Although symptoms can vary between sufferers, many sufferers experience a combination of the following:
wind
bloating
stomach pains/stomach cramps
Some people just experience a spot of difficulty, having to 'strain' on the toilet without too much physical discomfort. However, constipation doesn't just cause gastrointestinal symptoms. When the digestive system slows down, the body starts to accumulate toxins & can lead to symptoms such as the following:
lethargy
headache
irritability
feeling 'down in the dumps'
Surprisingly many people may not even realise they are constipated. Many of us lead such busy lives that our bowel habits go largely unnoticed, but we know that we just don't feel 'quite right'.
Although many people would say that just because someone has constipation it doesn't mean they are unhealthy or even that they have an unhealthy lifestyle, constipation could be an indicator that there are underlying toxicity issues going on within the body.
However, certain things make constipation more likely:
Diet - Dietary fibre provides the bulk that helps to speed the passage of waste food through the bowel. Lack of fibre results in harder, more compact stools, which take longer to pass through.
Lack of fluids - the body needs 1.5-2 litres a day to function efficiently. Without sufficient fluids, waste matter dries out, making it harder to move through the bowel.
Lack of exercise - if you don't exercise often, things can slow down including the muscle contractions that move waste matter through the bowel.
Holiday constipation - is quite common. Any change of routine or diet can cause constipation.
Pregnancy - hormonal and physical changes are probable causes.
Menopause and menstruation - hormonal and lifestyle changes at these times can cause constipation.
Stress - constipation can be caused by stress but stress can also be a symptom of constipation.
Ageing - a lot of bodily functions slow down with age and the digestive system is just one of them.
Medicines - some commonly used medicines are known to cause constipation, particularly certain painkillers (e.g. codeine), iron tablets and some antacids (e.g aluminium hydroxide).
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) sufferers often have constipation, sometimes alternating with diarrhoea. In IBS, cramping pains and discomfort in the bowel and rectum are common
Contrary to many beliefs, constipation is not just caused by a lack of dietary fiber. Constipation, like asthma, is caused by opioid peptides in wheat- and dairy products and beta-carbolines in prepared food. (proteinous prepared food in particular) It is therefore important to identify any food sensitivities and eliminate them from the diet.
Constipation is a build-up of waste which needs to be eliminated as quickly as possible. Food should pass between 24-36 hours, although recent reasearch has suggested that the UK average is approximately 50-60 hours (indicating a change in the general eating habits of the nation & potentially sicker human beings) The colon is the most toxic place of the body. Putrifactive bacteria can produce toxins especially from foods rich in protein. In a correctly functioning digestive system, these toxins are excreted through faeces in a relatively short period of time. However, in a slow & constipated body, these toxins can start to absorb themselves through the bowel wall where they are then free to contaminate tissues throughout the body. By assesing the toxic state of our clients, here at BioTech Healing we are able to suggest a specially tailored treatment plan based on the health screening results.
Following on from a health screening at BioTech Healing we can suggest whether it would be of benefit for you to take a bulk form agent (natural laxative) such as ispaghula husk, bran or sterculia or whether there is an underlying toxic issue which would be dealth with through dietary changes, supplementation & also possibly oxygen therapy (which is used frequently by us for many health conditions related to toxicity)