6 Natural Constipation Remedies

Kick your digestive system into full gear without resorting to pharmaceuticals

Digestion can be a literal pain in the butt sometimes. Whether it’s due to stress, illness or poor dietary choices, the results are painful and annoying. But before you head to the drugstore, try one of these natural remedies you’ve likely already got in your kitchen.

Ginger Tea

Drinking a cup or two of ginger tea a day not only gently treats constipation, but reduces inflammation throughout your body.

Traditional Medicinals Organic Ginger Aid Tea is a 100% organic blend that preserves ginger’s natural spiciness and gently helps to treat constipation. You can find it at any grocery store for $5-8 for a box of 20 tea bags. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and honey for extra healing.

Prunes

Prunes have long been known to have a laxative effect. Adding a couple of chopped dried prunes to your morning oatmeal or substituting a small glass of prune juice for your regular glass of OJ gives you one of nature’s most powerful ways to treat constipation.

You can find bulk dried prunes and prune juice in any grocery store. Welch’s Prune Nectar is a smart choice, but you may need to dilute it with water, as it is naturally very sweet. Remember: prunes help constipation, not all forms of indigestion.

Lemon

Lemons are one of nature’s most powerful astringents, breaking down waste and naturally treating constipation. Add a generous squirt of lemon juice to your glass of water, or make your own homemade lemon tea with hot water, lemon slices, lemon juice, and honey.

If you want to get serious about treating your constipation using lemons, try making a potent brew of lemon, ginger, and turmeric tea to help make your gut happy.

Peppermint

Drinking one or two cups of peppermint tea a day will assist in treating constipation as well as chronic digestive disorders like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Yogi’s Purely Peppermint tea contains 100% organic peppermint leaf and gently helps to treat constipation with a refreshing kick. Widely available, a box of 16 tea bags costs $5-$8, but will last you 32 cups if you re-use the teabags. If you grow your own peppermint, chewing on a fresh leaf after meals helps treat constipation and promotes overall digestive health.

Cayenne

Eating spicy foods and using spices in your cooking is an excellent and delicious way to improve your digestion and naturally treat constipation.

Cayenne pepper is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties and use in cleanses, digestive tonics, and herbal remedies. Add a pinch of ground cayenne pepper to your scrambled eggs, soups, mashed potatoes, and meat dishes. You’ll get extra flavour and digestive relief.

Water

Drink more water! Constipation is often the result of dehydration and drinking water regularly is still the best way to ensure hydration and proper digestion.

To naturally treat constipation by drinking water, drink it at room temperature, sip regularly, and re-fill your glass or bottle as soon as you’re finished and keep drinking.