The Simple Guide To Constipation Relief: 12 Ideas

Please note: This article is a work in progress.

Looking at the root, underlying cause in diet, lifestyle, psychology -- holistic approach to resolving constipation long-term.

1. Dietary changes

• High-fiber diet
• In addition to general recommendations regarding dietary fiber, basic strategies to aid proper blood sugar control could easily be a linked off article from the main guide, and may be what’s most helpful for an individual with this root cause of constipation.  
• Water intake **no evidence to indicate improvement in chronic constipation except when dehydrated

2. Foods to help with constipation

• Specific foods, beverages, supplements for constipation 

• Prunes / prune juice for constipation

• Coconut / MTC oil
• Smooth move Tea’s
• Kefir

3. Lifestyle modifications

• “Regular” bowel movement timing
• Sitting positions / Squatty potty etc
• Exercise **no evidence to indicate improvement of chronic constipation
• Yoga for constipation
• Massage

4. Laxatives and Fiber supplements 

• Laxative subtypes (eg osmotic, stimulant, herbal, etc.) how they work, how they’re taken, potential short and long term side effects 
• Fiber supplements — what type of fibers help, which may worsen constipation, when to be careful with supplemental fiber - more on this coming soon

5. Fluids

• Only helpful if already dehydrated.

6. Exercise 

7. Medications

• May be used when lifestyle and OTC treatments fail (clearly no medical recommendations will be made here -- just informative) 

• Constipation medicine

  • Bulking agents
  • Laxatives / suppositories / enema - bring more water into your stool
  • Lubrication agents
  • Stimulate the bowel receptors

8. Pelvic floor training and biofeedback

What it is, when it’s used, efficacy and treatment satisfaction - more coming on this soon

9. Surgical treatments 

• When they’re used and why; appropriate expectations (eg surgical interventions, while fixing constipation, often do not resolve abdominal pain)

10. Empiric treatment

• Empiric treatment seems to follow a general trend. The first step is typically to evaluate medications and supplements which may be causing the constipation, removing or changing medications when possible. Afterward, in the absence of fecal impaction, it’s generally recommended to increase dietary fiber and fluids. If an individual does not respond to fiber/bulking agents, or fluids, typically a stimulant or osmotic laxative is the next line of treatment, followed by prescription drug trials or other treatment modalities such as biofeedback or surgery depending on the underlying cause. Below are some general approaches/algorithms I came across regarding medical management of constipation:

11. Magnesium for constipation

12. Probiotics for constipation