appear at an inopportune moment.

Some more recommendations for using enemas

Never take a lot of water for an enema – only enough to form fecal matter in the stool. One glass is enough for this procedure. To increase irritation of the intestinal walls, you can add lemon juice or 6% vinegar (apple) to the water. When installing an enema, try not to damage the rectal wall.

The tip of the enema or rubber bulb should be boiled and lubricated with Vaseline or any oil before use. The patient should lie on his left side and bend his legs to his stomach. An oilcloth is placed under him. With the left hand, you need to spread the buttocks, and with the right, with a screw motion, insert the tip into the rectum (at the entrance, the tip is first inserted vertically, and then turned slightly towards the back).

Despite the fact that treating constipation with enemas is very effective, this method should only be used when there is no possibility of doing therapeutic exercise or there are no results in maintaining a diet against constipation.

[ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ], [ 11 ], [ 12 ], [ 13 ]